Welcoming the Year of the Water Snake

SHOPPERS felt like they were in China with the Chinatown concept of reds, variety shows, dragon and lion dances and everything Chinese inside SM City on Sunday during the celebration of the Chinese New year.

Mall goers were definitely enlivened and enthralled of the mall’s complete transformation into a Chinatown, through the efforts of Ms. Jena Morales, SM Mall’s Senior Visual Display Manager for Visayas and Mindanao.

Kingsbridge (Part Two)

WHAT changed? Simply put, the purpose of the game changed for me. Before the attacks came, I was content with the quests and the tasks. Some were difficult to do; others required waiting and waiting especially when your energy ran out. But after raiding other villages, I found out that you could get what you wanted without waiting or working. You merely had to have force.

PEAK: Fostering a culture of family-approach review excellence

If you want to have what you have never had, then you must do what you have never done” - Aileene B. Ajeas, R.N. (10th Placer December 2012 NLE; Cum Laude, Father Saturnino Urios University)

WHAT does it take to top the Nurse Licensure Exam (NLE)? Does diligent studying alone guarantees to make one conquer the feat? How does culture help in the process of positive thinking?

ALS grabs Kalumpangan Festival ‘best booth’ award

THE Alternative Learning Center of Barangay Iponan in Cagayan de Oro was hailed as the grand champion in the recently-held booth contest, one of the highlights of the week-long activities of “Kalumpangan Festival” in honor of the village’s patron saint, Sr. San Guillermo, whose feast is celebrated today, February 10.

During the award’s night held last Thursday, the residents who dressed up the ALS booth received a trophy, cash prize, roundtrip ticket for two to Manila and one live cow.

2013: Year of the Snake

IT IS time to welcome the Chinese New Year with positive vibes and feel for a better year ahead.

So many things have been said on the radio, printed in papers, websites and social networking sites and shown on TV. And being of Chinese descent, it is just but natural to follow some “guidelines,” traditions and beliefs handed down by my family and associates.

Prey and Not Pray

IN this digital age that we all live in, we are continually faced with the challenge of keeping up with our gadgets. We have our laptops where most of our schoolwork are stored. For the corporate types, you probably have in your laptops your spreadsheets, password protected legal documents, digital journals, digital music collection and all that photos you take of yourself when the boss is not looking.

Cave tourism: The next adventure attraction in Northern Samar

LAS NAVAS, Northern Samar—If you feel like being a caver just for a day, kit yourself out with a lighted helmet, a jumpsuit and boots, and prepare to descend into the entrails of Northern Samar tourist caves.

Open Spaces 2013 – The 3rd Baguio Music Festival

TO OTHERS, February in Baguio means float and street dancing parades, but to some musicians and music lovers, it is also time for the annual Baguio Music Festival.

Launched in 2011 with the support of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. and chaired by Councilor Richard Cariño, “Open Spaces 2013 – The 3rd Baguio Music Festival” promises to be an exciting showcase of musical talents. And as in the previous festivals, this year’s four-day event will take audiences on a diverse musical journey highlighting the richness of the local music scene in various venues at Camp John Hay.

Popper boy helps beggar

A BOY who is usually seen in the city’s public areas continues to amaze passersby with his robotic dance moves and costume.

He is usually seen in Malcolm Square, Session Road, Burnham Park and Melvin Jones along the sidewalks dancing as passersby drop coins in his elongated hat. However, the boy will freeze like a statue when the time for the coins ends.

Steak Wizard of Oz

WHILE other international franchises “test the waters” first in Manila when choosing where to open in the Philippines, Hog’s Breath Cafe, an Australia-based company, boldly took the other route and set up its first restaurant in Davao.

“Davao is a place where cultures of different origins meet. It is a place where everybody is welcome. And that is why we opened here in Davao, a place where our “Hogster” is welcome and everyone would be proud that Hog’s Breath Cafe’s “Hogster” first stepped foot in Davao,” says Sly Camba, general manager of Hog’s Breath Cafe Davao.

Mercato: An architectural highlight

DUBAI has so many shopping malls but there is one that appeals to me.

Mercato Shopping Mall is a shopping centre in Jumeirah - around 45 minutes by Metro train from my second home in Muhaisnah 3.

Kung Hei Fat Choi: Feng Shui 101

DO YOU believe in Feng Shui? When you hear that word, you immediately think of Chinese zodiac, horoscopes, and amulets. But the truth is Feng Shui, which literally means wind-water, is an ancient art that relies on the arrangement of things to achieve harmony and balance in order to improve one’s life. This Chinese system from 6, 000 years ago uses different theories such as the Yin Yang theory, Five Elements, Flying Stars and many more.

With the Chinese New Year just a few days away, everyone is surely excited to get their fortunes told in hopes of hearing that they will be lucky this year. So what is the forecast for the year 2013?

Dinagyang 2013 now trending

ILOILO City’s Dinagyang Festival 2013 climaxed on a high note showcasing the city’s premier celebration and Ilonggos cultural excellence, the city mayor said.

What is love?

WHEN you see a man and a woman walking with arms wrapped, what are your thoughts about them?

Flood water into wine

RECENTLY, this writer had merienda at the home of a Pro-Life Activist. “I will live a simple, eco-friendly life,” Criselda Buenaventura disclosed to me.

Discernment recollection set

DILAAB Foundation, in partnership with Couples for Christ, will hold a discernment recollection for all candidates in the May 2013 elections and the election stakeholders.

Medical team in Cebu for free vasectomy

A GROUP of urologists and doctors from the United States and Canada is in the Philippines from Feb. 5 to 12 for a free “no needle/no scalpel vasectomy (NSV)” mission.

In Cebu City, the medical mission will be held at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Villa Aznar Road, Urgello St. on Feb. 5, 6 and 12, while on Feb. 7 and 8, it will be held at the Tuburan District Hospital in Tuburan town, Cebu.

Cemex launches EHS programs, holds seminar

CONTRACTORS, department heads, supervisors and rank-and-file employees recently attended a seminar and launching of the safety, health and environment programs of the Apo Cement Corp. (Cemex) and Apo Land Quarry Corp. in Tinaan, City of Naga, Cebu.

Foundation offers dental services

THE Juanito I. King Foundation Inc. (JIKFI) through its mobile dental van project, jumpstarts 2013 with a series of dental missions

Groups help students, schools recover from Pablo

TULONG Kapatid, the consolidated disaster response of the consortium of companies under the Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) and the PLDT Group, has committed to support 15 schools in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley for supplementary feeding for the next four months.

Coco sweeteners as healthy alternative

ONE thing health conscious individuals have in common is avoiding sugar intake. For some of them, foods are better off blunt in taste rather than putting in more sugar and worry about weight gain.

American editor’s quote inspires 2 mothers

A RENOWNED American newspaper editor once said “I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.”

This quote by William Allen White motivated two mothers - at their 50s – who have found an abundant life ahead from selling the masterpiece of the country’s top homebuilder - Camella Communities, slowly dispelling the yesterdays of subsistence living, barely making ends meet.

Organic farming gains ground

IN SULTAN Mastura, Maguindanao, most farmers are now growing rice organically. More farmers are following suit as they have seen the sweet harvest of those who went ahead of them and practiced what was earlier was less popular.

"Organic agriculture is the answer," pointed out Jessica Reyes-Cantos of the Manila-based Rice Watch and Action Network. "It won't only retain soil productivity but it can make farming viable. If farmers will have additional income from their land they will continue to plant rice."

Lourdes College

IT'S February once again and it is a special month for all Lourdesians because this is where we old gals of Lourdes College attend the annual homecoming and pay homage to our Alma Mater. As an alumna, I find it fitting that I write about this august institution that has contributed so much to the field of education in Northern Mindanao.

In 1912, Fr. Arnalot, a Spanish Jesuit, invited the Sisters of the Compania de la Virgen Maria, the first indigenous congregation for women in the country, to teach in a parochial school in Cagayan de Misamis (now Cagayan de Oro). The Sisters taught the parish kindergarten and catechism classes. Later, the Sisters opened a dormitory for girls, named Santa Teresita Dormitory.

Hello World!

Hello! My name is Roark but you can call me Wacky because that’s how most people know me. I’m a tech fan and I’ve been wading and swimming in the waters of the computing and gadget world for the last decade or so.

Smile like a donut, love like a child

WASN’T it yesterday that we met the first day of 2013? And now it’s already February? I don’t know if you feel the same way I do, doesn’t time rush by too quickly? No, it’s not my age that concerns me but how twenty -four hours can pass with a blink of an eye. It rattles my brain and makes me ask myself – Where did the day go?, Did I do enough?, Was it a happy today?, Did I make anyone happy today? Which leads to more questions — Have I traveled enough? Have I loved enough?

Germany: Rich Diversity

GERMANY is often underrated as a destination, despite its picture-postcard medieval villages, dynamic modern cities and swathes of idyllic countryside. Many of the world’s most beloved seasonal traditions originate in Germany, such as the Christmas tree and the Advent Calendar.

My family always consider Munich as our home in Germany which has a rich heritage as the city of beer, breweries, beer gardens and beer festivals like the Ocktoberfest. The city is 850-yrs old with a combination of old and new, huge palaces, beautiful churches and 21st architectural masterpieces. Munich is a large city so I can mention only a few places among those I visited. The Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and Glockenspiel are located in Marienplatz, the bustling center of Munich. A few meters away are the Viktualienmarkt (18th c. farmer’s market) and St. Peter’s Church.

Students nationwide 'Jump In' to Smart

THOUSANDS of students have made the big switch to Smart and are now enjoying the affordable and best-value offers of the wireless leader's "Jump In" prepaid SIM.

Designed specifically for young barkadas, the Jump In SIM gives users unlimited texts to all networks for two days; or unlimited texts, 30 minutes of calls to five friends on the Smart, Sun, and Talk 'N Text networks, and 10 MB of data for one day all for just P15.

A new dining experience at TGI Friday's

WITH the opening of additional malls here in the City of Golden Friendship, Kagay-anons will no longer be deprived of a superb dining experience amidst a fun atmosphere as they can indulge in flavorful dishes similar to what bigger cities offer.

The Bistro Group, owner of quality food chains in the Country, has expanded its horizon and chose Cagayan de Oro as its new niche for its restaurants like the TGI Friday’s, which recently opened its new branch at the ground floor of Centrio Mall.

Les Mis

SO WE finally got to watch the film. We ended up in Abreeza for the viewing. We were early by just a few minutes so we settled down and looked around a bit. I was half expecting a standing room scenario with all sorts of people raring to make the theater one big karaoke sing along.