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The Divisoria Night Cafe

The blossoming city of Cagayan de Oro is becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. Some of the reasons may be the city’s rich eco-tourism and bustling nightlife. Apart from this, the city’s growing economy has also caught the attention of numerous businessmen around the country. Thanks to these businessmen, the city’s dining, shopping and entertainment scenario has become more lively. In addition to the city’s Limketkai Center, Gaisano Mall, and Ororama chain of stores are SM City, Makro and Robinsons. A number of coffee shops, bistros, dessert venues, spa salons and bars are sprouting all over the city like mushrooms. All these new establishments provide both local Kagay-anons and foreign visitors a suitable place to dine and unwind.

Club 1150 (Photo taken from http://huhlexwong.multiply.com/calendar/item/10084)

Kagay-anons are also looking forward to the addition of new hang-out spots such as the Pacific Island and the Ayala Mall. Once finished, these malls and shopping venues will provide the locals, as well as the visitors, additional venues where they can shop, in addition to the city’s already thriving shopping hot spots.

During the weekends, the streets of Divisoria are closed as the people gather around the city’s famous night café and market to enjoy music, cheap but delicious food and to scout for the best bargains. Aside from this, the city is also home to Mindanao’s most exciting bars and clubs. People from neighboring towns and provinces often flock to the city to enjoy its thriving nightlife.

As the city continues to attract foreign investors with its location, its friendly people and entertainment choices, more establishments are expected to rise within the city, bringing in more fun, new faces, and more earning opportunities.

-by Mara Tismo

Emmanuel Pelaez, former vice president of the Philippines under Diosdado Macapagal’s administration, was born in Medina, Misamis Oriental to Gregorio Pelaez Sr. and Felipa Neri.

After finishing his primary education with highest honors in Cagayan de Misamis (now known as the city of Cagayan de Oro), Emmanuel Pelaez went on to with his secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila High School. He eventually received his Associate in Arts from the University of the Philippines Junior College in Cebu City. In 1938, Emmanuel Pelaez received his degree in law from the University of Manila and within that year, he also managed to top the Bar examinations.

While working to earn that degree, he worked as a senate clerk at the Journal Division for a year, starting from 1934 to 1935. After that, he went on to work as a debate reporter for two years and as a court translator for a year.

Several years after receiving his law degree, Emmanuel Pelaez started his law practice while also serving as a professor at the University of Manila from 1946 until 1963. He represented the province of Misamis Oriental in the senate when he was voted as congressman in 1949. His term lasted from 1949 to 1953. During those times, he was adjudged by the Congressional Press Club as one of the Ten Outstanding Congressmen. In addition to this, the League of Women Voters of the Philippines also hailed him as one of the two Most Outstanding Congressmen, while the Philippine Free Press recognized him as one of the Ten Most Useful Congressmen.

His achievements in the Lower House of Congress paved the way for a higher designation - the senate. During his term as a senator from 1953 to 1960, he was chosen as the Most Outstanding Senator by the Senate Press Club and the League of Women Voters of the Philippines.

Eventually, in 1961, Emmanuel Pelaez was voted to serve as the Vice President of the Philippines under President Diosdado Macapagal. In addition to his duties as the vice president, Emmanuel Pelaez also performed other functions as the country’s Foreign Affairs Secretary. In 1963, he was named Man of the Year by the Examiner. A year after that, he was hailed as the Most Outstanding Alumnus during the University of Manila’s Golden Jubilee Celebration.

The former vice president ended his political career after a failed assassination attempt in 1982. After politics, he focused on Bible studies and even became board chairman and president of the Bible Society.

Emmanuel Pelaez died on July 27, 2003 in Muntinlupa City.

(Sources: philstar.com and Wikipedia.org)

-by Mara Tismo

Arriba Telecontact Inc is a contact center solutions provider based in Cagayan de Oro. The company leverages the English proficiency skills of both college graduate and undergraduates in order to provide American, European and Australian clients with competitive services and solutions. Arriba maintains good agent quality by implementing a thorough English communication skills training among its highly motivated workforce. Aside from having highly qualified agents, Arriba is also equipped with state-of-the-art call center software that increases the establishment’s productivity.

Arribatel’s facility is strategically located near Cagayan de Oro’s bustling business hub. It can be spotted along the Rosario Arcade Strip in Limketkai Center, the prime commercial and shopping destination of Kagay-anons. Arriba is surrounded by several amenities like groceries, upscale coffee shops, 24-hr restaurants, as well as gym and spa facilities.

The establishment has been active in the global outsource industry since it was established in 2005. Arriba Telecontact Inc’s chief executive officer, Elpidio M. Paras, is one of the major players in the city’s technological development and progress. Being one of the region’s business pioneers, Paras is a strong advocate of the awareness and empowerment of information and communications technology throughout the country’s southern industrialized region.

Apart from Arriba Telecontact, Paras is also busy overseeing other ICT-related business ventures. He is responsible for founding Parasat Cable TV, a multi-system cable TV operator in Mindanao and Visayas. Apart from this, he also owns Cable 21 Technologies, Paramedix Inc and Syntactics Inc.

-by Mara Tismo

Ian Quirante

On April 24th 2009, a rising industrial rock band called Switch had their first album launch at Saguijo, Makati City, Philippines. The 15-track LP is called Visceral. It has received acclaim from various local and international music magazines. Currently under Sonic Shape Records, the band performed at the event alongside acts like Cebu’s The Ambassadors and Faspitch and Manila’s Intolerant and Nyctinasty.

Formerly based in Cagayan de Oro City, Switch started out as a solo and experimental project by musician and professional artist Ian “IQ” Quirante in 1998. The band played a few local gigs here and there, inviting fellow musicians to play as sessionists. He then recorded his heavily electronic-influenced tracks at local and home studios. A song called “For You Only,” which was rerecorded and included in Visceral, is still being played over the radio.

When IQ decided to move to Manila to study Fine Arts at UP Diliman, he continued his music ventures there as well. By saving up money from paintings he sold, he was gradually raising a band of keyboard synthesizers and other electronic gadgets that proved to be very significant, as Switch became one of the most unique, and probably the loudest, electronic act in the Metro music scene.

Following some disagreements with the band’s guitarist, Sidney Acurantes, IQ replaced the latter with a fellow Kagay-anon, guitarist and lyricist Wilbert Tan, who is currently playing guitar for the Ram Chaves band. Due to a physical condition, Neil Pagulayan, who plays the synthesizers and adds samples to their live performances, was temporarily replaced by Yna Amparo.

Since then, Switch has reintroduced the Pinoy music scene with the industrial genre, equipped with an electronic setup (Macbooks and keyboard synths included) and openly political/religious/social issues-influenced lyrics.

At present, the band is aiming to have a full live setup, taking a shot at recruiting a drummer and bass player, as Quirante did a test drive of the effort in his hometown last January 2, 2010 at a small show at Mandex bar. Because of the absence of Tan, he invited emo-ambient group K9’s Bam Roa to play guitar, together with drummer Jedi Dela Cruz, and this writer as the bassist.

-by Rose Ann Quirante