Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam’s reunion with fellow Oro Boxers

Tokyo Olympic flyweight boxing silver medalist Carlo Paalam has not forgotten his roots that molded his exceptional talent and skills in amateur boxing.

On a drizzling afternoon last August 26, the ever humble and soft-spoken Paalam quietly slipped into the modest quarters of the Cagayan de Oro City Amateur Boxing Team at the hilly Aluba in Macasandig to reunite with his former teammates and coaches.… Continue reading... “Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam’s reunion with fellow Oro Boxers”

Memories of the Old Hometown : A Tasty Heritage

My mother used to say that one way of sizing up a person is by knowing about the kind of food he/she enjoys since food is part and parcel of living well. It wasn’t until I left home that I realized that we have so many culinary delights, some of them peculiar only to Kagay-anons – like the much-touted bihod (fish roe) coming from that special fish known as pigok (indigenous to Cagayan and Tagoloan rivers).… Continue reading... “Memories of the Old Hometown : A Tasty Heritage”

Filipino Artists bat for recognition of Creative Economy

Filipino artists from all over the country are banding together to ask government to recognize the Creative Economy as a legitimate sector.

Panahon na kilalanin ang kontribusyon sa bayan ng artistang Pilipino. Panahon nang kilalanin bilang isang legit na sector ang Creative Economy,” said Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia, a former child actor, writer, director and Congressman for the 4th district of Pangasinan, Deputy Majority Leader and Chairman of the Special Committee of Creative Industry and Performing Arts.… Continue reading... “Filipino Artists bat for recognition of Creative Economy”

The Life and Journeys of Mr. Kurakuted: Manuel E. Valdehuesa, Jr., 82

The local hero who championed barangay governance reform as the key to solving the Philippines socio-economic woes, passed away on August 8, 2021 at the ripe old age of  82.

Manuel “Manny” E. Valdehuesa, Jr. caught the nation’s imagination on May 2, 2010 in ABS-CBN/ANC “Harapan”, with Ted Failon: (2:46 of 3:56) when the host was interviewing the candidates of the Katipiran Party.… Continue reading... “The Life and Journeys of Mr. Kurakuted: Manuel E. Valdehuesa, Jr., 82”

Vatican approves Xavier Ateneo ‘Campus of the Future’

Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan’s “Campus of the Future” is a go.

On August 20, 2021, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan (Xavier Ateneo ) and Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) inked a Memorandum of Agreement to develop the new XU Masterson Campus in Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro dubbed as “Campus of the Future” and University Township.… Continue reading... “Vatican approves Xavier Ateneo ‘Campus of the Future’”

Kumbira XV Culinary Feature : Oro Sinigang faves, lokal twists on the world’s best vegetable soup

The Philippines’ sinigang has  been cited as the world’s No. 1 vegetable soup according to an international food and lifestyle website, besting 161 other dishes from different countries.

Taste Atlas on Monday shared a list showing sinigang as the top vegetable soup with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

The local dish was closely followed by Skābeņu Zupa from Latvia, Ogbono soup from Edo in Nigeria, Kürbis Suppe from Burgenland in Austria, and Fagiolata from Italy – all rated 4.7 stars.… Continue reading... “Kumbira XV Culinary Feature : Oro Sinigang faves, lokal twists on the world’s best vegetable soup”

Honoring Cagayan de Oro’s First Olympian : MARIANO M. VELEZ, JR.

As the curtains fall on the XXXII Olympics Tokyo 2020, we invite everyone to look back and honor the first ever Olympian from Cagayan de Oro City.

Perhaps it would be no surprise to Kagay-anons that like newly minted XXXII Olympics Tokyo 2020 Flyweight Silver Medalist Carlo Paalam, Mariano “Nene” Mercado Velez Jr.Continue reading... “Honoring Cagayan de Oro’s First Olympian : MARIANO M. VELEZ, JR.”

Boxing at the Park : Origins of Cagayan de Oro’s Cradle of Champions

As early as 1983, Cagayan de Oro had already gained a reputation as the “Mecca of Philippine Boxing.”

Boxing’s rise as the no. 1 form of entertainment in the city could be attributed to several factors, not the least of which was the sustained interest of city residents for the sport.… Continue reading... “Boxing at the Park : Origins of Cagayan de Oro’s Cradle of Champions”

You Can’t Cross The Same River Twice

I was nineteen in the summer of 1991 and it was my first vacation home after a whole year away. Looking back, it seemed outwardly uneventful except for a nagging, persistent feeling of disenchantment, of discontent.

After a year of new knowledge and experiences as an art student at a university in Diliman I was longing to go back to the hometown where the people on the streets were faces that I knew, where cars were few and traffic was not a thing, where you could go from point A to point B in a straight line without encountering a one way sign which put you on a loop that took you farther away from your destination, where the hardware stores in downtown Divisoria closed for lunch because the local businessmen had their afternoon siestas.… Continue reading... “You Can’t Cross The Same River Twice”