Extolling the underrated Ernie de la Peña

 

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star 

March 16, 2024 | 12:00am

Ernie de la Peña was known in the music industry. He was one of the country’s top lyricists and producers. He was also an excellent vocal coach. He was literally a music factory. He wrote the lyrics to Rico J. Puno’s Kapalaran and Leah Navarro’s Ang Pag-ibig Kong Ito. Ernie also contributed to Didith Reyes’ Araw-Araw Gabi-Gabi. He was available for everybody, unknown newcomers then like Sharon Cuneta, Mahal Kita Mahal Mo Siya Mahal Niya ay Iba and Bibeth Orteza, Ang Pangarap Kong Asawa, legends like Sylvia La Torre, Huwag Kang Sumingit and Bobby Gonzales, Salidummay.

Singer and songwriter Ernie de la Peña was that rare kind of music worker. He composed and sang from the heart, but he was also aware of the prevailing demands of the music market. That was why producers enjoyed working with him. He gave them what they needed at the right time.

Everybody looked up to De la Peña or Mang Ernie, as he was known in the music industry. He was one of the country’s top lyricists and producers. He was also an excellent vocal coach. He was literally a music factory.

His output for Rico J. Puno was a fine example of his kind of practical genius. There was a need for that all-important second single for Rico, he wrote the lyrics to Kapalaran. They needed a competition song for Rico, he came up with Lupa. He also did Ang Tao’y Marupok, Bawal Na Pag-ibig, Ganyan Pala ang Magmahal and others.

Didith Reyes was venturing into her solo career and needed a song. Willy Cruz had a melody for a movie he was scoring. Mang Ernie finished the job with Araw-Araw Gabi-Gabi. Leah Navarro was heartbroken, so her producers thought a hit song might help ease her pain. So, Mang Ernie wrote Ang Pag-ibig Kong Ito. And Leah got her hit.

Back then when it was the custom of local producers to come up with Tagalog versions of current hits, Mang Ernie was the go-to guy. He was the one who turned Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy into Kawawang Cowboy for Fred Panopio. That was also how I Know I Need to be in Love by The Carpenters became Dahil Sa Aking Pangarap for Nora Aunor.

Mang Ernie was also a singer. He was a veteran of fiesta entablados all over the country and made very good demos of original compositions. He recorded several albums as the tenor of the Filipinas Singers.

He also found huge success and his only brush with notoriety as half of the Ermar Duet. The other half was Mar Lopez. Their song Pinagbigyan and the album of the same title broke record sales back in the early ‘70s.

Aside from the songwriting and the singing, Mang Ernie was also the most reliable and most hardworking producer and vocal coach at the studio. He knew the correct inflection of a syllable on a note a hundred percent of the time. He was also patient and level-headed with the demands, tantrums of the assorted divas and divos he had to work with.

He steered the twisted Spanish cum Cebuano tongue of Pilita Corrales into straight Tagalog for Philippine Love Songs and brought her music glory. He put aspiring singer Victor Wood through every note of his recordings like I’m Sorry My Love and he became the jukebox king.

He was available for everybody, unknown newcomers then like Sharon Cuneta, Mahal Kita Mahal Mo Siya Mahal Niya ay Iba and Bibeth Orteza, Ang Pangarap Kong Asawa, legends like Sylvia La Torre, Huwag Kang Sumingit and Bobby Gonzales, Salidummay.

Even disco bands like VST&Co. came under Mang Ernie’s radar, “Tayo’y magsayawan, sumabay sa takbo ng tugtugan…” And talk about writing lyrics for a historical event, Magkaisa by Virna Lisa with music by Tito Sotto has words by Ernie de la Peña. “Magkaisa at mag-sama, kapit-kamay...”

Although he had retired from his job as producer and artist and repertoire manager at Vicor Music Corporation, Mang Ernie remained active in the business. He accepted writing assignments, guestings in various shows, judging music contests and other gigs.

Last March 12, Mang Ernie breathed his last after a long age-related illness. He was 92 years old. His was a life well-lived and original Filipino pop music owes him a debt that can never be repaid.

 

Mount Sicapoo in Apayao opens for tourism, mountaineering in April

BY FREDDIE LAZARO

Mar 15, 2024 11:12 PM

  

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Mount Sicapoo, which straddles the provinces of Apayao and Ilocos Norte, will be opened for tourism and mountaineering activities in April.

A VIEW on top of Mount Sicapoo in Calanasan, Apayao. (Provincial Tourism Services Office Apayao FB)    

Apayao Provincial Tourism Officer Rebecca Mamba said that the local government unit (LGU) of Calanasan, Apayao is now organizing a program for the opening of Mount Sicapoo for mountaineering and tourism activities following the successful Apayao Trail Expedition of a group of mountaineers on March 5 to 9.

She assured the environmental integrity of Mount Sicapoo which is 2,354 meters above sea level.

Mamba said that mountaineers have discovered a cave with eight chambers in the mountainous area of Flora, Apayao.

Mount Sicapoo is located to the south of Mount Kilang, to the southeast of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and to the east of the Padsan River.

The mountain, considered as the highest peak in Ilocos Norte, is heavily forested with pine trees and due to its steep cliffs, particularly approaching the summit, it is considered highly treacherous and exceptionally difficult to climb. 

The mountain was fully ascended by mountaineers in 2009. 

Mountaineers going up Mount Sicapoo begin their ascent at the Gasgas River in Solsona, Ilocos Norte which leads to the campsites in Saulay then the Bubuos and Pakpako Campsites.

Typical Filipino (XLVI) - Typisch Philippinisch (XLVI): The Mediator - Der Vermittler

 The Mediator - Der Vermittler

Conflict situations that require openness should - if possible - be avoided or handled extremely tactfully, on the other hand HIYA and AMOR-PROPIO come into play. In such cases, a mediator is brought in to smooth things over. A mediator makes it possible to express and clarify the things that arouse the other person, and the person addressed by the mediator can feel free enough to reject a request, contradict accusations or explain their own attitude without the AMOR-PROPIO of the threatening others, which would be the case in a face-to-face discussion.

For example, even the simple request for a job is fraught with the uncertainties of HIYA and AMOR-PROPIO. Because the judgment that the applicant is not qualified enough may violate his AMOR-PROPIO and cause HIYA because he allowed himself to apply for this position. The rejection puts both the applicant and the employer in an embarrassing position. So a third person steps in to submit the request and give the employer the chance to sensitively say NO. Rejection can also be received with dignity if it is delivered by an intermediary.

Western businessmen working with Filipino colleagues or subordinates should be aware that HIYA and AMOR-PROPIO provide the basis for many disputes. In his book aimed at managers on understanding Filipino values, Thomas D. Andres writes: "Filipinos have a strong sense of human dignity. Dignity and honor mean everything to them, so a violation, whether actual or perceived, is an attack on your own person. You respect other people, but they must show you the same respect.

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Konfliktsituationen, die Offenheit verlangen, sind -wenn es geht- zu vermeiden oder äußerst taktvoll zu handhaben, andererseits HIYA und AMOR-PROPIO in Spiel kommen. In solchen Fällen wird ein Vermittler eingeschaltet, um die Wogen zu glätten. Ein Vermittler ermoglicht es, die Dinge auszusprechen und zu klären, die den anderen erregen , und die vom Vermittler angesprochene Person kann sich so frei genug fühlen, ein Anliegen abzulehnen, Beschuldigungen zu widersprechen oder die eigene Einstellung zu erklären, ohne das AMOR-PROPIO des anderen zu bedrohen, was bei einer Aussprache von Angesicht zu Angesicht der Fall wäre.

So ist zum Beispiel selbst die einfache Anfrage nach einer Arbeitsstelle mit den Unwägsamkeiten von HIYA und AMOR-PROPIO befrachtet. Denn das Urteil, der Bewerber sei nicht qualifiziert genug, mag dessen AMOR-PROPIO verletzen und HIYA verursachen, weil er sich erlaubt hat, sich um diese Stelle zu bewerben. Die Ablehnung versetzt den Bewerber als auch den Arbeitgeber in eine peinliche Lage. Also tritt eine dritte Person auf den Plan, um as Gesuch zu übermitteln und dem Arbeitgeber die Chance zu geben, feinfühlig NEIN zu sagen. Auch die Ablehnung kann mit Würde aufgenommen werden, wenn ein Mittelsmanns sie überbringt.

Westliche Geschäftsleute, die mit philippinischen Kollegen oder Untergebenen zusammenarbeiten, sollten sich bewußt sein, daß HIYA und AMOR-PROPIO den Boden für vielerlei Zwistigkeiten bereitstehen. In seinem an Manager gerichteten Buch über das Verständnis von philippinischen Werten schreibt Thomas D. Andres: "Filipinos verfügen über einen ausgeprägten Sinn für die menschliche Würde. Würde und Ehre bedeutet ihnen alles, so daß eine Verletzung, egal tatsächlich oder nur als solche empfunden, einen Angriff auf die eigene Person darstellt. Sie respektieren andere Menschen, die ihnen aber die gleiche Achtung entgegenbringen müssen. 

The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER! (X): Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund

 

By: 

AuthorMarcel Iseli

10. Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund

While in English, we are (well, at least metaphorically) dealing with worms when talking about the benefits of getting up early, in German, we have something a little bit more pleasant to deal with, namely…….GOLD. 

‘The early morning hours have gold in its mouth’ that sounds silly..right? But that’s what “Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund” when translated literally.   

 

Example:

Morgen beginnt der Unterricht bereits um 6 Uhr früh! Morgenstund halt Gold im Mund!   

 

Translation:

Tomorrow the lessons start already at 6 am! The early bird catches the worm!    

Germany eyes Filipino nurses to ease labor shortage

Nikka Valenzuela, DW (Deutsche Welle)

Germany is looking to the Philippines to fill its growing health care worker shortage, with plans to recruit more Filipino nurses. Will Germany follow the UK in bringing more Filipino nurses into its health care system?

An expanded and more concrete migration and mobility partnership between the Philippines and Germany was one of the main talking points between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when the two leaders met in Berlin on Tuesday.

"The Philippines has a treasure of well-skilled workers," Scholz said in a joint press conference. "This is also relevant for our health sector."

Scholz said labor cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation is an important area for Germany, adding that he wants to make progress here in "a very concrete fashion."

The German chancellor said a "very comprehensive further development" of cooperation in the skilled sector was planned.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in BerlinGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Berlin

"We also plan to put this into concrete texts that we can agree on," he added.

Marcos recognized the growing workforce of Filipino health care workers in Germany, adding that the two countries were finalizing talks on deploying more Filipino skilled workers beyond the health sector.

The Philippines is an important source of skilled workers for Germany, and remittances from Filipinos living abroad is a crucial source of economic boost in the Philippines.

The Philippines' central bank reported that in 2023, over €573,000 of remittances came from Germany alone.

There are currently around 6,000 Filipino nurses working in Germany — roughly 2,000 of whom migrated through a government-to-government program that prepares and deploys Filipino nurses to German health care facilities.

Between 2030 and 2040, the shortage is expected to be a bigger issue as Germany's aging population needs increased care, according to Wido Geis-Thöne, senior economist at the German Economic Institute.

While Germany is also tapping other countries to fill in the labor shortage across different industries, Geis-Thöne said immigrants from the Philippines are mostly from the crucial health sector.

How does the medical 'brain drain' affect the Philippines?

The Philippines is the world's top supplier of nurses, with a talent pool of 620,000 licensed health care workers who are active in the workforce, some 51% of whom work abroad, according to the Philippine Health Ministry.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in a previous visit to the Philippines, maintained that the bilateral cooperation would not lead to the loss of talent in the country. 

Despite the sizable number of health care workers in the Philippines, the country struggles with understaffing, which, in 2022, was pegged at 106,000 vacancies for nurses across public and private facilities and hospitals, according to figures from the Health Ministry.

The ministry said there should be one nurse for every 12 patients, but the health care workers' groups said this is far from the reality on the ground.

In many cases, there is only one nurse for every 20 — or sometimes even 40 — patients.

Why are so many Filipino nurses moving abroad?

Germany is just one of the many countries seeking qualified medical workers from abroad to offset its labor shortage.

The National Health Service in the  United Kingdom employs around 40,000 Filipino nurses. Thousands more have migrated to the United States, Australia, Canada and other countries where health care workers receive better wages and working conditions than in the Philippines.

Eleanor Nolasco, president of Filipino Nurses United, said nurses working in national hospitals and agencies in the Philippines earn only 36,000 Philippine pesos (€595/$650) — a fraction of the monthly salary offered abroad.

The pay in the private sector is even lower, Nolasco pointed out, as many nurses receive the minimum wage of around 15,000 pesos.

Nurses also complain of being overworked, clocking in longer hours and tending to unsafe numbers of patients at a time, Alliance of Health Workers president Robert Mendoza told DW

Both groups said low wages as well as a lack of job security and career advancement remain the main reasons why the demoralized workforce chooses to leave home.