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 Help. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Help. Show all posts

Sunday, October 6, 2019

A day in the life of Maya


(Comval’s “Bayanihan sa Paaralan” program makes way in one of the remote villages in New Bataan)

By Fe F Maestre
Compostela Valley Province-- Maya, an 8-year old girl sat beside her father. Her attention was focused on the man speaking before a crowd then wandered to other officials sitting on the stage. Her attention was cut off when an army gave her a lollipop and some candies, she shyly accepted upon her mother’s prodding. She unwrapped the candy and gingerly popped it in her mouth, as if savoring its sweetness, her eyes lit up.

Maya is among the estimated 40 children living in the remote area of Sitio Danawan, Barangay Manurigao in New Bataan.  With Manurigao identified as a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) in the province, the sitio is the farthest of the said barangay already bordering Davao Oriental Province. It has about 28 families with an estimated population of 144 Mandaya community who subsists mainly on farming such as corn, camote and abaca.
Reaching Danawan is not an easy feat. One has to walk 9 kilometers to reach Sitio Biyangunan where single motorcycles for hire will transport you to the town center in New Bataan for P1,000 per head, one way.      
Mga 3-4 hours gyud ang baktas gikan diri padulong sa Biyangunan, pagsakay pud ug motor padulong New Bataan mudagan pud ug minimum nga 4 ka oras, lisud gyud kayo ang dalan,” (One has to walk 3-4 hrs going to Biiyangunan. From there, it’s another 4-hour ride via single motor for a minimum of 4 hours travel), said James Balingan, SK Chairperson of Brgy Manurigao.

Bayanihan kick-off
On September 29, 2019,  the provincial government led the peace-building initiative where a kick-off ceremony was held for the “Bayanihan sa Paaralan” program for the construction of a 1-unit, 2 classroom building.  The program was attended by Ltc. Roman Mabborang, 66th IB Battalion Commander Mayor Geraldford Balbin, Board Member Raul Timogtimog representing Gov. Tyron Uy, and DepEd Comval Ruben Reponte, along with other provincial and local officials.    
Due to the remoteness and difficulty in hauling the materials, the Bayanihan build in Sitio Danawan took a week before it commenced construction. While the rest of the other 4 school sites in the identified GIDAs and conflict-affected areas (CAA) kicked off the build simultaneously on September 20, 2019. These are Side 4, Brgy. Mangayon, and P-3, Brgy. Panansalan, both in Compostela; P-3, Brgy Pagsabangan in New Bataan; and Sitio Sapanglubog, Brgy. Tibagon in Pantukan.

In each of these sites, the different offices of the provincial government take the lead in the management of the bayanihan build. They are partnered with the municipal and barangay LGUs, Department of Education-Comval, the Philippine Army, private partners, among others.



“Bringing government closer to the people”

Such was the awe of Maya and probably even to the rest of the community. With this, it is an uncommon sight to see new faces, witness the program and even watch movies projected on wide screen at night.  Much more, witness helicopters landing and taking off in their area. 

But for Dante Agimlod, nothing compares to the sight of the 2 doctors who also flew in during the opening. It was his first time to get a medical check-up.  “Wala ko naka pa-check up tungod sa kalayo sa among lugar. Daku gyud ang among pagpasalamat nga nakaabut mo dinhi. Gihatagan na sad kog libreng tambal,” (I couldn’t have a medical check-up because of the remoteness of our place. I am thankful that the government reached out to us. I also received medicines.)    

Brgy. Kagawad Arturo Dagansan also appreciated the fact that the government spared no effort and spared no expense in reaching out to their far-flung community and put up the much needed classrooms. “Bisan sa kalayo sa among lugar, giagwanta ninyo. Kining proyekto, daku gyud kaayug gasto pero wala ninyo gipanumbaling tungod kay gilantaw ninyo ang kalisud diri sa among barangay.”
He also acknowledged the worker-builders and volunteers who braved the arduous travel and long walk as well as endured being far away from their families. “Gani nagkamang-kamang sila sa kalisud sa dalan, pero naa sila diri para lang matabangan mi sa pagtukod sa eskuwelahan.”  


Hopes for a brighter future
Situated on a higher ground, the community with its colored houses, courtesy from the government’s Pabahay program, looks picturesque amidst the vast mountain ranges surrounding it.  In the afternoon, the kids’ laughter echoed in the quiet surrounding while the youth played basketball and some into volleyball, their way of entertainment as the place has no electricity.
“Gusto na kaayo ko mu-eskuwela para mag-maestra nako pagdaku,” Maya, who has already shown a flair in volleyball, replied after being asked what she wanted to be when she grow up.
The following morning, Maya, whose timidity has lessened having warmed up to her since the other day, was there to send the team off on a chopper, a UH1 Huey military aircraft, back home.  She smiled, her eyes hopeful as she waved goodbye to the departing group, her mother protectively covering her from the strong wind that the chopper’s propeller has made. Her hands holding on to her mother, she continued to wave goodbye, her hair now in disarray, as the chopper continues to ascend and fly away.  
 (fe fuentes maestre/id comval)

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Worrying wouldn't help ...

My column in Businessweek Mindanao

Life is better than ever, so why does everybody seem to be unhappy? As regular reader of this column, you surely remember this topic which I already raised several times. 

Whenever I hear people saying that things turned so bad nowadays, I think of my late LOLA, born in 1899 (!) into a really awful world in Germany and its surroundings. Also the so-called "Golden Twenties" between two World Wars have been everything but golden for her and my former relatives. Lola never complained, even during the sorrowful times in the former East German, the "German Democratic Republic". Lola reached the ripe old age of almost 86.

We hardly count our blessings. We enjoy counting our crosses. Instead of gains, we count our losses. We don't have to do all that counting - computers do it for us. Information is easily had.

Facebook to and fro, back and forth, there and back - how many posts and comments have been posted already with sadness, loneliness, boredom strikes, problems, worries ... .

Just remember this: Opportunity doesn't just knock - it jiggles the door-knob. and "your social media online-friend" - the worrier, is with you day and night, at every corner, following your every step. Complaining and grumbling are good excuses, right?

Is social media bad for us? Three billion people, around 40% of the world’s population, use online social media – and we’re spending an average of two hours every day sharing, liking, tweeting and updating on these platforms, according to some reports. That breaks down to around half a million tweets and Snapchat photos shared every minute. Stress, mood, anxiety, depression, sleep (or better non-sleep), self-esteem - Overall, social media’s effects on well-being are ambiguous, according to a paper written last year by researchers from the Netherlands. However, they suggested there is clearer evidence for the impact on one group of people: social media has a more negative effect on the well-being of those who are more socially isolated.

Imagine, we have time and opportunities to do almost anything. So why haven't we done it? We have the freedom of bondage or restraint, every one of us in his or her very special unique way - but, we're still our old inferior selves.

The job is boring. I don't get a good job. The house is an un-pleasend mixture of tidy and dirty things. It's a mess. I'm not in the mood to arrange my garden. I can't afford a gardener. That's life. How sad. No, it's not my fault; or course not.

The whole world is an awful place filled with dreadful and horrible negativism. Yes, I confess, I'm also surrounded by many worriers who put their fears into me. Politicians, i.e., many times love to search for some grave alarm that will cause individuals to abandon their sperate concerns and act im concert, so that politicians can wield the baton. Calls to fatal struggles and fights are forever being sounded.

The over-bearing person, who tyrannizes the weak, who wants to domineer and to bluster, is simply nothing else than a worrier, who claims to be a friend. But he isn't. Really not! The bullying of fellow citizens by means of dread and fright has been going on since Paleolithic times. The night wolf is eating the moon. Give me silver and I'll make him spit out.

Well, when will we start counting our courage and not our fears, or enjoy instead of our woe? Worrying itself is pointless.Of course, no society has achieved perfectly rules of law, never-ending education or unique responsible governments. Let's seek out the worries but avoid the worriers, because they try to avoid liberty.

If you are still worrying right now about something, try to read Jeremiah 29:10-14 or Revelation 21:1-8, just to mention these two. It works.


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

How you can help communities affected by 'Urduja'

By Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com) 

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In this Dec. 17, 2017 photo provided by Philippine National Police Region 8, rescuers and police try to clear an area from boulders after Tropical Storm Kai-Tak hit the island province of Biliran, central Philippines. A slow-moving storm has left dozens of people dead and several others missing mostly due to landslides and floods and stranded thousands of holiday travelers in the central Philippines, officials said. Philippine National Police Region 8 via AP
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm Urduja (international name Kai-Tak) devastated Eastern Visayas when it struck the region last weekend, triggering landslides and killing at least 40 persons.
Casualties were reported in Biliran, Eastern and Samar. The province of Biliran and local governments of Kananga, Tanauan, Carigara, Ormoc and Tacloban in Leyte have been placed under a state of calamity. That gives them access to emergency funds for disaster relief and puts price freezes on basic goods.

Biliran Gov. Gerardo Espina said that communities in the province are running out of fuel and water as the storm damaged many vital bridges, preventing delivery of supplies.
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The Philippine Navy is set to utilize its newest and largest ships to deliver relief goods and basic services, as well as carry out humanitarian assistance and response operations in affected families and communities.
Those who would like to help families affected by the typhoon may donate through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Homepage ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Dollar Savings Account
Account Name: DSWD FOREIGN DONATION
Account Number: 3124-0055-81
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Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City
Peso Savings Account
Account Name: DSWD DONATION FUND
Account Number: 3122-1011-84
Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City
Some netizens have also started initiatives to help families and communities affected by the typhoon.

The DSWD is currently conducting relief operations to respond to the needs of those who were affected by Urduja. Teams will be deployed to different provinces including Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar and Northern Samar.