Davao

I JUST managed to catch four songs of The Philippine Madrigal Singers when they sang at SM Lanang Premiere last week. Still, I consider myself lucky to have watched them for free. This called for a celebration, nah, make that a treat. It’s difficult to celebrate when you’re not with a big group. Where?

The new hotel out there must be worth a try…

Usep launches teacher resource web portal

Thursday, March 7, 2013 - 11:55 p.m.

TO PROVIDE an Internet-based knowledge resource management system for teachers and teacher education students, the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) officially launched the teacher resource web portal last February 26 at the College of Education Training Center, Usep, Obrero, Davao City.

The web portal aimed at providing easily accessible, reliable and free resources that will help teachers and students of teacher education institutions (TEIs) upgrade their competence.

Telco cites biz partners

Thursday, March 7, 2013 - 11:54 p.m.

LEADING wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) recently recognized some of its key business partners, specifically those that have successfully and innovatively brought the telco's products and services closer than ever to its growing subscriber base.

"Our business partners are major contributors to our success," said Orlando B. Vea, Smart's chief wireless advisor. "They are an integral part of Smart's ability to innovate and grow and it is with their help that we are able to further reach and serve our more than 50 million subscribers."

Test your palate with Belgian Choco

Thursday, March 7, 2013 - 01:07 a.m.

PUT your palate to test with this hot Belgian Chocolate at Zabadani, a Halal restaurant at The Peak of Gaisano Mall of Davao.

Most of the restos in the metropolis have savory dishes, pastries, and drinks, which they say, are what set them apart from the others.

Search is on for the next Mrs. Philippines-Globe

Wednesday, March 6, 2013 - 12:40 a.m.

TWO beautiful queens arrived in Davao City recently to remind Mindanawon moms to get on the open field with exuding confidence and glamour as it's never too late to bag a crown in the prestigious national beauty pageant.

Mrs. Philippines-Globe national director Morena Carla Cabrera announced, in a press conference at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao recently, that the prestigious national pageant for married women and single moms will be scouting potential queens from the city.

Cyberzone has it all

Sunday, March 3, 2013 - 11:33 p.m.

LOCATED at the 3rd floor of SM Lanang Premier is the Cyberzone, a leader in the business of selling gadgets. It houses more than 20 stores of services and retail to provide the most interactive and technological experience for its shoppers.

Mobile Phones

Food on the road

Saturday, March 2, 2013 - 10:02 p.m.

MINDY’S is among the better known places to eat when in Bukdinon. I’ve never been there though until this trip two weeks back.

I first heard about Mindy’s from the Philippine Eagle folks as we arrived in Malaybalay City at dinner time and learned (Hear ye! Hear ye!) that Sir Edward’s Chicken Ati-Atihan, what can be considered as the most popular barbecue place in Malaybalay is already closed. “Ano Mindy’s na lang tayo?” we were asked.

Looks of summer 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013 - 09:37 p.m.

SPRING Summer 2013 at Dorothy Perkins embraces three key looks, showcasing sporty graphic daywear, soft pretty occasional and vintage western casual wear – with trend influences from across the globe.

The sport luxe is revived this season with geometric prints and a bold color palette. Clean and crisp lines and minimalistic shapes are key with loose fitting tees paired with sharp tailored pieces in hues of turquoise, blue and white. The bomber jacket and tailored jogging pant are must haves – whether in block color or printed.

Davao biz men: Responding to Climate Change issues

Thursday, February 28, 2013 - 11:40 p.m.

BUSINESSMEN in Davao City were gathered again during the 2nd General Membership Meeting at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Davao. It was different from the previous GMMs as they were put together not to show off their acumen in business but rather to take this a chance to respond to climate change issues today.

No less than Jose Maria Lorenzo P. Tan, vice chairman and chief-executive-officer (CEO) of Word Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines, who came down to Davao City to grace the event last February 22. It was themed then as "Mitigating Business Risk on Climate Change."

Modern and space saving modular fittings for home at Trust Depot

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - 10:30 p.m.

THE real estate business is on the rise in Davao. Residential enclaves from north to south of the city are sprouting like mushrooms.

Surprisingly, with the vast expanse of land in the ‘biggest city in the world by land area’ still available for domestic spaces, vertically stacked housing like condominiums would arise. It was unheard of then, but times are changing.

Deped 11, NGOs unite in helping elementary pupils

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - 11:55 p.m.

WORDS couldn't just simply express how happy the children with special needs were after they received a free medical check up in a joint initiative of government and non-government organizations Thursday, last week.

The students, under the Special Education (Sped) program of the F. Bangoy Elementary School, were chosen as recipients of the medical mission to culminate the celebration of the National Intellectual Disability Week of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Gear up for a boodle fight at Blackbeard's Seafood Island North Shore Grill

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - 11:55 p.m.

THEIR slogan says it all. Seafood Bonding Extreme-- meals couldn't be more enjoyable than having boodle fights at Blackbeard's Seafood Island North Shore Grill at the second floor of Abreeza Ayala Mall Davao.

Well just in case we're not clear on what boodle fight is, it is the traditional military-style of eating rice and assorted viands which are prepared on banana leaves. The boodle fight is practiced as a symbol of unity and camaraderie.

Foundation donates organic fertilizer to Davao farmers

Monday, February 25, 2013 - 10:05 p.m.

ALMOST 500 kilograms of organic fertilizer were distributed to 30 farmers in Davao City's District 3 by the Villar Foundation, part of the corporate social responsibility of masterplan developer Camella Davao, a subsidiary of Villar-led Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc.

The fertilizer was produced from kitchen wastes of households in Camella's development in Talomo, the Caribbean-themed Solariega, which has a solid waste management program.

Loft Salon opens

Monday, February 25, 2013 - 12:25 a.m.

GOING to salon to keep her chic lifestyle up was used to be her fad before. But this interest had waned along the way that she opened her own upscale salon in the city on Saturday.

"I like going to salon. It's something that fits my lifestyle," said Nika Bautista, a Dabawenyo businesswoman, who embodies the passion of setting a new trend in giving outstanding professional care to clients.

Singaporean discovery

Saturday, February 23, 2013 - 11:02 p.m.

WORD is spreading fast about the first-ever Singaporean restaurant in the city. It’s hot, too. Literally hot.

Little Nyonya is where Pop’s Restobar used to be, the restaurant right beside Metro Poker Club along Quirino Avenue.

GMA Network reinforces presence in Mindanao

Friday, February 22, 2013 - 08:58 p.m.

BROADCAST leader GMA Network Inc. has continued to expand the reach of its newly launched Cagayan de Oro-based originating station dubbed GMA Northern Mindanao to further beef up its presence in the regions.

Last January, the Network completed the conglomeration of three TV relay facilities of its local channels namely: TV-5 Ozamiz, TV-4 Dipolog and TV-3 Pagadian with its Cagayan De Oro originating station. This enables the rebroadcast of the Northern Mindanao programs to the areas that are presently reached by these relay stations.

More school buildings up under Kaalam program

Friday, February 22, 2013 - 01:53 a.m.

THE Oplan Kaalam program of Davao City First District Rep. Karlo B. Nograles gets bigger with the allocation of at least P9 million to build three more school buildings, coming on top of more teacher items and additional beneficiaries for the Nograles Supplemental School Feeding Program.

Nograles said the allocation of P3 million for each school building at the Talomo National High School, RC Quimpo Elementary School and Matina Central Elementary School are the realization of his promise to their respective beneficiaries.

Almost Phi Phi

Thursday, February 21, 2013 - 12:22 a.m.

CONFESSION: the primary reason I traveled to Phuket is to make it the jump-off point to Phi Phi Island. The rest -- everything around Phuket and Krabi, will be a plus. Forgive me Yashee -- friend, host and tour guide extraordinaire -- but Phuket is not on top of the list.

However, the Universe had other plans for me.

Call a 'Taksea'

Thursday, February 21, 2013 - 12:20 a.m.

HAD it not rained the previous days, everybody could have felt the scorching heat and seen the blinding, midday glare of the sun with summer season fast-approaching, at last!

As the school year will officially come to a close in more than a month from now, Dabawenyos and tourists will once again flock in droves to the beach resorts of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) and make it lively again with a slew of summer activities.

DLPC-planted trees line up Magtuod-Calinan road

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 09:48 p.m.

IN JULY 2010, over three hundred employees of Aboitiz-owned Davao Light & Power Co. (DLPC) and Aboitiz-controlled Union Bank of the Philippines virtually lined up the entire length of the Magtuod-New Valencia section of the shortcut from Carlos P. Garcia Diversion Road to Calinan.

They were there for a noble purpose -- plant some 4,000 trees for the environment and for safety consideration. They were there as employees of socially responsible corporate citizens.

Livelihood from wastes to go national

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 09:48 p.m.

FORMER Las Pinas representative Cynthia Villar said she can do more and push for her advocacies, particularly her "livelihood projects out of waste," on a national scope if she wins in the Senate race in the May elections.

Misis Hanep Buhay's livelihood projects from wastes have gained international recognition when she was given the UN award for "Best Water Management Practice in the World," beating 38 countries.

Smart wins at 4th Panata Awards

Monday, February 18, 2013 - 11:43 p.m.

"LIVE MORE," Smart's integrated brand campaign that highlights the importance of reliable network connections in the lives of Filipinos, bagged a Silver Award at the recently concluded 4th Panata Awards.

At the same ceremony held at the InterContinental Manila, "Araw-Araw Panalo," the multimedia campaign of Smart’s value brand, Talk ‘N Text, was also recognized with a Citation of Merit. Smart was chosen among over 100 Panata Award entries, and was the only telco recognized at the awards program.

Villa de Mercedes: A romantic getaway

Sunday, February 17, 2013 - 10:57 p.m.

DATING within the premise of a busy metropolitan area is nothing compared to having a date in a silent, auspicious place in the outskirt of Davao City. That's the latest trend among the couples today.

Going farther from the city, many restaurants offer the same quality and tasty foods, given the rising number of people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

A Bulgogi Brothers dinner

Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 10:01 p.m.

OKAY, it’s now time to try out what’s inside the malls after exploring the nooks and crannies of Davao and discovering the delights of locals and migrants alike.

Friday night was spent at one of SM Lanang’s newest, the Bulgogi Brothers, a Korean restaurant chain.

Whirlpool holds laundry seminar

Friday, February 15, 2013 - 09:40 p.m.

AS PART of its corporate citizenship program and to assist interested entrepreneurs to start an effective and profitable laundry business, Whirlpool will be holding a two-day laundry seminar on March 15 to 16, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at North Palm Hotel & Garden on JP Laurel ave. in Davao City.

The seminar organized by Whirlpool, the world's leading manufacturer of washing machines as well as other major appliances, is intended to support, educate and encourage people who are looking for new businesses to get into a lucrative industry.

Watershed conservation efforts get support

Friday, February 15, 2013 - 09:40 p.m.

AFTER the successful first run of a project to help conserve the Davao River watershed, Holcim Philippines has renewed its partnership with an environment group to train an indigenous community in the Marilog uplands on ideal farming techniques to discourage them from timber-poaching.

On January 22, Holcim Davao signed a memorandum of agreement to extend by another year the financial support to the Kinaiyahan Foundation Inc. for the training of 40 more Matigsalug families on Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT). The said technique is designed to put less pressure on the remaining forest ecosystem in Marilog, located about 60 kilometers away from the city proper.

Nograles lauded for winning award

Friday, February 15, 2013 - 12:24 a.m.

CONGRATULATORY messages have continuously flowed in to the direction of Representative Karlo B. Nograles (1st district, Davao City) who has been chosen by a prestigious international branding and polling outfit as one of the Most Outstanding Congressmen of the Philippines.

Councilor Joanne Bonguyan and an organization of college scholars were among the well-wishers of Nograles who recently received the Superbrands’ Most Outstanding Congressman Award in just his first term at the House of Representatives. They said “Nograles made Davao City proud.”

San Pedro tops board exams anew

Friday, February 15, 2013 - 12:23 a.m.

SAN PEDRO College, a premier school of Nursing and medical-allied programs, has proven, once again, its leadership in academic formation as shown by the school’s exemplary performance in the latest licensure examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

In the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) given last December 2012, SPC ranked Top 8 in the list of Top Performing Schools of Nursing in the Philippines by its high passing rate of 89.41 percent.

Royal Mandaya Hotel treats couples on Valentine's Day

Thursday, February 14, 2013 - 12:23 a.m.

MAKE your Valentine's date memorable as you treat your loved one to sumptuous dinner and topnotch entertainment.

You can do this at the same at The Royal Mandaya Hotel where couples are given royal treatment as they celebrate Heart's Day today.

New combo meals at Dexter's