Wanna spend your holiday vacation productive and fun? Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Premier brings you TRIVIA NIGHT - Christmas Edition!


DATE : December 29, 2018

TIME : Registration starts at 6:00pm registration; Games start at 7:00pm

VENUE : Ribs & Bibs, JR Borja Street, CDO

REGISTRATION FEE : P299 per person (P100 consumable)

PRIZES:
1st Prize - P5,000+ Lechon
2nd Prize - P3,000 + Lechon Belly
3rd Prize - P2,000 + Lechon Manok

Proceeds of this event will go to PolioPlus and other RC CDO Premier projects

GAME RULES AND POSSIBLE TOPICS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON. Keep posted at rotarycdopremier.org's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rotarycdopremier/

Looking for an authentic eat-all-you-can Chinese Buffet?


Merry Time Hotpot is your place to go! Hot Pot is one of the most popular cuisines in Chinese culture and Merry Time Hotpot has brought that here in CDO. Hot pot dishes include thinly sliced pork meat, beef, chicken, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, tofu, seafood and many more.


There's a simmering soup in the middle of the table, then choose different flavors of broth.

But first, you need to make your dipping sauce, the sauce is the most important ingredient in hot pot meal because it is the one that brings out and compliments the flavors of the foods.

Then choose your food of choice from the conveyor belt, your selections are endless and you can take whatever you want as long as you are going to eat it.




Check out the video below:


Dining at Merry Time Hotpot is good for Family and friends. There is a saying that you don't "hot-pot" with people you don't like. So, be sure to hot pot together with the people you love. You will surely have a good time cooking together, sharing a meal and trying out something new, thus, connotes the Chinese traditional culture of unity and reunion.

So, come and bring your family and friends at Merry Time Hotpot and experience authentic Chinese cuisines in CDO!

They are located at the ground floor of Cagayan Town Center, corner of Antonio Luna & Capt. Vicente Roa Streets, Cagayan de Oro City.

They are serving LUNCH from 11:30AM to 2:00PM
DINNER from 5:00PM until 10:00PM

It is an All-you-can-eat buffet for only P498.00 per person.

For more information, you can contact them at 0917 168 0031
or visit their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/merrytimehotpot

They have some promos running this month:

* Students 10% OFF – Mondays to Fridays Only
* Birthday 4+1 – BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS get to ENJOY a 4+1 promo on their BIG DAY just present ID of proof that it’s your Birthday!
* CUSTOMERS can also WIN exciting FREEBIES just by playing any of their GAMES!
* CUSTOMERS will also get a FREE 2019 Calendar until supplies last!
* Avail of their Loyalty Card, if you purchase 8 meals, you will receive the 9th for FREE.

Good news to all Joesons Commercial Autoparts suki! Joesons Commercial, the leading supplier of brand new and surplus automotive parts in Northern Mindanao just opened their newest branch in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City last November 27, 2018.


Want to AVOID HEAVY TRAFFIC JAMS in Osmena Street?  Visit Joesons Bulua at FLC Building beside Gaisano City Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City.


 Joesons Bulua Opening Promos:


" Get a FREE T-shirt when you purchase a minimum of P700 of Optimum 8 products."
"Enjoy the discount for cash transactions"

 For more information, you can reach them at 09177220542 or email them at joesons.bulua.sales@gmail.com.

PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority Photo credit: CDOdev.com

Industrial Investment Continues to Grow in Misamis Oriental as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between HBIS Group Co.,Ltd., Huili Investment Fund Management Co.,Ltd., Steel Asia Manufacturing Corporation, and PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority to jointly implement the Philippine Iron and Steel Project in Misamis Oriental amounting to USD 4.4 billion-worth of investments.

The project comprises of two phases which will generate over 20,000 additional job opportunities." Secretary Ramon Lopez shared that the project will allow the country to substantially produce  basic iron and  steel products that will also further supply downstream steel products, like metal sheets and bars, including nails, staple wires, and paperclips as well as construction-grade products steel products such as wire rod and wire mesh. It will also support the Philippine’s bid to be a major producer of high-quality and safe steel products by 2030.

“This project is very important to our industrial development and will allow us pursue President Duterte’s vision of having a globally competitive integrated iron and steel industry, to support the growing economy, to alleviate poverty, and to create jobs for every Filipino,” said Sec. Lopez.

“This milestone is also a result of stronger relationship between Philippines and China under the leaderships of President Rodrigo Duterte and President Xi Jinping,” Sec. Lopez added.

The project will occupy a 305-hectare land inside the PHIVIDEC Industrial estate identified to be the most strategically-located industrial zone in our country for heavy industries right inside Mindanao. The facilities in the plant will include those related to port operation, sintering, coking, pelletizing, iron-making, steel-making, steel rolling and further processing. The construction and ramp-up period is scheduled to span from three to five years.

Phase I will cover production of 4.5 million tons of hot rolled coil (HRC) and 600,000 tons of slabs with USD 3 billion worth of investments. Meanwhile, the project will increase its steel manufacturing capacity to 8 million metric tons under Phase II.

Source: DTI

Where to eat in CDO?



Fat Chef Restaurant is a restaurant born from the city of Cagayan de Oro, it combines local ingredients and flavors to create a wide variety of comfort food.  The term ‘Fat Chef’ was coined to simply convey the idea that the food choices they are serving will surely fill everyone’s stomach or busog!

The owners were inspired to come up with this restaurant’s concept because they have been cooking for family members during their regular weekend get together.  They thought since they have been doing it regularly and their family and friends loved their foods, then why not do it into a next level, which is putting up a restaurant like Fat Chef and serves the foods they usually cooked to the Cagay-anons in general.

Their foods are surely what we all Cagay-anons love that are right in everybody’s budget. They are those one of your favorite Filipino dishes or some of it are your mom’s home cooked meal. In other words, they are serving their customers comfort foods, yet appetizing and delectable to your mouth.  Well, let me show you what are those, check out the series of photos and you will surely crave for it.

For appetizer:

Bulad Bruschetta is a toasted or grilled bread with bulad flakes dip.

Talong Kinilaw sa Gata - Grilled Talong with vinegar and coco milk.

Soup:

Bulalo with Beef Tendon Soup - Beef shank, beef tendon, sweet corn and veg.

Rice:

Steak Rice

Egg Rice

Pasta:

Truffle Pasta - White sauce with Shitake and Truffle Oil

Main course:

Fat Chef Sizzling Sinigang - Beef short plate in Sinigang Gravy.

Chicken Inasal sa Gata - Grilled Half-chicken in gata sauce.

Pinakbet sa Gata - Mashed kalabasa with gata, shrimp and mix veggies.

Dessert:

Mango Suman Float

Coffee:

Pour over coffee

Fat Chef Restaurant has a modern and cozy ambiance, well-lit dining area to make you feel homey while enjoying your favorite dishes.  It has this raw, unfinished warehouse look making it a modern industrial interior design. With unique light fixtures that adds the neutral tones of the place, fit for a family and friends get together.

Photo from Fat Chef FB Page

Fat Chef Restaurant envisions to become one of Cagayan de Oro’s pride in the food industry by consistently offering the Kagay-anons a diverse selection of comfort food and by providing a snug site for relaxation and interaction. It intends to satisfy its customers through its cuisines that are right on the budget but lavish in taste.

Fat Chef Owners

Watch out for their Soft Opening this Saturday, December 15, 2018.

Fat Chef Restaurant is located along Antonio Luna St., Cagayan de Oro City, near the Good Year Autocare Shop.

Known to all Kagay-anons as the "Amphi", this is the original Amphitheater, a historical site of Cagayan de Oro built around 1950's and most of the civic, cultural and political events of the city were being held here.

Photo from: cdodev.com

"It became the town's commercial center. Farmers from the mountains brought their produce via the Cagayan River, which is just a few meters behind the market. In 1958, City Mayor Justiniano R. Borja, transferred the public market to a bigger area in Cogon in a lot was donated by the Chaves family. This move created a new commercial center east of the City. 

In place of the old market, Mayor Borja built the Community Amphitheater or "Amphi", as it came to be known among the locals. Mrs. Esther Causin, a prominent civic leader, said that most of the funds used in building the "Amphi" came from the money generated from the Miss Cagayan de Oro contests. At that time, all the beauty contestants possessed the 3Bs - Beauty, Brains and Breeding but the most crucial was the 4th B - ballots! It was a money contest with proceeds going to a worthy civic or charitable cause." - Sunstar

But around 2010, the City Administration (Jaraula Administration) that time decided to demolished the old Amphitheater to redesigned the stage for the newly re-constructed City Amphitheater.

Photo: cdodev.com

This was the proposed redevelopment of the City Amphitheater, but it is already the last month of the 2018 and there's no Amphitheater stage on site! What happened to the redevelopment project since 2010? Where's our iconic Amphitheater now?

I hope whoever won on the election next year, they will continue the redevelopment of the Amphitheater, so that the city will have its own proper community stage where everyone can use for civic and cultural events. Most events in the city right now are being held on shopping malls and we know the fact that it costs a huge money just to hold an event on those venues.

Where's the Amphitheater Stage now?

Right now, the area was just used for massage therapists and skateboard players, the project costs millions but it is useless as of the moment, aside from the Police Station and a boxing ring below the proposed stage.

Have you missed Bamboo Live in CDO last year? Check out this video from Bamboo's last year's concert here in CDO for a preview!


Well, worry no more and save the date on December 13, 2018 because BAMBOO is BACK in CDO!

HE and Sons Corporation together with Caltex and Havoline; co-presented by Pepsi is set to bring again BAMBOO IN ROCKFEST CDO featuring Barbie Almalbis and Quiet Noize Band on December 13, 2018, Thursday, 8PM, at the Atrium, Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro City.



Ticket Prices:

Gold - Php 1,500
Silver - Php 1000
Bronze- Php 500

Buy your tickets now at these ticket outlets.

• Missy Bon Bon LimKetKai
• Bigby's Ayala Mall Centrio
• Bigby's SM CDO Uptown
• Bigby's SM CDO Downtown Premier
• Boy Zugba Ayala Mall Centrio
• Boy Zugba SM CDO Uptown
• Boy Zugba Corrales Ave.
• Maison de Bon Bon Corrales Ave.
• 7 Eleven Lifestyle District
• 7 Eleven Gusa
• Limketkai Center Bizhub
• HE & Sons Corp Building, Julio Pacana St. CDO

But wait! Here's an exciting part!

GIVEAWAY ALERT: 

2 Silver Tickets to Bamboo in Rockfest CDO

Joining is simple!

1. Go to their EVENT PAGE Bamboo in Rockfest CDO - and click "GOING".

2. Tag maximum of 5 Bamboo fanatic friends in our FB Page comments section + the hashtag #BambooInRockfestCDO.

3. Share this post. (Make sure it was set on public so we can check it out for your raffle entry)

We'll announce the (2) winners of Gold Tickets on Dec 12, 2018, using a Facebook randomizer.

AirAsia's Big Loyalty Members! Redeem 1 flight, Free 1 flight!

Don't miss the chance to redeem your way to a free flight to Phu Quoc, Singapore or Kuantan!

Redemption period: 3 Dec 2018 - 9 Dec 2018

Travel Period: 1 Dec 2018 - 31 Jan 2019

Redeem flights now! Air Asia is giving you more reason to celebrate this year end! Just redeem 1 flight now so you could get 1 FREE flight!

KEX Tour Day 1

Kagay-an Experience Tour or KEX Tour is a food and travel event hosted by CDOBloggers last November 15-17, 2018 to showcase the different homegrown delectable foods that Cagayan de Oro City can offer.

Cagayan de Oro City being the melting pot of the region, more and more local, national, and foreign owned restaurants are sprouting around the city, offering different food taste and serving style. CDO may be famous for pastel, chicharon and hamon, but there are a lot more that it can offer. That is why KEX Tour was created by CDOBloggers, to experience and promote the real taste of CDO when it comes to foods.

The first stop was at Bigby's Cafe. Bigby's Cafe is a number one homegrown restaurant in the city that was being introduced to Kagay-anons on December 8, 1998. Since then, Bigby's Cafe continue to grow and they have branches all over Mindanao and Visayas area. Its creators came up with an idea of creating an atmosphere fit for an adventure into the different cuisines of the world. The menu, the interior design and service style were created to position the concept midway between fine dining and fast-casual dining. This format has developed into the Bigby’s Café and Restaurant System.





Bigby’s Café has become an institution as a destination for good food and excellent service. It has been awarded Grand Champion in the Philippines’ longest running culinary competition, the “Kumbira”, for the years 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Bigby's Cafe Interior at SM CDO Downtown Premier branch Photo Credit: Explorer's Channel

They have now 11 branches all over Mindanao and Visayas:

✔️Cagayan de Oro City
SM City CDO (uptown) – 0917-7087594
Centrio Mall – 0917-6773297
SM CDO Downtown Premier – 0917-7098989
✔️Cebu City
SM City Cebu – 0917-7071597
Ayala Center Cebu – 0917-7071598
Cebu I.T. Park - 0977-8472506
✔️Davao City
SM City Davao – 0932-3620100
Abreeza Mall – 0922-6083215
✔️General Santos City
Veranza Mall – 0917-3150474
✔️Butuan
Robinson's Place Butuan - 0965-2664770
✔️Iloilo Festive Walk Mall - 0939-9375935, 0917-1605036 or (033) 314-7073


The second stop of the KEX Tour was Cucina Higala, another homegrown restaurant in the city that offer Delicious Filipino Foods, they are located along Capistrano Street, Cagayan de Oro City. CDOToday Team wasn't able to join at Cucina Higala because of our schedule but we will just post some photos taken by our fellow bloggers from Explorer's Channel. Check them out:






They also visited Pane e Dolci located at 8th 21st St, Cagayan de Oro City, a pastry cafe that offers sweet dessert that will surely satisfy your sweet cravings. They are famous for their Sylvannas! Made of meringue discs filled with French buttercream and covered with crushed butter cookies, you should try this... it is heavenly and a perfect pair for coffee or tea.



The last stop on the fisrt day of KEX Tour was at Boy Zugba. Another homegrown restaurant with a unique concept. The hugot lines posted around the restaurant's wall makes you laugh and some makes you ponder. The all around vibe of the place is giving you a cool feeling, in Cagay-anon terms it is called "chuy". Boy Zugba is a good place to dine with Barkada and Family.




They mostly offers comfort foods, mostly Filipino foods and they also offers street foods but with style. So if you crave for street foods but want to be sure of its cleanliness, try it at Boy Zugba. Boy Zugba recently introduced their SOSPA - Sisig Oh, Salad Pa. Sisig with Vegetable Salad in taco.



That's one day, more to come the next day! But KEXTour participants are thankful to Odyssey Airport Express. They are the official transportation carrier of the KEX Tour participants from one stop to another for the 3-day KEX Tour event. Odyssey Airport Express has daily shuttle services from SM CDO Downtown Premier to Laguindingan Airport and vice-versa. Their kiosk and terminal is located at Ground Level of the mall fronting SM Supermarket.

Photo from CDODev.com

KEX Tour Day 2

Everyone was so excited to wake up because it is the second day of the KEX Tour and the participants are eager to check out what the second day tour can offer. First stop of the second day was at Krispy Kreme Limketkai. The participants were transported by Oddyssey van from their respective hotels to the Krispy Kreme Store in Limketkai. When they arrived, everybody was greeted with Holiglaze! as Krispy Kreme launched their 2018 Holiday Doughnuts! We have posted about this launching on our separate blogpost for Krispy Kreme HERE, check it out.

Next stop was at ChingkeeTea at Velez-Gaerlan Branch. Home to CDO’s authentic Taiwanese tea drinks. This is the hangout place of mostly Millennials in CDO. It has a cool ambiance that most millennials and young professionals love. They use only high-quality tealeaves handpicked from Taiwan, where milk tea is said to have originated. Their drinks are brewed daily, and then fuse them with thier own little sparkle to provide their customers with the best tea experience.



After sipping good tea, KEX Tour participants went uptown, where Mykarelli’s Grill prepared a sumptuous lunch for the participants. Located at Mastersons Avenue near SM City Cagayan de Oro beside Hall of Justice, Mykarelli’s Grill showcased their fiesta-themed restaurant that offers mostly Pinoy and grilled foods. But for the KEX Tour Participants, they served Bulalo, Boodle Fight Meals, Tropical Cooler and mango tapioca for dessert! Everybody loves the Boodle Fight Meals, it feels like a fiesta! A good meal to share with your barkada and family.

Photos from Explorer's Channel

Next stop for was Sam Gu-I, KEX Tour participants experience the taste of Korea with Sam Gu-I K-style Grill House. We weren't able to join this time because of time constraint but we highly recommend Sam Gu-I for an authentic Korean Restaurant in the city.



So, if you are looking for an affordable authentic Korean foods in Cagayan de Oro City, Sam Gu-I is just located in Divisoria area, Corrales Avenue in between Metrobank Corrales and Boardwalk, in-front Xavier University Gym.

You should try their korean frappes and other drinks that you will surely love... available at their Café Gui.








Next stop of the 2nd day of KEX Tour was a Dinner & Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Seda Centrio. Stellar - A Christmas Tree Lighting Event for a cause. A formal ceremony where everybody was dressed up in dark blue, hosted by Miss Nicole Datayan. Attended by some VIP's, Seda Hotel Executives and staff, the Tree Lighting event's cause was for the benefit of the Smile Train Foundation, a nonprofit organization and charity providing corrective surgery for children with cleft lip and palate.

Check out this live video we shared on our FB Page during the event:








After the event at Seda Centrio, the KEX Tour participants went to Superstar KTV Lounge & Bar located at the Cagayan Town Center. Where everybody shaked their booty to a party!







Superstar KTV Lounge prepared an exclusive VIP room for the KEX Tour participants where everybody enjoyed the good food, drinks and every pinoy's favorite - VIDEOKE! Superstar KTV Lounge & Bar VIP Room is a consumable rate where you can enjoy an exclusive room with a state-of-the-art videoke system packed with the latest and complete videoke list of your favorite songs. They have different exciting theme party every night, so you will have an endless choice on partying.


KEX Tour Day 3

CDOToday team wasn't able to attend the Missy Bon Bon Limketkai tour because we have a prior engagement event to attend. But the rest of the KEX Tour participants enjoyed their stay at Missy Bon Bon, a hip, cozy, and relaxed world-class bread shop serving healthy, natural and freshly-made bread onsite with unique fusion interpretations of local bread products, gourmet comfort food, and famous for thier custom gelato mixes. Missy Bon Bon is also the premier pasalubong center in the city, so when in CDO, don't forget to visit Missy at Limketkai Center for your pasalubong shopping.

The last stop and the culminating event was the Bloggers Ball at SM Downtown Tower. Everybody wears formally in Rebel in Black & Gold. Food and drinks were served by Restaurant Damaso, they are located at 5th Level of SM CDO Downtown Premier. The Bloggers Ball is a celebration for the good Blogging years of the CDOBloggers and awarding of the respective blogger in the organization. The event's guest speaker is the Hon. Rufus B. Rodriguez.