BORN ON A SUNDAY

 

Yes, in astrology and folklore, Sunday is widely considered a very lucky day to be born. Ruled by the Sun, people born on this day are often called "lucky ducks" who possess natural charm, strong vitality, and a bright, magnetic presence.

 
People born on Sunday are ruled by the Sun. They are naturally confident, creative, and charismatic leaders. They love new experiences, shine in social settings, and possess a bold, optimistic energy, though they can sometimes struggle with pride, short tempers, or finishing long projects.

If the sky is dark and it pours cats and dogs like yesterday and some days earlier, I try my very best to beat the blues. The taxi drivers tried to make detours, the flights were delayed or cancelled due bad weather conditions - yes, it seems the whole world is against us! I am pretty sure, each one of us experienced similar times.

I was born on a Sunday - a so-called "Sunday Child". There are sayings that those people will live a life of great success without problems, worries, and trials. Many years ago, someone told me, those born on Sunday are truly shining stars like the sun. They are never satisfied with anything ordinary. They want to shine with a distinguished brilliance amidst other people. These are highly creative individuals who wish to place themselves in the first pale in every domain of life

Well, is that really so?

I remember very difficult, problematic and questionable times in my life. A cheating taxi driver or cancelled flight have been just peanuts if I compare. In those difficult times I almost lost all my strength to get down to work on all problems. Life's path became narrow. Fears grew: it's enough. Really enough!

I started becoming awkward and jerky. I struggled against almost everybody around me. I was reluctant to go against other's good ideas. I felt driven into a corner. People with indifference, arrogance and unqualified comments passed my way. Yes, also here in the Philippines... . Suddenly everything can become a problem and our voices  bellow and our groans are getting louder and louder too.

But hey, I learned something. Admittedly groans can lighten our burden! For even a short moment only, I did feel how my inner life - and inside pressure eased off. A short moment only... Suddenly more trials and problems overwhelmed us and our families and friends: illnesses, death, bankruptcy, "war at the working place", efforts giving us a bad name, destroying the reputation, intrigues... .

"You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me", (Psalm 23:5). Really? Amazing! We don't know about more and new spitefulness through my next "enemy on duty" in future.  Actually I also don't want to know it, because negativism blocks life and its future plans.

But I know Psalm 23. I read it, every time, if I am having a problem. Not if I meet again a detouring taxi or, if my flight is delayed.... .

Psalm 23 should be printed in each and every one's heart, mind and soul. Psalm 23 was my confirmation saying... .

+++

You can email me, if you wish: doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn  or X - Twitter or visit one of my websites www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com . 

You have found favor with God

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Aug 22, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Aug 21, 2026 04:27 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

The feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1954, honors Mary not only as the Mother of God but also as our Queen, reigning with Christ in glory. This feast draws inspiration from Scriptures. The book of Revelation speaks of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1). This image fittingly illustrates Mary, the mother of the Messiah, now gloriously crowned in heaven. In his Letter to the Romans, Paul writes about God’s purpose and predestination, reminding us of Mary’s unique role in salvation history (8:28-30). The Gospel, in turn, points not to a grand lady, but to a humble handmaid of the Lord who obeys his bidding. But because the Lord looks upon her lowliness, people of all ages will call her blessed (Lk 1:48).

Mary’s queenship, as all her other states and privileges, is intimately associated with Jesus. As Jesus’ kingship is marked by his being the Good Shepherd, Mary’s queenship is characterized by maternal care that embraces all her children, especially those in need. She is our advocate, our sweetness, and our hope. She listens to our prayers, comforts us in our sorrows, and leads us to her Son. Just as she interceded for the bride and groom at the wedding feast in Cana, she is present in our lives, interceding for us before her Son, Jesus.

First Reading • Is 9:1-6 [or Ez 43:1-7ab]

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 113 [or 85]

“Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.” or “Alleluia.”

Gospel • Lk 1:26-38 [or Mt 23:1-12]

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Davao pushes air connectivity with Malaysia

 

By Ivy Tejano

Published Aug 21, 2026 12:59 pm | Updated Aug 21, 2026 01:04 pm

Malaysia Tourism Deputy Director General Lee Thai Hung and Davao City Tourism Operations Office Chief Willenito Tormis (center), with two Malaysian delegates, pose for a photo during the Visit Malaysia 2026 Destination Seminar and Travel Mart on Thursday, August 20, at Dusit Thani Residence Davao in Lanang. (Photo via Ivy Tejano / MB)

DAVAO CITY – The Davao City government is pursuing the revival of direct air connectivity with Malaysia to expand international tourism, attract more visitors, and strengthen business ties with neighboring Southeast Asian markets.

Davao City Tourism Operations Office head Willenito Tormis told Manila Bulletin that the city is currently in discussions with Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, and other countries to improve international access.

“The city is looking to revive direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Davao City and establish a possible Manado–Davao route,” Tormis said during the Visit Malaysia 2026 Destination Seminar on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Dusit Thani Residence Davao.  

According to the tourism official, the city has been coordinating with Malaysian counterparts and airline stakeholders about the direct flights. However, no definite timeline has been set for the return of the Kuala Lumpur–Davao route, he added.

“The challenge is showing enough passenger demand in both directions to support a direct route,” Tormis said. “While many Davao residents want to travel to Malaysia, Davao also needs to attract enough Malaysian tourists to make the route viable.”

To increase demand, the city is developing tourism products and promotional activities, including roadshows in Malaysia, festival promotions, and a Davao halal mapping project aimed at making the city more accessible to Muslim travelers.

The initiative was highlighted during Malaysia’s Sales Mission in Davao on the same day, which featured a destination seminar, Malaysia My Second Home, and business‑to‑business meetings with local tourism stakeholders.   

Lee Thai Hung, deputy director general of Malaysia Tourism, said in a separate interview that the Sales Mission is part of ongoing promotional activities in Manila, Davao, and Cebu, held in connection with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

The event brought 21 Malaysian tourism sellers—from travel agencies, hotels and resorts, medical tourism providers, and the Islamic Tourism Center—to meet with local tourism businesses and build direct business connections between Malaysia and Davao.

Hung said stronger air connectivity between Malaysia and Davao would depend on steady passenger demand from both sides and closer cooperation among tourism stakeholders, travel agencies, and airlines.

“We encourage Philippine tourism businesses to promote Davao’s destinations and travel products in Malaysia, while Malaysian tourism operators seek to promote their destinations to Davao‑based travel agencies,” Hung said.

The Malaysia Tourism official added that business matching is expected to help local travel operators establish direct contact with Malaysian suppliers and develop tour packages without relying heavily on intermediaries.

Malaysia seeks more Filipino tourists  

Hung emphasized that Malaysia is promoting a range of tourism products to Filipino travelers, including family attractions, highland destinations, beaches, food, and religious and cultural tourism.

The Malaysian delegation also highlighted destinations outside Kuala Lumpur, including Genting Highlands and Ipoh, as well as areas offering ecotourism, gastronomy, theme parks, and other leisure activities.

He said tourism operators are also creating experience‑based trips as travelers look for activities beyond sightseeing. One example is coffee tourism, which combines Malaysian coffee culture with food and local experiences.

“Malaysia is also promoting its My Second Home program, which offers qualified foreign participants options for long‑term residence, education, property ownership, and, under certain categories, business activities,” Hung said.

Hung also highlighted Malaysia’s multicultural heritage, influenced by Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other cultures. He said the country is promoting religious and heritage tourism, including halal‑friendly food, historic mosques, churches, and other heritage sites.

The Philippines remained among Malaysia’s top 10 international tourist markets in 2025, according to Hung, who said stronger business engagement and destination promotion could further increase Filipino arrivals.

Hung noted that this Sales Mission follows a previous business‑to‑business session in Davao in May 2023. He added that they plan to continue participating in Philippine travel exhibitions and other industry events to maintain ties with local tourism stakeholders.

This year’s Sales Mission covers Manila, Davao, and Cebu, with Davao serving as one of three key Philippine stops for the Malaysian delegation to promote tourism products and strengthen business ties with local stakeholders.

Hung said the event also comes as the Philippines prepares to take over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations chairmanship, highlighting efforts to boost regional cooperation, tourism exchanges, and economic ties in Southeast Asia.

Tourism officials from Davao and Malaysia said stronger tourism exchanges could boost passenger demand for a future direct Kuala Lumpur–Davao route and create more opportunities for tourism businesses in both markets.

Marcos declares Sept 14 a special non-working day for first BARMM parliamentary polls

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos

Published Aug 21, 2026 09:44 am

At A Glance

• President Marcos declared Sept. 14, 2026, a special non-working day in BARMM to allow residents to vote in the region's first regular parliamentary elections.
• Malacañang said the polls will proceed as scheduled despite the recent ambush of Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof "Sammy Gambar" Macacua.
• The elections have been postponed four times since they were originally scheduled for May 9, 2022.

File photos

President Marcos has declared Sept. 14, 2026, a special non-working day in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to allow residents to participate in the region’s first regular parliamentary elections.

Proclamation No. 1395, signed on Aug. 18 by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by authority of the President, said the declaration would give Bangsamoro residents the opportunity to fully exercise their right to vote.

“In order to give the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the opportunity to actively and fully participate in the election and exercise their right to vote, it is but fitting and proper to declare Monday, 14 September 2026, as a special (non-working) day,” the proclamation stated.   

The Sept. 14 polls were set under Republic Act (RA) No. 12317, which further amended the Bangsamoro Organic Law and moved the first regular elections to the second Monday of September 2026.

Malacañang on Monday, Aug. 17,  said the elections would proceed as scheduled despite the attempted ambush of BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua on Aug. 15.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Marcos wanted the elections to continue as part of the region’s transition toward democratic governance.

“Katulad ng nabanggit natin na mensahe ng Pangulo, hindi po ito (ambush) makakapigil sa anumang balak na magkaroon ng tuloy-tuloy na pagbabago para sa pagkakaroon ng pamahalaang demokratiko sa komunidad ng BARMM (As we have mentioned in the President’s message, this [ambush] will not prevent the continuing changes toward democratic governance in the BARMM community),” she said.   

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had described the ambush as an isolated incident and maintained that the region remained generally peaceful.

Macacua survived the attempted ambush when gunmen fired assault rifles at his convoy along the national highway in Barangay Bitu, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, with three vehicles, including his bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser, hit by gunfire.

Castro said the Philippine National Police (PNP) was continuing its investigation to identify those behind the attack, while President Marcos had ordered government agencies to strengthen security in BARMM and conduct a thorough investigation.

The first BARMM parliamentary elections have been postponed four times, beginning with the original May 9, 2022, schedule, which was moved to May 12, 2025, under RA No. 11593.

The polls were then moved to Oct. 13, 2025, under RA No. 12123, before subsequent legal and redistricting issues led to further delays and eventually the current Sept. 14, 2026, schedule.

The repeated postponements have prolonged the BARMM transition period, which was originally intended to end with the assumption of office of elected regional officials in 2022.

Which place is the most dangerous in our world?

 

Peter Wade

 

visited all 50 U.S. states (at least 13 times each)

To best answer this question, let’s consider danger to be not only a location that is inherently dangerous, but one that is also surrounded by danger. The goal would be to define a place a very long way from safety, from which someone is least likely to reach refuge without being seriously injured or killed. If the question implyies that a person will be teleported to the single most dangerous location in the world, including nearly inaccessible places, then any North Korean prison camp would probably win the competition. That’s the easy answer.

In that regard, you could also be teleported to the top of a mountain that is impossible to descend where you’d eventually starve to death. You could be placed into a prison cell with one of the most dangerous humans, like Timothy Joseph McGhee who kills people as a hobby (I wrote his Wikipedia article). I’m going to go in a different direction. The average human wouldn’t find themselves imprisoned in North Korea, or placed atop a mountain, and I feel like the question seeks a location that could realistically be visited.

The most dangerous place anyone could visit

Certain neighborhoods in Mexico would be horrific at night for an outsider, but wouldn’t be as dangerous for a local. Even in a North Korean labor camp, the prison guards are not in danger as long as they follow the rules. So I’ve challenged myself to find a place that is dangerous for absolutely anyone of any background, not just outsiders.

In my opinion, based on all my world travels, the single most dangerous place in the world would be deeply embedded in an unsafe country with the risk of human attack, coupled with the terrifying combination of natural dangers and merciless wildlife. While places in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and the Darien Gap would certainly rank near the top, locals are again safer than visitors. Walking alone through the Serengeti amongst lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, and hippos might be even worse. But at least Tanzania is a safe country. I think I can beat all of them.

The winner

After some serious consideration, the place a human would be least likely to escape unharmed would probably be GPS coordinates 6.311697, -64.488869.

You’re standing at the top of Pará Falls perilously perched on a rock. It’s located in Venezuela’s Jaua-Sarisariñama National Park. You’re right in the middle of the powerful Caura River relentlessly blasting past you. If you fall, humans would very likely be injured by a 200-foot drop into water, especially with the river pounding you at the base. The Caura also has piranhas and crocodiles. If you don’t fall right away, there is a precarious walk across one of the widest waterfalls in the world back to the banks while trying to avoid losing your footing. You’re probability of escape is extremely low already.

If you survive round one, now you’re forced to hike out of an expansive tropical rain forest with venomous snakes and jaguars in a desperate search for any road. Tourists rarely visit this park except by helicopter because of its inaccessibility, and the rare hikers in these dense woods suffer bug bites from insects not recognized by scientists. By the way, the nearest remote dirt road is a grueling 74 miles away if you can walk in a straight line.

And now, round three. Even if you make it back to civilization, you’re still in the middle of one of the world’s most dangerous countries! Good luck getting a ride to the nearest town of Ciudad Bolivar without being robbed and either beaten or killed. The crime rate there scores a 92 out of 100! They do have an airport if you can make it.

The country of Venezuela dropped four places in 2022 on the Global Peace Index. So essentially one of the scariest nations on the planet is getting more dangerous as we speak, among the most dangerous in the world. I think few people would escape this location unscathed!

What are your favorite German expressions and what do they mean?

 

Chris Ebbert

Knows German

My all-time favorite German expression is Schrottwichtel.

It literally means “scrap gnome”, and describes the kinds of awful things we stuff into closets or keep in garages for decades, because they were perhaps given to us with good intentions by someone at some stage, yet we can’t bear to look at them. Or we won them, or bought them while drunk.

Either way, this misery has sparked a whole new event in Germany’s more humorous corners, mostly North Rhine Westphalia, where I feel somewhat more at home than in the rest of the country, due to their whacky humour and creative use of the language. It’s called Schrottwichteln, simply turning the noun of Schrottwichtel into a verb by adding an “n”.

Typically, you’d do this at company dinners.

Everyone is expected to bring the most godawful thing they can find in their attic, something they are gagging to get rid of, and then they are being given to each other - the fun of it being that you are exchanging one monstrosity for a new one, lovingly prepared for you by a colleague.

I actually have two of them myself. They are hanging in my garage, and they are the kind of terribly tacky clocks made of injection moulded plastic designers less mentally robust than me may commit suicide over being seen with, or worse, being responsible for as designers.

Here they are. One was found in the garage attic when I had bought the house, the other somehow turned up together with various used items from a Loppis, a Swedish second hand market, probably as a sort of freebie.

Note that fir trees and roaring elks are a huge bonus for any Schrottwichtel. Whatever increases the corniness makes the Wichtel more Schrott.

Failure

 

By Quel Valencia

THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER ON JULY 9, 2009.

“The man I failed to help.” That was how Lisa Marie Presley described her ex-husband Michael Jackson in a recent blog post on his shocking death.

Among the millions of stories that made the rounds in the Web recalling moments shared with the King of Pop while he was still alive, it was this particular entry written by Presley that moved me to tears. Not simply because I was awed by it, but more so because her words touched my heart in an intimate manner. And her pain seemed somehow very familiar.

Presley, in her Myspace blog entry entitled “He Knew,” described how hard it was for her to make the decision to give up on MJ back then. Instead of continuing to reach out and help him overcome certain issues, Presley chose to live her own life separately, not only for her own good but also for the good of their children. She worked hard to remain indifferent towards MJ since the time they parted ways, but with his recent passing, all the pain came back to her again as she grieved for her ex-husband. His death served as a stark reminder of how, once in her life, she had failed to help a great man.

It wasn’t so long ago when I myself gave up on a brilliant yet self-destructive man. He may not be as big as MJ, but back then he meant the world to me, and my life exclusively revolved around him. He was my version of the man I failed to help. And although it has been some time since we parted ways, reading Presley’s memory of MJ brought him back to my thoughts once again.

He was the sweetest boy I knew—when he was being sweet, of course, which was for most of the time we knew each other, and especially during the time we were together. But when he was enraged, which he easily became once he found something to be irritated about, he was really in rage.

For two years, I encouraged him to change his ways and tried my best to understand where he was coming from. I saw him try to wrestle with his personal demons. And change, he did, albeit very, very slowly.

Baby steps, I proudly assumed. I saw him become a better man compared to how he was before. He learned to devote less time to his vices and more time to his work, to his music band, and best of all, to me.

But while he became mature in some ways, old habits just cannot be easily abandoned. Our fights became more frequent, and the reasons for them became more petty. He became more impatient and unreasonable, too. And then I simply snapped.

After struggling with my own monsters, torn between reaching out and giving up, I suddenly wanted out. And out I went, no ifs, and or buts about it, and no more excuses to further endure being in a rocky relationship. In short, I gave up—but with very good reasons.

I had done my part. Two years of sticking with him was no joke. Yes, it was a rewarding relationship in many respects, but it also required a lot of hard work. He never learned to fully acknowledge his issues, we never ran out of things to fight about, but the blame somehow always found its way to me.

My patience was severely tested, but every battle we fought taught me to become a stronger person. My love for him didn’t get any less, but reason found a way to make me see the bigger picture more clearly. I saw how I was always at the losing end of things. No matter how hard I tried to reach out, I never could get my point across to him fully. I extended an arm, and all he needed was to grab hold of it and pull himself in my direction. Instead he pulled me down.

I left, knowing fully well that I had failed to help him. It was with a bruised heart that I decided to finally leave.

Like Presley, I am guilty of failure, of not finding the right way to lead a man out of a hole which he had dug for himself in the very first place. At first, I thought I chose the easy way out. I thought I ended the relationship abruptly to make it easier to stop the pain and just forget. Now, more than ever, I have come to realize that I actually chose the harder route.

It is no joke to let go of a man you truly love, knowing fully well how much you love him and yet knowing clearly that you have to let him go. Because you’ve done more than enough and you can do nothing more, and it is time for him to make the change by himself.

Like Presley, I may have failed to help a man, but in retrospect, I know I did the right thing—and not just for my own good, but more importantly for his own growth as well.

Presley’s realization came too late for MJ, but for the man I failed to help, I know there is still time. Even if I may have failed to change him, I sincerely hope he finds ways to change himself.

Being able to laugh, cry, love, and express frustration openly is deeply human

 Being able to laugh, cry, love, and express frustration openly is deeply human. But do you see that emotional openness as a strength or a weakness?

6.2K

615

862