This month of September General Santos is celebrating the Tuna Festival 2010. Last week the GenSan Tunafest experience already started with 12th National Tuna Congress and 42nd Charter Day Anniversary. There are a lot more of activities for the whole month September organized for the Tuna Festival just like; Mr. and Ms. GenSan 2010, Pasiklaban Cheer Dance, GenSan Pop Idol Year 6, Fishdance Hip-Hop Dance Competition, GTX Mardi-Gras Competition (Street Dancing). To know more chech out the schedule of activities.
To learn more of the Gensan Tuna Festival visit the Gensan Tuna Festival Press Release and GenSan News Online Mag.

The Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) group is set to play host to the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, which will be held on October 24, 2009. With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” the MBS 3 aims to uphold the beauty and strength of the island and to expunge the negative notions the world has about it.

(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 tocdobloggersinc@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@gmail.com

Last Sunday, October 18, 2009, I received an email inviting me to join the WiFi launching at SM City Cagayan de Oro. I attended the event and it was fun. There was also a blog writing contest which I didn’t join because it was an on the spot blog writing contest which was also way out of may league in blogging (na mental block jud kay!)

a Dad tried the SM City free WiFi through his PSP

kids accessed the web using SM City free wifi

the real Lola Techie at SM City Cagayan de Oro WiFi launch

Thank you very much SM City Cagayan de Oro for offering the free WiFi access. This is a great addition to your wonderful services to the people of Cagayan de Oro and other neighboring places. This will also add convenience, ease and and a more different experience while Shopping and Dining at SM City Cagayan de Oro.

What makes me excited is that I am going to meet and greet my blogging idols Aileen Apollo and Janet Toral to name a few. There are lots of blog that I read and like. In fact I have them in my Google Reader to keep me updated. Those blogs are the reason why I named this blog “Awatiro”. I am proud to say that I am ‘Awatiro‘ , the second rate trying hard blogger. But then I do not consider myself as a blogger because I blog not very often. I attend events and take photos but then I can’t post them here immediately. Too bad ;(

Meanwhile, I have read the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit program and it excites me more. Blog Advertising and Make Money Online will be tackled during the event. Wow!, I am starting to imagine a paycheck now $$$$$ whew!!! My registration fee will be a little investment to a bigger opportunities then. I should not worry about it because I can get it back.  I think I will have a good time bonding with other bloggers. Yeah, bonding moments with them and I will make “kulit” questions by then to know their blogging secrets and how to be a better blogger. I’m hoping tips and tricks would slip from their tongues ehehehehehehe

I am torn between White Water Rafting or The City Tour in Cagayan de Oro package tours bundled with the registration of the event. I haven’t tried the river adventure but then the City Tour will be a lot more fun to mingle with other bloggers. Sigh!, ahhhmmmm. Halp! pleys! Halp!

In fairness, CDO Bloggers managed to list and posted almost all of the places to stay in CDO. This would be a big help to those participants to book their hotels easier. If ever you need help in choosing your accommodations, drop me an email at awatiro[@]gmail.com. I might suggest other cheap and nice places.

To all the bloggers out there, check your schedules and calendars and if you’re free on October 24, 2009, come and join the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit here in Cagayan de Oro City!

THE 1st DC PHILIPPINES SKATEBOARD COMPETITION AND BMX DEMO last October 3, 2009 at the SM City Cagayan de Oro Las Ramblas Parking Lot between 10 am to 6pm. I was able to take a few snapshots of the event.

I was into BMX when I was in high school but then other priorities came in which ended me up in blogging and photography. So now, all those dreams and wishes to try any sports like bmx or skteboarding is just a click away. I may not be the one who is on that board or bike but then capturing the right action and exhilarating moment is a different sense of thrill and fun

Not knowingly, my blog posts here helps in recovering the negative image of Mindanao. The blog posts somehow adds more topics for Search Engines to feed on. As what I undestood that every good post pertaining to Mindanao will give a balance to those not so good to hear news about the image of Mindanao.

This coming October 24, 2009, Mindanao Bloggers (that I think I am one of them!) will be having the biggest blogging event and that is the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3. It will be the biggest gathering of Bloggers from all over the Philippines who blogs about Mindanao and those bloggers who loved Mindanao.

Check out MBSCDO.com for more details

There will also be another event for bloggers (like me) which is the Philippine Blog Awards.

The Philippine Blog Awards, the first of which was held around the same time that the Mindanao Bloggers Community came into existence, is embarking on a grander and more meaningful undertaking this year. In order to make the Awards a truly Filipino experience, PBA2009 is going to be a nationwide effort, with Regional Awards to be held in Mindanao and the Visayas.

The theme of this year’s PBA is One Blogging Nation.

Check out Mindanao Bloggers site for more details. http://www.mindanaobloggers.com/2009/08/18/philippine-blog-awards-mindanao-regional-awards/

From:

and from all other people!

Images were taken from Spruce’s Doodling event. Kudus to the artists. (Ang galing nyo mga pre!)

Last Aug. 21-23, 2009, I was lucky enough to be invited by the Oro Photographic Society to have a fun-filled photo op at the National Horse Show Competition.  That was my first time ever to see a Horse Show Competition. It was a 3 day event which of course I never missed a day. There was endurance race on the first day, the obstacle run and the barrel competition. A lot of action and thrills made the crowd, (and me of course!) really excited and amazed.

Check out some of the action pack moments I got

These were the best of all the shoots among of the 500 photos I took. (Bisag mao ra jud ni ang nasalagmaan kay! )

Hello world!

The whole city of Cagayan de Oro is gearing for the upcoming grandeur event for this month of August. Cagayan de Oro hotel and accommodation reservations is building up. Searches and web traffic about Kagay-an Festival 2009 is rising. Ladies, check out the official list of events which will be your CDO Guide for the Kagay-an Festival 2009.

Core Events

Yup, that’s the Core Events and highlights of the Kagay-an Festival 2009. But wait, you can also check out other events here in Cagayan de Oro. Here’s your CDO Guide to accredited Kagay- an Festival 2009 events

Accredited Events

What are you waiting for? Book a flight now, reserve an accommodation and pack up your bags for Cagayan de Oro’s Kagay-an Festival 2009.

If you need a personal CDO guide for the Kagay-an Festival 2009, send me an email (awatiro[@]gmail.com) or give me a yahoo call (awatiro).

Are you a fan of Motor Cross? 4×4 off road challenge? In a little town like Damulog, Bukidnon , the people can hardly afford to get to see the Motor Cross or the 4×4 off-road competition. No one will go there. Aside from being the last town of Bukidnon, it is a hundred kilometers away from big cities. But it didn’t stop some of the off road enthusiasts. With their no extraordinary motor bikes, they themselves have their own Moto Trail Off Road challenge.

Last August 14, 2009, the Damulog Moto Trail enthusiasts organized an invitational Moto Trail event which was participated by other off road trailers from neighboring municipalities as far as Quezon, Bukidnon.

It was my first time to see a real off road challenge with motorcycles in it. The event was way different from 4×4 pick ups and jeeps. The adrenalin was really pumping for the riders as they faced every off road obstacles. There was mud and water, which covered the whole motor bike’s engine and a lot more. Sweat, mud, dirt and heat disappoints every rider to get the shortest time they could have to finish the track.

I am not good with words to describe the Damulog Moto Trail Challenge event, so I think I will just show you the photos I took.