issue 002 of Plugg Magazine

June 2011 | issue 002 PLUGG

PLUGG issue 002 | June 2011 June 2011 | issue 002 PLUGG

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I’d never forget how readers reacted in different ways when PLUGG was first made available for free in various establishments. Most got excited and appreciative of the

whole idea, some did phone us for query, others were plainly curious. Well, we were getting feedbacks. And that was vital.

Last April 18, 2011 when PLUGG AdMagazine was officially launched at SM CdeO, we earned a handful of reasons to be thankful. The launching made an impact, with Gil Macaibay on the cover page, which turned out to be a success out of the enormous support from SM CdeO, Globe Telecom, Shutterbug Creative Lounge, Pulse Live Music Venue, Lakshmi Photography, The Wedding Zone, Tita Fannie’s Liempo and Chicken House, Dunkin Donuts, Identity Salon, ISG Print Ideas and Trana Marie Cakes. While the digital artworks of Ivan Macarambon and Chris Gomez were remarkable presents for PLUGG.

The efforts of the writers, photographers, marketing team, business creative development section and some real friends made things uncomplicated for PLUGG to be released and launched on its target dates.

We thank all of you. Most of all, thanks to that Big Guy up there.

As we make it a point that we entertain our readers with a spanking new theme every month, PLUGG team decided to visit the classic, unpolluted Medina where spring and sea water cannot be missed. But what struck us are the old-fashioned houses just waiting to be rediscovered - each with a good old story to tell its inquisitive guests. A little restoration can bring about rapid change in the town’s tourism climate. Our cover simply encourages locales to first visit what is nearest to our city. The region has lots to offer and you need not go farther.

Read on and enjoy the next pages. Get connected to the places, products and people featured in our June 2011 issue.

Get Plugged. P

A Getaway to NatureA shared experience of the city’s nature park

There’s a point in our lives that we just want to get away from all the crowd, the traffic, and the pollution. But where?

I for one love outdoor adventures, and surely, I’m definitely not the only wanderlust in the city. But, travelling far out to distant places to be one with nature may sometimes be hard to do. In this fast paced urban life, time is “THE” issue.

Fortunately for us dwellers of the tropics, we need not travel too far to experience Mother Nature’s creations as Mapawa Nature Park offers the relaxing environment and

the thrilling adventure we so long to get.Just a 15 minute ride from the chaotic urbans of downtown Cagayan de oro, there exists Mapawa, 2500 hectares of land blessed with majestic waterfalls, breathtaking scenery, and exciting outdoor activities that would make us forgive and forget our draining urban life.

Into the wildI got a chance to experience the most drastic adventure the park has to offer—river trekking. But to get to the river, we had to go through a 2km hike, into a forest rich with endemic insects, walk down steepy slippery slopes, and some farm fields. That wasn’t the challenge yet, the real challenge started when we arrived at the gushing river that’s soundly making its way through heaps of amazing rock formations.

You gotta trust the naturally structured waterslides in parachuting you down to those pools’ tranquil splashes. Underwater, it felt like a whole new world layed before our eyes. Looking up at how high we slided down, the

distance and the split second it took us to chute down doesn’t seem to add up. I recommend you embrace the butterflies in your stomach.

The idea of cliff diving augmented the butterflies. There wasn’t a slide to chute us down anymore. And there was only one way down. This was it. I could feel the shivers running down my back and felt it run through my knees. They were definitely shaking. But that moment when I finally jumped off the

edge, got into mid air, and made a huge splash in the water was amazingly petrifying and undoubtedly the best experience yet.

Rapelling down 63 feet off a waterfall still gave me the same n e r v o u s n e s s . For a first timer like me, you can’t help but be scared. Looking down, it was still a long way to go, and because my heartbeat wasn’t at it’s normal state anymore, I had to grip that rope so tightly

that it made my arm sore. But I took the decency to swallow it up because an experience like this doesn’t happen everyday.

I’d pay the price, even if it costs a fortune to experience this thrill again.

Other surprises, different excitementRiver trekking is not the only activity Mapawa has in store. Family and friends could also enjoy the park’s Zipline and feel the gushing wind touch your skin, or go horseback riding and look at nature at its best,or perhaps endulge yourself in the natural spring pools, go camping and enjoy the canopy of stars, or be educated with their eco-tour, an activity where caring for the environment is taught.

If you can’t take the heart-attacking, unpredictable feeling that river trekking brings, there are still a list of activities that you can do and have still have the experience of a lifetime. P

words: Poyen Ramos

M.A. David Branzuela

Sales & Marketing Maureen Ava Branzuela | Ian Monte | Ma. Ethyl Tamayo | Aimme Albarracin

Business Creative Development EJ Talaroc | Gaps Sabuero | Jennifer Aranaydo

Contributors Michelle Fernando | Florence Ramos

Contact us at: (088) 8573467 or 09263801840

[email protected]


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Rediscovering

More Pizza, More Fun!

Pizza has been around since the 16th century, and until now, it’s still the best go-to snack you could offer your tummy.

One pizza parlor that should be in your “must try” list is More Bites Pizza.

Behind the BitesWith eight (8)months of constant experimenting on perfecting the best tastes, More Bites owner Reedo Mark Timosan, who is also an Information Technology graduate and a Medical Representative started sharing his creation to the public on February 2009.

“It was generally a thank you gift for the doctors since I was a MedRep. Tripping lang gyud to. After some time, they were calling me for orders, and then suggested that I should engage into business,” says the ever so jolly owner, Reedo.

Flavor of LoveFrom ‘tripping lang’ to ‘serious na,’ More Bites Pizza now has more than 20 mouthwatering flavors to choose from, each made to fit the Filipinos taste and not to mention, to fit the budget that’ll surely get you frenzied. More Bites also sizzled up the romance during Valentine’s Day with its unique heart-shaped pizza which started the whole town talking. Clearly, this pizza parlor doesn’t believe in ordinary love. The current fastest growing pizza place to date with 14 franchised branches around VisMin, obviously, More Bites isn’t leaving us anytime soon. So why don’t you go grab some of the pizza and tell your friends “Mag More Bites Pizza na!” P

words: Michelle Fernandophoto: Gaps Sabuero

Rediscovering the old

Medina spells something new for the place.

words: Poyen Ramos

Old Medina

Depending on the budget and time allotted for the expedition, a roadtrip is the best way to get the vacation you want. Select your course, tag your buds along, pack the essentials, bring some entertainment, and last but never the least, prepare the vehicle (which, in our case was kindly offered by Adventure One Travel & Destinations). Getting to the destination is the focal point of the trip. So if you’re planning to drive en route to the ideal summer getaways of the Promised Land, head east where everything is bright and breezy.

Map your way into Medina, a hilly part of the Mindanaoan island just 120 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro. This spot makes the region proud as it has both the mountains and the beaches that any traveler could wish to be. First stop was Alibuag Cold Spring, one of Medina’s tourist spots to be further developed. After a hefty but pleasant lunch with the very accommodating Mayor Pacifico “Jojo” Pupos, Jr., the waters just seemed too good to not swim in them. But time was limited. We had to head to the next feature of the trip: a visit to the oldest houses in Medina, dating back to the 1900’s.

The late Emmanuel Pelaez, former vice president of the country, happened to hail from this region, and his ancestral house was our next stopover. Complete with thick wooden floor planks, wide stairways, wooden cabinets, rocking chairs, and walls graced by portraits of the Pelaez lineage, the house showed it was seemingly well preserved since

the 19th century. A photo of the late vice president with John F. Kennedy caught the attention of PLUGG. According to our sources, it will soon be renovated into a tourist inn. With its complementary view of the sea, this is something to look forward to. After this, we headed straight to the Marquez ancestral house, an old residence said to have bizarre ghostly apparitions by townsfolk, and the Dy ancestral house, which was refurbished by its descendants but still retained that old feel to it. If you want to smell the whiff of aged wood and feel like reminiscing the Spanish regime, visit these houses and know exactly what I’m talking about. Rediscovering the old Medina spells something new for the place. Now we can’t wait for the planned restoration of the old houses and improvement of the highly anticipated lantaw aninipot.

What followed that spine-tingling sojourn was a more relaxing tour around the villas of Duka Bay Resort. Any Kagay-anon would be familiar with the sandy shores of this place.

It’s become a hideout for people who want to be far away from the hustles and bustles of the city. Perhaps the crew and I wanted to do the same, because by the time we got there, everybody just plopped at the beach chairs and fancied the view. The best way to finish a roadtrip like this is to stuff yourself with food. So we did, and lounged at one of the huts along the beach. To top it all off, we had an awesome view of the sunset to match the grilled food.

Local trips like this worth-the-wait drive specially arranged by Adventure One Travel &

Destinations, enables anyone to see more of what nearby municipalities can boast of. P

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PLUGG issue 002 | June 2011


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Thumbs up for the taste! Anyone who loves to cook can easily recognize the job well done inside Buffalo Resto Grill’s kitchen. The most recommended: baby back ribs, cheesy chicken pops, lengua estofado, crispy pata, Bicol express and sisig.

Managed by Ivan Lloyd Tan-Leh with his partner Robylen Dy who focuses on the accounting department, the buffalo was opened last October 10, 2010. From observations done through restaurant hopping whenever they travelled, the owners came up with a menu tempting enough so you suddenly drop that diet-freak guide. The mixture of Filipino, Japanese, Chinese and Western dishes is already surprising, but does not stop the owners from adding new recipes to their menu every two months. And from time to time, get your tummies filled during week-long buffets at Php99.00 per person.With a good match of contemporary and a little bit of traditional design, the restaurant space is well-utilized.

Its ground floor function room can accommodate 300 persons and 100 persons on the second floor. The entire area has a cozy ambience and the feel of flexibility which make Buffalo Resto Grill a perfect venue for baptismal, conferences, seminars, meetings, birthdays or debuts and even wedding receptions. Ask the receptionist about children’s party packages and you’ll be handed a list of options. Its location – being Don A. Velez Street fronting the provincial capitol building - is a given factor. The buffalo opens daily at 9:30 in the morning and closes by 10:30 in the evening but adjusts to function schedule when necessary.

The restaurant name was a personal choice of the business owners. Catchy, easy to remember. P

What’s your coffee shop soundtrack?

If you could have heard me hum those tunes you’d be surprised how far those beans took me. Top off that fresh espresso with anything foamy, caramel perhaps, or hazelnut flavours and you’re good to go.

The reality of what they were way back - local coffee shops weren’t a facade. Flavours were only brewed or instant, no foams and creams and heart shaped cocoa powders on top of each cup. Basically, it was a straight forward coffee in a straight forward cup in a straight forward place. Now, the era of first-class cafe’s are making its mark in the city.

Coffee shops today bring a long list of different kinds of recipes. Drink that icey frap to laze off with friends, or that espresso to take away the stress from school or work, or perhaps that mint tea to let the time pass while reading today’s newspaper. Much of us may not notice that there exist particular recipes that cast tastes for specific moods/situations that we’re in. Try experimenting every time you’re in a shop and, don’t get yourself stuck into that routine-ish taste you plan to put your tongue

through for the rest of your life. these coffee shops have now given us dense varieties of lattes, fraps, and tea. And, when you finally get that perfect match, that tasty mix that would finally gratify your taste buds, maybe you’ll find yourself humming that perfect tune too. It’s Amazing how a great cup of coffee makes you feel so good.

P.S. Believe me, those beans can make those casually sleek chairs grow wings. P

Brewing Culture

A Taste of Buffalo

words: Gaps Sabuero

Soundlab Invadesthe Club Scene

words: Michelle Fernando

Cagayan de Oro City’s nightlife gets more electrifying as a new party organization is in town. Established in Northern Mindanao, Soundlab Productions is the latest thing to hit the city’s party scene. Founded by Dutchman DJ Jerrie van den Heuvel, Soundlab is the combination of two words, sound & laboratory, and is aiming for a more refined club scene in Northern Mindanao.

Since October 2010, Soundlab Productions has been organizing a series of parties at Club TILT along Velez Street. On May 28, their event Welcome to the Soundlab Circus gave partyphiles a taste of Makati’s sound, featuring DJ Regiel Orocay, main DJ of Makati’s new club Palladium, along with Soundlab’s DJ Goloo and an opening set by DJ Red. The night proved to be a real circus, with magicians, clowns, and a popcorn booth to match. This was just one of their many thriving, specially themed events.

So how do they come up with such ideas? According to Soundlab’s main man DJ Jerrie, coming up with a theme for a party is not really that difficult. “You just need to have the guts to make the decision to go for it and let your fantasy do the work,” he affirms. “I remember telling my partner in crime DJ Mico about my ideas regarding the Circus event. He told me I was crazy. It turned out to be a great and very busy event!”

Soundlab’s style is particularly based on pure house and tech-house music, the way house music is played in clubs in one of worlds dance capitals: Amsterdam, The Netherlands. They only have one goal in mind, and that is to get CDO on the map as one of the hippest party sites in the Philippines.

This coming Saturday, June 11, the crew throws a birthday bash for DJ Jerrie titled Flight to the Future, featuring three of the Philippines top DJ’s: DJ Elmer Dado, DJ Jan Areno of Penthouse Cebu, and DJ Matthew Carbonell of Icon Manila, along with Hype CDO’s DJ Jag Sundqvist. With three renowned DJ’s handpicked by the birthday boy himself, the night is definitely worth your while. If you have never heard Soundlab’s distinctive house beats before, be sure head to Club TILT this Saturday and experience it yourself. And oh, don’t forget your posse. P




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LAGROSAS AD LAYOUT

Music Finds A New AdvocacyThe city’s existing sanitary landfill in Upper Carmen may be a controlled dumpsite, but little do people know

that it has become home to families of s c a v e n g e r s who have settled around the area for quite some time now. Imagine dirt-smeared children frolicking around mountains of garbage. These children are not schooled, and they live, breathe and grow up in these dumps.

Thus, three youth-driven, city-based organizations collaborated for another edition of Concert for

a Cause, focusing on supporting 40 children from Landfill. Salvage Ministry, along with Tukar CDO and XU

Soundtable, held a fundraising gig last May 28, 2011 at Karomata along Corrales Street. Unleash 2 featured many of the city’s top independent bands,

including guests Such and When from Iligan City. Salvage Ministry, a local Christian youth

organization, initiated the project with the idea of music as a tool for social advocacy, particularly the education of these 40 chosen kids. Partnering with two active music organizations, Salvage Ministry did them a huge favor, driven by their passion to reach out to the poor, or better yet, salvage them from poverty.According to Salvage Ministry founder

and XU Soundtable member Joeromer Bacus, the event’s proceeds was enough to provide school supplies to 40 children from our own Smokey Mountain. “We want to inspire the youth to do their part and aid those in need. And because of all the support we got from Unleash 2, we might plan a third Unleash concert this year”, he confirmed. “We started with 30 kids in the first Unleash, and we’re hoping to make it 50 kids in the next year.”

Prior to the gig, the Christian ministry conducted a feeding program to the same children on the first week of May. “I interviewed the parents of these children and found out that most of them are not in school. They didn’t want them to end up becoming

scavengers their whole lives”, said Bacus. “If all of us would act together, we could help those who cannot help themselves.”

words: Michelle Fernando

words: Poyen Ramosphoto: Gaps Sabuero

The idea of forming a band with friends of clashing musical diets could result to disaster, or not. Such was bound to happen. “It was like mixing liquors—it’s going to be chaotic, but the mess turned out pretty for us,” says EJ, bass player of Such. This fusion enabled this Iligan-based, liempo - lovin’ band to create hellacious music out from thoughts and experiences of reality, life, love and about the Man above. “Each of us takes part in making the songs. For every song there is a different perspective,” says vocalist Mikki Lluch.

The kind of songs that make you breathe both the explicit and vague marvels of life; it’s like getting lost as you wade through a Poppyfield pasture. Their unique diversity has helped them create music and lyrics that just makes you go ‘oh-oh!.’

But what makes Such different is simply because they just are! “We’re different because we are Brando, EJ, Michael, Mikki, John and Simon. There’s no other copy of us unless we’re cloned,” says guitarist Simon Sabuero. Pretty well said!

In their full length album, Forward to Hastings, to be launched this June 18, 2011 at BATC, Iligan City, they let us see a world with much hope and longing, to a place where love and hate exist. This time around, the band is unabashedly just going for it - just

“. . . For every song there is a different perspective.”

letting their music create them. For some, they are a Rock band. Others call them Pop... Disregard the labelling. These “liquor-mixed” musicians resonate the music of their hearts, and it’s just up to the people to dig it. P

Such is Such

“If all of us would act together,we could help those who cannot

help themselves.”

The event was graced with musicians and supporters alike, kicking off with Soundtable bands Soundmist and Go Large. After which, it was Iligan’s turn to rock the stage. Such played three of their compositions, followed by When who also played their own. Metal bands Hoodswhite and Abortion Holocaust also performed. Gasulina, known for their crowd-pleasing performances, took the stage with guest drummer Sonnyboy Tan in tow, giving the audience a dose of hype and rock’n’roll.

All the proceeds of the gig was used to provide school bags, pencils, and notebooks to 40 less fortunate children. If the entertainment industry is capable of such help, then the future

of local music is much brighter than it seems. P


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issue 002 of Plugg Magazine