I arrived in Cagayan de Oro City last night, having traveled by car with Rodney Jao and Ray Rubio. Rodney has a speaking engagement for Microsoft at this software giant’s roadshow on mobile applications development. Ray and I just came along for the ride (literally). 
After checking in at a hotel near the Limketkai Mall, we had dinner at P.Joe’s Diner. Their food’s not exactly something I’d recommend, but it was a place we’ve known for years now, and we weren’t feeling very adventurous, so… At least their wifi connectivity was decent. Still, we should’ve tried eating at the other establishments nearby.
I envy Kagay-anons for the fact that they have a lot of restaurants and bars open on a Sunday. The place beside P.Joe’s even had a live band. In Davao, a lot of the clubs and quite a few of the restos are closed Sundays. (Thank heavens my favorite haunt, Basti’s Brew, stays open the whole week.)
Actually, I decided to come here so that I could meet up with the bloggers of Cagayan de Oro. We’re going to have a get-together tonight at Bigby’s — a popular resto that this city has already exported all over Mindanao, including Davao.
I’m excited to meet the new crop of organized bloggers here. The group I’d met a couple of years ago, unfortunately, had long left Cagayan de Oro or just dropped out of reach. The CDO bloggers are being led now by ChiQ Montes, a long-time active member of the Mindanao Bloggers community.
My main objective in touching base with the CDO bloggers is to see how organized and cohesive they are now. The host city for the 3rd Mindanao Bloggers Summit (MBS3, which will be held in October 2009) will have to be decided on soon, and Cagayan de Oro is a distinct possibility. But only if I feel confident that they can pull it off. General Santos City did such a great job this year that they’ve practically raised the bar for future MBS events.
Another city in the running for MBS3 is Zamboanga City, because they also have an active and very participatory group of bloggers over there. I hope to be able to go the Zamboanga Peninsula early next year.
By the way, today is the feast of the Immaculation Conception of Mother Mary. If you’re Catholic, do read my father’s post about it on his blog, The Word God Spells.
Hi Blogie – Give Countryside Steakhouse a try, it is excellent. Right there at Limketkai too, very convenient. It is upstairs, just behind McDonald’s. One thing I wish is that Davao had steaks as good as you can get at Countryside, and at Del Monte in Manolo.
Thanks for the tip, Bob! Yeah I know what you mean about the steaks at Del Monte…
Wow, kilala mo pala si Rodney. I’ve met him a few times kapag may event sa Microsoft :)
Hello Jon! Yeah, Rod and I have been friends and colleagues for a long time now.
Say hello to Chiq for me. She was supposed to do one of the “shout-outs” for the MBS2 but for some reason, she was not able to make it.
Cagayan is the most logical venue for MBS3, considering their “shorter” distance to South Central Mindanao and the Davao Region.
But who knows, Zambo might spring a surprise or two and come up better prepared for it.
Abangan! :)
@Blogie: Hi Blogie! Di ako naka sama sa Bigby’s
Thanks nga pala for meeting them ha. Magka MBS3 man dito, isa ako sa mga volunteer para maayos ang MBS event…..
@bariles: Hi Kuya Avel! Ma Zamboanga man o Cagayan de Oro pupunta tayo ha
@Pangit Ster — Thanks very much! I’m glad to hear that.
Bob, you were right, Countryside Steakhouse was fantastic! Their steaks are to die for!