Provincial Government Launches Oriental Mindoro Online Pasalubong and Booking Portal App

While the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, tavelers have been slowly coming back in different places in the country. For those who don't know, the local tourism industry has been greatly affected. To help with the situation, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro has worked steadfastly worked on an something that would enhance ease of travel, buying products from towns very easy with the new LAKBAY ORIENTAL MINDORO: Buying Local, Byaheng Lokal app. 

As the name suggests, it's a one stop shop for everything that you would need to get when traveling the province of Oriental Mindoro. From purchasing your favorite pasalubongs, to booking tour services and packages, you can all do it now at the comforts of your home or hotel rooms. This is the handywork of the whole provincial government headed by Governor Humerlito "Bonz" Dolor together with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. It was launched July 12th and promises hassle free transactions, while keeping you safe as it is all contactless too. This was witnessed by national, provincial and city government officials at the Riceland Garden in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

The app has offers and promos of over 150 hotels, resorts, travel agencies, wellness centers, vehicles, tours, dive and souvenir shops which you can access ahead while you plan your itinerary or while you're in the province itself. With this as direct point of transaction for local and international travelers, balikbayans and their families, tour service providers can be accessed without you leaving your resort or hotels. That in itself is very convenient and you can download it now on the App Store or Google Play for FREE. You can also go to their website travelorientalmindoro.ph and use your email/FB account to log in. This means, you can choose services and products from the app and get the best rates. Products can be arranged for delivery at your hotel, while email confirmations can be sent if you're availing those rendered by providers which can make planning a breeze if you choose to come to the province.

You also get to earn loyalty points from your accommodation, which you can use to earn travel incentives in-app. It's easy, so you get to enjoy more time with your friends and family. Make sure you try and download the app today!

foodpanda PH Lets Us Experience pandaPRO "GANAPS"

Are you a foodpanda fan? Have you been ordering too much on the app and wish you could save on your food and shopping orders? Well, this might be the opportune time to become a real deal pandapro. It's a monthly subscription program on the foodpanda app that gives MORE exclusive deals, benefits, free delivery so you can save a lot from purchasing food and groceries on the popular app.

Well, a few days ago, they got us to experience a new thing called pandapro "GANAPS". Aside from the perks you get for subscribing in the app, they went the mile of doing several events intended for invited pandapro subscribers so they could win prizes, watch movie premieres and be with fellow loyal pandapro community members. 

 

 

I think with the restrictions relaxing a bit, these would be really good additional perks to have. The THOR Love and Thunder movie they had us watch was the perfect way to end the day too.

The foodpanda app now also has access to shops, travel destinations, even more food spots so you can do everything even at the comforts of your home. You can also choose to pickup and have more discounts, vouchers that you can use morning, noon and night time. I'd like to take this bit to thank the good people of foodpanda Philippines for having me, the rest of the bloggers and influencers in your event. I bet, pandapro subscribers would be happy to experience this soon. For as low as Php 33.30-Php 50.00 a month, this is surely worth every penny saved. I think they've got more events planned in the pipeline, and that means it'll be good if you get subbed early on. If you want to know more about the pandapro membership, there's some FAQ's on the foodpanda PH app so go download it off Google Play or the App Store today!

Questions Loom on Pastrana’s Appointment

Details surfaced on the recent appointment of Christopher Pastrana as PPA Chief (GM) of the Philippine Ports Authority. This comes as a huge surprise to screening committee members Naida Angping and Anton Lagdameo. According to reports in daily spread Philstar, it’s something that should likely be questioned due to conflict of interest as there exists official posts in several corporations at the ferry line industry and even brother in law and daughters who are operating several ports which would then be under this office as a regulatory body.   

This also comes as previous reports include a 132.1 million unpaid amortizations and interests from the Department of Transportation. This is something that should be looked at by officials putting him into office, especially by former PAL President and now new DOTR Sec Jimmy Bautista (who at that time was appointed at the same calendar). 

There are also talks that their appointment comes problematic because they have partnerships and several family connections which may make this all deplorable move.  Is this just? Is this without said conflict of interest? These questions remain unanswered, and maybe, they’ll be having the right ones for the role when it comes to sensitive government positions. 

The 5th Ortigas ART Festival: A Spectacle of Expression and Creativity

The 5th Ortigas ART Festival just started at the Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons in Pasig City. This was attended by the who's who in the art scene, several art gallery personalities, those in fashion and the Ortigas family who's heavily involved in this movement. They want art to be accessible for Filipinos, and what better way to do that but now.

Architect Renee Bacani VP for Ortigas Malls says "We are grateful for you to join us on the 5th year of the Ortigas Art Festival. We were requested a space for artists to showcase their works, and this is how the event came about. We won 2 international awards for making Ortigas properties more accessible to people. We present to you a bigger and bolder Ortigas Art Festival with photography, film, Fashion, Music, artwork and more. We look forward to more years of this for more years to come. Thank you for sparking joy to our patrons."

This is a platform for artists to showcase their works, and have it be seen by people from all walks of life. They want art to become part of the daily lives of Filipinos. There were lots of art installations, sculptures, all free of charge to see at Estancia Mall in Pasig City. There are also seminars and workshops for collectors on how to take care of artworks, and hope you also get to know various Filipino artists from July 7 to August 7, 2022.

"The previous years were a challenge to Ortigas Malls, and the event concentrated on Filipino artists. At the height of the pandemic, we got help from participating galleries, FDCP. The best place is this mall, accessible to everyone. From performance art, art workshops, exhibition center, a whole art ecosystem is here. Art is a catalyst for enlightenment, and this is a good thing." says Renato Habulan, Ortigas Art Festival's Lead Curator

Liza Diño the Chair of FDCP says "It's an honor to celebrate with you face to face. For many of us who lived in lockdowns, we watched, we read and remained creative. Art protects us from harm, this is a noble cause for expressions of the human spirit. The vertical cinema contest is doing shorts asking "Kamusta Ka Na?" to incite hope, change, in this month long festival. Highly acclaimed titles will be seen and highlighted and we hope through Ortigas Art Festival, we show our love for films. We provide ways to educate, learn before artists make films and we will have several noted film makers, screenwriters to do seminars during the month. This will bring cinema much closer to the public."

Gil Granado of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines says "We have come a long way in fashion . We appreciate art, the pandemic has slowed us down but we continue to strike back. Art and fashion is the lifeline of culture. We dedicate this event to the 40 years of FDAP, thank you to Ortigas Inc, and all our fashion patrons."

If you want to know more about the event, download the Ortigas Malls app and register to get their card to get perks from participating malls or visit OrtigasMalls.com. Best of all, these activities are FREE so there's no reason for you not to come.