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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Monday, January 1, 2024

How to spend the next 52 weeks

 Here’s a week-on-week guide to make 2024 your year of transformation


AT A GLANCE

  • In 2024, let’s commit to 52 weeks of activities that not only enhance our lives but also contribute positively to the world around us.


By JACQUELINE LUCERO

Embarking on a journey of self-improvement doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, it can be an exciting and fulfilling adventure. In 2024, let’s commit to 52 weeks of activities that not only enhance our lives but also contribute positively to the world around us. From learning new languages to fostering gratitude and kindness, each week brings an opportunity for personal growth. So, let’s dive into a year full of transformative experiences!

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Weeks 1–4
Learn a new language
Start the year by embracing a new language. Whether it’s Spanish, Mandarin, or French, learning a language not only expands your cultural horizons but also boosts cognitive abilities. Practical applications? There’s a lot!
Consider the practical advantages and envision yourself effortlessly navigating Seoul, seamlessly blending into the bustling scenes like a character from a K-drama, fluently expressing yourself in Hangul as if you were a native to the place.
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Weeks 5-8
Read one book a week
Dive into the world of literature and challenge yourself to read a book each week. Mix genres for a well-rounded experience and gain valuable insights that can shape your perspective. The pages you turn aren’t just stories. They’re gateways to understanding the human experience in all its complexity. Rediscovering the joy of reading is like rediscovering old friends and making new ones with every turn of the page, a personal odyssey that enriches your mind, broadens your horizons, and reignites the magic of storytelling in your life. 
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Week 9–12
Practice kindness and gratitude
Cultivate a habit of kindness and gratitude. Small acts of kindness and expressions of gratitude can have a profound impact on your well-being and that of those around you. Kindness, expressed through simple acts like holding the door open for a stranger or offering a sincere compliment, radiates positivity that extends far beyond the initial gesture. It creates a ripple effect, uplifting not only your own spirits but also those of others who witness or receive these acts of goodwill.
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Week 13–16
Tithe time to worthwhile missions
Dedicate time to volunteer for or support a cause you believe in. Contributing to worthwhile missions not only helps others but also brings a sense of purpose to your life.  Take time to check on what advocacies that resonate with your beliefs and contribute to the cause in whatever shape and form you can impart yourself in that mission.
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Week 17-20
Tithe to uplift spiritual journeys
Allocate a portion of your resources to support institutions or initiatives that contribute to spiritual growth. This could involve supporting a local church, meditation center, or any organization aligned with your beliefs. Tithing money to support institutions or initiatives aligned with your spiritual growth is a significant step toward fostering a harmonious balance in your life. Financial contributions play a crucial role in sustaining and expanding the reach of organizations dedicated to spiritual development.
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Week 21–24
Spend time with parents
Family is invaluable, and spending quality time with parents fosters stronger connections. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a simple dinner, cherish moments with your loved ones. Beyond the joy of shared experiences, spending quality time with your parents is an investment in the emotional wealth of your family bonds.
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Week 25–28
Grow your own food
Explore the joy of gardening by growing your own fruits, vegetables, or herbs. Not only is it rewarding, it also promotes a healthier lifestyle. Explore plant-based cooking and learn new ways to use herbs in your healthy food.
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Week 29-32
Challenge yourself
Step out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s learning to wakeboard, trying a new sport, taking on a challenging project, or even asking for forgiveness (yes, it is this random), embrace the thrill of stepping into the unknown. Just dare to do something you haven’t done before and put a big check mark on that item on your bucket list.
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Week 33-36
Explore local history and museums
Discover the richness of your own town by exploring local museums and delving into its history. Uncover hidden gems and gain a deeper appreciation for your community. No, visiting museums is not just for field trips! It is there for anyone to visit, enjoy, and experience the rich culture of their hometown.
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Week 37–40
Declutter and recycle
Continue the decluttering journey. Donate items you no longer need and embrace a lifestyle of dynamic cycling and recycling to promote sustainability. A surprise awaits us for all those unopened boxes under the stairs and those that are tucked away high up in those cabinets that need dusting.
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Week 41–44
Learn a new skill
Pick up a new skill that interests you—whether it’s photography, coding, or cooking. Lifelong learning keeps the mind sharp and opens up new opportunities. Continue to be interested in things you love doing but don’t have the time to do. Now is the moment you have been waiting for.
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Week 45–48
Attend conventions and events
Immerse yourself in knowledge and networking by attending conventions related to your interests or industry. Connect with like-minded individuals and stay abreast of the latest trends. You will be surprised that new knowledge will spark your fire anew.
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Week 49-52
Family albums, carpentry, swimming, and reflection
Wrap up the year by tackling that long-lost to-do list. Spruce up family albums, do that carpentry work in your kitchen you have been longing to do, conquer your fear of water by learning to swim, and take time for self-reflection. Celebrate your growth and become a better version of yourself every day.

As we embrace these 52 weeks of personal development, remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. Each week presents an opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute positively to the world.

Let 2024 be a year of transformation, self-discovery, and becoming the best version of yourself. Cheers to a year filled with purpose and personal fulfillment!

Happy 2024, everyone!

Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios reveals New Year's resolutions

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA


AT A GLANCE

  • "The new year not only marks the beginning of 2024 for me, but signifies a fresh start on this brand new journey as Miss Universe. Therefore, my New Year’s resolutions this year have become Miss Universe resolutions.


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Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios (Images courtesy of Miss Universe Organization)

Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios has expressed her love for New York while discussing her New Year's resolutions.

"I love the excitement of New York City, especially for Christmas. All the decorations reminded me of that feeling of joy we all experience during the holidays as a child. And I saw snow for the very first time!" said Sheynnis, who was crowned Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador last Nov. 18. She flew to New York where she will fulfill her reign as 72nd Miss Universe.

She added: "Reflecting back on my first month as Miss Universe, it is impossible to choose a favorite moment. It was a month full of surprises and new experiences. I explored New York, traveled to Indonesia, and I had my first official photoshoot as Miss Universe…plus a whole lot of unofficial ones!" 

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Sheynnis with her fellow Miss Universe sisters in Mexico

"I remember arriving in my new apartment for the first time – the rooms are decorated with pictures of former Miss Universes on the walls, and as I placed the crown on my bed it really sunk in, “Wow. I am Miss Universe." 

The Nicaraguan beauty queen also shared her New Year's resolutions.

"The new year not only marks the beginning of 2024 for me, but signifies a fresh start on this brand new journey as Miss Universe. Therefore, my New Year’s resolutions this year have become Miss Universe resolutions. 

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Sheynnis during her trip to Indonesia

At the top of the list is removing the stigma of mental health, so we can eliminate the fear of talking about our emotional well-being. I want to help people feel confident and comfortable opening their hearts and allowing themselves to talk without fear.  

"That is the only way we can take responsibility and control of our mental health. I look forward to doing more with this platform in the coming months – do you want to help? Let us know!

"I want to thank all of the people who have shown their affection through social media, and all of the fans who celebrated my triumph with me. They are a huge source of motivation for me," she said.

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Miss Universe Lebanon 2023 Maya Abou El Hosn, Miss Universe Venezuela 2023 Diana Silva, Miss Universe Germany 2023 Helena Bleicher, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee, and Miss Universe Thailand 2023 Anntonia Porsild enjoy Mexico together following the 72nd Miss Universe Competition

Sheynnis also thanked her countrymen for their love and support during her pageant journey.

"I also want to thank my family for their unconditional support, and my country Nicaragua for filling me with so much love and happiness. Thank you for celebrating this collective triumph with me, I hope it has filled you with the same pride and joy that I feel," she also said.

New Year thru Mary



By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com


HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! Once again, we begin a new year and let’s hope that as another year starts, we can truly say that we are getting stronger in our resolve to pursue the real purpose of our life here on earth.


Liturgically, January 1 celebrates the divine motherhood of Mary which tells us a lot of amazing things. From the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, for example, we are told this wonderful, if incredible, truth about ourselves, about who we really are:


“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that he might redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father. So, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.” (4,4-7)


We need to process these words slowly so they may sink into our very consciousness and start to live them out. Hopefully, we can little by little overcome whatever disbelief and awkwardness we can feel about this truth about ourselves.


Of great help to us in this regard is to have a deepening devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother. If we try our best to imitate her faith in God, we too, despite all the difficulties and effort involved, can somehow also incarnate Jesus in our own lives. We are actually meant for that, since we are patterned after him and he is also the savior of our humanity that has been wounded by our sins.


With Mary always in our mind and heart, we would always be led to Christ. She would teach us how to find Christ in everything that we do, no matter how mundane things are. Even the little ordinary things we deal with everyday can be an occasion to have an encounter with Christ as well as a chance to be like Christ as we should. As one saint had put it, Mary is the shortest, surest and safest way to Jesus.


If we truly have Mary in our mind and heart, then we can learn how to always ponder the truths of our faith and to act on them. (cfr. Lk 2,19) Yes, we can develop a contemplative life even right in the hustle and bustle of our earthly affairs. Yes, we are all meant to be contemplatives because we need to be aware that we are meant to live our life with God and with everybody else.


We are never alone. Feeling alone is an anomaly in our life. As persons, endowed with intelligence and will, we are meant to be always in relation with God and with everybody else. This potential of ours should be actualized. We need to find ways of how to actualize such potential.


We need to see to it that we should always feel the urge to pray, to engage with God, to be with him. If we do not feel that urge yet, let’s convince ourselves that we have something most important to work on. Thus, like the disciples of Christ, impressed by how Christ was to them, we should beg him to teach us how to pray. (cfr. Lk 11,1-4)


Again, Happy New Year, everyone! And good luck!