KENNETH PORIO | the blog

It's been three years since I left Park 'N Shop - Victoria Plaza, my former workplace before I became a teacher. All those memories working at the mall surely gave me a liking of how has it been since it was purchased by NCCC. And with that, allow me to give a piece of memory from this humble place - it's famous jingle. For those who can't clearly remember the lyrics, here they are: Let's go and take the family To the plaza that has it all So easy at Victoria All is here for everyone Food, fashion, shops, games, and shows It's the place where your dreams come true So convenient at Victoria Victoria Plaza, the plaza for all! ---------------- This jingle was played on specific times during the business day: during the opening time (usually at 10:00 AM), 12:00 noon, 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and at closing time (normally at 8:00PM or at 12:00 midnight during a Midnight Sale). I used to inspect and maintain the supermarket and mall's CCTV and P...

It has been a time since this craze has been popularised. Surprsingly, this form of music and dance culture was established through the Bisdak ( Bisayang dako ) culture in Mindanao, and is being given a frown among those who are unfamiliar to its sound and its impact among Filipino southerners. With its heavy beats, scratchy basses, and high-pitched synths, combined with odd sound effects and Bisaya lyrics and dialogue, no wonder it has been ingrained in the minds and bodies of the low-income class youth of Mindanao. This is called "budots" . To give you a preview, let me share you this clip. Atrocious as it sounds to those who aren't familiar with the music and the dances incorporated with it, budots has interesting elements that have been well-combined to create an identity that spans across the hip-hop and techno music genre. It's been identified as "a crossbreed of European techno music and bad hip-hop, added with some nasty attitude." The...

Hello there! While I'm preparing for my first taking of the PhilNITS examination this 27th of March 2011, I was looking for a shop that caters to my much needed energy for those long hours of reviewing at the Davao PhilNITS office at the DTI building at corners of Monteverde Avenue & Sales Street. Since the location was just near Chimes Specialty Store, I scoured through the shops. Missing the G12 Café which closed out months ago (which was replaced by a salon/boutique), I was finding something that will just cater for the much needed perk-ups for those stressful review sessions. Then I found something, something orange . It was Cello's Doughnuts & Dips . The shop sells nothing but doughnuts and dips, but with the additional coffee as well. The ambiance reminds me of those early 1970's-themed cafés of downtown New York which were lively, modern and cozy. Their colours of their décors & furniture (and food as well) were predominantly orange, yellow, bro...

Alright. I know my immediate  boss in the publication would love to see what are those Wi-Fi hot spots in downtown Davao so he could update those online services of ours if ever he's there. I know he's bothered from the uber slow connections in UPMin's Wireless Kiosk. Here's a list what I found from a source : Apo View Hotel Lobby A Whole Latte Love ACacia St. Juna Subd., Matina Basti's Brew, Victoria Plaza Blugre Cafe, Landco JP Laurel Bo's Coffee, Metro Lifestyle F. Torres St. Casa Leticia Hotel Camus St. Chowking Bolton Chowking Bajada (outside Victoria Plaza) Coffee Pod F. Torres St. Cups and Lowercase Business Lounge Torres St. Figaro, Chimes Mall Sales St. (Chimes Mall) Formula Pete's - Autoshop JP Laurel Gaisano Mall First Floor JP Laurel Grand Regal Hotel JP Laurel K1 F. Torres St. Karl's Koffee Korner, SM City Quimpo Boulevard Kasagingan Coffee Shop F. Torres St. Marco Polo Hotel Cor. CM Recto and Roxas Sts. Matina Town Sq...

Hello! To the newest addition to the University of the Philippines Mindanao family, welcome to UP Life ! If you're not from Davao City, then welcome to Davao Life as well! Part 1 : Touchdown Davao Well, you just dropped by from the airport and came from your landing from the Davao International Airport (in Catitipan, Buhangin, Davao City) and you (and your family) would like to take your first glimpse of the University. So, how would you get to UPMin by land via the airport? If you're short on the budget to ride a taxi that would directly take you to the University (which costs a whopping PhP 350.00 approximately), here are some directions you that would hopefully enjoy your travel to University. Step 1 : Walk away from the airport (at the exit near the Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name (aka Quiboloy) center), and cross the highway (the CP Garcia Highway, aka Diversion Road ) infront of you. Step 2 : Ride a jeepney with the following routes that bear the "...

Hi friends in Jesus! See this picture? Dabawenyos will remember this very familiar hotel in Matina that has been closed years ago. In the so-near future, this place will be remember by Dabawenyos as the place where people serve God with joy . This old, cranky , creepy (not really) Venee's Hotel , an abandoned hotel in Matina Crossing, Davao City, will be the future site of the G12 Campus , the newest church center of the Lord of the Harvest Christian Community , my local church. God is really good that He given to this church the BEST PLACE for them. The church has signed the 5-year contract to the owners of the hotel for them to rent the place. However, there are plans that the church will soon purchase the place in this span of 5 years. Here, the church will have its worship center, lodging rooms (perfect for Encounter Weekend), offices, restaurant, and conference rooms. Yes, the BEST PLACE has come. Praise GOD! KENNETH

This month of August, my blog, A Stellar Life , is proud to present: ASL: Proudly Davao! Guest Posting Contest In celebration of Davao City's Kadayawan Festival, this contest is open for Davao bloggers who are just starting to blog, or, have a blog but has little exposure on the blogosphere. These people are invited to Guest Post on this blog so they can have the exposure they need to get going and get blogging more. Here are the instructions: The post that will be submitted should contain at least 500 words and should be in form of an article about anything about Davao City - a specific street, a specific landmark, city life, growing up in Davao City, etc. Leave a comment ON THIS POST (i.e., not on the CBox) with the following information: Your name; your blog's name; your blog's URL ; and your home address (make sure you are from Davao City, or grew up in Davao City). Additional info can be provided: date of first blog post published (not earlier than January 2008); ...

Hello there! This month of August, my blog, A Stellar Life , Version 2.3, is proud to present it's new theme: ASL: Proudly Davao!   Since I am from Davao City, and by this month, our city will celebrate its Kadayawan Festival, I am planning to have a contest for Davao bloggers who are just starting to blog or have a blog but has little exposure on the blogosphere. I am planning to invite these people to Guest Post on this blog so they can have the exposure they need to get going and get blogging more. Stay connected to ASL and watch out for other info regarding this contest I'm planning for. KENNETH My StumbleUpon Page

Dear friends, It's another two days here in UP Mindanao . It's back to school again last January 3, in line with the public elementary and high schools in the country. (UP is also a public school... kuno ...) I wonder why this "hang-over" during the long Christmas season got unto us Filipinos every after the end. (And Epiphany or the so-called "Three Kings", the official end of the long Christmas season here, is yet to be this Sunday, January 6!) Most of the kids didn't attend school that day, maybe not of this case in UPMin... (*sigh*) Anyway, this is what happened during the first 3-1/2 days of the New Year: We went to Panabo and Carmen , our parents' home towns to pay a visit to our relatives - our grandparents, our uncles and aunts and our cousins. (I missed them so much.) We had a salu-salo , talked to our cousins and had fun making a home video of us in with my paternal grandparents. :-) My paternal uncle , his wife and one of my cousins (...

Dear friends, Madayaw! It's another great week in UP Mindanao. Over the weekend, I got struck with high fever. My whole body was really painful. Headaches were frequent. That time was quite difficult for me. However, just last Sunday, I fully recovered from the illness. Thank God. ~*~ Also, by the weekend was ender of the ever colourful Kadayawan sa Dabaw festivities. Saturday was the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan street dancing competition; Sunday was the Floral Float Parade. Nothing compares to Davao talaga when the "Festival of Festivals" is on. Ate Tina was so happy by her experience and she blogged a lot of her experiences during the festivities. Sana magawa ko ito next year. ~*~ It think that's about it. Bye for now. KENNETH