source: http://mountainbike.box.com.ph/2010/07/19th-combat-mtb-race/

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This time, standby pahuway ’sa kadali si bike as this summer’s quite different yet exciting as I’m heading to Central Mindanao to join the Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour / the 1st SoCCSKSarGen Summer Safari.

Last May 29 at 3AM,  fellow CDO Bloggers Jovelyn, Rubelito, Edward, Venus, Eldie, Elva and Michael were already at C7 convenience store in Divisoria. I was a couple of minutes late from a college reunion but we managed to leave CDO at around 4 and enjoyed the whole morning in Bukidnon’s long and winding road.

Along the way, as we enjoyed the overlooking views, the left rear tire unfortunately caught on a shallow but rough hole in the road causing its edge to jagged a bit and got flat. Fortunately, the surroundings were cool enough for us to take pictures. Chiq and the rest excluding Mike, went on ahead and reached Seagull Resorts, some meters away from where we had a flat tire. In less than an hour, we managed to go back on the track as we descend from the cozy Bukidnon to the warm Davao.

We headed to RANCHERO GRILL for lunch and of course, meet Davao Bloggers.

The Davao leg of the Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour was highlighted by a meet-up between Davao and CDO Bloggers at Ranchero Grill. - brendelbalaga.com | Photo by Lyle Santos

We introduced ourselves as others already have known each other from the previous meet-ups and events like the recent Mindanao Bloggers Summit held in Cagayan de Oro. While having our conversation, we also enjoyed the delectable foods served at RANCHERO such as these restaurant’s bestsellers – Seafood Vegetables, Isda sa Miso (Tiyan ng Bangus), Karagatan, Pinapugon na Liempo, Ranchero Ribs, Garlic Chicken, Seafood Kare-Kare, Seafood Platter, and Pancit Canton.

When you visit Davao City, don’t miss to try out RANCHERO GRILL located at Tionko corner Arellano Street. Pwerteng lami-a gyud sa mga pagkaon!

After lunch, together with Davao bloggers, we took an aircon bus, then traveled 3 hours to the highly-urbanized General Santos City. One caught my attention as I gazed the wide beautiful plains is the majestic Mount Matutum as its imposing cone shape dominates the landscape of General Santos to Koronadal City.

Ice Castle Experience will open soon. Experience the luxury while staying in General Santos City.

When we arrived at GenSan, a van took us to the hotel, thanks to MAYOR JUN ACHARON.  We stayed at ICE CASTLE EXPERIENCE, the newest hotel in General Santos that will open SOON! We’re very grateful to the owner REY BILLENA for ICE CASTLE EXPERIENCE to be the official home of the participants of SOCCSKSARGEN BLOGGERS’ Soccksargen Summer Safari from Cagayan de Oro and Davao Cities.

Not far from the hotel, we headed to PACMAN SPORTS BAR. We had a great time playing billiards, looking at awesome pacman items and posters, sipping drinks, enjoying the mouthwatering cheese sticks, tasty garlic chicken, and the one I couldn’t stop eating – the succulent beef sizzling sisig!

It’s time for our dinner so we have to leave the sports bar to our next stop – LE JARDIN ARNEVEL. Yes, tinuod! Wala pa mi nanihapon ato. We’re surprised to see lots of luscious foods at their poolside such as chicken barbecue, sinugbang panga, crabs, guso, kinilaw na malasugue, and lechon baboy! Lupig pa man ang ga-piyesta!

photo by Lyle Santos

The feast continued as we went to Donna Mae Congson’s PIYESTA KTV and RESTO BAR to meet the SoCCSKSarGen bloggers. There were really a lot bloggers and foods (kaon na ’sab!) and the place was di mahulugang tuna! I tried Piyesta’s Jell-O Shots and Gayuma. I can’t describe the idea but it’s really creative and unique. It’s my first time to put a large syringe in my mouth with jelly alcohol in it. Not sure if it’s the right description but I will never forget my experience there at Piyesta. Naa na pud lechon from Mayor Jun Acharon! Next time, I’ll try Piyesta’s kurasticks, sizzling ubol-ubol, and tuna buntot!

photo by Lyle Santos

Aside from the kainan and injections, we all introduced ourselves – some are simple and short, while others went so on and so forth. There were  a lot of conversations not just between bloggers but also among tweeters and plurkers. Recharged, together with some  CDO and Davao bloggers, we went outside to explore the place. I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign. So the CDO Bloggers, with the participation of Jun, we performed our disappearing act to those people who made the event successful.

It’s already late and still a lot of excitements to happen on the next day. So we bid our good night to other bloggers and went to the hotel. But before that, we went to a convenience store beside Pacman Sports Bar and spotted The Destroyer Manny Pacman Pacquiao playing billiard. Lucky enough to get close as it’s my first time to see him in person. Though we didn’t bother to go inside, Rob manage to take some jabs.

Day 2 will follow shortly…

Please enjoy the video while waiting.

(Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines – October 21, 2009) – It’s all systems go for the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) as they play host to the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, an annual gathering of Mindanao-based bloggers, IT industry experts, community leaders and new media advocates, on October 24, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City. Roughly 300 bloggers are expected to attend this year’s summit.

With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” (Changing The Way People See Mindanao) the event aims to uphold the beauty and strength of Mindanao, to highlight the diverse cultures and fascinating tourist spots that are uniquely Mindanao and to provide a platform where bloggers and other new media practitioners can discuss concerns related to Mindanao – all with the help of new and emerging technologies.

“Mindanao is the home of everything fascinating or in bloggers’ lingo – bloggable. Through the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, it is the hope of the CDO Bloggers, along with our partners and generous sponsors, that we listen to knowledgeable resource persons, meet other Mindanaoan bloggers, share and maximize all of our skills and resources and adopt tried and tested practices that can help us to fully promote Mindanao and for us to become better bloggers as well,” emphasized Chiq Montes, president of CDO Bloggers.

“Of course, we also want all of the participants to have a good time and experience the sights and sounds of Cagayan de Oro,” Montes added.

Montes said that apart from Mindanaoan bloggers, the summit will also see the participation of some bloggers from Luzon and Visayas.

Expected to grace the summit are United States Embassy’s new Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, Atty. Adel Tamano, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino ‘Tinnex’ Jaraula.

Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking United States Embassy dignitary is set to deliver the keynote address. Bassett’s trip to CDO will be her first trip to Mindanao since assuming office in June. She previously served as DCM in Mexico.

“We are deeply honored. We’re certain that the summit participants will be delighted to meet her and we can’t wait for her to see our beautiful city,” Montes said.

Other speakers during the whole-day affair include Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Atty. Adel Tamano.

Google’s Philippine representative Aileen Apolo, whose talk will focus on beginners, Digital Filipino’s Janette Toral, who will discuss blog advertising and Lyle Santos, who will talk about making money online will also be present. Representatives of other blogger groups including those in Davao City, General Santos City and Zamboanga will also give updates.

After the summit proper, participants have the choice of joining either the city tour (Xavier University Museum, Cathedral, Divine Mercy Shrine, Opol Aviary, Limketkai Mall) or the whitewater rafting adventure.

Also happening on October 24, right after the MBS 3, is the Philippine Blog Awards – Mindanao awarding ceremonies.

CDO Bloggers, Inc., a group duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is the lead organizer of this year’s Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3. Previous summits took place in Davao City and General Santos City.

The Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is generously supported by SMART Communications Inc, Nokia, Syntactics, Inc., STI, Rafting Adventure Philippines, MakatiAve.com, Majesty Sales Center, Havaianas Philippines, OLX Philippines Free Classifieds, Clara Shoppe, ASTERISK Events and Communications, RG & K Construction, Paguia’s Cottages, ThePacificaCompanies.com, The Site, Spruce, The City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Office of CDO First District Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy, SM City Cagayan de Oro, Ultra Craft Advertising Corporation, Magnet Advertising, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and the Mindanao Bloggers community. Media partners include Papa Ardie’s Concepz, STI, ABS CBN, MOR 91.9 and HOT FM 106.3.

For more information about the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, log on to http://www.mbscdo.com

About CDO Bloggers

CDOBloggers or Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Inc. is a duly SEC-registered organization that promotes Cagayan de Oro through blogging. Among the group’s goals are to create impact in society through blogging, to help promote Mindanao to the world as a bustling and peaceful land, to promote Cagayan De Oro City and Kagay-anons around the world with a sense of pride and to use blogging as a media platform.

The CDO Bloggers group is the main organizer of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 (MBS 3). For more information about MBS 3, log on to http://www.mbscdo.com

For more information about CDO Bloggers, visit http://www.cdobloggers.com or send email to cdobloggersinc  {at} gmail.com

About Mindanao Bloggers

Mindanao Bloggers aims to unify the island through this exciting new medium — the way of the blog — thereby promoting deeper understanding of our different cultures and beliefs. Thus, it is hoped that this community blog will help in presenting to the world at large the true beauty of the Philippine South, as well as the marvelous diversity of the peoples of Mindanao. For more information about Mindanao Bloggers, visit http://www.mindanaobloggers.com

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FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

ASTERISK Events and Communications
http://www.asteriskeventsandcommunications.com
Mobile number: (+63) 919 238 6575 / (+63) 922 478 5218
Email address: asteriskEC {at} gmail.com

PinoyExp joins Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Cagayan de Oro

CDO Bloggers will be hosting the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City on the 24th of October this year followed by the Philippine Blog Awards at night.

With the theme “Mindanao Bag-ohon ang Panan-aw”, this big event aims to give better understanding about Mindanao tourism, people, and culture. An event that will give us a chance to meet fellow bloggers, expand network, and of course, build friendship!

Sounds fun and exciting? Sign up for the pre-registration now!

For more info, you can visit MBS-3 CDO and Mindanao Bloggers website.

flyers and posters

Through the effort and dedication of the CDOBlogger officers and members, the 1st CDObloggers Blogging 101 workshop was a success!

How did it started? How’s it planned? Who were those people attended the event? Why is it all about blogging and not mountain biking?

CDOBloggers wanted to share ideas about blogging, inviting people to blog whatever they want to write and express themselves on the blogosphere. A lot been asking lately about how blogging can be a powerful and actually let you earn just by writing. Today, a lot actually care about how they’ll be able to make use of their internet at homes. Others, wanted to document their lives and publish it online where their families and friends could read them while some wanted to just sell their good-as-new wears.

The Core

CDOBloggers decided to call out a meeting for the spearheads. During the second week of this month, there were discussions about having a workshop in the city. A workshop that might inspire people to do and share it with others. Somehow, a good idea for those who wants to have fun and earn as well, expand their networks and make friends; CDOBloggers announced it’s first Blogging 101 Workshop in the public.

With discussions/meetings held every week, members exchanged ideas and provided roles voluntarily to make the event possible. Everybody’s excited about it and wrote down general topics for the speakers. These topics, molded with experiences for over these years, will be shared to public for free*.

It’s all set. Topics were finalized for each speakers as well as the venue and date. It’s time to let the people know about the workshop. CDOBloggers posted the event on the internet – plurking, tweeting, writing about it. Informing officemates, friends, and relatives through SMS. Giving out flyers to the public, printouts posted all over the city – were just some of the funny activies we did.

Then came the first big event. May 23 at Sentro 1850, CDOBloggers didn’t expect a lot of people to join the workshop. There were students, professionals, couples, parents, bloggers and even non-bloggers! It’s for them, it’s for everybody – the Blogging 101 workshop, made possible by the dedicated CDOBloggers and the interested listeners.

CDOBloggers Blogging 101 Workshop

Gold Star Daily News says:
FROM all obvious appearances, CDO Bloggers began as an online social network, a meeting place where virtual scribbling enthusiasts could exchange thoughts, view profiles and engage in light banter. From the very beginning though, during its founding in November of last year, the group already had undercurrents of a deeper goal. Continue reading..

mountaineer equipments

In preparation for the D2K (Mt. Dulang-dulang to Mt. Kitanglad) Traverse mountain climbing this coming June 12-15, ATTACK decided to organize an event for the benefits of the members – the BMC or basic mountaineering course. Though the group have been into mountaineering for the past years, it would be necessary to have this course where most of the mountaineers here in the country (or even in other countries) serves this as a prerequisite before a major climb.