CAFE GANADORES: Cagayan de Oro City's New Coffee Icon

We Filipinos love our coffee. There's is nothing more fulfilling than a good cup of coffee after a hard days’ work, celebrating an accomplishment or simply “pampering” ourselves. But what if coffee is taken to another level?

Cafe Ganadores – Cagayan de Oro City’s new coffee icon – opens today. It is located on Vamenta Blvd. in Carmen next to the Shell Station.

Try their Cappuccino – coffee at it’s finest. Or if you like your coffee frozen, I would recommend Coffee Hazelnut. There are lots of choices to tickle your senses. Their signature liquored coffee is to die for. They have La Brisa, La Primavera and El Verano – the names are so intriguing, I would want to try them all!

There are also non-caffein beverages on the menu for the non-coffee drinkers. The Strawberry Pleasure, Banana Bliss and others. The names alone is enough to make you feel refreshed and pampered.

There is almost a homey feel to Café Ganadores’ ambiance. The décor is simple but classy. The chairs are specially made for the shop and check out the coffee bean lighting on the ceiling. All in all, Café Ganadores is very relaxing and a great place to do your casual business meetings, meet a client, hang around with your buddies, bond with your family or just simply be yourself – and it’s all best enjoyed with the best coffee at Café Ganadores.

Check them out: Café Ganadores on Vamenta Blvd.

Gaisano mall floor 'safe'

THE City Building Office (CBO) Monday assured that the fourth floor of the Gaisano mall remained structurally stable despite reports of cracks sustained as a result of the crowd that gathered in a promotional activity there last Sunday.

In a radio interview, CBO chief Engineer Mario Batar said he and some CBO personnel went to the area after receiving reports about the incident and explained that while they saw some cracks in the tiles, it was nothing to be worried about.

"Yes, there were cracks in the tiles but these weren't deep enough to cause the floor to collapse. We went down to the third floor and we didn't saw any cracks in the ceiling so as long as there are no cracks, the floor is stable," Batar said.

He said the office conducts annual inspections of all commercial establishments starting from June to December.

Batar said past inspections held in Gaisano mall showed the establishment is structurally sound.

Gaisano mall management had yet to issue their statement on the incident as of this writing Monday.

Last Sunday afternoon, a livelihood program launching featuring a popular actress was held at the fourth floor of the Gaisano mall drawing in a crowd who panicked after someone noted that there were cracks in the fourth floor.

The identity of the person who spotted the cracks was not known and the crowd responded by rushing downstairs and packing the escalators.

Later several persons called up dxIF Bombo Radyo and complained that the organizers of the activity didn't facilitate the safe exit of the crowd, instead proceeding with the event as if nothing happened.

They also voiced concern over the structural stability of the fourth floor owing to the forthcoming annual City Fiesta, which expects a large turnout of city residents and visitors trooping to Cagayan de Oro's malls.

The fourth floor of Gaisano mall had been the site of many fatal jumps and a complaint from one nearby church.

The latest fatal jump resulted in the injury of one woman shopper, whose head and neck got injured after a man fell on top of her. There were reports of minor payments by the mall management on the woman shopper.

City Hall mulls jailbreak inquiry

RESPONDING to security concerns from alarmed residents, a City Council committee will hold an inquiry into last week's bloody jailbreak at the Cagayan de Oro City jail. Ian Mark Nacaya, chairman of the police and public safety committee, said they would also invite Police Director Aurelio Trampe to brief the committee on the state of peace and order in the city this Wednesday.

The development came even as an inmate who landed in the hospital as a result of the failed jailbreak died last Saturday noon at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC). Rogelio Paguya expired after his lungs, punctured by the bullets that hit them, failed to sustain him.

Paguya was also wounded in other vital organs in last Thursday afternoon's jailbreak. The police official is expected to explain the successive cases of car thefts and robberies in the past weeks, Nacaya said, admitting the recent surge of criminal activities has already caused public alarm. While he believes that crimes are part and parcel of a growing city, the councilor stressed that this do not absolve the police from taking responsibilities. Since assuming his position early last year, Trampe had been summoned several times in the City Council for crime-related inquiries.

At one point, several councilors in the 14th City Council had asked for his removal. "If the committee finds that replacing Director Trampe is necessary, then it will not hesitate to recommend so," Nacaya said. "But of course, we have to hear Director Trampe's explanation before the committee can recommend anything." The same fate awaits Lumbia jail officials, where a foiled jailbreak last Thursday left three inmates dead. Staging a mock fight, nine inmates jumped from one of the prison's towers into liberty after distracting the jail guards.

Although three of the would-be escapees were killed by pursuing authorities--and the rest recovered, residents surrounding the prison facility were horrified at the thought of prisoners invading their homes. "The neighboring residents aired concerns on their safety with the kind of security we have at Lumbia Jail. We want to know from the jail officials what really happened," the councilor said. If the committee finds that the jail officials had been remiss in their job, Nacaya said they would recommend their relief

City folks edgy over cult rumors

IT MAY be a mere hoax or not but city residents and public officials are asking police authorities to look into reports of a cult group that murders and slices off girls’ breasts and is now prowling in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

As early as last month, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro received six text messages stating how a cult group is going around the city killing helpless females and slicing their breasts off as token.These text messages, though written differently, sent out a dire warning for young girls and any woman not to go out on her own at night as “it is no longer safe.”

Then there is one text message that reads: “Naa usab babae nga gibiktima ug gi-slike usab iyang totoy didto sa Jasaan, Misamis Oriental pero hangtud karon walay report sa mga polis. (There is also a woman who was victimized and her breasts were sliced off by this cult group also operating in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental and until now there is no police report on it).”Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro received another text message Friday and this time another woman was victimized.

“Naay patay sa Carmen ang kulto kagabii. Seven months pregnant pa gyud. Taga-Bulua ang babae. Sa Carmen siya gipatay. Gikuhaan gihapon ug breasts (The cult group killed another woman who was seven months pregnant residing in Barangay Bulua this city. Her breasts were also sliced off.),” the text message reads.

“Ayaw kumpyansa lakaw-lawka ug gabii kay delikado na kaayo. Kamulo pa ni ginapangita sa mga polis. (Do not go out on your own at night it is very dangerous. Do not take anything for granted as this is still being checked by the police),” the message further said.The text message again contained a warning that each should be extra careful in “looking out for our loved ones” with this cult group at large.

“It is no longer safe. Refrain from going out late at night. If you must, go out in groups it is better to be safe than sorry,” the text message reads.But Cagayan de Oro City Police Director Aurelio Trampe told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Friday that his men at the Carmen Police Precinct did not receive any report of a woman being murdered with breasts sliced off.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

Hotels and Accommodations in CDO

These are some of the hotels and accommodations in the city, listed alphabetically:
Casa Crystalla
Cagayan Park View Hotel
Chali Beach Hotel
Coconut Bay Resort
Country Village Hotel
DDD Habitat Inn
De Luxe Hotel
Demiren Hotel
Discovery Hotel
Dynasty Court Hotel
Grand City Hotel
Harbor Lights
Hotel Conchita
Hotel Koresco
Hotel Ramon
La Mar Inn
Malasag House
Mallberry Suites Hotel
Marco Hotel
MASS-SPECC Hostel
Maxandrea Hotel
Middleton Apartelle
Mountain Suites Business Apartelle
Nature's Pensionne
Pearlmont Inn
Philtown Hotel
Pryce Plaza Hotel
Ridge View Chalets
River View Inn
Southwinds Hotel
The Malasag House
VIP Hotel
Y.M.C.A.

How to Get to CDO

Cagayan de Oro, as the gateway to Northern Mindanao, is very accessible. From Manila, it is an hour and fifteen minutes away by plane and from Cebu it is an hour and ten minutes. The Lumbia Airport caters daily flights to and from Manila and Cebu. Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao will soon have the Laguindingan International Airport that will cater international flights to South Korea and other parts of the world. By sea, there are regular trips to Manila, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Jagna.

By land, there are regular bus trips to Balingoan (port going to Camiguin), Gingoog, Davao, Butuan and Surigao in the CARAGA Region, Valencia and Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Iligan, Ozamiz, and other parts of Mindanao.

Shopping in CDO

Cagayan de Oro City is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The number of malls, department stores, and supermarkets have increased in the city since the year 2000. The following are the major shopping centers in the city:

Limketkai Center is located in Brgy Lapasan, near the National Highway. The Atrium located inside the mall is ideal for conventions, concerts, exhibits, and other events. This venue can accommodate a large group. Events held in the Atrium include concerts by local and foreign artists, beauty pageants including the annual Miss Cagayan de Oro, and local and national conventions.

Robinsons Cagayan de Oro is located behind the Limketkai Mall. It is right beside Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention Center.

Gaisano City Mall is at the Claro M. Recto Avenue cor Corrales Extension, Lapasan Highway. Gaisano also has branches in Cogon and Carmen.

SM City Cagayan de Oro at Masterson Avenue cor Gran Via at the Pueblo de Oro Township.
Plaza Fair is located inside the Limketkai Mall.

Makro at Kauswagan Highway.

Golden Bell at Gen Capistrano Street.

Ororama Chain of Stores in Lapasan, Cogon, and Carmen.

Cogon Market Area is where many smaller shopping centers are located and where items are sold at bargain prices.

CDO Highlights

Macahambus Cave & Gorge is an underground cave with a 130-foot circular gorge. The ravine is thick with various species of plants and huge trees. It is the site of the historic battle between local and American soldiers during the Philippine-American War (1900).

Whitewater Rafting along the Cagayan de Oro river has gained popularity through the years after President Macapagal-Arroyo herself went whitewater rafting last 2003.

Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral is the home of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. Rebuilt in the 1950s, this place of worship is also famous for its century old stained glass.
Gaston Park is located across the San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral area. Famous for its water fountain, the park remains to be a favorite place to unwind for many people, especially during sundays.

Catanico Falls is concealed by huge boulders, the rapids, cascading falls and natural pool of Brgy. F.S. Catanico.

La Castilla Museum is a museum of Philippine household heirlooms and antiques. This is the Rodolfo and Elsa Pelaez family memorabilia administered by the Liceo de Cagayan University.
Mapawa Nature Park is ideal for horseback riding, biking, zipline and nature trekking.
Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village is located in a reforested area in Malasag Hill. This 6 hectare village has replicas of tribal houses in the region and a panoramic view of Macajalar Bay.
Kagay-an Resort used to be the Lawndale Spring Resort in the Taguanao Area. The resort has recently been opened to the public again, and the place is usually packed with families and groups on weekends to refresh themselves with the cold and refreshing spring water.

Vicente de Lara Park is situated in front of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental with age-old mahogany trees that provide a therapeutic canopy for the promenades. The park, used to be known as McArthur Park, is a popular jogging area during the morning.

Plaza Divisoria was built in 1901 as a town divider (divisoria) or fire breaker after a great fire that almost burned down the entire town. It is now a park dedicated to local and national heroes like President Ramon Magsaysay, Andres Bonifacio, Dr. Jose Rizal, and former Cagayan de Oro Mayor Borja.

Bonifacio Park is among several parks located within Plaza Divisoria. Most of those local soldiers who died during the Philippine-American War of 1900 are buried beneath the monument.

Museo de Oro is a museum located within the campus of Xavier University. It exhibits artifacts dug from Huluga Cave and repertoire of Bukidnon and Maranao Cultures that have survived the ravages of time.

Huluga Caves are two caves where two skeletal fragments of a child and a woman who inhabited Cagayan in 377 A.D. were found. It is unfortunate however, that the complex where the caves are located had been destroyed by the construction of a largely underutilized and controversial bridge--the Pelaez bridge, named after former vice-president of the Philippines Emmanuel Pelaez who, ironically, was a cultural and environmental conservationist.
The Night Café at the Divisoria area is set up on Friday and Saturday nights. Locals and visitors gather in the streets of Divisoria to have barbecue and seafood, among many choices, and enjoy the music, beer, and also the great bargains from the nearby Night Market.

Pueblo de Oro Golf & Country Club
The Pueblo de Oro Township in upper Cagayan de Oro is an expansive business and residential area. This is where SM City Cagayan de Oro, Hotel Koresco, the 18-hole Pueblo Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, and a host of middle to high-end residential areas are located. It is also home to the Pueblo de Oro IT Park, the first PEZA-registered IT park in Mindanao. The IT Park currently houses one of Cagayan de Oro's call centers.

A Brief History of CDO

The area of present Cagayan de Oro has been occupied by indigenous people for approximately 41,114 years. The first inhabitants were the Higaunons, and later on, the Visayan groups.
Two thousand years ago, there were already ancient Kagayanons living around the vicinity of the Huluga Caves. There were also ancient tools used by the ancient Kagayanons. When the Arab missionaries came, Kalambaguhan (or present Cagayan de Oro) was part of the sultanate of Tagoloan. Kalambaguhan was a small settlement of Bukidnons who lived along the riverbanks of Kalambaguhan River.

During this time, Sultan Kudarat would raid these places. Datu Salangsang, their leader, led the Bukidnons to transfer to the hills of Huluga. In 1622, Fray Agustin de San Pedro went to see Datu Salangsang and to transfer to present day Gaston Park. The raids of the Maguindanao warriors were repulsed by Fray Agustin de San Pedro.

Mindanao was divided into two districts. Cagayan de Misamis (or present Cagayan de Oro) became the capital of the district. Pope Pius XII created the first Catholic Archdiocese in Mindanao, which elevated the Diocese of Cagayan. During the American Occupation, revolutionaries fought with the Americans. However, the Americans gained victory. During the Japanese Invasion in 1942, many houses were burned. In 1945, Cagayan was liberated (Taken over) by the Americans.

It was from this settlement that the present Cagayan de Oro originated. In 1845, a stone church was built on the site, which later became the present San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral. The Church was destroyed during the American liberation in 1945. Later on, the church was reconstructed through the efforts of Archbishop James T.G. Hayes, Cagayan de Oro's first Archbishop.

Through the efforts of Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez, the town of Cagayan de Misamis became a city on June 15, 1950 and its name changed to Cagayan de Oro. Since then, Cagayan de Oro became one of the peaceful and progressive cities in the whole archipelago.

Stranded OROBOY

I took my chances to go backpacking from Manila to Mindanao. Wanting to see the whole of the Philippines before venturing abroad, I am left stranded here... in the City of Golden Friendship and got settled when I met the girl of my dreams. Uuuuuyyyyyy!

This is a blog to record my misfits and adventures in the city of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. And hopefully be helpful to those planning to visit this booming city.