#What to do in cagayan

[irithnova]

Notes on Anitismo - The Ancient Religion of the Philippines by Isabelo de los Reyes.

Keep in mind - this was written a while back.

Ancient Chronicles written by the Jesuit hispanic Friars state that at the that the first spaniards set foot in the Philippines from the coast of visayas to Manila there was a considerable population of Muslim converts

This was especially true for Mindanao due to conversion by Islamic  teachers from Borneo

De los Reyes argues that because of this, to find native Filipino religion at its purest, we must look to the North

Distinguishing native religion without outside influence such as from Islam, Hinduism, Christianity etc can be tricky

However he argues that the traces of Native Filipino religion can be found in the stories superstitions and advice that belong to various Filipino ethnic groups (Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Zambalenos etc)

From the South of the country in Mindanao to the extreme North like Luzon, De los Reyes argues then native Filipino religion was consistent

This religion was Anitism or the Cult of Anito, meaning souls of the ancestors.

Anitism is not a monolithic religion and hosts a broad pantheon ranging from Gods to animals, nature, elements and space.

The Philippines had its own modern spiritism and De los Reyes argues this may have been the origins of the cults of "Romanist Saints" (Catholic saints) in the Philippines. By this I think he means that Filipino spirituality influenced how Filipinos proceeded with Catholic worship.

The oldest chronicles about the Philippines can be found in various museums and libraries (such as the National Library of Madrid, Covenant of St Augustine in Manila)

We can follow these chronicles, from when the Jesuit Pedro Quirino provided news of religion in the Philippines in 1604, followed by reproductions by others like the Jesuit Colin in 1663 and others such as Fr. Morga, Gonzalez de Mendoza, Aduarte etc.

Fr Morga said that Filipinos practised Anitism in certain regions like Camarines and Cagayan.

Some traditions would say that Manila and its regions were not originally native to the island - they were from Malayan islands and other remote areas.

Before the Spaniards arrived, Islamic teachers from Borneo came to preach and interacted with the locals 

Their teachings and beliefs spread quickly throughout the Philippines 

Fr. Grijalva writes that they (Filipinos) started adopting their traditions and took on their names.

De Los Reyes argues that Spanish conquistadors' arrival/conquest was delayed because Filipinos were already familiar with various religions and beliefs and also because of the hands of Datu Lapu Lapu. What I believe he is arguing is that Datu Lapu Lapu and the previous exposure Filipinos had to different religions at first delayed Spanish influence from spreading so quickly.

Other islanders who weren't under the control of the government in the Philippines has their beliefs influenced by religious preachers who travelled to them from the Straits of Malacca and the Red Sea.

An account, dated April 20th 1572 (preserved in the archives of India) which is from the conquest of Luzon details "In these towns, closest to the sea, they do not eat any pork, which the moors taught them. But if you ask them, they say they do not know Muhammed or his law." This account was reproduced by Wenceslao Retana.

In actuality, very few Filipinos could understand/read the teachings of the Koran despite the Islamic influence.

In Filipino traditions, reverence and worship was given to nature and the elements, and this was usually consistent throughout the islands.

Native Filipino religion beliefs include elements, animals, stars and ancestors.

Filipino religion in Manila and nearby areas was a mixture or Anitism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam brought by the Malays of Borneo.

Vocabulary included Sanskrit and Malay terms such as Bathala, meaning Lord.

However these terms are not used in Northern provinces.

De Los Reyes argues that Itnegs and other mountain tribes conserved and maintained the purest form of Filipino religion

In the Ilocos, Cagayan, Isabela and other provinces of Northern Luzon, native Filipino religion was more prevalent 

Hindus and Buddhists converted many in Java and Malaysia.

However Muslim influence became dominant in 1478 - 60 years before the Dutch invasion.

According to Javanese legends, Hindus arrives in Java 78 years before Christ.

The first Malays came from the Minangkabau river region to establish cities in Malacca , Ojohor and Singapore in the 12th century, as per Malacca records.

In the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, there were various Malaysian emigrations reaching the Philippines 

De Los Reyes argues that Filipinos may have also populated the islands of Malaysia, and emigrations could have originated from strong winds coming down from the North.

The first Spaniards found the son of Lakandula, King of Manila, when they went to Borneo.

The emperor's master of ceremonies from Japan (Mr Fujita) argued that emigration likely came from the north and that Filipinos may have some relations to the Japanese.

According to Geographers and Historians of the Mariana Islands, what De Los Reyes calls the "know it all Spanish" - had no idea about interesting ruins found in Oceania, one of which was a prehistoric statue that was being held in the British museum.

He argues there may be hidden megaliths, artefacts, and remnants of lost civilisation in the Philippines, as seen in various locations such as : Butacan caves, Pangibalon Hill, Madias de Iloilo and Nasso.

[azureintrigue]

Ok now do MK1 KUNG LAO YOU WERENT FINISHED WITH ME YET! I feel like..there’s this one thingy I’ll tell you in thingy but I think you would understand it

BACK TO THE COAL MINES FOR ME...

Sexuality Headcanon: I HC him as also Bi, but he strongly prefers men, to the point where he probably thought he was gay for a long time. Bro didn't have a gay awakening, he had a Bi one. (Like me fr.) Gender Headcanon: CIS!! But he still uses He/They and sometimes even She. I think he finds pronouns to be a silly thing, but he's content with what he has. He wouldn't be offended if someone calls him pretty, or beautiful or typically 'feminine' compliments. He's cis here in my head, because Liu Kang wanted his bff to be able to be happy and not have to experience the crippling dysphoria he watched him struggle with. He's got a funny thing with gender, definitely sees himself as a man, but doesn't mind if other people see him differently. That strong kinda self-confidence that just genuinely makes him happy in his body regardless of what other people think. A ship I have with said character: I LIKE HANLAO HELP ME. I also Love Railao. Anything where he can be happy but also has that nice bit of angst in it... A BROTP I have with said character: OKAY HEAR ME OUT. LET ME COOK. KUNG LAO AND TOMAS. THEIR INTERACTIONS ARE SO BROCODED I LOVE THEM AAAUUGGGGHH melts away into a pile of sand. A NOTP I have with said character: Exploding the pancakes of people who ship him with Liu Kang /J /J /J I am joking i promise. I just personally don't like the ship. A random headcanon: Half-Filipino on his dads side, but never knew either of his parents. From the Cagayan De Oro area, he can speak Mandarin, Bisayan, and Standard Tagalog. This is part was inspired by the fact he just seems like a Chismoso and also by the fact in Mortal Kombat: Conquest, his actor was Paolo Montalban, a filipino man.

General Opinion over said character: AAAAUUGGH I WANT TO PICK HIM UP AND SHAKE HIM LIKE A SNOWGLOBE PLEASEEE UGHHH I LOVE HIM. I don't relate to him as much as MK11 Lao but LORD IS HE PRETTY AND LORD AM I A FAN. He's absolutely my favorite in MK1, followed by Quan Chi, and Rain. Honestly, I welcome all gender hcs for this goober. Trans, genderfluid, agender, bigender. I can see all of them fitting. Also Homophobia and transphobia don't exist in the MK1 universe Liu Kang eradicated it sorry I don't make the rules.

[maooaoa]

COLD BREEZE ON A CHRISTMAS EVE

I always feel genuine love as I hear familiar vehicle sounds coming from the gate—a Christmas day. That alone is a big gift for me, an obvious hint that my cousins were coming. I didn't even remember how we started to get along, but one thing is for sure—we all met up at the same spot, our grandparents' home. 

More than ten cousins at that, and we live across different places. Some lived in Linabo, some lived in Bagong Silang, Baungon, Cagayan de Oro, and some even lived in Cebu.

As for me, I was just a meter away from my grandparents' house.

 

Seeing them in the distance, stepping out of the vehicle, my face would light up brightly like a sun. Despite being shy, I would hurriedly rush and smile at them. It just felt complete with them by my side, even so on a Christmas day.

As children, our favorite time of the day has always been the evening.

 

No Christmas lights, Christmas trees, or Christmas parols—no decorations. Our Christmas evening back then was purely about 2F: family and food. No cap, but my grandparents' house was as spacious as the width of a school building; we would play tag around the house and scare each other out.

Even with the cold breeze roaming, not a single second would the atmosphere die—silence just wouldn't emerge. As expected from the adults, they were more prone to laughing loudly than us.

 

But no one can deny, we've had more fun. I remember one time, one of my cousins fouled me. He begged me to sniff one of his fingers, and do you know what the smell is? It came from his butt. To this day, I still feel nauseous thinking about it. 

"Really? Right in front of my salad?" as a reference to what I felt.

 

Then came midnight. Midnight of December 25. The best night ever. That would mean having a feast up the ground. Not on the roof, but on the next floor. As my cousins and I stepped just one more time from the staircase, the chilling feeling was evident. 

Compared to the first floor, this was way worse because all the windows were opened. Does grandfather even feel the cold? NOPE, I don't think so.

 

Have you ever watched that one TikTok video that says that if you feel cold, somehow you'll randomly start having an attack of happiness?

 

That was exactly the best description of what I felt at that moment—as if I was looking forward to an exciting experience that could happen anytime. And I always do feel that on Christmas Eve. And perhaps that's the reason I like the evening more than the day.

 

The moment we stomped both of our feet on the wooden floor, we were surprised because in front of us, tons of food were placed on the table. Foods, like spaghetti, lechon baboy, and of course, the famous food of all time (just kidding)—hotdog with marshmallows on top. And of course, before we savored those delicious meals, we prayed to Jesus Christ and thanked Him for His birth, life, death, and resurrection. 

 

After all, He is the reason we celebrate this special day annually.

Right after prayer, every one of us, cousins, would go to the same spot and share waves of laughter while eating, and our laughter would eventually lose its volume and our bodies would go all over the place. Loud soothing laughter could be heard from the adults too; indulged in food and interesting conversations.

 

Now I'm sixteen.

And they say that Christmas doesn't feel the same way anymore. I feel that way sometimes, too. My cousins don't visit the place anymore. And what's more—our home's now far away from my grandparents.

 

Years and years, I waited 'til night at my grandparents' home every December 25, yet vehicles just passed by our gate, never entering.  

I couldn't celebrate Christmas the same way anymore. I guess these things do happen inevitably as long as we're humans.

 

Even so, I'm still grateful that they celebrate Christmas to this day, even with other people. Because the reason we celebrate is not because of man but rather because of the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

I still want to believe we will reunite. After all, it's the best to celebrate Christmas with the ones you love, isn't it?

[mwcowan]

A Whole New Chapter

Road Trip!

Day 10, Banaue, Ifugao Province

It's a 211 km, 6-hour drive from Tuguegarao to Banaue. The first half of the drive was fine, a pretty straight but rather bumpy road through the Cagayan valley into the foothills. The last half was the curviest road ever. Nonstop turns as we ascended into the highest mountains on Luzon. And I mean nonstop. I think if you put all the straight sections in the last 100 km together you’d have maybe 1 km total of straight road. Think Lombard Street. 100 km of Lombard Street. To make things worse, we were confronted at least once every kilometer with earth and rock slides, and possibly cleanup crews trying to keep ahead of the mess. Constantly down to one lane. Waterfalls coming down the sides of the mountains, onto or under the roadway, sometimes washing out a lane.

The 2-lane road clings to the mountainsides, with one side going vertically upwards, and the other, well you just don’t want to look. Numerous villages, people, and animals also cling to the steep mountains, making the drive even more exciting. With no place to park other than the shoulder-less roadway, it’s pretty much down to taking turns at uncontrolled one-way traffic through the villages. Somehow you make it through. By the time we got here my arms hurt from all the turns. Oh wait… I wasn’t even driving. I pity our driver!

Farmers utilize the land as they can. Can you imagine working this field?

Why make this arduous trek to Banaue? Banaue is considered a must-see heritage site in the Philippines, for its ancient rice terraces. As much as 2000 years ago, the ancestors of the indigenous Igorot people began carving terraces into the steep hillsides to grow rice; they also built an elaborate irrigation system to collect water coming from the mountains and distribute it among the terraces. The terraces are still maintained and used for rice and vegetable cultivation today. Below are views from our hotel room.

An aside - Road Hazards

Spending so much time on the rural roads you see some interesting (i.e., dangerous) sights. Here are a few of my favorite road hazards from this trip.

Two in one. Trikes are a hazard in themselves, turning in front of you with no warning, driving at night with no lights, going 20 km/h and never pulling over. That’s compounded in a rice-growing region. Newly-harvested rice needs to be dried, right? What better place to do that than right on the highway!

Landslides. These were frequent on the road to Banaue. Not sure if these, or the crews trying to clean them up, posed more of a hazard.

And just not sure what to say about this jeepney...

Days 11-12, Baguio, Benguet Province

During Spanish rule, the area now known as Baguio was organized as a “rancheria” consisting of about 20 houses, populated by Ibaloi people. Their name for the area was “Bag-iw”, their term for the moss that grows abundantly in the cool climate. The Spanish corrupted the name into “Baguio”. Following the Spanish-American war, the area was ‘expropriated’ from the Ibaloi who were forced to move, when the American governor of the Philippines territory wanted a cooler place than Manila to locate the capital during the hot summer months. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt signed an executive order setting aside the area as a military reservation, and by 1904 a master design for the city by architect Daniel Burnham was completed. The army “hill base” Camp John Hay was established, and soon features such as a mansion for the governor and a manor to be used for U.S. Army officer’s R&R were built. The mansion today is a museum; the Manor is still used as an upscale hotel (pulling up an old one, see “Mark and Georgia’s 2018 Philippines Trip”, days 20-22). Baguio is one of the most popular vacation spots in the Philippines for Filipinos and many international travelers. It’s just a 5-hour drive or a short flight from Manila so makes a feasible weekend escape from the heat – at over 1500 meters (5000 feet) elevation, we saw daytime highs of 22°C (72°F), pleasant indeed!

The drive from Banaue was another 7-hour, 200+ kilometers, pretty easy at first as we descended back into the Cagayan Valley (rice, rice, more rice, and lots of moo moo cows which Max liked). Rice is planted by hand here, one seedling at a time.

At the head of the valley we again drove on twisty 2-lane roads up into the misty pine-covered mountains, once again a 100 km Lombard Street. Did I say “pine-covered”? Have we been mysteriously transported back to California? No, the area around Baguio is noted for its pine trees (Pinus Kesiya, the most common pine species found in Asia). They are rather tall too, though not quite as tall as those around Graeagle.

We wanted a nice end to our road trip, so booked a couple days in a very nice and Max-friendly hotel. Within walking distance of our hotel is Mines View Park. There are no mines to view any more, but it does offer nice views of Baguio. Here’s Max and Georgia getting to know some elderly Igorot ladies in their colorful dress.

We took Max for a walk in Burnham park (remember the architect Burnham), a large mid-city park with a lake full of swan boats. The park was packed with holiday crowds; it was the Philippines Independence Day!

 With its cool climate, Baguio is known for growing cool-weather crops, including lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and strawberries. Nearby Burnham Park is the Baguio Public Market, a huge venue, easy to get lost in, with hundreds of stalls selling local produce. We bought various fresh veggies to bring back home with us, and Georgia also wanted to get some local red rice. Unless you’re Filipino you probably think there are maybe 3-4 kinds of rice… guess again. Even “Dog Rice”!

That wraps up our 2024 road trip, 13 days and a lot of miles. I haven’t added up how many miles – I’ll do that and also find a good map onto which I can plot our course.

Max (have Wubba will travel) is ready to hit the road again!

[girlpocalypse]

AOK, white woman

The ancestors' genes really went hard on me.

Though I believe I fully present as a tall Filipina, I do have a white Dad. The most notable genes I got from Larry were depression, height, and some leg hair. The rest is from Florence.

I was too brown to fit in with my Dad's Iowan extended family; too white for my Mom's family. On my Dad's side, I always felt like my mom, brother, and I were these out of place, exotic signs of a brave new “post-racial” world that everyone patted themselves on the back for over lunches of mayonnaise-based "salads" and sour cream casseroles.

In nomenclature I was always deemed white by people who knew my parents, thanks to that good ol' one drop rule. To be fair, I was much lighter skinned as a child, but only because I was ordered to hide in the shade when outside. Even now, when I spend a day in the sun I hear the full cacophony of aunties and uncles in my head: "We didn't leave Cagayan for you to look like you spent the whole day working in the rice fields!" I was generously gifted colorism, but gate kept from owning Filipino culture. Lucky me. 

Once, at the beginning of a bright, shiny new Trump presidency and the resulting cultural emboldening of public bigotry, I once met one of those aunties for brunch when she visited Chicago. I recounted the tale of being shouted at by a man in his car to go back where I came from on my way to the restaurant. Without a beat she assured me, "Well that's okay though, you're white!"

By school age I had fully internalized this message that I must claim whiteness. I felt isolated and weird as the lone non-white girl in my Kindergarten class, and so badly wanted to be just like everyone else. When it came time for my very first school birthday party, my Mom asked me what kind of treats I wanted to bring in for my celebration. I reportedly said:

"Mommy, I want a white Barbie cake because I'm a white girl."

People told me I should be white, so I tried to be. I lived in white spaces for so long, all I wanted for most of my childhood was to be seen as one of them.

I went to the Philippines for the first time when I was sixteen. The motherland had these ideal island weather conditions, which meant that suddenly my hair (which I had been dutifully wearing straight like the card-carrying emo girl I was), suddenly had beautiful, beachy, vibrant curls. After that trip I threw out my Chi flat-iron and never straightened my hair again. That was the first way that I ever gave myself intentional permission to reconnect with my ancestral roots. (Get it?)

My Mom had waited to bring us to her home country until my brother and I were old enough to have our wits about us, since traveling with my six-foot tall white father as a mixed American family was dangerous. The difference between the way I was treated when I had proximity to my Dad's whiteness by strangers in America versus the Philippines was staggering. People in Manila and the countryside alike didn't like that my mom had "betrayed" her people by being with my Dad, so it was safer to leave him at home when we went to the market or ran errands. For the first time in my life, my brownness kept me safer.

At the same time, whiteness made me a commodity. On that trip, family, friends, and strangers would fully walk up to me, stroke my cheek, and say things like, "Oh my god, wow, you're a SINGER? Maganda, you're so tall and so light! The next Charice or Charlotte Church! You should be on television!" I was gifted bottles of face lightening cleansers and serums to take back to the states with me so I could keep my "white" skin beautiful.

This Summer at our family reunion photo shoot, the photographer was arranging the adult cousin generation for a group photo and asked us to sort ourselves by height. This of course erupted in overlapping cries of, "Send Anna to the back because she's SO tall!" The chaos peaked as my petite dietician of a cousin who was sitting in the row in front of me enthusiastically turned to everyone announcing, "Yeah, she's soooooo tall because Anna's WHITE!"

Without thinking, I shoved my arm next to hers: "OH YEAH? PLEASE, POINT AT THE PART THAT IS WHITE. SEE YOUR PUREBLOOD FILIPINO ARM NEXT TO MINE? HMMM, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE MY 'WHITE' ARM IS SIGNIFICANTLY DARKER THAN YOURS, HOW STRANGE!"

In that moment, I felt the collective rage from all the years I was told I was "such a big girl," by my Filipino family. Giant. Fat. Huge. Tall. White.

It's not even like my cousins have more of a claim to Filipino-ness than I do. In fact, I, only a half Filipina, planned said reunion. I, a mere half-breed, am the only one of the cousins organizing in my city and creating Fil-Am spaces for Filipino music and community. Practically none of our cousin's generation even speaks Tagalog, as we were raised in the peak age of first-generation assimilation. Our families thought they were doing right by us by keeping us from the mother tongue. They didn't want us made fun of for our accents; didn't want us academically behind since the prominent thinking at the time was that introducing young children to multiple languages was detrimental to their development. They wanted us to be American, full stop. Though I now see that our parents were just doing what they thought was best, I used to be really angry that I was kept from Tagalog. Everyone always responded that my lack of language made sense, since I was "only half."

Somehow, my flat, wide nose is the smallest one of all sixteen grandchildren. My delicate disposition made me the only one of the cousins who has a recessive blood disorder called Thalassemia (similar to sickle cell anemia and common in southeastern and south Asian populations). I am half Filipina, but I have whole insecurities about the flatness of my face. I am only half, but have this Filipina medical problem that will leave me systemically tired and immunocompromised for my whole life.

For our cousin's Christmas Secret Santa exchange a couple years ago, I was given a 23-and-me DNA test. The results were predictable:

25% Germanic 25% British Isles 49% Filipino, indigenous to the Ilocos Norte & Cagayan regions 1% Spanish

The thing that shook me to my core was the way my 23-and-me reports outlining my risks for certain diseases and genetic conditions compared me to other "average caucasian women" of my age. Over and over again across the page, the data read:

Anna: WHITE WOMAN Anna: WHITE WOMAN Anna: WHITE WOMAN

Me. My brown ass. A woman who gets clocked for Mexican or Latina or Filipina by strangers everywhere she goes; a woman who gets so dark in the Summer she wears five separate shades of foundation depending on how sun-kissed she is; a woman who is yelled at from cars to go back where she came from -- which, if you were wondering, is Liberty, Missouri.

I'm not sure when exactly I decided to give myself permission to stop introducing myself with an asterisk: half white, half Filipina. Those words always felt demeaning to me - after all, I couldn’t divide myself into a brown half and a white half.

What I do know, is that I am utterly exhausted from this lifetime of being told who I am.

I look in the mirror and see a whole person. She rides the line between identities in a world that subscribes to binaries and therefore belongs to nothing. Not gay, not straight, but a secret third thing. Not so disabled that you see it at first glance, but not well enough to keep up with able bodied people. Not brown enough for the brown people, not white enough for the white people.

I look in the mirror at her lidded eyes and cascading jet black hair.

She is not "half" anything.

And she is abso-fucking-lutely not a white woman.

-AOK, August 2023

[davidhuzyk]

Survivor Season Rankings

Worth Playing For 1) 28: Cagayan Such an explosive cast! Consistent throughout with great pre-merge and post-merge. While the winner may have been overpowered with idols there was still some strategy/manipulation to be done to end up in Final Tribal, I respect the gameplay. Lots of memorable, historical players & moments, my personal favourite season

2) 37: David’s vs Goliath’s The best season to introduce someone to Survivor with! It has a great, diverse cast with many legendary players & moments. Almost every modern advantage pays out in a big way. The theme works fairly well, overall it’s very fun 3) 16: Micronesia Fans vs Favorites Some of, if not the biggest moments in Survivor history! Erik & the idol, the little “Ozzlets”, the f’ing stick!! A slower pre-merge with a bit of a lackluster Fans cast, but the Favorites more than make up for it post-merge.  4) 18: Tocantins One of my favourite original casts in one of my favourite locations! The Brazilian desert is beautiful and makes for a unique landscape. We see the origin of characters like Coach & Tyson, and also one of my favourite duos of all-time in Stephen & JT. Plus the birth of simmotion! 5) 15: China Another great season for the same reasons as above. Amazing casting with Courtney, James, Todd, Amanda, Peih-Gee, etc. and some breathtaking landscapes & temples. Great winner, the big moment with the double idol boot.... DAMN!! 6) 7: Pearl Islands The best original era season in my opinion. The theme is very strong throughout the season, very much paying off in the first episode with the unique  “marooning” and Rupert pretty much being a pirate. A great cast, some fun twists, and a moment that the Smithsonian used to encapsulate all of reality TV!

7) 20: Heroes vs Villains The ultimate battle of good vs evil, what more needs to be said? A massive returning cast with some of the fiercest competition, it gave us our first two time winner. I do find I prefer most players on their other seasons however, letting this one slip a bit lower in the rankings, but overall still a top tier season 8) 33: Millennials vs Gen X  Our first season on the current Fijian beaches, and it never feels fresher! A great cast with a good theme, containing strong emotional moments throughout. The “Did you do that!?” - “Yeah. I did it” moment may be my favourite vote out reaction of all time. 

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My Life Is Fine 9) 32: Kaoh Rong At the time of the live airing I remember this season leaving a dirty taste in my mouth with the sour bullies in Jason & Scott, as well as the “robbed goddess Aubry”, but in revisiting this season I found a lot more peaks than valleys. I came to gain a better appreciation for the winner as well, and it may have the most bonkers reunion special. Drew Carey, Mark the Chicken... Sia?! 10) 6: Amazon While the theme of men vs women may have played a bit hornier at the time, I still think it made for some interesting commentary and moments on the show. The location feels more intense, even when the tribe isn’t burning themselves to the ground haha. Also the birth of one of my favourite characters in Rob C! 11) 10: Palau Some may say the boot order on this season is very lackluster, but it does bring us the only time a single tribe is whittled down to one player. I also find there are entertaining moments throughout both the pre & post-merge. The theme works surprisingly well with sharks & army, it gives us a rootable winner, and a record breaking challenge! 12) 25: Philippines  While we do need to ignore the *redacted* of it all, we get another great mostly original cast with a very unique, historical, and rootable winner. We also get one of the best “love-to-hate/hate-to-love” villains in Abi-Maria, who thankfully cracked a coconut into *redacted*’s head! 13) 42 I haven’t been completely loving the new era of the 40′s’, but I find it certainly worked best thus far with 42. Some of the twists were slightly altered from 41 showing production had learned some of their faults, while also adding some new interesting twists. I think the cast really pops here, especially in our winner! 14) 40: Winners at War An all winners season, what’s not to love? I do find a different boot order could have made for a much more entertaining season, but what we were given was still some of the closest challenges and fiercest competition we’ve seen. I support the win of our second two-time winner, and will forever remember being touched by Ethan’s journey on Extinction 15) 13: Cook Islands Once again another theme that might not have played out so great in hindsight, but it did lead to our most diverse casting yet and I think it pays out on screen. The birth of legendary players like Parvati, Ozzy, Penner, Yul, etc. and an all-timer moment when Jeff asks “Candice, from Raro tribe?!?” 16) 27: Blood vs Water I do find the pre-merge a bit salty and a bit of a downer, but once the season starts picking up momentum it pays out. Some comedic moments with our “coconut bandits”, it also gave us the historic moment of someone voting out their mom! I very much enjoy the winner and their journey here 17) 29: Blood vs Water 2 This is another season that I think plays much better on a re-watch than live at the time. I always loved the winner and their journey, but some underperforming cast members does drag this down a bit. There are some really unique moments & dynamics playing out with the only all original cast BvW theme however, worth revisiting 18) 38: Edge of Extinction The theme may be awful, but I really support the original cast in play and how hard everyone was playing. I think the theme and how the season ultimately plays out drags this down a lot further for most people, but I’d love to see characters like Devons, Victoria, Lauren, even Reem return for another try 19) 31: Cambodia - Second Chances What should be the “ultimate Survivor super-fan season” ends up playing out a bit too unnecessarily complex for me, but still it cannot be denied how strong the returning cast is and how hard everyone is playing. An all-time tribal when an idol blocks a record 9 votes, plus a great winner, an overall good season 20) 12: Panama Perhaps the most uneven season in terms of tribes between the explosive Casaya and the tepid La Mina, it has some very iconic, comedic moments (mostly from Shane) and the birth of our queen Cirie! 21) 4: Marquesas A very underrated season. While the change in location last minute does show on screen production-wise at times (a kite challenge, really?) we get our first big power flip with the dismantling of the Roto Four, and our first “rocking out”, as well as the many firsts in our winner! 

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Ain’t No Hershey Bar 22) 17: Gabon Probably the biggest cluster-fuck of a season, it is messy in all the right ways. One of those “so bad it’s good” type of situations, I can’t help but grab the popcorn and take in all the salt & sass. It also has one of our best landscapes, I’ll never forget the moment Ace is doing a confessional and an elephant just walks into the background for a sip of water 23) 41 A very polarizing season, lots to love and to dislike. Production was trying out a lot of firsts here, and while they don’t all pay off I find what does makes for an overall enjoyable enough season. I think a re-edit could make for a more entertaining experience, especially in regards to our winner 24) 3: Africa I do find the earlier seasons can be a bit drier or slower compared to more modern eras, but Africa certainly brought us our most dangerous season. Between the lions, the lack of water & food, and the intense sun, this may be the best season for people actually wanting surviving in their Survivor 25) 19: Samoa This season is very heavily edited towards a certain character, so mileage varies depending on your opinion of him, but the way Russell outmaneuvers not only the cast but production is masterclass. I don’t support all of the gameplay, but it does make for entertaining TV 26) 9: Vanuatu Another season that plays better in a re-watch than at the time. I think the men vs women theme works better this time around, and the ultimate winner’s path does allow for a lot of good conversation & commentary 27) 1: Borneo The one that started it all. Production doesn’t quite have everything figured out yet, which can make for a bit of a clunky watch, but what we get here is the template & groundwork for every season to come. Thankfully we had a winner with the foresight to see the real potential of this game that is Survivor 28) 43 A very great cast that I think is unfortunately brought down by the current metagame, as well as a confusing edit and a not so favourable winner. I do think Jesse’s big borrowed idol move will go down as an all-timer, but that alone is not enough to catapult this season any higher

29) 2: Australian Outback Some big memorable moments as well as a good balance between gameplay & survival elements, it’s a shame the older editing & pacing make for a bit of a calmer watch at times. Survivor was never more popular than at this moment however and it really shows in the reunion! 30) 26: Caramoan There’s not a lot of great stuff in this season, between the negative moments with Brandon & Phillip and Brenda & Dawn you would hope for some great strategic gameplay, but there’s not really that either. Yet somehow I end up being drawn back to this season, I guess it hurts so good! 31) 14: Fiji An awful theme. Wow, I wonder who will dominate, the Haves or the Have Nots?! You can also feel the recruitment in regards to casting. But we still have one of our more diverse casts with some bigger, historical moments that I think play better through a modern day perspective 32) 30: Worlds Apart Similar to Caramoan, I find there are a lot of downer moments that drag this season down (Will being awful to Shirin, Dan overall, Joe in hindsight), but yet I am drawn back to it. If you enjoy awkward moments then Vince is comedic gold, and Rodney definitely plays much funnier a second time around 33) 36: Ghost Island This theme should have been great, but it really doesn’t pay off. The cast I also found was a bit dull, but the dynamic of Wendell & Dom really gives this some mileage 34) 23: South Pacific An instance of a good but unfortunately under-edited winner in a not so great season. The overtones of religion & Catholicism hamper the gameplay, and the casting isn’t at it’s strongest. Nothing awful here, but nothing fantastic either 35) 11: Guatemala Our first captains season that unfortunately doesn’t seem to “pop”. Another case of an under-edited winner, there isn’t much great gameplay to speak of. The Mayan temples are however beautiful, and we do get the birth of the Immunity Idol 36) 34: Game Changers Was this Game Changers, or Game Players? Because this cast certainly didn’t feel legendary in the way the theme suggests. The boot order also left a lot to be desired, and we get the messy situation with Varner... if not for a few comedic moments this could have easily slipped down a tier

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Forget You, Go Home, Goodbye 37) 35: Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers The birth of the fire making twist, which for me did not play out well. Some may enjoy the winners journey here, I ultimately found it disappointing and frustrating. Some lackluster challenges as well as a confusing theme made for an overall letdown of a season 38) 8: All Stars At the time I got swept up in the love story of Rob & Amber, but in re-watching the season there is a lot of saltiness, as well as some ugly situations (Jenna’s departure commentary, Rich & Sue). In wanting to get swept up in gameplay I found very little to be excited about 39) 39: Island of the Idols Obviously we know why this is a bottom tier season, but that aside I do think there was some great characters & moments that save this from being the worst season. The theme was bad to begin with so it was never destined for greatness lol 40) 24: One World I love the theme of putting everyone on one beach, unfortunately the recruitment casting along with the split of men vs women made this season a drag. I love the winner and their gameplay, but there are a lot of forgettable castaways here, not to mention one of the most polarizing player in Colton  41) 21: Nicaragua  Not much to love here, a pretty poor cast with some sloppy gameplay and a mild winner. If the most memorable part about the season is two people quitting, you know there’s a problem 42) 22: Redemption Island I guess mileage really varies depending on your love for Boston Rob, but I feel like this season was served to him on a silver platter. I guess it answers the question is it fun to see a big-leaguer play in the minors with the rookies? The answer is no, no it is not 43) 5: Thailand Here it is, the worst season of Survivor. The ugliness and mishandling of the Ghandia & Ted situation, the emotionless cold winner, the pitiful gameplay, it’s all here! I will however never forget that Robb strangled Clay during a challenge and that he brought a skateboard to the jungle!

[zerogate]

Cagayan Valley in north-eastern Luzon is home to one such community – an Igorot or mountain people who are marked by Christianity and post-war developments, but nevertheless leave all the most important decisions of their lives to solemn rituals that involve animal sacrifice and lead to consultation with the spirits. Communion is accomplished by aniteras or female shamans who are now rare, but carry on like gently beating hearts in dying tribal life. It was to meet one such woman that I made the long journey from Bayombong up into the forests of the Cordillera. I spent several bewitching weeks living in the old lady’s compound, watching the daily work of weaving and basket making, taking part in the evening rituals of healing and spirit worship. It was an altogether magical time, but one I remember best for my involvement in what I can only think of as a kind of exorcism.

A child was brought to the aniteras suffering from a complaint like none I have ever seen. He was said to be ten years old, and from the right side he looked about that age; but from the left, he had the appearance of an aged and diseased dwarf. From the front, you could see a line running down the centre of his body, as though the Hollywood part of his heritage had spent long hours in makeup that morning, doing their best to make one half of his body look like something designed to be exhumed by Vincent Price.

I can joke about it now, but the effect was truly horrible. The hair on the right side of his head was dark and glossy, while that on the left was dank and lifeless. One eye was clear and bright, the other squint and rheumy. Half his teeth were widely spaced and drawn out into fangs by the retreat of bloody gums, and the skin on that side of his face and down his left arm was covered in running sores. He walked slowly and with obvious pain, hunched with every other step over a left leg shortened several inches by a clawed foot. And when he spoke, which he did rarely, it was out of the twisted left side of his mouth in a snarl and in a language which nobody there understood. Nobody except me. I was astounded to hear, in amongst the deep-throated growl, a few phrases in clear and ringing Zulu – the one African language that I was able to speak when I was his age. The words were odd ones and inappropriate to that situation, but they left me feeling very vulnerable, as though I had just had my pocket picked.

The aniteras decided that the child was possessed by busao, an evil spirit – which, in the circumstances, seemed like the only reasonable diagnosis. And for three days she worked her wiles on the child, plying him with herbal potions, saturating him with ceremony and invocation. All to no avail. On the fourth night, however, she was otherwise occupied and the boy/dwarf was sitting on the ground next to a fire encircled by a group of elders, frightening me from time to time with occasional obscene twitches. The people and I were talking in reluctant Tagalog, which is no more their language than it is mine, just passing the time. Nobody was concentrating on the figure at the fire, he was not the subject of conversation and he was looking away from me into the flames. Then slowly, one by one, our gazes focused on him, the talk stopped, the air became almost heavy with condensed attention; and suddenly, as if by prearrangement, the old lady was there with us, standing tall on the edge of the circle. She hurled something into the fire, which flared up in a green blaze and she shouted very loud, very angry, a long quick string of words hurled directly at the afflicted boy.

There was a moment of silence, complete silence, then a terrible scream as the child threw himself down on the ground and began to thrash around violently. Again she shouted, and once more he screamed – a searing combination of pain and anger. It was a duel in sound, a pitched battle that raged and grew into a frenzy, and then stopped as suddenly as it had begun as the child hurled himself face down to the earth and lay still with one arm and shoulder in the glowing coals. For a long, awful moment nobody moved, and then the old woman stepped forward, gently lifted the body up and carried it away to her hut. And it was as though she took with it a great weight from our shoulders – a burden that we were not conscious of carrying, but that had been with us ever since the weird child had arrived.

The next morning, the boy was up early with the rest of the women, helping carry water. He looked straight at me for the first time and his eyes, both eyes, were clear. By that evening he was talking normally, in his own tongue, and walking with only the suggestion of a limp. And by the end of the week, his skin and teeth and hair, his whole appearance, were those of any other healthy, unmarked, active and attractive Filipino child.

-- Lyall Watson, Beyond Supernature

[upin-ipin]

Kuya's POV

The participant is the interviewer’s older brother, Joel. He is 23 years old and just graduated from his Tesda Course in Hotel and Restaurant Technology. 

Joel is a paddler in the dragon boat team Amihan. They have competed in various places including Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Baise in China, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, and Siargao. 

Being an athlete helped him maintain his physical fitness and gave him a sense of discipline when it comes to his physical health. He engages in physical exercises five times a week, goes to the gym, and attends their 3-day weekly training sessions. He also monitors his diet and weight as they are prohibited to exceed a certain weight, exceeding the required weight will exclude them from the competition, the reason for this, is to maintain balance on their boat for them to paddle smoothly. Being an athlete also helped him lessen his engagement in motorcycle activities to avoid injuries, when he was an adolescent, motocross was his thing, ever since he became an athlete he has been meticulous in engaging in other vigorous activities, having injuries and not being able to compete in dragon boat competitions is out of his list. 

Since Joel is a fresh graduate, I asked him how was his journey in school now that it has come to an end. Now that he’s a graduate, he’s feeling more of the pressure of being an adult. Since he is the first child and an older brother, the pressure is big and real. His decision-making improves and chooses other people’s needs before him as he doesn’t feel the need to pick himself first, he said. He reminisced the moments when he was just in high school, he said he was very impulsive at that time and just acted aggressively, now, he realizes the changes in his actions. I asked him what situations or scenarios made him become the person he is now, he answered: “daghan uy, kay ate bany nimo (his girlfriend), ila mama, sa akong mga amigo sad.” He said that having a girlfriend also helped him become mature and improve his emotional intelligence, and adulting really hit him hard including his friends as they were very “bugoy” in high school. He has to make decisions that will be best for all and not just for him. The issue we had with our father also helped him become a more responsible older brother, he now sees me and it made him feel that he really needs to fulfill his “kuya duties.” I see my older brother as a very laid-back person, nontransparent, and emotionally reserved. So, I asked him why do you always keep your emotions to yourself? Asking him this type of question was not easy, as we don’t usually talk with each other about these topics. He said, that expressing his emotions doesn’t make any difference, he doesn’t want to burden anyone with what’s burdening him, why would he trouble someone that is troubling him? That’s his mindset. And also because he’s a “man”, he said: “di man ko angayan mag ingana oy” he meant sharing his feelings and being emotional. Sometimes I just wanna punch this man in the face, he is the straightest (he’s not homophobic though) and the second stereotyping man I have known with my father being the first. I asked him, do you think you would be like this now if it wasn’t because of your experiences? He answered, “syempre dili, mag bag-o man jud ka, imong personality og pangutok habang ga tigulang labi na daghan nakag responsibilities.” he knows that he is learning from his experiences and from the people he met. 

I noticed that Joel can make friends easily, he knows how to start a conversation with a stranger and can talk to them for many hours. His main friends are his friends from high school and they have been friends for 7 years now. They may have encountered many challenges but they’re still in the best condition. His relationship with his girlfriend is also in the best condition, they face many challenges but they fix it together. He learned a lot with his relationship with his girlfriend, it teaches him to be patient and understanding. I have seen the worst attitude of this guy when we were kids, and I know how impatient he can be. However, seeing him now becoming more patient and understanding, I could say it started when his relationship with his long-term girlfriend strengthened and became more mature. So, special thanks to his girlfriend! Joel and I were like a dog and cat growing up, we couldn’t be seated next to each other or else we’d kill each other. We just recently relied on each other after our issue with our father. He became more protective and a responsible kuya. He is a menace and “sakit sa ulo” to our parents in his rebellious phase, however, that phase is already phased out. He takes care of our parents well and has a ‘healthy’ relationship with them. He’s in the stage where he doesn’t want to ask our parents about his needs and tries very hard to provide it on his own. 

I asked him all the insecurities he faced in becoming an adult, he said it was his height, his weight, his motivations, and his future. He is stuck on what career he will choose, our parents expected that his dragon boat career was just for recreational. However, Joel wants to pursue more of his dragon boat career. He considered it as his biggest challenge now, but I believe he will pursue the path that he is more passionate about. I also asked him what was the biggest achievement he had ever achieved so far. He said it was competing twice internationally for his team in the dragon boat, his coach always includes him in the line-up for every category they were competing, and this made him feel relevant and fulfilled. His coach’s affirmation of him gave him a sense of accomplishment. With all the hard training, hard work, and discipline he did, bear a sweet fruit. He proudly said: “wala man koy medal as a studyante, pero naa koy medals as an athlete.” it’s his prize possession. This man may be annoying sometimes but I am proud of him, I am proud of this Kuya.

[elena-writes]

Business Interview | Week 7 - 8 Insights

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." – Steve Jobs

1. Phil Aus Adventure Representative: John Del Bando | Business Development Manager

Nestled in Cagayan de Oro, Phil Aus Adventure is an education consultancy and migration firm with a heartfelt mission: to guide Filipinos toward their dreams of studying and working in Australia. Founded in 2019, this corporation has grown to serve clients across the country, helping students take on the challenge of studying abroad. What sets them apart is their genuine care for each client’s journey. Sir John Del Bando emphasizes that Phil Aus Adventure’s approach is about more than just business—it’s about enabling brighter futures. With fair guidance and personalized service, Phil Aus Adventure is shaping lives one student at a time.

2. Nuda Representative: Tito Monterde | Operations Manager

Inspired by the “do-it-yourself” ramyeon from a convenienve store in Quezon City, Nuda brings an interactive Korean noodle experience to Cagayan de Oro. Established in 2023, Nuda’s ambiance and all-Korean product lineup allow locals to immerse themselves in the flavors and style of Korean dining. Sir Tito Monterde, the operations manager, shares that their unique setup, which includes options like Carbonara and Buldak ramyeon, attracts young customers who are fascinated by Korean culture. Beyond the food, Nuda’s thoughtful lighting and cozy aesthetics create a memorable dining experience, setting it apart in the local food scene.

3. Severo’s Cafe Representative: Maria Mercedes M. Batas | Owner

In a quiet corner of Ysalina St., Severo’s Cafe provides more than just coffee—it’s a retreat from the city's rush. Opened in 2023 by Maria Mercedes M. Batas, this cozy cafe reflects her love for coffee and dedication to providing a unique experience for her community. Severo’s offers customizable drinks and homemade treats, with their popular Mt. Sumagot coffee drawing customers back. Ma'am Maria’s personal touch makes this sole proprietorship stand out: she prioritizes customer satisfaction and relaxation, giving locals a place to unwind. Despite being a small operation, Severo’s Cafe has a big impact.

3. Tako-Motto Representative: Alliana Jo Ann Conception | Staff

Tako-Motto has brought authentic takoyaki to Cagayan de Oro, with branches in Centrio Mall and Velez St. Since 2022, this partnership has aimed to replicate the taste and experience of Japanese street food, capturing the locals’ love for takoyaki. Alliana Jo Ann Conception, the owner, takes pride in using high-quality ingredients to keep flavors fresh and true to Japan. Social media is one of their strengths, enabling them to stay connected with the community and build customer loyalty. Tako-Motto’s dedication to flavor and authenticity has made it a favorite among takoyaki lovers in the area.

5. Bench/ Representative: John Remar Mahidlawon | Store Manager

Located in Centrio Mall, Bench/ is a brand that has stood the test of time. Since its establishment in 2002, this well-known lifestyle and fashion retail store has become a household name in the Philippines. With over 700 branches globally, Bench is committed to offering quality fashion essentials at accessible prices. Store Manager John Remar Mahidlawon credits Bench’s success to its focus on customer service and constant innovation. From apparel to skincare, Bench provides a wide range of products, making it a one-stop shop for everyday needs. Their dedication to quality and affordability keeps them thriving in the competitive fashion industry.

[marjo123]

THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

Picture during the Interview:

Questions I asked during the Interview:

a.) How has Ruta CDO changed the way you do for commuting?

b.) How does Ruta CDO enhance your commuting experience in terms of efficiency, safety, and convenience?

c.) Has the app improved your decision-making in terms of route selection and travel timing?

d.) What additional features would you like to see in Ruta CDO app?

e.) What unique benefits does Ruta CDO offer compared to traditional commuting methods?

Interviewee's Response:

a. RutaCDO has been very helpful and it reduces stress while commuting and it feels great. b. It's brought me a lot of peace of mind. I can plan my trips with confidence, knowing I'll have the best route and fewest transfers. It's a reliable and stress-free way to get around. c. Absolutely! I'm confident in navigating CDO because RutaCDO provides reliable directions and helps me find the most efficient routes, ensuring a safe and stress-free journey. d. I want RutaCDO to display the exact start and end times of traffic congestion. e. RutaCDO is precise in identifying locations and recommends specific jeepney routes. It's also efficient and doesn't experience any lag time.

My Insights from the Interview:

From the Interview, Ruta CDO has made a significant impact on commuting experiences in Cagayan de Oro. By providing direct route options and reducing the need for transfers, the app has made commuting safer and more efficient. Users can now make informed decisions about their travel plans, saving time and reducing stress. While Ruta CDO is already a valuable tool, there is still room for improvement. Adding features like real-time traffic updates and estimated arrival times would further enhance the user experience. However, even in its current form, Ruta CDO is a practical and reliable solution for everyday commuting, offering a level of convenience that traditional methods cannot match.

[cindyclaireb]

Company Interviews — Week 7-8

For the fourth part (Week 7-8) of our Technopreneurship project, we continued our journey of interviewing local businesses to gain further insights into the challenges and successes that they face. After speaking with fifteen companies from the last six weeks, we explored the stores along Osmeña Street, as well as the streets nearby the Divisoria area to learn more about the lives and experiences of business owners and employees. My group mates are Annriza Lam, Francis Padero, and Honey Rhose Petil, who I collaborated with for this project.

To gather the information that we needed, we printed out a questionnaire that contained separate questions for owners, employees, and general questions about the business. This serves as our guide. We also used our phones to record their responses and capture photos of the interview and the business, if ever the interviewees were comfortable with it.

1. CDO CHAMPION PARTS

CDO Champion Parts Corporation is currently located in Osmena St., Cagayan de Oro City, but was actually founded in Binondo Manila by a group of enterprising brothers during the post World War II era. They started out as a small trading company that dealt in various goods, but soon grew to provide long-term truck parts in 1975. In 2022, it became the exclusive distributor of the Japanese Brands Tuflong and Nagoya Batteries in Cagayan de Oro. For products, they provide parts, batteries, filters, lubricants, tires mainly for heavy trucks of various makes and models. And as for services, they offer brake bonding and clutch relining services.

We talked to Jory, who was an employee under this company and shared that she was a fresh highschool graduate when she started working there. She shared that it was a challenge at first because she found it difficult to be familiar with the products and the type of work that they do. But as she began to do paperwork, Jory eventually got assigned more responsibilities and grew to learn more skills and to become more flexible. Because of this, she learned to enjoy getting to interact with customers, suppliers, and the owners. When we asked what key factors helped keep the business running, she emphasized unity, cooperation, understanding, and teamwork. As for their strategy for customer satisfaction, she shared that when a customer asks questions for a certain product and they happen to not have it, they try to redirect them to other items or brands that would also suit their needs. However, there is perfect competition along Osmena Street, since many stores in that area also sell parts and products similar to theirs. So according to her, they adapt by developing effective strategies in order to attract more customers to their store, such as marketing and building customer loyalty.

2. PITSBIKE CENTRAL HUB

After walking along Osmena Street, we made a turn and wandered along Gen A. Luna Street where we encountered the store for Pitsbike Central Hub, which opened its doors in August 2022. Aside from this store in Cagayan de Oro, they also operate in five other branches, which are in Caloocan, Cebu, Koronadal, General Santos, and in Davao. The current owner is Mark Madera and this business is a dealer of motorcycle performance parts for scooters and underbone motorcycles.

Francis Bayobu, our second interviewee for the day, provided an in-depth look into the business operations and the challenges faced by salesmen working under this company. He explained that when customers ask about specific parts, the salesmen are responsible for addressing their needs and providing detailed information, including pricing, return policies, and the possibility of replacements if a part doesn’t fit their motorcycle. He shared that there is a policy that allows customers to replace items (even if they change their minds after buying) as long as the part remains unused. However, a common challenge is when customers insist that a part they described is not what they needed, particularly when the desired alternative is not available in the shop. In such cases, salesmen may request a refund from the company, but ideally, they should not engage further with the customer if the mistake was not on the company’s side.

Francis also shared his personal experience with Pitsbike, saying that he chose to work there for the experience and to support his family. Initially, it was challenging for him to know and organize the products there because some of them look almost identical but are actually different in size and purpose. It was also challenging for him to pinpoint a specific product that a customer is looking for, but he explained that he had improved in this skill as he became more and more familiar with the products everyday. The relationships that he has with his coworkers and company are good, and expressed that he was taught and encouraged to be better and to grow.

3. INTELISOFT MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS

We continued searching for potential interviewees along Tiano Brothers Street, where we ended up in Intelisoft Microcomputer Systems located in the Marapao Building. Established in August 1988, Intelisoft is  a licensed company with business permits for both retail and services. Specifically, they specialize in the retail and merchandise of ICT and office supplies, as well as services related to repairs and maintenance. They are a sole proprietorship and are fully owned and operated by its founder, with the main branch located in Cagayan de Oro City and an additional branch in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. They are also an authorized service center for Brother, which handles repairs for printers and sewing machines. Currently, Intelisoft is focused on strengthening its main office operations and developing its branch in Malaybalay.  Though there are no immediate plans for further expansion, the company remains focused on improving its existing operations. The company primarily serves government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and corporate clients.

Our interviewee, who preferred to remain anonymous, also shared her personal experience with the company in addition to the business’ background. She said that she kept on working for the company because her background in ICT gave her the ability to help serve customers, which in turn improved her socialization and customer service related skills. Their workplace is a non-toxic kind of environment and everyone is open, friendly, and sociable. It was also challenging for her at first because she is introverted, but working there made her open up and to socialize with her officemates and customers. Speaking of challenges, the pandemic was also a difficult time for the business as they had to close its store to comply with government protocols, including lockdowns. They faced price inflation, increased demand of ICT equipment and supplies, as well as shortage of supplies. But ultimately, she closed the interview sharing that she feels satisfaction in helping and giving services to the public because she is not just helping the company, but she is also helping customers that might also be giving services and assisting the company that they work for.

4. HAPPY TALK RECIPES

Happy Talk Recipes, located in San Agustin, Don Apolinar Velez Street, was established on September 20, 2022 and was founded by John Paul Tan, 29 years old, together with his older sister, who is a baker. This privately owned family business offers a variety of food services, including salads, rice meals, pastas, starters, desserts, and healthy drinks. The business operates within the food industry, as it is a combination of retail, services, and manufacturing, typical for food establishments. With just one branch, they have been operating for two years and are currently working with an initial capitalization of around 500,000 pesos. As for future plans, they aim to expand into malls or other areas with high customer traffic, following trends and demand as their business grows.

We had the opportunity to talk to the owner, John Paul Tan, who shared the challenges of marketing their business to gain more customers, as they have no marketing team and rely solely on social media posts. Their first customers were attracted through word of mouth, by recommending the business to friends and their networks. John also mentioned that they chose not to hire vloggers to promote their place, as this can sometimes result in biased promotion if done for payment. Regarding financial management, they use both automatic and manual point-of-sale systems to ensure accurate records of all transactions. He emphasized that innovation is key, especially in the food industry, as people are always looking for something new. Lastly, John advised that starting a business requires significant effort. While it may sound easy to some, the reality is much more difficult when you’re actually going through the journey.

5. TATTOO LOUNGE CDO

Tattoo Lounge CDO, also known as Xyrus D Virus, offers tattoo and piercing services as part of the fashion and lifestyle industry. The business was founded by Cyrus Puerto in 2019, initially based in Davao before being transferred to CDO. It has been privately owned for the past five years. They currently operate one branch located at the corner of Pabayo Street and San Agustin Street, with plans to expand to more branches in the future. The company’s estimated capitalization is around 300,000 pesos, since tattoo inks alone typically cost 1,000 pesos or more.

Our last interviewee, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that one of the biggest challenges in the tattoo business is executing simpler designs like fine lines, as even a small mistake can affect the quality. Skin conditions, fidgety customers, and scratches during healing also be a challenge for them. According to him, the key to smooth daily operations, he says, is keeping personal issues separate from work. Good vibes are essential. To keep customers satisfied, maintaining an open, relaxed relationship with clients is important. He emphasized continuous learning and staying up to date with trends, especially since 80% of their latest clients are female, who often prefer fine line designs which are trending. Lastly, what he enjoys most is the satisfaction from creating a great piece, and financially, tattooing offers better earnings and more flexibility compared to other jobs.

[jodiklod]

Revolutionizing Public Commutes with PasaHEREro: The Future of Seamless Travel in Cagayan de Oro

In today’s fast-paced world, commuters in Cagayan de Oro face daily challenges with overcrowded public utility vehicles (PUVs), long waiting times, and inconsistent schedules. Enter PasaHEREro, an innovative app designed to streamline the commuting experience. This groundbreaking platform offers real-time schedules, tracking, and cashless payments to provide a seamless solution for everyday commuters and PUV drivers. It’s a practical response to the long-standing issues faced by those who rely on public transportation, aiming to make travel more convenient and reliable.

The app's value proposition is clear: it offers real-time passenger visibility and enhances the income of PUV drivers by boosting occupancy. PasaHEREro is not just a tool for commuters; it’s a platform that promotes efficiency in the city’s transport ecosystem. The app integrates with PUV systems to provide live updates, ensuring drivers and commuters are always connected. The addition of cashless payment options simplifies the transaction process, making it easier and safer for all parties involved.

On the technical front, PasaHEREro ensures feasibility by leveraging a robust set of resources and activities. The technical team collaborates with local government units (LGUs), PUV operators, and the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) to ensure the app’s development and maintenance run smoothly. Partnerships with e-wallet service providers and banks guarantee secure, real-time online payments. The app’s GPS technology allows real-time tracking, ensuring that users can see where their ride is at any given moment.

PasaHEREro is equally committed to its users’ experience. The app provides continuous support through FAQs, customer service, and social media engagement. Regular app updates and user feedback integration ensure that PasaHEREro adapts to changing needs, keeping commuters and drivers happy. Furthermore, PUV drivers benefit from onboarding programs that simplify app integration, allowing them to focus on what they do best—transporting passengers safely and efficiently.

The platform’s business model is as sustainable as it is innovative. Revenue streams come from commissions on ticket sales, advertising partnerships within the app, and service fees for cash-in/cash-out services. With this well-rounded approach, PasaHEREro is set to revolutionize the way people commute, making the daily grind of public transportation a thing of the past.

[brentjasty]

𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟒: 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜

For the fourth week, we re-interviewed five stores in Cagayan de Oro on what they find challenging and how they compete. Here's what they shared.

1. RAMS Auto Parts Trading

Challenges that RAMS Auto Parts Trading faces include strong competitors in the heavy equipment market, especially the shops located in Osmeña. Since demand for their products may not come the same way every day, they promote services in Facebook Groups for wider reach. They refused to open a branch in another location because of this uncertainty but is always informed of trends for the supply of what the customers need.

2. Rose Apparel

Being a new entrant in the apparel industry, Rose Apparel would have the challenge of gaining much more attention in a highly competitive market. "Our biggest challenge is being new," the staff shared. They expose themselves through social media to flaunt their offer and reach customers. Neither do they have definite plans to expand the place nor are working towards an online presence at this moment.

3. IServe

IServe is a developing computer repair shop, "despite all these issues, it's still huge because sales are the biggest headache." According to the owner, "they go with the flow" develop according to how the market plays along, and it intends to expand within Cagayan de Oro so that it will have more markets.

To be on the same page, the management said, "the team follows the latest emerging trends of tech repair so it remains abreast with present quality of service similar to that attained by other shops."

4. SouthVapor

For SouthVapor, BIR has been an issue they had. However, the owner made marketing easier online. According to them, "We use social media for marketing." They are also opening the second branch shortly. The company stands out with great customer service and vape repair services. 5. Toyland Bistro

Francis Cabacungan, owner of Toyland Bistro, says that it is one of the more difficult places to differentiate itself since the food and coffee scene can get pretty crowded. He conceptualized a playful theme setting resembling a toy in which kids and adults can play. Probably their ventures to other cities for opening more branches in the future will also involve refreshing the experience, or in this case, menu.

Insights:

Interviews with the five businesses from Cagayan de Oro reveal that for them, social media is a very crucial tool in marketing, in order not to become overtaken by competition. Companies such as RAMS Auto Parts Trading will continue through market trends monitoring, while Toyland Bistro and SouthVapor find customer service and unique experiences to surpass competitors. Some have expansion plans in the pipeline; others are being cautious due to continued uncertainty in the market. Nonetheless, these corporations reveal their strength in mending the blows of competition and facing adversities well.

[ladyisshemoriel]

Blog 2 (Value Proposition Canvas)

What is a Value Proposition Canvas?

The Value Proposition Canvas is a strategic tool designed to help businesses craft and align their value propositions to better match the needs and expectations of their customers. It provides a visual framework that breaks down and organizes the key elements of a value proposition and customer profile, making it easier to understand how a product or service creates value for its target audience and how it can be improved.

The Value Proposition Canvas consists of two main sections:

1. Customer Profile (on the right side):

This part focuses on the customer and includes three key elements:

Customer Jobs: The tasks or problems that customers are trying to accomplish or solve in their personal or professional lives. These can be functional, emotional, or social jobs.

Pains: The difficulties, risks, and negative emotions that customers face while trying to achieve their jobs. These are the things they want to avoid.

Gains: The benefits, positive outcomes, and desires that customers seek. These can be functional (e.g., time-saving), emotional (e.g., feeling satisfied), or social (e.g., gaining status).

In this section is where I interviewed Manong Yang, a 38 Years Old fisherman from Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. I asked him few questions about his life as a fisherman, what are the usual tools he used in fishing and the practices he does doing his livelihood, in this way I would be able to understand more about his situation and identify which part can we, Techblazers help through our product. He stated all the difficulties he had for the past years he has been doing fishing and how much it would benefit him if the tools are improved, managed well, and developed.

2. Value Map (on the left side):

This part focuses on the product or service that the business offers and includes three key elements:

Products and Services: The features or elements of the offering (both tangible and intangible) that are provided to the customer to help them get their jobs done.

Pain Relievers: How the product or service helps reduce or eliminate customer pains. These are the solutions that address customer frustrations, obstacles, or risks.

Gain Creators: How the product or service provides added value or helps create desired outcomes for the customer. These are the things that help customers achieve their desired benefits.

In this part is where I, as the interviewee and a product maker putting my thoughts, insights, innovative ideas, and solutions for the things Manong Yang had shared that could benefit and help him and his other co fishermen all around the Country.

Purpose of the Value Proposition Canvas:

Fit: The primary goal is to achieve a good fit between the value map (what you are offering) and the customer profile (what your customer wants). A strong value proposition will address the most important customer jobs, relieve significant pains, and create desired gains.

Alignment: The canvas helps businesses ensure that their products or services are aligned with the needs and wants of their target audience, improving the chances of market success.

Iteration: It serves as a tool for continuous refinement of both product features and marketing strategies by mapping out assumptions and testing them through customer feedback.

The Value Proposition Canvas is often used in conjunction with the Business Model Canvas, focusing on the value proposition section in greater detail to fine-tune product-market fit.

Mangompit, Jaymoriel R.

CE4G

[jemelynmaemoniza]

Technopreneurship: Value Proposition Canvas (VPC)

In the world of Technopreneurship, a Value Proposition Canvas is a helpful tool especially for startups to know the needs of the customer, so that they can align their product to them. During the customer interview, the following questions are asked:

What challenges do you currently face when commuting using jeepneys in CDO?

How do you usually find routes or directions for unfamiliar destinations?

What features would you find most useful in an app that helps you navigate jeepney routes in CDO?

How important is real-time information (like jeepney arrival times or traffic conditions) to you when using public transport?

What additional services or information (e.g., fare estimates, alternate routes) would you expect from a public transport app like Ruta CDO?

The interviewee’s response to each question:

What challenges do you currently face when commuting using jeepneys in CDO?

Answer: The common problems that are faced when using jeepneys are heavy traffic, leading to hassle commute for working people, and the loading period of jeepneys which adds to the commuting time of the commuters.

How do you usually find routes or directions for unfamiliar destinations?

Answer: With the use of GPS, finding routes is much easier.

What features would you find most useful in an app that helps you navigate jeepney routes in CDO?

Answer: It could be helpful if the app that is used by commuters can detect approaching vehicles.

How important is real-time information (like jeepney arrival times or traffic conditions) to you when using public transport?

Answer:  It can help commuters choose alternate routes for faster travel.

What additional services or information (e.g., fare estimates, alternate routes) would you expect from a public transport app like Ruta CDO?

Answer: It would be better if the app "location smart" or it could detect available public vehicles so that commuters could arrive at their desired location earlier.

Insight/s:

From this interview activity, commuters in Cagayan de Oro City face significant challenges related to heavy traffic and extended loading times when using jeepneys, making their commute more time-consuming and frustrating. While GPS helps in finding routes, there is a strong demand for real-time updates, including jeepney arrival times, vehicle detection, and traffic conditions. Commuters would benefit greatly from a public transport app like Ruta CDO if it offers features such as detecting approaching vehicles, providing real-time traffic information, and suggesting alternate routes. The inclusion of services like fare estimates and vehicle availability could enhance the overall commuting experience by enabling faster, more efficient travel.

The answers will be evaluated by us, the startup team, to prepare our product which is the Ruta CDO app to fulfill its purpose. This will help us to focus our objectives on what our customers really need. By understanding their pains, we can provide them with a solution that will give them benefits, and that benefit can be offered by our product.

[armandosumalinog]

Cagayan de Oro Business Spotlight: Insider Insights from Local Entrepreneurs (Part 2.1)

Welcome back to our blog series! This is the part 2.1

This blog focuses on the insights I gained from the second interview.

I’m thrilled to be sharing insights from our second round of interviews with businesses in this vibrant community.

As I reflect on what I’ve learned, I’m struck by how focusing on stylish and unique bags can really draw in loyal customers, especially professionals. StraightForward's regular sales keep the excitement going, bringing people back for more, and being attentive to what customers want even when it gets tricky helps businesses grow and improve.

Take Noregold,

for example. They keep their prices lower, which really resonates with middle-class shoppers. Their staff is well-trained, making customers feel valued and taken care of. Plus, they’re always updating their designs, keeping things fresh and interesting!

Over at Photoline,

I’ve seen how high-quality printing can set them apart and attract photographers. They do a fantastic job using social media to showcase their work and connect with customers, especially during busy sales times. By handling feedback with care, they show they really care about their customers’ happiness.

Then there’s Mags,

where offering lower prices and fantastic customer service makes them a favorite among fashion lovers. Their fun promotions help them hit their sales goals, and having clear ways to sort out any customer issues makes everyone feel appreciated and eager to return.

And let’s not forget Karimadon!

Their unique dresses and strong communication really help build customer loyalty. They handle concerns with kindness, turning challenges into positive experiences, and running promotions during peak shopping times boosts their sales significantly.

All these insights remind me how essential it is to connect with our customers and create a positive experience.

See ya in the 3rd Blog!