GenSan News Online Mag

In the spirit of the Yuletide Season, we are featuring General Santos City Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio‘s greetings to her constituents which came out in the city’s weekly and daily print media.

The greeting is in “Cebuano” in deference to the Tuna Capital’s predominantly-Cebuano speaking populace.

Gikan sa GenSan News Online Mag ug sa libo-libo niyang mga tigbasa, Malipayong Pasko ug Mabulahong Bag-ong Tuig pud Mayor Darlene.

Just when you thought that the SunCity Suites is resting on its laurels after a very successful launch in August 2010  followed by a near 100% occupancy since then, General Santos City ‘s newest residence complex has come up with something for the Holidays!

It’s their Holiday Price Slash on their Standard Rooms!

For the period December 22, 2010 to January 6, 2011, SunCity Suites has slashed off P350 off their price of P1,900 for their standard rooms.  Each room now cost P1,550 ONLY inclusive of Breakfast!

SunCity Suites boasts of having the most number of entertainment and dining establishments within its complex.  With their lower rates for the season, then there is no reason for you anymore to stay anywhere else, according to their gracious sales manager, Ms. Kate Budke.

SunCity Suites is located at the SunCity Complex, National Highway, General Santos City.  For reservations, please call telephone #s (083) 303-3333, 552-3333, 554-3333, Fax # 552-3331 or email them at suncitysuites@gmail.com .

All roads lead to Robinsons Place GenSan on the evening of December 30, 2010 as the Tuna Capital’s newest mall gives the generals something for the New Year that they won’t forget!

It’s their New Year’s Grand Fireworks Display meant to end all fireworks displays!

Robinsons’ New Year’s Grand Fireworks Display on Thursday the 30th will be a souped-up version of the one they unleashed during their First Anniversary Celebration in October this year. (Check out a photo of  that event below by the talented Brian Dan Congson.)

To be timed during their last MIDNIGHT SALE of the year, this pyrotechnics grandeur promises to be an amazing simultaneous burst of spectacular aerial visual effects from Bengal torches to Roman candles and exploding bouquets of chrysanthemums and sunflowers in dazzling colors.

It will be longer than the previous at 8-10 minutes and the spectacle will leave spectators no room to breathe for its speed-lightning choreography.  Now which mall in General Santos City can top that?

The Robinsons Grand New Year’s Grand Fireworks Display will start at exactly 7:30pm at the back car parking area so make sure to be there before that time with your families, friends and loved ones.

And yes, lest I haven’t greeted you yet, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Ever since it opened  in 2009, the Red Tent Steakhaus has always been the choice dining destination in GenSan of people who want to get away from it all and just enjoy their delicious steaks in a relaxed outdoorsy ambience.

And you know what? Pretty soon, this official partner of the Soccsksargen Summer Safari will reinvent itself with more varied mouth-watering fare and with it a new monicker, the All-new Red Tent Steakhaus!

This will be timed on its 2nd Birthday Celebration,  dubbed a “Night of Celebration and Fun” on January 3, 2011 from 7pm!

All the diners on that night aside from RED-iscoverng an all-new Red Tent, will be treated to a live performance of an acoustic band.  On the side, they could get a chance to pamper and treat themselves at the owners’ newly-opened Sophia James Salon & Barber Shop at Nunez Street with lots of Gift Certificates to be given away.

For more info, please contact (083) 554-2878.

Good news to all moviegoers of South Central Mindanao!

All the entries to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival which will start showing tomorrow, December 25, 2010 will be released throughout the country including GenSan too simultaneously.

For instance, Robinsons Place GenSan’s Movieworld will show Shake, Rattle and Roll 12; Si Enteng Kabisote at ang Agimat, the controversial Fr. Jejemon and Ang Tanging Ina Nyo, Last na to.

KCC Mall of GenSan Cinemas six theaters will also be featuring these four movies plus Dalaw, the Kris Aquino horror thriller and RPG Metanoia, the first Pinoy 3D Movie.   Up next are Rosario and Super Inday.

What will you watch first?

Update: Dec 29, 2010 – Dalaw is Now Showing at Robinsons, replacing Fr. Jejemon.

Each time Bariles drops by Cebu City, he makes sure that he dines in any of the restaurants still offering his #1 comfort food – PORK STEAMED RICE.

When he was still a student at the University of the Philippines College Cebu at its Lahug Campus, not a month passes without him going up the elevator to this small restaurant in downtown Colon named Ding How Dimsum to partake of their delicious and hot off the fire, saucy rice toppings with pork bits and green peas.  He usually orders this with a small platter of lumpia shanghai or spring rolls and pork sweet and sour served with super tasty sweet and sour sauce.

That monthly pilgrimage stopped when he graduated and relocated back to Mindanao in the 80s.  His love affair with Pork Steamed Rice continued however.

Every visit he makes to Cebu City is not complete without dropping by Harbour City Dimsum or any other place offering Pork Steamed Rice de Cebu.  He later discovered two years ago that in Davao City, a DING HOW DIMSUM Restaurant has also opened at V. Mapa Extension, serving as his solution to a sudden craving for this addicting dish.  But then Davao City is 150 kms away and his visit to the Durian Capital are not that frequent.

That is why, when Bariles found out that WILD BOAR SPORTS BAR along Santiago Boulevard started offering DIMSUM in their menu on December 13, 2010, including what they have been hawking in their announcement streamers as “PORK STEAMED RICE DE CEBU“, he lost no time in visiting the place last weekend!

Wild Boar Sports Bar at the 2nd floor of a Convenience Store at the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Santiago and Laurel (fronting the SM City GenSan lot) has  gone several incarnations since it opened two years ago.  It has changed management ever so often confusing a lot of people.  But by going into Dimsum this time, would things turn out for the better?

First, the verdict on their PORK STEAMED RICE…

The look is basically the same as that Cebu’s, even the bowl is of the same size!

When mixed together, this one has even more sauce in it and thus, looked a little like congee… but in a good way since Bariles liked it that way.

The taste is OH MY GOD….. so very near to the original Pork Steamed Rice de Cebu, with even no more need to season it with soy sauce as Bariles usually does with his meals.  They could change their supplier for green peas though since they do not seem fresh at all anymore.

And at a price of P45, this is one is really a steal compared to the prices of the existing Dim Sum Houses in GenSan!

In a scale of 1 to 10, Bariles is rating Wild Boar’s Pork Steamed Rice de Cebu, an 8.5!

Bariles also ordered the other Dim Sum Dishes and this is his take on them.    Their 3-piece siomai meal is ok but too smallish for comfort.  The chicken feet are quite overcooked and thus, spongy.  Lastly, the spicy pork spare ribs at P48, although flavorful came in a very pitiful small serving.

If only WILD BOAR could do something about the size of their servings, then pretty sure, going Dimsum and offering a surefire bestseller in their PORK STEAMED RICE DE CEBU would entice more customers and new habitues to their restaurant.

By the way, Wild Boar Sports Bar now has an acoustic band providing entertainment to its clients.  Dart games are still available too.

Tomorrow marks the deadline of the submission of all the entries to the “Images of the Season at Robinsons” Photo Contest and Exhibit.

A joint project of the Soccsksargen Bloggers and Robinsons Place GenSan,  which started as a side-activity for the Blogfest Soccksargen 2010, the contest is meant to bring out the best talents behind the camera among the bloggers.  Formerly entitled “The Photo Safari Competition”, the best photo entries will be featured in a photo exhibit at the mall’s activity center from December 28, 2010 to January 2, 2011.

Incidentally, Robinsons figured prominently in the Blogfest Sox 2010 where it came in as a SILVER SPONSOR.

Check out the poster below for the date details.  Thanks to Rabsky Villanueva who made it.

We hope our bloggers who have THE EYE would find time to join this competition.  Robinsons Place and the Sox Bloggers will be giving out ROBINSONS GIFT CERTIFICATES as Prizes!

Now how’s that for a Merry Christmas?

Madison Auto Performance Center has been around for more than 30 years at its 3 branches in prime locations in Banawe, Quezon City, the car accessories capital of the Philippines.  It  is one of the leading car parts and accessories supplier at around the same time owing to the popular prices of its merchandise and the efficiency of its sales staff.

These are the very reasons why as a famous importer/manufacturer/exporter/wholesaler/retailer of car parts and accessories, its owners have no qualms in putting up their first branch outside of Manila in General Santos City because they know that with these qualities, they could easily replicate their success anywhere but most especially at the Tuna Capital.  Being the most business-friendly city in the country, their conviction for their Madison Auto Performance Center to succeed here has grown even more.

Last December 14, 2010, Madison Auto Performance Center opened quietly at their 2nd Floor Outlet at the KCC Mall of GenSan, right across the KCC Events and Convention Center.

Madison Auto Performance Center promises to price their Car Parts and Accessories at MANILA-BASED LEVELS. Now people do not have to go to the big city to purchase their needs there Madison will be offering them here at relatively the same prices (for their OPENING SALE, at the very least).

So for you need anything for your vehicle, whether it’s Ford, Kia, 3M, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Isuzu, Honda and Nissan, Madison has got them all for you.

For more info, please contact Madison Auto Performance Center at 0917-7176822, 0922-8217330.

Congratulations for this year’s winners of the TOP 10 Most Outstanding OFW Blogger Awards of the PEBA (Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards).

For the 3rd year in a row, Bariles helped judged the the best OFW Bloggers among the finalists who made it to the Top 20.

Here then are the Top 10 Most Outstanding OFW Bloggers (Bloggers Category and their Blog Entries:

1. Animus of Kuwait
2. Gremliness of Dubai, UAE
3. Kayni’s Corner Cafe of USA
4. Baul in Noel, Saudi Arabia
5. Soy Negrense! of Saudi Arabia
6. Journey of a Prodigal Daughter, Macau
7. Gumamela sa Paraiso, Taiwan
8. Deconstructing Dubai of Dubai
9. The Journey of My Life of Saudi Arabia, and Stay At  Home Blessings of  Saudi Arabia
10. Batang Gala, of Canada

By the way, a priest from Davao won the top plum as the Most Outstanding Blogs by Region (OFW Supporter Category) – Felmar’s Missionary Journey.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Bariles, who was himself an OFW in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea from 2001 to 2004 , had once again experienced a gamut of emotions while reading the 20 blog entries and checking out the blogs of the finalists.  Some made him shed a tear or two, a good number made him more optimistic about our country, and  a few made him want to join up a revolutionary movement due to the inability of the government to be more aggressive in improving the plight of the OFW.

For inviting him to be part of this noble efforts, Bariles would have to thank Mr. Kenji Solis, an OFW Blogger from South Cotabato who was the brains and the heart of the PEBA  and who at the very start, gave the OFW’s a chance to be at the centerstage of the blogosphere.

Mabuhay ka Kenji!  And mabuhay ang PEBA!!

Here is a brief history of the PEBA, from their official website…

Founded by Mr. Jebee Kenji Solis, the organizer of KABLOGS, a bloggerand an OFW based in Saudi Arabia; PEBA was launchedon July 1, 2008 to recognize the growing popularity of blogging among Filipinoexpatriates and Overseas Filipino Workers(OFWs).

Being an OFW blogger himself, Mr. Thoughtskoto (as he is known in the blogging world) witnessed how expatriates and OFW’s artistically narrate their sob stories, trials, opinions about their host countries, work experiences, families; and their thoughts and musings on Philippine politics and other issues  in their blogs. Thus, recognizing their efforts was a fitting a tribute.

He later tapped the support of some bloggers to be his partner in the project. Pete Rahon, an OFW based in South Korea; Lionel Gonzaga, an OFW in Dubai; and Nereus Jethro Abad, an OFW based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; became the founding members of PEBA,Inc.

Owing to the success ofthe 2008 Top10, PEBA 2009 was launched more visibly this time. Almost simultaneously, around 50 blogs posted the announcements of PEBA 2009’s launch. Support came from as far as Canada, USA, Australia, Middle East, Europe, South East Asia,and even the Philippines.  Hundreds of “SUPPORT PEBA” banners were likewise displayed online by several prominent bloggers.

Some of the biggest brandnames (i.e., Nokia, Smart Telecommunications and Western Union) sponsored to stage the event. Other other policy institutions, social media giants and hotels (i.e., The Ople Policy Center, Friendster Philippines, and Traders Hotel byShangri-la) and various Internet marketing entities pushed PEBA to even greater success.

PEBA was instantly featured in ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin, as well as countless other online news and blog sites; newsprint and radio stations.

PEBA became a legal entityin the Philippines through the efforts of Lepiten & Bojos Law Office and became the official legal partner from then on.

For the winners of the other categories, please click this—> PEBA Awardees 2010.

The Sarangani Bay Area Outdoor Club (SBAOC) and the Friends of Mt. Matutum (FOMM) are at it again!

Just when you think these outdoor sports enthusiasts and nature lovers should be resting for the Christmas season comes this invitation for another activity which they have dubbed “Christmas Climb 2010” to the Sanchez Peak, Olympog, General Santos City.

Set for two days beginning at noon on December 18, 2010 and until the following day, December 19, Christmas Climb 2010 wants to be known as the Highest Christmas Party in GenSan at 730 meters above sea level!

Here is their itinerary:

Day 01 – December 18, 2010 – Saturday

12:00nn  Assembly @ Jollibee National Highway
02:00pm  ETD GSC- Balakayo
03:00pm  ETA Purok Balakayo, Olympog, GSC
05:00pm  ETA Sanchez Peak
lecture: Introduction to Karsts Environment
06:00pm  Presidents Meeting | Sosyals

Day 02 – December 19, 2010 – Sunday

06:00am  Wake up call | Sunrise Photo Session
10:00am  Breakcamp | to 5th Mountain Adventure Park Zipline
03:00pm  ETD Balakayo – GSC
04:30pm  ETA Jollibee National Highway, GSC

To join this exciting climb requires a Registration Fee of  P200 which includes Transportation, Softdrinks, ID and Certificate of Participation.

What’s most exciting about it however is the planned ride on the 5th Mountain of Balakayo Adventure Park zipline!  This park has two existing ziplines (one 300 meters and the other one is 700) plus another one coming up in January 2010 (at 800 meters).

Although not yet totally open to the public, the 5th Mountain of Balakayo Park ziplines boast of a spectacular view of Gensan and Sarangani Bay plus a look at the lush forests of GenSan.

(More on this on a future post.)

For more information on the Christmas Climb 2010,  call Ken 09077318714 or Ian 09993433109.