Aside from promoting the city’s tourism, it seems that our city officials, as well, as several of the city’s private investors, are also keen on improving the city’s livelihood. And this is evident in the latest developments going on around the city. In five years’ time, the city has gone through numerous transitions and improvements in various sectors.

Just recently, the Market City in Agora formally opened its doors for business. Who would have thought that this new complex, might I add — a complex with pristine and spacious hallways, was formerly the chaotic Agora Market?

In order to serve its purpose efficiently, the new market complex is designed to facilitate order, which is a big leap from its former state. There is now a clear partition that sets apart the dry goods from the wet market section.

At its current state, the new public market still has a lot of vacant stalls available for interested tenants. However, the complex is now inhabited by several popular tenants, including the ff:

• Prito Paborito
• Mang Inasal
• La Ilongga
• Lechon Manok ni Sr. Pedro
• Vjandep Pastel
• Dunkin Donuts
• Karen’s Bakeshop
• Orbitz
• Rose Pharmacy

Another of the complex’s biggest tenants is the Ororama chain of stores. Ororama opened its TLP (Total Lower Price) store at the Market City’s southeast corner. Ororama is one of the oldest surviving privately owned businesses in the city and having them inside the complex greatly signifies the growing business ties between the public and private sector.

Aside from the clear partitions set between the wet and dry sections, the new complex also boasts of well guarded and impressively clean comfort rooms. However, let’s just hope it stays that way. After all, it’s only for the good of the consumers – the Kagay-anons.

-Mara Jayne Tismo-

(Photo by Mara Jayne Tismo)

Anyone planning to get married is in for a lot of planning and preparation. With so many details and necessities such as the venue, food, photography, gowns, programs and coordination – organizing one’s own wedding is sure to be one exciting and sometimes stressful ride.

As there are so many things involved in planning a wedding, finding as much information as you can about wedding service providers will certainly be helpful – and the Kasalang Filipino 2011 will bring you just that.

Kasalang Filipino – The Country’s Premier Bridal Fair

Kasalang Filipino is the country’s premier bridal road show, which was originally set up by Kasal.com, a website that provides wedding resources for anyone in need of details and information related to weddings. The Kasalang Filipino Roadshow first started in 2003, with ten cities in its leg. Following the Kasalang Filipino Roadshow in 2003, other Kasalang Filipino events were held in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010. This year marks the sixth year of the bridal fair and will also be the sixth time for Cagayan de Oro to be part of it.

Kasalang Filipino in Cagayan de Oro

The Cagayan de Oro event will be the eighth leg of this year’s roadshow and will be held on July 15 to 17 at the LimKetKai Mall Rotunda. Aside from CDO, the fair will also be held in twelve other cities: Bacolod, Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Pampanga, San Fernando, San Pablo and Tagaytay.

The fair will highlight different businesses and groups that cater to wedding preparations. Expect to see creative displays from caterers, florists, gown designers, hotels and venue owners, photographers, wedding organizers, make-up artists and the like. There will also be programs and activities such as make-up demos, make-up contests and gown fashion shows. Admission to the fair is free as it is open to the public.

Promoting Your Business Through Kasalan 2011

The Kasalang Filipino bridal fair is a great way for brides and grooms to pick out providers for specific wedding needs and necessities. At the same time, it also allows local businesses to market and promote their products or services.

If you happen to be an owner of a business that caters to a specific wedding need or necessity, then you may be interested to register for the fair. The fair will have 28 booths for rent and will vary in size, location and price.

Corner Booths – There will be 8 corner booths, which will cost Php 15,000.

Outer Booths – There will be 6 outer booths for Php 12,000.

Inner 3-in-1 Booths – There will be 14 3-in-1 booths, which will be shared by three businesses or providers. These booths will be leased for Php 6,000.

To register for the Kasalan 2011 in Cagayan de Oro, simply visit kasal.com or shoot them an email at kasal.com@gmail.com and info@kasal.com.

So, whether you’re planning to get married this year, helping a friend plan her marriage or are running a wedding related business; don’t forget to make the most of the country’s premier bridal fair. See you this July 15 to 17!

-Justine B. Raagas-

Remember when you used to ask for pasalubong from your aunt or cousin in the States? Or when you made tugon to your officemate who had to visit Manila for some reason? This scenario was very common several years back, especially for shopping aficionados with acquired tastes and brands. In fact, several years ago, a lot of people would deliberately save just in order to shop in Cebu or Manila.

Today, however, Cagayan de Oro is slowly starting to prove its worth as a premier shopping destination in Mindanao. With the renovation of LimKetKai, the mall’s East Concourse is now home to several name brand shops like Marks & Spencer, Fitflop, Lacoste, Nine West and Beauty Bar.

What to Find In LimKetKai’s East Concourse

Marks and Spencer – Marks and Spencer is a British brand that specializes in clothing for men and women, lingerie, toiletries, fragrances and of course, food choices. They have several coffee and tea choices, as well as chocolates, biscuits and candies.

Lacoste – Lacoste is a French apparel company that sells high end clothing, footwear, leather goods, perfume, watches and eyewear for men and women. There are various choices for children, too. Truly, you can step inside Lacoste and walk out with something nice from head to toe.

Nine West – Initially founded as a company specializing in footwear, Nine West has extended to leather goods, handbags, hats, eyewear and accessories. Nine West may be quite expensive for most, but they usually have sales where buyers can get items at very low prices!

Beauty Bar – At last, a store dedicated to beauty aficionados who have a taste for luxury when it comes to skin care and make up. The store carries high end brands such as Shu Uemura, Smash Box, Mac, Philosophy and Stila among others. Certainly, there’s everything that a woman would need, from make up to hair care to soap and shampoo, here.

Fitflop – Popularly sold online, or in boutiques, Fitflop is now available at the Second Level of the East Concourse in LimKetKai Mall. Fitflops are ergonomic footwear specially designed to give the body, especially the legs, a good workout while walking. Given that Cagayan de Oro is scorching hot most of the time, and that flip-flops are common occurrences and fashionably acceptable to wear for most occasions, it’s no wonder why Fitflops have been selling like pancakes even when they were first sold in CDO!

GirlTeki – For your camera needs – GirlTeki has it – and more. Aside from simply selling, they provide a whole experience when it comes to choosing and buying a camera, making the buying process a fun, informative and entertaining experience where you can touch, try and learn about any camera first before deciding to buy.

Truly, the shopping experience in Cagayan de Oro has become more phenomenal with the opening of these shops. So what are you waiting for? Experience a world of possibilities by shopping at LimKetKai Mall’s East Concourse today!

-Justine Raagas-

Located at the Kauswagan Road and Marcos bridge intersection, the newest branch of Savemore is a welcome addition for the residents of Carmen, Kauswagan, Bonbon, Bayabas, Bulua, Iponan and other parts of Western Cagayan de Oro and the neighboring municipalities. The place opened last May 20, 2011.

Making Shoppers Happy

Savemore Market in Kauswagan is a part of the chain of neighborhood grocery stores under the SM Food Retail Group. Like other Savemore branches, it is expected to have the same look and feel as the typical SM supermarkets, which make your grocery shopping an easy one.

Most people who regularly shop at SM Cagayan would definitely be happy with this new branch addition, so that they do not have to go up to the mall at Pueblo to do their groceries. Having a place to shop near the area means less time spent on traveling and less money spent on transportation – making each and every trip a convenient one.

What Savemore Offers For Shoppers

Savemore offers most of the things that you would usually find at the SM mall supermarket, such as dry goods, meats, toiletries, liquor and even instant food choices, which are sold at competitive prices.

Savemore Vs. Wet Market

So, what does Savemore offer that the wet market cannot? Basically, Savemore offers all that you can find in the wet market – meat, fruits, vegetables, grains, canned goods and the like. However, what makes it a better destination is that you can be assured of the exact weight and freshness of the supplied goods.

Aside from food items, you can also find a wide variety of bath and beauty products, like soaps, shampoos, detergents, powders, lotions and more. Aside from these, they also have household items and appliances, including electric fans, air conditioners, televisions and the like.

Paying Bills and More

Savemore Kauswagan is a one-stop shop, where you can pay different bills; be it utility, phone bills, credit card, cable, Internet or real estate bills among others.

So, the next time you plan to shop and do the groceries, you know you don’t have to go far since Savemore Market in Kauswagan has everything that you need.

-Justine Raagas-

The newest addition to the growing Savemore chain will open its doors to the public at 3:00 pm on May 20, 2011. Savemore Kauswagan is located in the area where Makro used to be. The Kauswagan branch is, for now, the biggest among all three Savemore stores in Cagayan de Oro.

Observers note that the addition of the new Savemore branch has added color to the Kauswagan community, even when it is yet to open. This is evident in the bright colors that’s typical of all Savemore stores.

If the fabulous grand opening of Savemore in Capistrano (with handsome Rafael Rosel) is any indication of what to expect tomorrow, then the Savemore Kauswagan grand opening will be just as exciting and fantastic.

See you at Savemore Kauswagan!

-Maia Fortich-Poblete-