P-POP Music Awards marks 11th Year

By Carissa Alcantara

Published Sep 7, 2026 05:29 pm

11th PPOP Music Awards (Facebook)

Filipino music continues to grow, with a new generation of performers set to take the stage at the 11th PPOP Music Awards.

Marking a milestone in recognizing local and homegrown talent, the P-Pop Music Awards began as a humble annual event in small venues and have since grown into a major Filipino pop culture celebration, proving that P-Pop is more than a genre, it is a movement fueled by talent, passion, and a growing community of fans.

According to the founder, Yuan Quiblat, their mission was simple: to give recognition to P-Pop music.

"Lagpas isang dekada na ang P-Pop Music Awards. Of course, from our humble beginnings, we started it as napakasimpleng awards. It was small, but we have a big vision," Yuan said.  

Recalling the early challenges during their first year, Yuan admitted that it was hard to market the event because they had a limited number of supporters.

"Iilan lang sumosuporta sa P-pop. But we from the P-pop Music Awards had a big vision, especially as the founder, that time will come na it will be bigger," he added.

11 years counting, the P-Pop Music Awards stands as the first and only awards body dedicated to celebrating the best of Pinoy Pop, recognizing Filipino artists and creators for their talent, cultural impact, and potential to make their mark on the global stage.

The 11th PPOP Music Awards is set to make history as it moves to the iconic Araneta Coliseum on October 18, 2026.

More than an awards ceremony, this year’s event will celebrate Filipino music, culture, and community on a bigger stage.

Produced and presented by Noble Life International as part of its 20th anniversary. The main show will feature XONARA, X8, Hazel Faith, CALISTA, BILIB, NEO, 6ENSE, CLOUD 7, ONE SOUTH, NOVA and SYNC, bringing together a varied lineup of artists representing the energy and creativity driving contemporary P-pop.

The celebration of Filipino excellence will extend beyond Metro Manila.

The pre-show lineup highlights performers from the country’s three major island groups, with KITTRIX representing Luzon, BELAMOUR and LEEYAN coming from the Visayas, and VRAJA carrying the banner of Mindanao.

'Very unhealthy' air quality suspends face-to-face classes in Cebu City for fourth straight day

By Calvin Cordova

Published Sep 8, 2026 

CEBU CITY–Face-to-face classes here were suspended for the fourth straight day on Monday, Sept. 7, due to poor air quality.

Air quality in Metro Cebu remains “very unhealthy” due to  haze linked to forest and peatland fires in Indonesia.

As of 11 a.m. on MOnday, air quality index (AQI) in Metro Cebu reached 157, the Environmental Management Bureau-Central Visayas (EMB-7) 

With the AQI reaching 157, individuals who are sensitive to air pollution, including those with existing respiratory conditions, were advised to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure.

Mayor Nestor Archival ordered schools to continue holding classes online and avoid holding outdoor activities to protect students.

Archival also led the distribution of masks in some schools in the city.

The suspension did not cover tertiary schools.Archival’s chief of staff, Kenneth Siasar, college students are more capable of taking precautions against the haze.

Although the haze continued to persist, the city has not recorded any patients or hospital admissions yet related to the haze.

As a precautionary measure, the city  government has started stocking up nebulizers and other necessary medicines in hospitals. 

Hospitals have also dedicated "fast lanes" for individuals who may need medical attention due to breathing difficulties caused by the haze.

How do German idioms reflect the culture's values and history?

German is famous for philosophical words like Zeitgeist, but its everyday idioms reveal a grittier history. When someone narrowly escapes disaster, they don't get lucky—they “have a pig.”

These phrases are deeply rooted in the practical realities of medieval agriculture, dense forests, brewing, and a profound appreciation for pork.

Culinary Realism
The most famous German idiom of all is delightfully pragmatic: “Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei” (Everything has an end, only the sausage has two). Where an English speaker might note that all good things must end, a German leans on the butcher. This reflects a culture that values grounded observation over lofty metaphor. Similarly, when a German wants to say "Not my circus, not my monkeys," they simply say: “Das ist nicht mein Bier” (That is not my beer). Beer and sausages served as fundamental pillars of survival, trade, and daily caloric intake in German history.

The Deep Forest
Germany is a nation heavily defined by its Mittelgebirge (low mountain ranges) and ancient woods. This deep geographic connection bleeds into the language. If someone is completely on the wrong track, Germans say they are “auf dem Holzweg sein” (to be on the wood path). Historically, a Holzweg was a temporary dirt track cut by loggers into the forest to extract timber. If you followed one expecting it to lead to the next village, you would eventually find yourself deep in the woods at a dead end.

Directness over Diplomacy
Germans are culturally famous for valuing directness, efficiency, and honesty over superficial politeness. This is captured in how they describe someone who is beating around the bush: “Um den heißen Brei herumreden” (To talk around the hot porridge). The imagery is brilliant: someone delicately skimming the edges of a bowl of scalding porridge because they are too timid to dive into the center. In German culture, "talking around the porridge" is a flaw; you are expected to blow on it and take a bite.

Medieval Survival
That bizarre declaration of luck—“Schwein haben” (To have a pig)—does not sound particularly fortunate to modern ears. But in the agrarian economy of the Middle Ages, a pig was the ultimate safety net. It was cheap to feed on scraps and yielded a massive amount of high-calorie meat that could be salted or smoked to keep a peasant family alive through the brutal Central European winters. Having a pig meant you survived.

A variety of grilled bratwurst on a stall at the Hauptmarkt in Nuremberg. German culture's historical reliance on preserved meats and brewing is heavily reflected in its everyday language. Photo by Gerbis 

Is German one of the toughest languages to learn?

 

Sanda Golcea

Worked at Hipcooks Seattle

German is normally a hard language to master as you might have heard: because of the grammar.

Depending on your background, this might be easier or harder:

If your mother tongue is of Asian origin (Chinese, Korean, Japanese) and you make no difference between "a cat" and "the cat", then the fact that "the" and "a" in German each have around 3 forms depending on the usage/case (dem, der, den / einem, einer, einen)
(..and that happens for each of the 3 genders (neuter, masc, fem) )
..this fact might prove to be more of a challenge for you than for someone that is used to conjugations in his language.

If your language is a Romance language (except French maybe), then the reading part will prove to be very easy. Pronunciation is quite easy in German; that won't be your problem. Most letters are read as they are written, some exceptions apply for certain groups of letters - however! - once they have a reading rule it always applies so no headache there.
I think this applies for Slavic languages as well (right?).

If you have a Dutch/English background, many words will sound similar; and you'll think: "Oh, wait a minuuute now, I know that word!"

E.g.:
I want to swim
Ich will schwimmen
or:
Gute Nacht
Good night
(sounds familiar, right?)

And the 3 verbal forms from English - so similar in German!

see - saw - seen
sehen - sah - gesehen

to sing - sang - sung
singen - sang - gesungen

proves my point, right? :)

The good news is there are a lot of movies to watch in German (mostly about Jews and Hitler and war, but still); the German TV channels usually have all shows in German (they even show American movies in German, yes! ). pro7, sat1, rtl, rtl2 - you can also find them online
(e.g. : www.rtl.de )

There are a lot of German musicians that you can listen to: Bushido, Rammstein, Ich und Ich, Revolverheld, Silbermond, Söhne Mannheims, Juli
are just a few of my personal favorites.

So there are a LOT of resources out there on the internet to help you, which is absolutely great and will help you like nothing else!

The bad news is that as a German speaker I found it hard to find people with whom I can talk in German in the USA and there is no Goethe-Institut in my city either - although if you live in SF or NY that might not be a problem for you.
So if you have a Goethe-Institut in your city: cherish it deeply!

To resume everything:

The Good:
- lots of movies in German
- great music in German
- many words similar to English
- easy pronunciation

The Bad
- articles are a killer, prepositions, etc.
- grammar is a pain

The Ugly
- sometimes it's hard to find German speakers
- at times there are no centers for German language learning

Now ..that it is one of the hardest languages to learn.. that is quite arguable.. I've tried to tackle Mandarin, Arabic, saw a bit of Hebrew, Korean..
I'd say it's a harder language to master as in speak correctly, but as they say in German :
"Übung macht den Meister"

And if you need motivation, just think Oktoberfest:

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

I wish somebody would have told me babe

Some day, these will be the good old days

All the love you won’t forget

And all these reckless nights you won’t regret.

THE PHRASE “good old days” — commonly stylized as “good ol’ days” — is a cliché in popular culture used to refer to a time the speaker considers better than the present. It is a form of nostalgia that can reflect homesickness or a yearning for long-gone moments.

A famous quote about the “good old days” says, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

Is it correct to say “good old days”? When we talk about the good old days, we mean a time in the past when we believed life was better than it is today. We often hear people reminiscing about how things used to be.

Common synonyms for “reminisce” include recall, recollect, and remember. While these words all refer to bringing an image or idea from the past back into the mind, “reminisce” usually suggests casually and nostalgically recalling experiences from long ago.

Why, then, does it sometimes feel as though everything was better in the past?

We tend to dwell on the good things that happened to us and retell those stories more often, reinforcing our pleasant memories. We remember the great songs, cars, and football players of the old days while conveniently forgetting many of the bad ones.

When people speak of the good old days, they are usually referring to a period when they believe life was better than it is now — perhaps a time when people felt safe enough to leave their doors unlocked at night.

Psychologists call this tendency “rosy retrospection”: our inclination to recall the past more fondly than the present, all else being equal. It is a cognitive bias closely related to nostalgia, although nostalgia itself does not always mean that our recollection is distorted.

Human nature also makes the memories of our youth especially vivid. Those years seemed rich, exciting, and almost endless. Perhaps that helps explain why we often think the past was better — and why, as we grow older, time seems to move faster.

I grew up old-school, in a time when there was little or no technology compared with what we have today. Looking back, I thought life was almost perfect.

Our social network consisted of our neighborhood friends and our schoolmates. We did not post every thought, activity, or personal moment for the world to see. There was no internet yet.

We played sports instead of spending hours on video games. To me, that is one of the most important differences. Life was simpler then — and, in some ways, perhaps better.

But I am not foolish enough to believe that technology has not given us a wealth of opportunities that previous generations never had. I am still amazed that I can ask my smartphone about almost anything in recorded human history and receive an answer within seconds. That is remarkable. Scientific and medical advances made possible through technology continue to astonish us. In that respect, technology has had a tremendously positive influence on our lives. Unfortunately, however, the internet has increasingly become more of a social-media platform than an educational one.

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or Linkedin or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

Peso touches new low with 63 vs $1 in sight

BY IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

The Philippine peso hovered near the 63-per-dollar level on Monday, extending its run of record lows as a resilient US currency and growing expectations of higher US interest rates weighed on the local unit.

The peso gained 0.4 centavos from its previous close to finish at 62.586 per dollar. But it fell as low as 62.775 during the session, setting another intraday record before paring its losses.

Live for the moment

 

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

BUREAUS:Kalibo, Boracay, Roxas, Bacolod, Antique,Guimaras, Manila

By Klaus Döring

Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today. Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today but also robs you of truly living.

That means: SLOW DOWN! We are trying to make too many decisions NOW without having enough information to make good choices, and too many of those decisions depend on things that haven’t actually happened yet — and may never happen at all.

Many people want to learn more about how to live in the moment. Most of us have a tendency to live in the past or the future. How often do you find yourself thinking about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow? How does this affect your life and well-being?

Constantly thinking about the past and worrying about the future can make it difficult to enjoy the good things in your life now. Learning how to be more mindful and live in the moment can give you a greater appreciation for your life while also reducing feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.

Here are a few ways to live in the moment more frequently.

Let’s take a deep breath, step back a bit and consider what MUST be done now and what DOES NOT HAVE TO be done now, no matter how urgently we may WANT to do it.

Take it one day at a time: Make decisions today about what should be done TODAY. The things we are worrying about may never happen at all — and if they do, we will decide THEN.

Slow down.

Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today. Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today but also robs you of truly living.

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

One of the best unforeseen consequences of simplifying our lives is that it has allowed us to begin living in the present moment.

Eliminating nonessential possessions has freed us from many of the emotions associated with our past lives that were keeping us stuck. Clearing our home has also given us the freedom to shape our lives today around our most important values.

Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today but also robs you of truly living. The only important moment is the present moment.

With that goal in mind, consider the following 10 tips for living in the moment.

Remove unneeded possessions: Minimalism forces you to live in the present. Removing items associated with past memories frees you and allows you to stop living in the past. Once the past no longer has power, you can begin to live in the moment.

Smile: Each day is full of endless possibilities! Start it with a smile. You are in control of your attitude every morning. Keep it optimistic and expectant. Be intentional about it, and you’ll find yourself doing it every day without even realizing it.

Fully appreciate the moments of today: Soak in as much of today as you possibly can — the sights, the sounds, the smells, the emotions, the triumphs and the sorrows. These are part of our daily lives, but we often forget to take them in and truly appreciate them.

Forgive past hurts: If you are harboring resentment toward another person because of past hurts, choose to forgive and move on. The harm was their fault, but allowing it to affect your mood today is your choice. Let go and choose to be present in the moment instead. That was one of the most difficult points for me.

Love your job: If you just “survive” the workweek while constantly waiting for the next weekend to arrive, you are wasting 71% of your week, or five of seven days. There are two solutions: Find a new job that you actually enjoy, or find something you appreciate about your current career. By the way, I still love my jobs at age 72.

Dream about the future, but work hard today: Dream big. Set goals and make plans for the future. However, working hard today is always the first step toward realizing your dreams tomorrow. Don’t allow dreaming about tomorrow to replace living in the moment. Dreaming about the future is only productive when combined with action taken today.

Don’t dwell on past accomplishments: If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven’t done much today. There is still plenty of time to build upon past successes and create more memories and achievements for your future self. In the future, you’ll cherish the memories of today.

Stop worrying: You can’t fully appreciate today if you worry too much about tomorrow. Realize that tomorrow is going to happen whether you worry about it or not. Since worry has never accomplished anything for anybody, redirect your mental energy elsewhere.

Think beyond old solutions to problems: Our world is changing so fast that most of yesterday’s solutions are no longer the right answers today. Don’t get locked into a “but that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality. Yesterday’s solutions are not today’s solutions, and they are certainly not tomorrow’s solutions.

Conquer addictions: Addictions in your life hold you hostage. They keep you from living a completely free life and pull your focus away from the moment. Seek help. Take the necessary steps. Remove their influence over your life. Allow yourself to live in the moment addiction-free.

Learning how to live in the present moment is an essential ingredient for a happy life.

If you can live only one moment at a time, you might as well make it the present.

After living in the Philippines with my family for more than 29 years, I have learned everything here. That’s why I feel at home.

+++

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

 Klaus Doring

Rechtsbeistände auf den Philippinen /Lawyers in the Philippines

Übersetzende/Translators

In den Philippinen gibt es keine dem deutschen System vergleichbare öffentlich bestellte / beeidigte Übersetzer oder Übersetzerinnen. Die in der anliegenden Liste als beeidigt gekennzeichneten Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer sind in Deutschland registriert oder werden im Einzelfall in den Philippinen gerichtlich vereidigt.

There are no publicly appointed / sworn translators comparable to the German system in the Philippines. The translators identified as sworn in the attached list are registered in Germany or sworn in by the relevant Philippine court.

Bitte vereinbaren Sie zunächst telefonisch einen Termin / Please call first for an Appointment

Haftungsausschluss: Die deutsche Botschaft in Manila übernimmt ausdrücklich keine Verantwortung für die Integrität, die Arbeitsweise und die Qualität der aufgeführten Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer.

In der Datenbank www.justiz-dolmetscher.de können Sie in Deutschland ansässige Übersetzende für eine Vielzahl von Sprachen finden. Viele dieser Übersetzenden bieten einen Onlineservice an, bitte erkundigen Sie sich direkt beim Anbietenden.

You may also find certified translators in Germany through the database www.justiz-dolmetscher.de. Some of the translators listed in that database do offer online services. Please inquire in advance with the relevant translator.

Klaus Döring

c/o Yonnex - Translation and Documentation Services, Inc. Building

26 Everlasting Road, Red Gate, Room G 101

NCCC - Village, Km 4 Morning Side Heights, Bajada

8000 Davao City

dt. - engl.

ger. - engl.

Handy: 0063/(0) 915 219 90 02

Tel.: 0063/(82) 286 34 24

0063/(82) 227 1761

0063/(82) 227 1760

E-Mail: doringklaus@gmail.com

www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com

Übersetzerdienste - Translation Services

Übersetzerdienste - Translation Services

Even after retiring as German Consul, I am still accredited as a German translator and interpreter for the German, Swiss and Austrian Embassy as well as for Regional Trial Court Davao City and all courts nationwide. Please pm for via doringklaus@gmail.com further information. I'll be answering your messages as soon as possible. Please be patient. Auch nach meiner Pensionierung als deutscher Konsul bin ich weiterhin als deutscher Übersetzer und Dolmetscher für die deutsche, schweizerische und österreichische Botschaft sowie für das Regional Trial Court Davao City landesweit akkreditiert. Für weitere Informationen senden Sie bitte eine PN an doringklaus@gmail.com. Ich werde Ihre Nachrichten so schnell wie möglich beantworten.

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