HAPPY MOMENTS

 

Happy moments are the little sparks of joy that light up our lives. Whether it’s the quiet peace of waking up to the perfect cup of coffee, the thrill of sharing inside jokes with friends, or finally curling up with a good book, these everyday treasures are what make life beautiful.

We all chase happiness in life.

But as we may already know: happiness, per se, is not permanent.

Certain moments can bring happiness.

And the more of those moments we have in our days, the better our life generally is.

There is one perception we have to change about happiness.

We should never chase it.

We find happiness. And we make happiness.

I truly believe that our life is more content if we enjoy simple moments of happiness.

In this article, I wanted to list a couple of simple moments of happiness that many of us may experience.

Some may be funny. Others may resonate with you a lot.

One thing is for sure: many of these do not require a lot of money.

In fact, most of those don’t need money at all.

What they require is for you to be more present and more mindful in your life.

To appreciate these tiny moments that contain more happiness than you might think.

So here comes my list of simple moments of tiny happiness that we may find in our daily lives:

When you find that song you’ve been looking for a long time

A few calm minutes of watching the sunset

The first kiss at the end of a wonderful date

Waking up next to someone you are in love with

Sitting on a plane and looking outside of the window during take-off

The moment you walk outside from an airport terminal at your destination

The first bite of a food you’ve been craving for a long time.

The first free breath through your nose after being cold

Stopping at a highway rest area on a dewy dawn after a long night of driving

The first dip in the sea on a vacation

When you get food unstuck from your teeth

How do you express happiness at work? A smile, a nod of approval, or even a high-five can all communicate your happiness to others. Non-verbal cues like these can complement your words and help reinforce your message. Additionally, showing gratitude and acknowledging the contributions of others can also convey your happiness.

Expressing happiness professionally can be as simple as using the right words and phrases. When you want to say you are happy professionally, there are several ways to do so effectively. One way is to use positive and enthusiastic language. For example, instead of simply saying “I’m happy,” you can say “I’m absolutely thrilled!” or “I couldn’t be happier about this!” These phrases convey a genuine sense of joy and enthusiasm.

Another way to express happiness professionally is through body language. A smile, a nod of approval, or even a high-five can all communicate your happiness to others. Non-verbal cues like these can complement your words and help reinforce your message.

Additionally, showing gratitude and acknowledging the contributions of others can also convey your happiness. When someone helps you or achieves success, express your appreciation and congratulate them. This not only shows your own happiness but also fosters a positive and supportive work environment.

From time to time I love silence. I love quietness. – Do you observe that we live in a really frightful, loud world? At every corner of our daily life are innumerable chances of being covered up with sometimes unbearable din and noise. The loud outcry gives me the needle. We don’t have nerves of steel forever.

I am not really a fan of going out at night. If you ask me how to spend a lovely evening after a hectic and stressful and, especially, noisy day – plain and simple.

The nicest occurrence is the silence, the intimate taciturnity, which can even “weld” people or partners together. It might sound just like an idiomatic expression, but believe me; not being forced to talk is great! No, I don’t mean that we have nothing to say to each other any more – or, he or she won’t listen to a special reason… . I am talking about a deep understanding between people, who are together and are able to share time in quiet and silent happiness.

After a long and strenuous day, it is a real big comfort to sit and lean back, read all the (old!) newspapers and magazines from the last days and weeks while enjoying a glass of wine and a handful of peanuts. A crossword puzzle is easier to solve while having a “silent” radio program in the background, instead of a “roars to hell” television show.

Try it. It’s indeed relaxing after traffic woes, the heat and dust of the day, telephones’ ringing, machine rattling, meetings and never ending discussions. Why should we talk right now?

Feeling safe and secure, inseparable, indestructible with peace in our minds and our surroundings, this is what we really mean to each other, understanding without words. At home, somewhere in the garden, at a beach – there are many wonderful places. And, suddenly out of the blue from the bottom of our heart and from the depth of comfort and ease, we might be able to speak about things, which couldn’t be discussed earlier. A good talk grows – but without compulsion or constraint or obligation, desperate or being forced.

Try it, and it might feel like walking hand-in-hand on a lonely sand beach, such as “once upon a time” with our first partner. And, unexpectedly: we become silent again AND thankful for it.

We really seldom take a break. We spend too much time in this terrible and frightful loud world…

What are some German customs and habits that seem weird to foreigners?

 

Symon Jemčenko

 

Knows German

Instead of clapping, German students greet their lecturer in the auditorium by hitting their palms on the surface of their desks. This is said to be done for the sake of time efficiency, as to clap a person would need to put the pen down first.

Germans don’t usually dip their fries, but put the sauce on top, which I personally dislike because it makes things rather messy.

Germans are usually quiet and reserved in their daily lives, but once a while they gather for a party or a trip and make so much noise that any other person would become deaf in those circumstances.

For many Germans eating is not a way of getting pleasure, but simply a source of calories, so they will bite a sandwich, a hotdog or drink a protein cocktail and seriously call it “lunch”.

In many German public toilets visitors of all genders are obliged to use the facility in a sitting position, so that it wouldn’t need to be cleaned.

In the German countryside fruit trees located on agricultural parcels are considered legal property of their owners, so even if all the fruit fall down and rot, others still have no right to gather them for themselves. On the other hand, if a tree branch protrudes over a fence of a private house, people walking down the street have right to pluck some fruit for themselves.

In Germany teenagers are legally obliged to drive their bicycles on public roads or specially designed bike lanes, but not on sidewalks, where only small children can cycle.

Some smaller German railway stations are locked for the night in order to prevent drunks from sleeping inside, so people need to wait for their trains in the street.

In Germany it is normal for one person to perform several functions on their job. For example, if there are two employees in a shop, both will take turns working at the cash desk or unloading the goods, so that no one does the same task all the time.

Germans seem to be obsessed with stories of crime and violence, with every bookstrore having a wide array of crime and detective novels, and primetimes of TV channels being filled with crime investigation series.

German women rarely dress in a fashionable way or use makeup, and in everyday circumstances could be barely distinguishable from men in terms of clothing.

In Germany it is regarded as impolite to publicly discuss wages and money in general. The size of a person’s salary is considered to be a private affair and shouldn’t be boasted about.

Many Germans have their own garden plots with small houses, but it is forbidden to live there on a constant basis, and the plots aren’t normally used to grow any products, and serve exclusively as places of relaxation.

German tap water is not very different in quality from bottled mineral water, although many people still prefer to drink the latter just in case

Singlife marathon eyes 6,000 runners in Davao debut

RunRio, along with Singlife and Kinetix Sports, officially launched the Singlife Davao Marathon, presented by SM Supermalls, at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Wednesday, July 15, inviting runners from across the Philippines and abroad to take part in the race on Aug. 15. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

By Ivy Tejano

DAVAO CITY – The Singlife Davao Marathon presented by SM Supermalls is expecting 4,000 to 6,000 local and foreign runners when the race debuts at SM Lanang in Davao City on Aug. 15 in celebration of the Kadayawan Festival.

Speaking at the media launch at SMX Convention Center in Davao on Wednesday, RunRio Inc. president and chief executive officer Coach Rio dela Cruz said the event aims to promote sports tourism and highlight the city during its festival.

Dela Cruz said the Davao race is the fifth leg of the 2026 Singlife Philippine Marathon Majors, a nationwide marathon series modeled after the World Marathon Majors. He added that the organizers hope to attract local and international runners.

"Since this is our first Davao leg, we are promoting it heavily and hope to attract 4,000 to 6,000 local and international runners and participants from other parts of the Philippines," Dela Cruz told reporters and content creators in a press conference.

He said the marathon is scheduled a day before the opening of the Kadayawan Festival, allowing participants to kick off one of the country's biggest festivals with an unforgettable race before joining Davao City's vibrant cultural celebrations.

Inspired by the Tokyo, London, and Boston marathons, Dela Cruz said the Philippine Marathon Majors was created to provide Filipino runners with an international-standard racing experience without traveling abroad and promoting the host cities.

The first four legs were held in Makati, Iloilo, Manila, and Cebu. According to RunRio, the Makati race attracted nearly 13,000 runners, while the Manila race drew about 25,000 participants, making it the largest event in the series so far.

Dela Cruz said all races follow the standards of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and World Athletics, allowing elite runners to use their results for official records and qualification for international competitions.

The Davao Marathon will offer 42-kilometer, 21-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and five-kilometer race categories, catering to both seasoned marathoners and first-time runners, the organizers said, while inviting everyone to join the event.

Dela Cruz said the full marathon will start and finish at SM Lanang, passing through Cabaguio Avenue, Leon Garcia Street, Quezon Boulevard, the Bucana Coastal Road, Bago Aplaya, and Dumoy before returning to the starting point.

"To ensure fair competition, RFID timing systems, wrist tags, and visual race officials will be deployed to prevent bib transfers and course cutting," he said. "We'll have medical teams, ambulances, hydration stations, policemen, and radio-equipped marshals."

As the official title sponsor, Singlife Philippines chief executive officer Lester Cruz assured that every registered participant will receive accident and life insurance coverage before, during, and after the race.

Cruz said Singlife continues its commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles through running while providing every registered participant with complimentary insurance coverage included in their race registration.

"The Singlife Philippine Marathon Majors is about creating meaningful race experiences that go beyond the finish line. In Davao, participants can celebrate both their personal achievement and the spirit of Kadayawan," Cruz said.

Kenneth Sai, president of Kinetix Sports, said the event aims not only to support marathon runners but also to encourage greater awareness among Filipinos of the benefits of running and an active lifestyle.

RunRio is exploring partnerships with airlines to help reduce travel costs for participants and has started coordinating with hotels that will offer discounted accommodation rates for runners visiting Davao City.

Dela Cruz said previous marathon legs generated economic activity for host cities through increased hotel bookings, restaurant visits, and tourism spending, an impact the marathon organizers hope to replicate in Davao.

Bohol preps for Sandugo festival

 

By Calvin Cordova

Published Jul 15, 2026 05:23 pm

CEBU CITY – Preparations for the Sandugo sa Bohol 2026 are in full swing.

A total of nine municipalities will compete in the Street Dancing and Grand Showdown competition on July 26 at the CPG Complex in Tagbilaran City.

To ensure the success of the festival, the province’s Center for Culture and Arts Development recently convened to discuss preparations.

CCAD head Emerson Pinos presided over the meeting, which gathered representatives from the provincial and national government agencies, the city government of Tagbilaran, participating local government units, and other key stakeholders.

Operational and logistical concerns, including safety and security measures, traffic and road closure plans, venue setup, and the order of performances for the competing contingents were tackled in the meeting.

Vying for the coveted “Festival of Festivals” championship this year are Alburquerque, Loay, Maribojoc, Antequera, Valencia, Dimiao, Ubay, Catigbian, and Talibon.

Headed by Gov. Aris Aumentado, the provincial government has allocated P1 million for each participating municipality as subsidy.

The festival highlights the province's diverse traditions while fostering camaraderie among its municipalities.

The holding of the festival also reinforces Bohol's identity as the country's first United Nations, Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

How difficult is the German language?

 

Felicita Ratti

 · 

Owner, Teacher, Tutor, Translator, Interpreter (2017–present)

No, it is not. WHAAT? Mostly this is a myth perpetuated by native speakers for several reasons (sometimes it’s just a sugar-coated way to acknowledge you are trying hard to speak German, sometimes is, as I said, a myth which is quite beneficial for them)… and by Mark Twain, as someone here already said :-)

The problem with German is that the first 10 to 20 lessons will be very hard: many peculiar things you will have to either memorise or understand, and then get used to them. Also, most people will find it difficult to just try and speak immediately. The bright side of it is that you can cover all the necessary grammar in 20 lessons (you will only need to learn a few more things along the road, but nothing scary at all) and be done with it…which is definitely NOT the case for English or Italian (the latter being a steady challenge). Patience, getting used to it (=practising), and finding the right method for you: these are the keys to learning German! I googled and I found the right learning curve for German:

I also gave some good pieces of advice here: Felicita Ratti's answer to How do fluent German speakers learn German? (I hadn’t thought of googling “German learning curve” while writing that answer… :-) )

Feel free to ask for some more advice! Das schaffst du schon! (you are gonna make it!)

PH remittance growth stayed at 4-year low in May

BY IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL

JULY 16, 2026

Metro Manila skyline —AFP FILE PHOTO

Money sent home by overseas Filipinos continued to post modest growth in May, underscoring the vulnerability of remittance flows as tensions from the prolonged conflict in the Middle East threaten to disrupt the livelihoods of migrant workers.

Cash remittances sent through banks rose 2 percent from a year earlier to $2.7 billion, according to data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The pace matched April’s increase, leaving remittance growth at its slowest in four years.

In the first five months of the year, cash remittances totaled $14.1 billion, up 2.5 percent from a year earlier. That, however, remained below the BSP’s downwardly revised forecast of 2.7-percent growth for full-year 2026.

YOU HAVE THREE WISHES

By

 Klaus Döring

 -

Thursday, July 16, 2026

THE “THREE wishes” is a classic storytelling motif where a magical being (like a genie or a fairy) grants a character three desires. It symbolizes the human desire for limitless power, while the limit of three emphasizes a moral lesson about greed, consequences, and the dangers of poorly thought-out desires.

The Folktale Warning: In traditional stories (such as “The Fisherman and the Jinni” or the Grimm Brothers’ “The Three Wishes”), the three wishes serve as a fable about human folly. Characters often squander their first wishes on foolish, impulsive desires. This usually leads to a negative consequence, requiring them to use their final wish to undo the mess they created.

On a literary level, three wishes align with the traditional three-act structure. The first wish introduces the goal, the second escalates the conflict, and the third provides a resolution or lesson.

Be careful what you wish for — it could reveal who you are, says Laura King of Southern Methodist University.

In a study published in the “Journal of Personality”, King administered a personality test to 405 college students, then asked them a simple question: “If you could have three wishes, what would you ask for?”

Responses ran the gamut, from the obvious (“to be healthy and happy”) to the impossible (“to have sex with Marilyn Monroe”) to the peculiar (“to eat Chinese food at every meal every day for the rest of my life”).

When examining these wishes and the people who made them, King discovered some interesting connections:

The most common wishes were for friends, happiness, health, marriage, money, success, self-improvement, and to help other people.

Although men’s and women’s wishes were generally similar, men were more likely to wish for sex and power, while women were more likely to wish for happiness, a better appearance, and better health.

Extroverted people often wished for happiness and positive feelings, and frequently included other people in their wishes.

Neurotic people wished to be more sociable and more emotionally stable — in other words, to be less neurotic.

“The chances of that wish coming true are practically zero,” says King, noting that personality traits are notoriously hard to change.

Those who were already satisfied with their lives were the most likely to believe that their wishes would come true.

When I was still a young boy, I was taught that there might be fairy creatures offering us those three free wishes. We should always be wise enough to think it over very well and select the best wishes for our very own.

Sure, there will always be classic stupidities regarding fairy-wishes. We are all human beings and don’t belong to the fairy category.

Your wish is my command! And, there is someone who wishes at first a strong health, and – sure, he or she receives it, because good fairies never hesitate. And now and then? Here he is, for example, the healthy man is like a boulder in the surf, but surrounded by a world of war, flames and so-called military conflicts. But this man is still alive and as fit as a fiddler. Why should he wish for a strong health?

Well, maybe we have to formulate our wishes for something more improved. But what? Discretion is the better part of valor. Let’s try it like a fairy-tale and ask for wealth, riches and abundance. These are the one and only things on earth, right?

With money we can travel around the globe, find friends, even in faraway distances, and we can do charities.

Well, and if we might become sick, maybe seriously sick, we must not worry. We can afford and finance the most affordable doctors and most updated hospitals to give us back our good health. And if not?

In many fairy tales, we can also find the one with unassuming manners, inconspicuous, poorly dressed-up, a little bit silly, mostly disregarded and easily to be overlooked. This guy has only one wish, such as eternal salvation and bliss with a little stool in heaven besides God. And guys, be sure, that he will get it, and, he is happy and very thankful. So far so good, it seems the simpleton has been the brightest.

It’s all right: three wishes and no one more. A different thing, isn’t it?

If all human beings on this entire globe could be all around happy – which means to say nobody must go hungry any more, nobody must be despairing, nobody must be worried about wars and catastrophes, and everybody could be able to enjoy health and happiness without bearing trials…yes, if…—then we wouldn’t need fairy-wishes.

Real life looks different. Real life is not a fairy tale. We need prayers and should be more respectful and friendly to each other.

Each one of us has his or her own three wishes. Me, too.

***

Comments, suggestions or questions? Email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or X – Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

Humans make plans, but God guides their steps

 

Humans make plans, but God directs their steps. You can trust this divine GPS. You set your goals in your mind. However, the Creator lines up the path for you. To find the right way, start with prayer, seek wise counsel, and follow the peaceful nudge in your heart.

I am happy! Yes, I am! I found joy, freedom, and peace of mind when I discovered what I believe is the secret to a happy life after living in the Philippines as an expatriate for 28 years.

Think of a maze. You cannot see the exit from the start. You might guess which way to turn and hit a dead end. But God sees the whole maze from above. When you ask Him for help, He gently guides you around the walls to the exit. Proverbs 16:9 reminds you that a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps. Read more about this truth on Bible Hub. When you surrender your daily choices to God, you take the stress off your own shoulders. Trust that His plan is always better than yours.

I was brought up in a religious family and lived in a parish house until my 10th birthday. Our Christian life was rooted in a strong religious tradition. Though I was used to it, my attitudes were often very ungodly. Many times, I was prone to anger and did all kinds of unpleasant things to others. I gave more attention to worldly things until I became deeply immersed in what we call “worldly trends.” I did those things simply to enjoy life without caring about the people around me.

But then, suddenly, “someone” — let’s call Him GOD — intervened. He directed my path. I received many different challenges and tasks — especially when I decided to stay in the Philippines for good.

Sure, I have always been able to travel around the globe. But believe me, not every trip — or even every single day — was satisfying or successful.

Today, I am no longer surprised by the painful trials I suffered in the past. Instead of being surprised, I try to rejoice because I have learned that trials are meant to test your faith — perhaps even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When I got the idea to write this piece, I rummaged through some very old books belonging to my late “Lola” — born in 1899! — and found a faded document that had more or less crumbled to dust. It was handwritten by an unknown Dutch soldier, apparently in mortal agony during his final battle in World War II; the document was dated November 1944. I would like to share it with you, my dear reader, because it also reflects my past — and perhaps yours, too:

“When I stopped my ungodly behavior, I learned to pray. But when I prayed, I asked for power to become popular, and He made me weak and taught me how to be obedient. When I prayed, I asked for health so I could do great things, and He gave me afflictions so I could do better things. When I prayed, I asked for riches and abundance, and He gave me poverty so I could become wise instead. When I prayed, I asked for strength to receive people’s glory and fame, and He gave me weakness to make me feel how much I need Him. When I prayed, I asked for everything needed for a wonderful life without problems and trials, living like a king, and He gave me LIFE!”

I didn’t receive anything I prayed for while living in the Philippines as an expatriate. But I received everything in time, when I no longer expected it. More or less against my own free will, all my unspoken and unutterable prayers have been answered. I am truly blessed.

That is also how I feel right now. I am what I am today, NOT BECAUSE I PRAYED FOR IT, but because all my unspoken prayers have been answered.

Humans think — God guides!

***

Email me at doringklaus@gmail.com; follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X; or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Non-violence: A modeled behavior

By Dr. Jun Ynares

Published Jul 15, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Jul 14, 2026 06:12 pm

THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

We will take a break from the ongoing conflict in the local and international political arena in this week’s column. Instead, we will look at another violent hotspot that should concern us all and prompt us to pause and reflect.

We refer to the recent spate of violence involving young students which has shaken our nation to its core. In just days this June, we witnessed a 14-year-old in General Trias stabbing seven Grade 5 classmates, a stabbing at Cavite National High School, and most tragically, the school shooting in Tacloban where two Grade 9 students, aged 14 and 15, killed three fellow students and injured many more.

We believe these are not isolated anomalies but part of a disturbing pattern that demands our immediate, collective attention. Rather than mere crimes, these incidents are symptoms of deeper societal ailments.

This surge in youth violence does not appear to be unique to the Philippines; it is a worldwide phenomenon. Across the United States, school shootings have become a grim recurring tragedy, claiming young lives in places meant to be sanctuaries of learning. In Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia, reports of bullying escalating into physical assaults, stabbings, and gang-related violence among adolescents fill news cycles.

According to UNICEF and UNESCO data, almost one in three students globally – a whopping 32 percent - has been bullied by peers at school at least once in the past month. Over 36 percent of learners experience a physical fight with peers, and nearly one in three has been physically attacked in the past year.

The World Health Organization, meanwhile, reports that around 193,000 homicides occur among youth aged 15 to 29 each year, accounting for 40 percent of total global homicides. In the Philippines, over 40 percent of learners aged 13 to 17 report experiencing bullying at school in a year.

More than ever, we are aware today that social media amplifies conflicts, violent video games and content desensitize young minds, and post-pandemic mental health crises have left many young people without adequate coping mechanisms. Economic pressures, family breakdowns, and exposure to real-world conflicts also contribute to a toxic brew.

The sad truth is this: when our children turn weapons on one another, it reflects an alarming erosion of empathy, patience, and constructive dialogue.

So, we ask: why are our young people resorting to violence?

Psychology and mental health experts say it often stems from unresolved grievances like bullying—as reportedly in the Tacloban case—or from feelings of powerlessness, alienation, and untreated trauma. Without skills to manage anger, frustration, or disputes, minor conflicts spiral into tragedy. Easy access to information on weapons via the internet, combined with portrayals of violence as a quick fix in entertainment, normalizes aggression.

There are observations that mental health support remains insufficient in many schools and communities. As a doctor, I know that unaddressed emotional wounds fester. We must remember that prevention must begin early, not after the blood of the young has been shed.

At the heart of the solution lies a fundamental truth: peace and non-violence are modeled behaviors. Children do not learn these values in a vacuum; they absorb them from the adults around them. Parents who shout, argue aggressively, or resort to corporal punishment teach that force resolves conflict. Teachers who humiliate students or use punitive discipline model the same.

Those who exercise leadership in various sectors are not to be spared from the blame. Let us admit it: public figures, politicians, media personalities, and community leaders who engage in divisive rhetoric or glorify toughness over dialogue reinforce the message that aggression wins. Even in our homes and barangays, how we handle disagreements—whether it's road rage, family feuds, or online spats—sets the example.

Our view is that we must consciously model the behavior we want our children to emulate.

The task is not an easy one. This calls on us to demonstrate patience, to practice active listening, empathy, and de-escalation in daily life. When we, adults, show that disputes can be resolved through calm conversation, compromise, and mutual respect, young people internalize these as viable paths.

Equally crucial is teaching the young peaceful modes of resolving disputes. Our education system must go beyond academics to instill emotional intelligence, conflict resolution skills, and a culture of peace. Peace education—already present in some curricula and initiatives—should be strengthened and made universal. We understand that some schools now implement peer mediation programs, in which trained students help resolve conflicts before they escalate.

We believe that our youth are not inherently violent; they are mirrors reflecting the society we have built—and the one we can still shape. That is why the responsibility to model peace cannot be delayed.

By modeling peace and deliberately teaching non-violent dispute resolution, we break the cycle of aggression. Let us choose, each day, to be the example our children can follow.

We owe our children safe schools and communities, hopeful futures, and the skills to navigate life’s challenges without harming others. Let us make that promise real by showing them peace in practice.

(The author is a Doctor of Medicine, an entrepreneur and the current mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, and DENR assistant secretary, LLDA general manager.Email: antipolocitygov@gmail.com)