Golden Hearts, Raging Waters: The Untamed Spirit of Cagayan de Oro

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

There are places you visit to rest, and there are places you visit to feel alive.

Cagayan de Oro (CDO) is not merely a destination; it is a pulse. It is a city of striking dualities, where the roar of the whitewaters is matched only by the warmth of its people. Known affectionately as the "City of Golden Friendship," this Mindanao gem welcomes you with open arms before challenging you to test your limits against the forces of nature.

Hidden treasures await in this city cut through by its namesake river. From the adrenaline-soaked rapids to the verdant calm of the highlands, here is how to unlock the secrets of CDO.

1. Brave the Rapids: The River is Calling

The heart of the city is liquid, and it beats fast. The Cagayan River promises more than just a boat ride; it promises a transformation.

As you strap on your vest and grip your paddle, you aren't just a tourist—you are part of a crew. Whether you are a novice or a thrill-seeker, the whitewater rafting here is legendary. It is a chaotic dance with nature where you must "row your way through the adventure ahead."

The Cinematic Rush: The rapids here are so iconic they have become stars of the silver screen. In the 2011 film Forever and a Day, Raffy and Eugene didn't just fall in love; they conquered these very waters and the zip lines above them. Now, it’s your turn.

2. A Feast of Fire and Sea

When the adrenaline fades, the hunger begins. CDO boasts a bustling culinary scene that tells the story of the land and the ocean.

The Main Event: You cannot leave without tasting Sinuglaw. It is a perfect marriage of two distinct worlds: the smoky, savory grit of sinugba (grilled pork belly) and the fresh, acidic bite of kinilaw (raw fish marinated in vinegar). It is the flavor of the Philippines in a single dish.

The Sweet Finish: For dessert, the city offers a soft embrace in the form of the Vjandep Pastel. These sweet buns, hiding a rich, creamy custard center, are more than a snack; they are a local institution.

3. Beyond the River: Pirates and Fairways

The adventure in Cagayan de Oro does not end at the riverbank. The landscape shifts dramatically depending on where you look.

The Verdant Escape

Just an hour or so away from the city proper lies a golfer’s paradise. At the Del Monte Golf and Country Club, the roar of the water is replaced by the hush of the wind through the trees. Navigate the 18-hole course set against a stunning, green landscape. Take a swing, and you might just land an ace in one of the most scenic courses in the country.

The Pirate's Life

If the river wasn't enough water for you, embark on a journey to the Seven Seas Waterpark Resort. As the largest pirate-themed waterpark in the Philippines, it is a realm of fantasy.

Pro Tip: Look out for the Night Splash weekender. It turns the park into a festival by the wave pool, complete with DJs, live bands, barbecue, and dancing under the stars.

4. The Soul of the City: Art, Music, and Icons

To truly know CDO, you must look beyond the scenery and into its soul. Navigate the streets in style aboard a Motorela—CDO’s unique, larger take on the tricycle—and discover a thriving cultural hub.

The Sound: The city is home to a booming independent music scene. Keep your ears open for original sounds that capture the modern spirit of the Kagay-anons.

The Vision: For a perspective of the city through the eyes of a master, seek out the works of Nonoy Estarte. His art captures the essence of the region in ways a camera never could.

The Pride: This is the soil that raised royalty. Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015, grew up right here. The grace and resilience she showed the world are traits forged in the City of Golden Friendship.

The Verdict

Cagayan de Oro is a place that demands you participate. You don't just watch the river; you ride it. You don't just eat the food; you savor the clash of flavors. You don't just visit; you become part of the golden friendship.

Are you ready to weave through the city in style? The rapids are waiting.

The Edible Memory: A Journey Through the Heart of the Filipino Christmas

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

If you ask a Filipino living in the snowy winters of New York or the rainy streets of London what they dream of in December, they will not tell you of sleigh bells or chestnuts roasting on an open fire. They will tell you of a specific scent: the aroma of purple rice steaming in bamboo tubes, the crackle of burning rice chaff, and the warmth of ginger tea against the cool dawn air.

Filipino food is currently having its moment on the global stage, but as the text reminds us, it isn’t being "discovered"—the rest of the world is simply catching up. Nowhere is this heritage more potent, more dramatic, and more deeply deeply ingrained than in the gastronomic marathon that is the Filipino Christmas.

I. The Dawn Ritual: Simbang Gabi and the "Ambrosia of the Morning"

The drama of the season begins long before the sun rises. It starts with the Misa de Gallo (dawn mass). But let’s be honest: the spiritual nourishment is inextricably linked to the physical feast that follows right outside the church doors.

In the Tagalog provinces, the air is thick with the smell of Puto Bumbong—pirurutong rice steamed in bamboo tubes until violet and chewy, then smothered in grated coconut and muscovado sugar. Beside it sits the majesty of the Bibingka, a rice cake trapped between the fires of charcoal above and below, emerging golden, fragrant of scorched banana leaves, and crowned with salted egg and white cheese.

"It was not really the choir voices nor the whispered prayers of our elders that kept us awake. It was something else... the promise of the piping hot puto bumbong... our appetites whetted, and hence, our senses disquieted."

This serves as the "ambrosia on the cold morning," washed down with hot tea or salabat (ginger brew). It is a ritual that goes beyond mere breakfast; it is an ancestral communion.

II. The Symphony of Rice: A Regional Tour

While the Tagalogs have their puto bumbong, the rest of the archipelago engages in a symphony of rice, pounding the grain into memories that define their specific geography.

In Pampanga: The morning calls for Putong Lusong, a white, anise-flavored cake cut into trapezoids. But the Kapampangan genius lies in the contrast: they pair this soft sweetness with Panara, a peppery pastry filled with grated upo (bottle gourd) or green papaya and pork. As culinary historian Enriqueta David-Perez recalled, the magic is in the combination—"the hot, peppery panara, the soft white puto... and tea with pandan."

In Cebu: The predawn breakfast is called painit (literally "to warm up"). It features Potomaya (sticky rice cooked with coconut milk) and thick, sticky chocolate.

In Ilocos Sur (Vigan): The sound of Christmas is the cracking of bamboo. Tinubong is a rice mixture poured into long bamboo tubes and cooked on coals. When the fire dies down and the bamboo chars, the tubes are cracked open to reveal the sweet treasure inside.

In Ilocos Norte (Laoag): The preparation of Tupig is a community event. The whole town wakes to the "rhythmic thuds of wooden pestles" pulverizing the malagkit (sticky rice). The dough, flavored with molasses and coconut, is wrapped in layers of banana leaves and buried in a mound of burning rice chaff, smoldering leisurely until cooked.

III. The Media Noche: Centerpiece of the Feast

As the season crescendos to Christmas Eve, the menu shifts from the indigenous rice cakes to the "Special"—dishes often influenced by Spanish and Chinese heritage, demanding time, budget, and "special" effort.

The Spanish Legacy

For many families, the Media Noche (midnight feast) is incomplete without the ghosts of colonial Spain.

The Ham: Not just any ham, but Jamon en dulce. Historically, this was salted Chinese ham (Jamon Piña), boiled in beer, wine, and pineapple juice, then glazed with sugar seared by a hot iron (sianse) until it shone like glass.

The Stews: The rich Cocido, the stuffed Galantina, and the Relleno.

The Cheese: The iconic red ball of Queso de Bola (Edam), hard and salty, sliced to counter the sweetness of the season.

The Lechon

And then, there is the pig. The Lechon (roast pig) is the undeniable star. In the central regions, it is stuffed with tanglad (lemongrass) so fragrant it induces "near-riots" at lechon shops. It is the barometer of the feast's grandeur.

IV. Christmas Day: The Morning After

When the sun rises on Christmas Day, the feasting softens but does not stop. The breakfast tables of the nostalgic elite—and the aspiring middle class—feature hot chocolate.

There is a strict hierarchy of chocolate here:

Chocolate E (Espeso): Thick, rich, and decadent.

Chocolate A (Aguado): Thin and watery (for the budget-conscious).

This is served with slices of Queso de Bola and soft, buttery Ensaimadas. It is a salty-sweet combination that makes the "expatriate Filipino wax nostalgic."

Lunch varies wildly by region—Pinapaitan (goat stew) in Abra, Pansit Molo in Iloilo, or Kilawin in Ilocos. In poorer households, the "special" might simply be a chicken saved all year for a pot of adobo. In wealthy urban homes, American influences creep in via roast turkeys and fruitcakes.

The Enduring Truth

The Filipino Christmas has absorbed the world. It has taken the Chinese ham, the Spanish stew, and the American turkey. But as the essay concludes, strip away the imported glitter, and the heart of the holiday remains indigenous.

"Rice cakes signify Christmas for the Filipino."

Whether it is the purple puto bumbong of the city or the bamboo-cooked tinubong of the north, the true flavor of a Filipino Christmas is the taste of home: sticky, sweet, and made with the labor of loving hands.

“The AI Talks with The VoiceMaster” Named Asia’s Most Innovative AI Program on Radio and Spotify

The VoiceMaster receiving the Award from CongressWoman Marissa Del Mar and TESDA DDG Vidal Villanueva III

Manila, Philippines — History was made at Okada Manila during the Asia’s Pinnacle Awards 2025: Summit of Excellence, as AI Talks with The VoiceMaster received the prestigious recognition as Asia’s Most Innovative AI Program on Radio and Spotify — the first of its kind in the region.

This milestone aligns with the 20th AnniVoicesary of CreatiVoices Productions, the pioneering Filipino voice company founded by Pocholo De Leon Gonzales, widely known as The VoiceMaster of the Philippines.

What Is AI Talks with The VoiceMaster?

AI Talks with The VoiceMaster is the first Filipino radio and podcast program that blends human voice, AI education, and Filipino storytelling to make artificial intelligence understandable, relatable, and usable for every Filipino.

Airing on Radyo Pilipinas 738 kHz and streaming globally via Spotify, the program breaks down AI in simple Taglish conversations — helping students, OFWs, MSMEs, teachers, creators, and government frontliners learn how AI can improve daily life, productivity, business, and opportunities.

“AI should not replace the Filipino voice… it should amplify it,”
said Pocholo De Leon Gonzales, The VoiceMaster.
“I created this program so that in the age of technology, the Filipino will not be left behind… but will LEAD the way.”

AI Talks Awarded as Asia's Most Innovative AI Program on Radio and Spotify

 

BALITANG AI – A NEW VOICE IN ASIA

Alongside the program’s success, AI Talks also introduced AIRA and AIVAN — the first AI news reporters in Asia — under the segment Balitang AI.
They are designed to help Filipinos understand AI news in simple, engaging, and localized storytelling… proving that AI can educate, empower, and serve the public when guided by purpose.

Their presence in AI Talks with The VoiceMaster contributed to the recognition, symbolizing the fusion of AI innovation, Filipino identity, and responsible media.

HONORED WITH THE COUNTRY’S MOST RESPECTED LEADERS

The VoiceMaster stood proudly alongside other esteemed awardees who represent integrity, national service, and leadership:

• Sec. Eduardo Año
National Security Adviser of the Philippines

• Hon. Teresita Leonardo-De Castro
Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

• Atty. Nilo Divina
Founder, DivinaLaw

• Mr. Frederic DyBuncio
President, SM Investments Corp

• Ms. Cathy Yang
Business Journalist

To be recognized beside these influential figures is more than an honor — it signals a powerful message that AI, media, education, and Filipino innovation now stand alongside leadership, law, governance, business, and national service.

THE VOICE OF THE FUTURE IS FILIPINO

As CreatiVoices Productions marks its 20-year legacy, this award proves that the Filipino voice is not just surviving the digital age…
it is leading it.

AI Talks with The VoiceMaster
Where the Future Speaks Filipino.