This might not be the typical expat blog, written by a German expat, living in the Philippines since 1999. It's different. In English and in German. Check it out! Enjoy reading!
Dies mag' nun wirklich nicht der typische Auswandererblog eines Deutschen auf den Philippinen sein. Er soll etwas anders sein. In Englisch und in Deutsch! Viel Spass beim Lesen!
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!
Kawayan de Guia and Nona Garcia with some of their fur babies --PHOTOS BY ANDREO BONGCO
First of a series
Look for Two Trees in Google Maps” was the instruction given to me on my second visit to the De Guia compound in Kitma Village, Baguio. Having no map and relying on the geographical knowledge of a cabbie, I took mostly wrong turns before deciding to alight from the taxi and ask for instructions from pedestrians.
As is the wont in Baguio, the streets are steep. It was downward all throughout until I happened on a kasambahay sweeping a front yard with a walis tingting. I had hit the jackpot—it was the De Guia compound indeed. She pointed sidewards to indicate that there was Kawayan de Guia’s house and garden.
A competent, capable and dedicated civil service corps is a vital element in effective governance, that is, in turn, the key driver in the growth and prosperity of a nation.
This September marks the observance of the 124th anniversary of the Philippine civil service with the theme, Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future Ready Servant-Heroes. Evidently, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) aspires to eventually join the elite ranks of countries that, by dint of exemplary governance, have attained preeminent prosperity. This year’s theme beams the spotlight on capacity building that starts with individual talent development.
For such individuals to thrive, an environment that fosters excellence is a vital prerequisite. Several national agencies and local government units levelled up their organizational capabilities by installing rigorous processes of quality management. This is pursuant to the Republic Act 9013, the Philippine Quality Award Act which is aligned with world-class programs such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award established by the US Congress in 1987.
Among those that have received recognition for Commitment to Quality Management are the National Statistics Office, presently known as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region XI and Region IV-A offices, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XII, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Among local government units, the City Government of Marikina has been cited for Proficiency in Quality Management. Cited for Commitment to Quality Management were the City Government of Makati and the City Government of Tanauan.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has institutionalized an annual Honor Awards Program comprising of the Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan (Servant of the Nation), the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or Dangal ng Bayan, and the Pag-asa ng Bayan, or Hope of the Nation.
The Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan recognizes “exceptional contributions through innovative ideas or impactful actions of national significance, particularly in the areas of public interest, security and patrimony.” The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to those who have exemplified adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The Pag-asa ng Bayan Award is given to those who have contributed to beneficial programs in specific government agencies.
As it aspires toward attaining greater heights, the CSC may also wish to benchmark itself with global excellence standards such as the International Civil Service Effectiveness Index (InCISE) established by the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government in 2019. The InCISE rated 38 countries on “(c)ore executive functions including policy-making and fiscal and financial management services” and “mission support facilities including human resource management (HR) and information technology.”
The top 10 countries in its honor roll were: England, New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden. Particularly instructive is the example set by South Korea which “takes the top spot in transparency of public spending and budget practices.” It also excelled in human resource management. Such excellence in governance manifests the existence of a vibrant meritocracy.
Truly, the CSC can achieve much by aligning itself with best practices in talent development and management that enables the country’s civil servants to attain world-class competencies.
The Philippines blanked Brazil, 4-0, and achieved so many breakthroughs in the women’s division of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad that just came to a close Sunday, Sept. 22, at the BOK Sports Hall here.
BUDAPEST—The Philippines blanked Brazil, 4-0, and achieved so many breakthroughs in the women’s division of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad that just came to a close Sunday, Sept. 22, at the BOK Sports Hall here.
GM Eugene Torre, far left, along with Filipina chessers who bag gold in Group B gold in Chess Olympiad
Shania Mae Mendoza, Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Ruelle Canino pulled off victories across all boards as the Filipinas finished tied for 22nd place with 14 match points with 14 others and 24th overall after tiebreaks were applied.
That sealed the country, which was bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by NCFP chief Butch Pichay, the gold medal in Group B, confined to the 35th to the 70th ranked countries in the 181-country field, ahead of Montenegro and Latvia.
It was the first mint for the country since the women’s squad of Sheerie Joey Lomibao, Catherine Pereña, Sherily Cua and Beverly Mendoza struck gold in Group C in the 2006 Turin edition.
It was also the Filipinas’ best finish since the squad of Girme Fontanilla, Mila Emperado and Cristina Santos-Fidaer’s 22nd-place effort in 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece.
“This is a milestone in Philippine chess history, a legacy that will not be forgotten for the generations to come,” said national women’s coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, who also thanked delegation head Atty. Ruel Canobas, women’s team manager Atty. Nikki de Vega and Far Eastern University chair Aurelio Montinolam III for their support. The Filipinas also surpassed their 36th-place performance two years ago in Chennai, India.
Apart from these feats, all five players earned plus rating points with Canino, the 16-year-old wonder girl from Cagayan de Oro and FEU, raking in 102 whopping rating points after scoring six points in eight games at board four.
Canino will rise to 2260, which will include rating points she accumulated in several tournaments in Europe months before.
She barely missed sealing her first Woman International Master norm by just one game.
Frayna was the best scorer with eight points out of 11 with plus 27 rating points, while Mendoza, from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, had 5.5 out of 10 with 36.2 rating points while manning the top board.
Fronda, who is from Muntinlupa, had 6.5 out of 10 and was a plus 0.60 while Bernadette Galas three of five with plus 8.8.
The Filipinas’ effort somehow soothed the pain of the 59th place finish by the men’s team of Julio Catalino Sadorra, Daniel Quizon, Paulo Bersamina, John Paul Gomez and Jan Emmanuel Garcia and mentored by Eugene Torre with 12 points.
The country was actually tied for 15th spot with Sadorra running third and in medal contention in the individual board one race after the ninth round of this 11-round tilt but dropped their last two outings to Georgia, 2.5-1.5, and Hungary B, 3-1.
Sadorra eventually ended up 13th at board one but still had a strong performance rating of 2715 after scoring 6.5 points out of nine.
India topped both open and women’s events as well as the Gaprindashvili Cup, a plum for a country with the highest combined score of both its men’s and women’s teams.
Aside from the main title, the country's representative to the Universal Woman 2025 pageant will also be chosen on Sept. 29.
Miss Grand Philippines 2024 candidates are presented to the media in Makati City a week before the coronation night (Ezel John/Pageantry Fanatics)
Nineteen lovely women from all over the country were presented to the media yesterday as the official candidates for Miss Grand Philippines 2024, which will have its coronation night on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
The winner, who will be proclaimed that night, will then fly to Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 3 for the start of the competition for Miss Grand International 2024, with the finals set for Oct. 25. The MGI crown has so far eluded the Philippines since its participation, with Filipina queens Nicole Cordoves (2016) and Samantha Bernardo (2020) getting as far as placing first runner-up.
Aside from the main title, the country's representative to the Universal Woman 2025 pageant will also be chosen on Sept. 29. The reigning queen is the Philippines' Maria Gigante who bested 47 other contestants from all over the world in the Universal Woman 2024 pageant held in Cambodia last March.
Present during the presentation of candidates were (from left): Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2023 Francine Reyes, Miss Grand Philippines National Director Arnold Vegafria, Miss Grand Philippines 2023 Nikki De Moura and Universal Woman 2024 Maria Gigante (Annalyn Jusay)
The complete list of Miss Grand Philippines 2024 contestants are as follows:
7. Geralyn Basto de Klerke (Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental)
8. Carrhyll Manicad (Malabon)
9. Jubilee Therese Acosta (Manila)
10. Mikaela Jane Fajardo (Marilao, Bulacan)
11. Alyssa Marie Geronimo (Nueva Ecija)
12 . Sophia Bianca Santos (Pampanga)
13. Jenesse Viktoria Mejia (Pangasinan)
14. Selena Antonio-Reyes (Pasig City)
15. Angel Bianca Agustin (Quezon City)
16. Anna Margaret Mercado (Quirino)
17. Samantha Margaret Babila (Rizal)
18. Diana Mariel Valendia (Sta. Mesa, Manila)
19. Patricia Mcgee (Zambales)
Of the 19 in the list, most are joining a national beauty contest for the first time while four have either placed or won in other prominent competitions. These include Candidate No. 5, CJ Opiaza, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 first runner-up; Candidate No. 9, Jubilee Therese Acosta, Miss Manila 2024 first runner-up; Candidate No. 12, Sophia Bianca Santos, Miss World Philippines 2024 2nd Princess; and Candidate No. 14, Selena Antonio-Reyes, Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Top 20.
Opiaza believed that winning the elusive MGI crown was just a matter of timing. "I want to credit all the past queens who tried their best to get the crown. However, it's just like the perfect timing for all of us. It would not hinder us, even if it's just a week of preparation or just a few days before the international (pageant), because Filipinas are always ready. And we are always ready to brave whatever challenge will come our way."
