You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?

There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!

Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!


Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!

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Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Flowers, sweets, lunches, hotel overnight stays

While I was leaving through my calendar, I noticed that the month of January will soon be over. In the new normal abnormality, one day reappears like every year: it's time again for Valentine's Day. 


Do you know something about the legend of St. Valentine? The history of Valentine's Day – and the story of its patron saint – is indeed shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.


From February 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. ... Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.


Being married with a Filipina for almost 38 years now, Valentine's Day lets me always recall lovely moments from the past.


In a very old issue of PHILADELPHIA NEWS, which is still on my desk, columnist Larry Fields confessed: "I lead a life of wine, women and song (by the way, a wonderful waltz by the Austrian king of waltz Johann Strauss!) - it's cheaper than petrol, food and rent!"


Well, some marriages are made in heaven. You know some? I do. The best of the rest are down-to-earth. Maybe also yours? I am blessed and happy celebrating my  wedding anniversary in March.


Maybe you remember this: "Then the prince swept the lovely young maiden into his arms and carried her home to his castle. And they live happily ever after!" Indeed, they did.


What I would like to see is an autonomous in home affairs study of all these titles of nobility bearers seven years after their happily-ever-after marriages. or even earlier, because the so-called darned and tricky seventh marriage year could be even the first one already.


The truth is that life isn't made up of the continual highs found in the initial stages of courtship. Of course, flirting is fun and a wide groove exists. But after a while our system needs a rest. Unanimously we're in the second stage sooner or later and our marriage life needs badly a new outside coating.


All of a sudden, the partner prefers day and night watching all the sports channels, falls asleep while you're revealing your innermost secrets and even forgets the anniversary for the first or even second time . Just bear in mind: You've won each other's acceptance  and sometimes even feelings terribly gloomy. This acceptance shouldn't be undervalued.


Even when we see a house that has to be cleaned, many other things have to be organized, and the partner, who looks as fatigued and bored as you feel. Logical question: "That's it? That WAS it?"


And suddenly, we experienced the third stage and learned why it's worth the ups and downs. Maybe we men don't mention any more, how incredible she looks, but we enjoy bleating and grousing at her spending innumerable hours putting her together. But then, suddenly, we men are to unload the garbage without being asked for.


Although no marriage is continually blissful - it can be pretty good most of the time. When we last through arguments, money worries, and kid's problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationship is not always a big day celebration.


It's because the fundamental  reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day-to-day living: we love each other. That's MY idea of "Happily ever after, indeed!" And one thing more: in my opinion, Valentine's Day shouldn't be only on February 14. It doesn't matter if one is married or not.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Thanks with a bunch of flowers

My column in MINDANAO DAILY

THANKS WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS

Well, this won't happened every day and needs a special reason indeed.

Just this morning, one of my good friends voiced out, "I didn't get a lot of thanks for doing it". ... Honestly, nowadays it's really difficult to get even a simple Thank you ... .

"Somebody comes to my place and drinks a lot. I just keep on roaring and flowing and remain happy during my whole life, because I can give and give and share ... even without gratitude!" (Historical fountain saying in Regensburg/Bavaria/South Germany).

"Be in the making means be thankful forever!" What a meaningful quotation in German poet's Goethe's drama "Faustus" from 1831 - but, how very far away from today's reality.

When did you, my dear reader, say THANK YOU recently? I don't mean it as in a disgracing phrase, no, but such as an honest attitude, to which we are all susceptible. A few days ago another very good friend told me, that we all should be very thankful to all leaders in society, clergy and politics - for their mistakes and mismanagement including arrogance and incompetence. Strong tobacco - but true!

"The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed: ... God, I thank you that I am not like that (corrupt?) tax collector over there!" (Luke 18, 11). "What's more transient then gratitude?" asked already the German poet Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) in his drama "Don Carlos".

Gratitude or thankfulness in our daily surroundings: many times it's just forgotten, because we treat sacrifices, services and even the smallest relief without saying as only natural and take it as a matter of course.

Many of our leaders on earth forgot that they only got their position because of our trust and voting. Thankfulness? For goodness sake, just let's be patient and wait for it. I even couldn't care less if the grumpy taxi driver isn't able to say a simple "thanks" after I paid my fare including a small tip. 

Benjamino Gigli (1890-1957), a member of a church choir, who studied singing/chanting in Rome and who performed on most all known stages and in concert halls in Italy and later in North America and the whole world and became a legitimated successor of the great Italian tenor Enrico Caruso expressed this:

"After 41 years, when I said Good Bye to my stage performances, I found this: Me, the son of a poor Italian shoemaker, could enjoy all sweet fruits of success and popularity. Kings and presidents became my friends. Millions of people gave me their appreciation and applause. But, I know very well that everything is a gift of God: MY VOICE. I have never forgotten to thank Him for this". 

Having a claim on something, jealousy and envy are a real siblings trio, which plans to settle down in the place of the forgotten gratitude to say THANK YOU. Only those who know how to thank are able to praise the Lord.