Check out their The Big Party: Violet Fever!

The venue for this first ever Violet Valentine’s Day Party in General Santos City is the Phela Grande Convention Center!  This must be patterned after the Rave Warehouse parties in Europe because of the size of the venue so expect it to be one huge dance event!  And since it is a Violet party, everyone must be in their glam violet outfits!  You might even win the Best Violet Get-up for the night!

And one more thing, due to the fact that this is also co-presented by San Miguel Beer,  pray for overflowing beer up to midnight! Yey!

Choose from these two ticket prices to join in the fun:  P150 (with free drinks only) and P200 (with dinner).

For more info, please contact Phela Grande Hotel at (083) 552-4925/4420 or 0933-274-7191.

“We see the Jeepney as a symbol of U.S.-Philippine friendship,” says U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Robin Diallo. “The earliest Jeepneys were constructed from jeeps brought to the Philippines by the United States during World War II, but since that time, they have evolved in beautiful and creative ways.”

Jeepneys express the unique culture of the various regions of the Philippines, as they differ in style and design from place to place. Given the historical connection of the Jeepney to the United States, the U.S. Embassy is launching the Sakay Na! photo contest to celebrate this unique and colorful cultural icon.

Winning submissions will receive a Kodak Pocket Camcorder and an invitation from the U.S. Embassy to a special event. In addition, the winning photographs will be part of a special exhibit at the U.S. Embassy.

To enter the contest, visit the U.S. Embassy Manila Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/manila.usembassy, click on the “Sakay Na! Jeepney Photo Challenge” link, and follow the instructions.

The contest is open to anyone residing in the Philippines who is at least 13 years of age. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 19. They will be inviting the public to vote via Facebook for the top three entries during the voting period from February 20 to February 25.

So, get your camera now, go out into the streets and start clicking!  Join the US Embassy in celebrating the Jeepney, and send them your photos of jeepneys from anywhere in the Philippines.  Have fun!

The co-main event, also a title fight, will be a battle between Mexican sluggers Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and first-ranked challenger Marco Antonio Rubio.

The three-division world champion Donaire (27-1-0 18 KOs), who will stake his 26-bout winning streak, will once again be traipsing into new territory as he climbs up to the 122-pound class, a division once ruled by the younger Vazquez (21-1-1 18 KOs).

The pugilist from Puerto Rico entrenched himself in the title in 2010, when he knocked out another General Santos City native Marvin Sonsona. Vazquez Jr, the son of former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez Sr, defended the title twice, but fell prey to the Mexican fighter Jorge Arce in 2011.

Arce has since relinquished the title in order to fight at 118 pounds and Vazquez is poised to reclaim glory. But for Donaire, who was the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s co-Athlete of the Year for 2011, it may be an opportune time to embellish his resume with yet another division title.

Meanwhile, WBO middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1 31 KOs) will be challenged by contender Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5-1 46 KOs) in the co-main event.

Chavez Jr., the son of legendary boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., is undefeated, while Rubio is in a two-year winning streak. The fight will follow the Donaire-Vazquez bout and will air at 1:00 p.m. on Studio 23.

Don’t miss these thrilling contentions for two world titles on Sunday (Feb 5). Catch the Donaire-Vazquez fight at 10:15 a.m. on ABS-CBN, and the Chavez-Rubio match at 1:00 p.m on Studio 23. A primetime telecast of the bouts will air on Studio 23 at 6:00 p.m.

The city’s most happening mall, Robinsons Place GenSan starts the ball rolling with a mall show this weekend, February 4, 2012, Saturday of an up and coming teen star of the Kapamilya Network, ABS-CBN!

A former Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash 2010 housemate and a regular on the weekly teen-age romp Good Vibes, to tickle the fancy of his young fans in the city is heartthrob-in-the-making Ivan Dorschner.

Ivan Dorschner, 21 years young is a Fil-American of Irish and German descent.  He actually gained more followers after he was called onstage by international pop singer Katy Perry during her concert in Manila last month and was kissed on the cheeks in front of thousands of screaming audience.

Check out this YouTube video of Katy Perry kissing Ivan Dorschner and him giving the singer a kiss back, below..

Now if you want to see this guy up close and personal, just be sure to be at Robinsons Place GenSan Activity Center on Saturday, February 4, 2012 before 5pm.  Seats are definitely on a first-come, first-served basis!

The festival which originated in 2008 to put into focus their top OTOP commodity, the Bangsi or Flying Fish has turned out to be Sarangani’s most documented festivity owing to the extra efforts of their Tourism Office to invite and host photographers, media and bloggers to witness it and join in their Photo Safari Competition.

Due to this, beautiful and striking images of past Bangsi Festivals can be found all over the internet. Kudos to the hardworking Ms. Beth Ramos and her dedicated staff at the Maitum Tourism Office for this!

And now for the 5th Bangsi Festival 2012 which unfolds on January 26 and 27, visitors and revelers to their seaside town should expect nothing but the best!

Here is the 5th Bangsi Festival 2012 Schedule of Events below.

For more information, check out Masaganang Maitum‘s page at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/maitum.sarangani .

See you in Maitum!

GenSan Sports Center is bringing Iloilo’s grandest festival to town by way of their DINAGYANG SA GENSAN FOOD FESTIVAL on January 22, 2012, Sunday!

GenSan Sports Center, the former Anchor Driving Range at the back of East Asia Royale Hotel is owned and operated by Generals Logimark Exponent, the same company behind ICE Castle Experience Hotel.  It boasts of Fire & Ice Steaks and Grills Restaurant, a Driving Range, a Spa, Arcadia Fitness Gym, and function rooms for all occasions.

For the Dinagyang sa GenSan Food Festival, the entrance fee of P350.00 entitles the guest to four authentic Ilonggo dishes and (in celebration of the Chinese New Year) four more Oriental dishes!  Wow!  That is one real treat this Sunday for people with large appetities, if I may say so!

Entertainment during this grand buffet will be provided by acoustic folk performers so expect it to be one enjoyable feast of the senses!

For ticket reservations to GenSan Sports Center’s Dinagyang sa GenSan Food Festival, please contact telephone #s (083) 826-9075.

The calendar highlights twelve famous Philippine Festivals including General Santos City‘s TUNA FESTIVAL!

Two festivals are featured in each page and the Tuna Festival comes out together with Davao’s KADAYAWAN at the page for the July-August-September quarter.  Take note that Kadayawan happens in August while the Tuna Festival occurs from September 1 -5, 2012.

What really caught my attention are the female models dressed, made up and accessorized in an ultra-modern rendering of each festival.  Very unique and very classy, I must say.

Check out the photo below of the page with a shimmery, silvery and sexy “mermaid” representing GenSan’s very own splashy Tuna Festival. (You may click on the image for a larger view.)

What do you think?  Do you like how the Tuna Festival was depicted?  Share  us your thoughts please.

The video entitled “Binatilyo” aims to convince its viewers that “The only thing better than reading the good news is by being the good news.”

Beautiful!

Sharing it with you now.  Thank you Manila Bulletin.

Please share this video with everyone you know. Let us convince one another to be the GOOD NEWS ourselves!

A week earlier, during the first wave of relief operations on December 23, 2011, forty-five (45) volunteers made up of members of the Dolefil Kaugnay, Dolefil Mountaineering Club, as well as the company’s partner cooperatives, travelled on board three commuter vans on route to a ten-hour trip to Cagayan De Oro.

They were trailed by three ten-wheeler trucks from Jomaray Trucking which carried the relief goods composed of Dole canned pineapple products, rice, other canned food items, noodles, plastic mats, blankets/quilts, water with an estimated value of P4.5 million, sufficient for 3,120 family-beneficiaries.

DOLEFIL CARAVAN OF HOPE VOLUNTEERS GIVE OUT DOLE GIFT BOXES IN CAGAYAN DE ORO

The volunteers of the Dolefil Caravan of Hope themselves distributed the relief goods to various evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City, bringing smiles to the homeless families.  Aid amounting to P1.2 million from Dolefil Caravan of Hope were also extended to families in Valencia City in Bukidnon, another province hit hard by the same devastating typhoon.

AFFECTED FAMILIES OF TYPHOON SENDONG LINE UP FOR DOLEFIL CARAVAN OF HOPE DONATIONS

Atty. Melquiades L. Hernandez III, Dolefil HR Division Director, shares, “In this season of love and sharing, it was heartwarming to note the outpouring of support from the Dolefil employees, unions, cooperatives and other business partners who unselfishly shared their blessings for the benefit of the typhoon victims just in time for the Holidays.”

For the record, Dolefil (the Grand Kapatid Awardee of 2011) and its employees alone have collectively raised over P1M, which was used to purchase basic necessities such as rice and water for the family-beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao.

Good work Dolefil for this humanitarian mission!   May your story inspire other groups to do the same for our brothers and sisters affected by Typhoon Sendong.

Check out this video about their relief mission.

The KFC commercial features a call center agent at work while entertaining the call of a lady one Christmas night.

The TV advertisement was short and simple but was so poignant in its portrayal of the professionalism of the call center agent.  The ending immediately made me remember my late mom and how she could have done the same to me if I was a call center agent myself.  It was a moving and touching ode to moms and their love for their children, regardless of their age.

Without giving away much, here is the Christmas-themed KFC Call Center TV Commercial.

 

Kudos to KFC for conceptualizing this ad and also for putting into the forefront the plight of the thousands of young, dedicated and unheralded call center agents out there who work mostly on graveyard shifts and have managed to help the country afloat.

For me, next to our OFW’s, they are the country’s modern-day heroes.

And yes, the Philippines being a matriarchal society, this KFC Call Center TV commercial has surely pushed the right buttons.

Now on its 15th year, this program is one of the Corporate  Social Responsibility (CSR) Projects of 2011 Grand Kapatid Awardee Dolefil.   (One of the most notable is their Chairs-for-Trees Program.)

The Light-A-Tree, Light-A-Life Program has two components, the first of which is the Fund Racing Contest where Dolefil’s nine divisions battle it out to raise the biggest amount for various charitable institutions.  The total funds accumulated will be matched by Dolefil management.

The 2nd component is the Light A Tree Competition where they decorate and dress up Norfolk Pine Trees assigned to them along the compound’s covered walk.  The Soccsksargen Bloggers were privileged to have been there during the simultaneous lighting of the Christmas tree entries.

DOLEFIL'S LIGHT A TREE ENTRY FROM CANNERY DIVISION WHICH WON THE GRAND PRIZE

Together with them were some wards of the charities they support, St. Gemma’s Orphanange & Marcellin Foundation in General Santos City and the St. Lawrence Kalinga Foundation in Koronadal City.

On hand to welcome them were Dolefil Vice President and Managing Director Simon Denye and HR Division Director Atty. Mel Hernandez.  Emceeing the affair was HR Communication Division’s Gwynee Ebol and Logistics Division’s Aethan Yting, also a member of the Soccsksaren Bloggers.

To find out more about the Soccskargen Bloggers‘ experience at Dolefil’s Light-A-Tree Project, check out a few of their blog posts by clicking on the links below…

• South Cotabato News Online
• Pinas Backpackers
• Tales of a Newlywed Couple
• Pinay Travelogue
• Rosilie

Thanks to Lynette Gallinero, of Pinay Travelogue & Nanardz Fernandez of SouthCotabato Tambayan for the photos.

The Shariff Kabunsuan Festival 2011 which will run from December 13-19, 2011, commemorates the arrival during the 16th century of Arab missionary Shariff Kabunsuan from Johore, to spread Islam among the natives.  He was reportedly on board a colorful ship which landed along the banks of Rio Grande de Mindanao (formerly the Masla Pulangi), the incident of which will be highlighted in a Fluvial Parade of that ship’s replicas during the festival.

Shariff Kabunsuan’s spread of Islam led to the establishment of the Sultanates of Maguinadanao, Kabuntalan and Rajah Buayan (which now includes GenSan, Sarangani and South Cotabato).

"THE KANDULI AT THE PAGANA SA MAGUINDANAO. PHOTO FROM LARUYLARUYSINTA.BLOGSPOT.COM

Eventually, Cotabato City became the first capital of Mindanao in the 17th century and it was not until 1870 that the Jesuits came in to introduce the Christian Faith.   For centuries hence and up to now, Cotabato is the only place in the country where both Muslims and Christians have lived harmoniously.

For the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival, the city which has bounced back wonderfully from the floods that hit it earlier this year, under the able stewardship of Mayor Jojo Guiani, has left no stone unturned in making sure that the events are unique to the city’s cultural heritage.  Highlights of the festival are Guinakit, which is the fluvial parade along Rio Grande de Mindanao and the re-enactment of Shariff Kabunsuan’s arrival which we mentioned earlier;  plus the Kuyog Street Dancing Parade & Showdown.

To cap everything is the “Pagana Maguindanao,’ a Kanduli or traditional Muslim way of dining among Maranaos and Maguindanaons among special visitors where Muslim dishes are served while being entertained by cultural performers.  The guests all sit on the floor during the lavish feast.

For sure crabs will be served during the Kanduli since Cotabato City is considered the Crab Capital of the Philippines and has in fact, prepared some crab-centered events during the Festival.

Here then, is the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival 2011 Schedule of Activities:

The Shariff Kabunsuan Festival 2011 Calendar of Events

December 3 – 31, 2011
SHARIFF KABUNSUAN 2011 TRADE FAIR
@ Al Nor Complex Grounds

December 15, 2011 @ 6:30AM
KUYOG: STREETDANCING PARADE
@ People’s Palace Grounds to City Plaza

@ 1:00PM
KUYOG SHOWCASE COMPETITION
@ CCSPC Grounds

December 15, 2011 onwards
CRAB FESTIVAL BOOTH DISPLAY
@ Chowking Parking Space (Southseas Mall)

Dec. 15, 2011 @ 9AM
CRAB FORUM
@ Southseas Mall Covention Center

@ 1PM
BUSINESS MATCHING
@ Southseas Mall Covention Center

December 16, 2011  @ 9AM
“KULINARYA” CRAB COOKING CONTEST
@ Social Hall, People’s Palace

@ 2PM
INAUGURATION OF OLD AND NEW AWIT NG COTABATO LANDMARK
@ People’s Palace Grounds

December 17, 2011 @ 6AM
FUNRUN
@ People’s Pace to City Plaza

December 18, 2011 @ 7AM
MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE
@ People’s Pace to City Plaza

@ 9AM
CRAB RACE, BIGGEST CRAB AND HEAVIEST CRAB
@ City Plaza

@ 3PM (Matinee) &  @ 7PM (Gala Show)
MAMALU AT TABUNAWAY PRODUCTION
@ Southseas Mall Convention Center

December 19, 2011 @ 6AM
CIVIC MILITARY PARADE
@ CCSPC Grounds to Cotabato City Wharf

@ 8AM
GINAKUIT FLUVIAL PARADE
@ Cotabato City Wharf

@ 3PM
INAUGURATION OF TANTAWAN PARK
@ Foot of PC Hill

@ 4PM
GRAND KANDULI
@ Lobby, People’s Palace

If you want to join Cotabato City’s biggest and most festive cultural celebration, please contact: The City Government of Cotabato City at Telephone #s  064 – 4217803 or Fax #s 064 - 4218969.

And for the first time ever, the venue of the whole night affair will be the NDDU-IBED Lagao Campus, beside the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church.

Despite that, this year’s Jubilarians composed of Batch 86 have promised a great time for all alumni participants, starting at 6pm.

The theme for this year’s gathering is “Connectivity for Posterity through Leadership and Service” so expect more service-oriented projects for the months to come from this batch.

For more info, please contact the following persons:

• Mae – 0923-9658368
• Helen – 0922-8588982
• Gual – 0932-1141876
• Robert – 0923-1937226

Happy Grand Homecoming, Dameans!!

I am releasing the schedule of the Pasko Sa GenSan 2011 which I got on Facebook.  From what it says, the culmination of this year’s official Yuletide Celebration of General Santos City will be on December 16, 2011.

It is the first time that the Department of Education – GenSan Division took the reins of running Pasko sa GenSan and for this year, they have chosen the theme, “KAMPEON ANG PASKO SA GENSAN“.  This is obviously in reference to the locals who have brought honor and fame to the city.

Check out the official poster below (again from the Pasko Sa GenSan 2011 Facebook page) to find out who these people are.

The focal area for the Christmas festivities is still the GenSan Oval Plaza and the DepEd has done a good job in sprucing up the area and transforming it into a Paskuhan Village, with a matching Carnival.

I had a grand time watching the launching of the whole Pasko sa GenSan on 5, 2011, cheering for the different presentations of the various schools in the city at the Oval Plaza Stage and being enthralled by the Grand Fireworks Display before the simultaneous switch on of the magnificently lighted Christmas Village.

In contrast, the Christmas decors along the city’s major thoroughfares are very simple, reportedly due to budget cuts this year.

I just wished the local government could have dressed up the Plaza Heneral Santos and made it one Christmas Wonderland just like the past years.  So far, I have received observations that  it has “no Christmas spirit” whatsoever.

Anyway, the Christmas season has three more weeks to go and hopefully, something could be done about it.

By then, we could indeed in spirit greet one another, “Isang Maligayang Pasko sa Magandang GenSan sa lahat” convincingly, while strolling the city’s central government center with our families and loved ones.

EVENT: Cirque Internationale World’s Greatest Performers at Robs on December 11, 2011

This means that tomorrow, December 10 and on December 17, 24 and 31, their shoppers and patrons will be treated to a spectacular explosion of colors and dazzling lights in the sky from their rear parking lot!

Last year, in December 2010, Robinsons did this once right at the same area, and here is Brian Dan Congson‘s photo below to show for it.

This time, they will be doing it five Saturdays in a row, and as far as I can recall, this is the first time that a mall in General Santos is treating the generals to such an awesome festive yuletide treat!

That’s just another one of Robinsons Place GenSan‘s extraordinary ways of giving their customers more than enough reasons to keep coming back for more delights and make them realize that, “Mas Maganda nga talaga ang Pasko sa Robs!”

The 14 competing groups will battle it out to become the talent-variety show’s newest grand champion in their bid for the P2 million cash prize – P1 million for the winning group and P1 million for the barangay they represent.

Catch explosive performances from Kalumon Performing Ensemble of Davao, Neutron Acrobats of Bulacan, D’ Shots of Caloocan, Kingz Gambit of Cebu, FMD Extreme of Marikina, Astig Pinoy of Misamis Oriental, and Spy of Maynila.

Not to be outdone are Pinoy Hiphop of Antipolo, Racing Chat of Sampaloc, Bailes De Luces of Negros Occidental, Buli Kidz Incredible of Batangas, Teatro Ambahanon of General Santos, and the winners of the wild card round, UDC of Pasig and Prime Machine of Negros Oriental.

Video:  Clck here for Teatro Ambahanon’s winning Monthly Finals performance

"GENSAN'S TEATRO AMBAHANON'S ROY MISOLES, BEAUTY BALAGA & JULIUS LAGARE"

Besides resident judge Vice Ganda, the 14 grand finalists will also have to impress the 29 guest judges including Ryan Bang, Jhong Hilario, Dra. Vicky Belo, Dr. Manny Calayan, Joel Cruz, Luis Manzano, Vina Morales, Joey Marquez, Ara Mina, Ina Raymundo, Kiray, and Liz Uy.

The show’s previous grand winners, both from General Santos City, XB Gensan, and  True Colors are also expected to turn in a stellar performance as they join forces for the grand finals’ opening number.

Don’t miss all the impressive performances at the “Showtime All-Star Baranggayan: The Finals” tomorrow (Dec 10), 9:45 AM live from the Ynares Center on ABS-CBN.

For GenSan residents, Barangay Dadiangas South, the official residence of Teatro Ambahanon is inviting supporters of Teatro Ambahanon to join them at 9am at the entrance of the General Santos City Hall where their OPENING CHEER will be filmed live by a Showtime Crew who were flew flown in from Manila.

See you there!!

The mall which prides itself as “Mas Maganda Dito!” will be flying in a touring circus show, “CIRQUE INTERNATIONALE” direct from the United States of America this Sunday, December 11, 2011!

To enthrall Robinsons’ shoppers of all ages and sizes with their amazing skills and breath-taking stunts are: a Hula-hoop dancer, a Hand Juggler, a Strong Man and acrobatic troupe Icarian!

The last time GenSan was witness to international circus performers was way back in the 80′s when the Royale London Circus set up tent here for a month.  Now, thanks to Robinsons Place GenSan, new generations of generals will be treated to a modern breed of world-class artists and what’s more, it’s for FREE.

Robinsons‘ management would like to emphasize that there is NO MINIMUM PURCHASE REQUIREMENT to enjoy their once-in-a-lifetime thrilling Christmas treat for the people of GenSan!

And yes, check out the Cirque Internationale satellite-selling booths inside Robinsons where you can find souvenir items on sale.

Catch Cirque Internationale‘s World’s Greatest Performers in any of their two performances at the Activity Center of Robinsons Place GenSan, at 2:00pm and 4:00pm

Be there and bring the whole family with you!!!

Sarangani Province which comprises the municipalities of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum is commemorating the event with the 9th Munato Festival from November 24 -27, 2011.

Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez and Vice-Governor Steve Solon have promised a more festive Munato Festival celebration this year.  Reports have reached us that Congressman Manny Pacquiao is bringing in GMA Kapuso artists during the festival.  In fact, Dingdong Dantes will be guesting at the Pearl of Sarangani Pageant Night on November 26, 2011.

It seems that their alliance are really doing wonders for the Sarangans!

For more of the Munato Festival Schedule of Activities, please click here.

Dubbed “One Night Run. One Night Fun.“, and schedule on an auspicious date, 11-11-11, it follows the very successful Night Fun Run spearheaded by its neighboring hotel, Sun City Suites a few weeks back.

This time, One Night Run will offer the following races:  1.6K, 3K, 5K and 10K.  All these will start officially at 5:30pm from the GenSan Sports Center and will also end there.  That’s when the One Night Fun aspect of this project begins.

An outdoor concert will entertain all the marathon finishers and food and drinks will be available for sale to everyone.

Here are the registration fees:

• Run only – P50
• Run + Drinks (Softdrinks, Beer or Powerade) + Concert Ticket – P100
• Run + Drinks (Softdrinks, Beer or Powerade) + Concert Ticket + Singlet – P250

To register, visit GenSan Sports Center or contact James Almonia, the supervisor of the Ice Castle Experience Hotel thru telephone  #s554-4423 or 826-9075.   They can be emailed  at this email ad frontdesk@gensanice.com.

Net proceeds of “One Night Run. One Night Fun.” will go to the projects of the Rotary Clubs of General Santos and Greater GenSan.

For two nights starting today, October 28 and October 29, a LIVE BAND will be entertaining their guests who will dine in at their MOLAVE BAR overlooking Sarangani Bay.

Then for three days, from October 29 to October 31, there’s gonna be a TRICK OR TREAT event for kids and kids-at-heart!

Other than these, those who will avail of their ALA CARTE offerings will be entitled to a 10% discount on the room rates of their new hotel.  How’s that?

For more information, please call Sarangani Highlands Garden Restaurant and Hotel at (083) 304-0752; 303-2291, 0922-8590043.

Convergys, one of the country’s largest “call center” companies is on a hiring spree and is conducting a jobfair by way of their “CONVERGYS JOBFEST” here in General Santos City!  Check out their poster below!

No, it won’t be Kapamilya actor Enchong Dee who will be interviewing the applicants who will flock to SunCity Suites from 9am to 6pm during the weekend where they will conduct their initial hiring process.

The Convergys Hiring Team will instead be headed by the lovely Ms. Christiane Ruth D. Bracamonte, their Sourcing-Recruitment Operations Officer.  According to her, applicants may just have to bring simply their RESUME and nothing else for their JobFest.

And yes, successful hires will be assigned in Convergys Cebu City and will receive a very attractive compensation package, she added!

For enquiries, Convergys may be contacted at telephone #s 0928-996-36-36.

PHOTOS:  Mausoleums of Forest Lake Memorial Park

For this year’s celebration of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day, Forest Lake has adapted the theme “HYMNS AND RHYTHMS”.

For three days, park visitors will be treated to the following activities:

• October 31, 2011
  • Halloween Games for Kids
  • Film showing
• November 1, 2011
  • Releasing of Balloons & Offering of Prayers for the Departed
  • “Hymns & Rhytms” by a Rondalla Band
• November 2, 2011
  • Morning Mass at the Park

Aside from these, they can buy refreshments and food from any of these suppliers who will be setting up booths at a designated area at the Forest Lake Memorial Park:  Pizza Hut, Jollibee, Mama Maria Pizzeria, Zagu, Ranchero’s, Rolees Bakeshop. BeeStop and many more.

With these in place, I guess there’s no need to bring your own food anymore!  You can just enjoy all these delicious stuff there while listening to Forest Lake’s “Hymns and Rhythms” Rondalla Band.

This should be a better and more peaceful experience this year while paying respects to your beloved dead at the Forest Lake Memorial Park.

For years, the National MILO® Marathon has been the biggest running event in the country. This year, it will hold its biggest advocacy campaign to date. Ten thousand more MILO® running shoes will be given to underprivileged children in 2011. That’s more than twice as much as MILO® gave away in 2010.

Same as last year, for every runner who joins the National MILO® Marathon, a portion of the registration fee will be allotted to the advocacy. And the money raised will be used to produce running shoes that will be donated to different public schools selected by the Department of Education in the areas where the 35th National MILO® Marathon will be held.

All these efforts are in line with the commitment of MILO® to build a nation of champions. Because MILO® believes that MILO® is not just giving away running shoes, but also providing these kids with something they can wear to be champions not just in sports, not just in school, but also in life.

The General Santos leg of the 35th MILO® National Marathon will occur this Sunday, October 30, 2011.

If you want to join this worthy and healthy endeavor and add up to the 12,700 pairs of shoes which has been donated so far this year, just go to the City Sports Office at the GenSan Oval Covered Court during office hours, today and until Friday and fill up the registration form there.  Choose from any of these race categories: 3-K, 5-K, 10-K and 21-K.  Make sure you pay the P100 entry fee (for 3-K, 5-K) or P500 (for 10-K, 21-K).

Here is what Bariles got when he registered last week for the 5-K Race: an XL singlet, his own RACE number bib and a couple of sachets of Nestle Fit juice drink.

You may also register online by CLICKING HERE.

By the way, the 35th MILO® National Marathon will take place whether RAIN  OR SHINE.  Here is the schedule of the Start of Races in GenSan at the Starting Line at the Oval Plaza:

• 21-K – 5:00 AM
• 10-K, 5-K, 3-K – 3:00 AM

In addition, each race category has an official cut-off time.  This means, one should finish the race within the following alloted length of time to be able to get your certificate.

• 21-K Race – 2 1/2 hours after official start of the race.
• 10-K Race – 1 1/2 hours after official start of the race.
• 5-K Race – 1 hour after official start of the race.
• 3-K Race – 1 hour after official start of the race.

Here below is the 35th MILO® National Marathon Race Map in GenSan.  If you see Bariles making his way along the route, please wave to encourage him to finish it.  See you there!
Milo Marathon GenSan Route Map
Milo Marathon GenSan Route Map
For more information, please contact Mr. Dong Gonzales at 0919-507-5148 or 0923-724-7739.

It’s the 2-day FRIGHTFEST, happening on October 29 and 30, 2011, Saturday and Sunday at the mall’s atrium from 9am to 7pm.

For a minimal fee of P30 for Adults and P20 for Kids, you may join in the fun by coming in your most ghoulish, freakiest and scariest Halloween costumes which could win you a prize!

You and your kids may also avail of the FREE FACE-PAINTING, souvenir photos and play Trick or Treat.  If you have enough guts, you can also enter their Horror Maze built right there at the Gaisano Atrium which will be sure to scare the wits out of you.

All these are guaranteed to make your 2011 Halloween weekend one really frightening, memorable spooky experience at Gaisano Mall of GenSan.  Promise!

Check out the posters for their Halloween Treats below.

For Sydney Hotel‘s Halloween Party on Saturday, October 29, 2011, here is the schedule:

• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm  - Trick or Treat Costume Contest
• 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm  -  Eat-All-You-Can (All Dark Chocolates Dessert)
• 7:00 pm – 12:00 Midnight –  DISCO with Costumes

The ticket prices for the Eat-All-You-Can Buffet are P199.00 for kids from 3 years – 12 years old and P299.00 for Adults.

For those who are joining the Disco Party at 7:00pm, the entrance fee is only P100!

More freebies such as Face Painting and exciting prizes await guests to Sydney Hotel’s first ever Halloween Party in a long while!  We are definitely glad that they are back in the groove.  In fact, these events are just in time for the formal opening of their bigger and better newly-renovated Rooftop Grill and Restaurant which overlooks the Plaza Heneral Santos and surrounding areas.

Now if you want to stay overnight at any of their fully furnished rooms on October 29, Sydney Hotel is offering a Halloween Discounted Price of P999!

This rate comes with FREE entrance to their Costume Party (where surprises await the hotel guest) and FREE Breakfast the following day, October 30.

For reservations and additional information, please contact Sydney Hotel at (083) 552-5479 to 81 or at 0922-792-5205.  Sydney Hotel is located at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Pendatun Avenue.

In February 2010, less than six months after they formally made their presence felt in Soccsksargen, Robinsons Place GenSan offered FREE WIFI inside its humongous mall which of course, gave bloggers and internet surfers more reason to visit the Gokongwei’s flagship investment here.  It was even considered a BLOGGERS’ HAVEN.

We were expecting both KCC and Gaisano to follow suit considering the competitive streaks in them.  And now that KCC Mall of GenSan is almost done with the renovation of its existing building, it has finally leveled the playing field and started offering FREE WIFI CONNECTION to its shoppers.

With the increasing popularity of the usage of mobile internet, this awesome development from KCC is such a welcome treat!

Now people wanting to check into their Facebook, Plurk, Foursquare accounts, watch an mtv on YouTube,  or check their email through their laptops, tablets of wifi-enabled phones can now do it for FREE once inside KCC Mall of GenSan!

They can just select from any of these three Wireless signals coded as:  kcc-free-wifi, kcc.free.wifi and kcc_free_wifi to access the internet.

And so with two of the biggest malls in GenSan offering FREE INTERNET ACCESS to its shoppers, it will just  be a matter of time  before GAISANO‘s own free wifi offering starts running its course.

Spongecola will be performing in a FREE SHOW starting at 4pm at the Activity Center of Robinsons Place GenSan to promote their latest album, TAMBAY!

After the show, those who will buy their cd albums will have a chance to have them autographed and have their pictures taken with the band members.

Spongecola is one of the more enduring bands around so this is quite a treat for those who dig Original Pinoy Music!  Thank you Robinsons!

Q Restaurant and Bar, at SunCity Complex once again wants to prove that it is one of GenSan’s premier happening places by whipping up a unique event never before offered to the generals – a Luau Party!

Q’s Luau Party happens this Saturday, October 22, 2011 at SunCity Suites Parking Area starting at 9:00 PM.  An admission fee of P100 will entitle partygoers to one FREE San Miguel Beer.

Be sure to be in Beach Attire or in any Hawaiian-inspired get-up.

By the way, did you know that Q now serves lunch? Try their endless chicken!!!   Find out more by clicking here.

One of the performers of the recently concluded teleserye, Guns and Roses, and an ASAP regular, this young lady who’s a member of showbiz royalty is no other than the bubbly and pretty Empress Schuck.

Empress Schuck‘s mall show at Robinsons Place will start at 8:00pm at their cavernous activity center.  The 18-year old actress will be singing some songs and might be giving out some Robinsons freebies to her lucky fans among the audience.

The show is free so please be there early to reserve your seats.  For more information, please call Robinsons Place GenSan at (083) 553-3188.

This show, billed as SITTI BOSSA NOVA is slated for this weekend, October 8, Saturday at KCC Mall’s Convention and Activity Center.  As their poster says, the show will start at 4pm.

For more info on this, please call KCC Mall of GenSan at (083) 301-2345.