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!
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo (left) with Miss Universe Chief Executive Officer Anne Jakrajutatip in Mexico.
Earl D.C. Bracamonte - Philstar.com
November 6, 2024 | 12:10pm
MANILA, Philippines — Days after the Miss Universe 2024 delegates arrived in Mexico City for the 73rd pageant edition, we saw some girls who we think would place in the semifinal round.
We simply based our choices from their headshots and videos shared on social media, as well as observations on how they interacted with fellow delegates, the organizers, and fans they've come in contact with.
This is a two-part series so we begin with the first 10:
Philippines - Chelsea Manalo is the first Filipino winner with Afro-American lineage. That by itself is a highlight in Philippine pageant history. And coupled with a kind heart and sunny disposition, the beauteous Bulakeña has her sights on the country's fifth crown.
Peru - Chelsea's roommate, Tatiana Calmell, is out to finish some unfinished business. Her compatriots are of the belief that Janick Maceta was robbed of the crown in 2020.
Thailand - Opal Chuangsri, like her predecessor, is rumored to be a favorite among pageant organizers.
Puerto Rico - The Philippines' Gloria Diaz crowned their first winner in 1970, Marasol Malaret. After a near-win in 2019, with Madison Anderson, this state in the Bermuda Triangle has been gunning for its sixth crown.
Venezuela - After the USA, this country has the most number of wins at seven. Like all powerhouse countries, they too are aiming for their eighth.
Denmark - Victoria Theilvig visited Mexico City weeks before the official arrival dates, prompting netizens to assume that she's the chosen one.
South Africa - Speaking of inclusivity, Mia le Roux is the first deaf winner in her country's pageant history. She's up against many other "firsts" in this Mexico edition.
Mexico - They're not only the host, they also want to win the crown like what Denise Quiñones did in 2001 - with Puerto Rico winning the home court.
Egypt - Logina Salah may suffer from Vitiligo (Psoriasis) but her skin condition will not hinder her chances of placing in the competition.
France - presenting the most glamorous national finals annually, 2024 winner Indira Ampiot has favorable qualities that other delegates could only wish they had.
Catch the second part of this forecast. Coming soon!
Watch the 73rd Miss Universe final show on November 16 (November 17, Manila time) via the A2Z Kapamilya channel.
Schools to prepare activities for the 2024 National Reading Month celebration.
BYMERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
Nov 6, 2024 06:41 PM
This year’s “Araw ng Pagbasa” (National Reading Day) is scheduled for November 27, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
The schedule is based on DepEd Order No. 09, series of 2024, or the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for School Year (SY) 2024-2025.
In previous years, the “Araw ng Pagbasa,” observed by public schools nationwide, served as the culminating activity for National Reading Month (NRM).
NRM, a month-long event celebrated each November, is part of DepEd’s efforts to foster a reading culture and enhance literacy skills among Filipino youth.
Dennis Legaspi, Media Relations Chief from the Office of DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, noted that the issuance of the 2024 NRM celebration guidelines is being finalized.
NRM celebration
While the DepEd Central Office has yet to release specific guidelines for this year’s NRM celebration, some DepEd Schools Division Offices have issued memoranda on the event.
The Schools Division of Baybay City in Region 8, for example, issued guidelines on Oct. 28 for the 2024 National Reading Month celebration, Pambansang Buwan at Araw ng Pagbasa, as well as the 90th National Book Week.
A list of activities was recommended for the NRM celebration.
Schools were also reminded to adhere to policies that regulate learner and teacher participation in curricular and extracurricular activities to ensure “classes are not sacrificed and that learning recovery measures are fully implemented.”
The month-long activity includes the division’s initiatives to improve and enhance learners’ reading performance, aligned with the priorities of the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP).
Among the suggested activities is a school-level National Reading Month kick-off where all school administrators and teachers can serve as “mystery readers” of a Filipino children’s storybook during the flag-raising ceremony.
Other proposed activities include book donation drives, peer-to-peer reading programs, setting up reading pantries where materials are accessible to all, “book talk” sessions where learners share their favorite books, read-a-thons, and poster-making activities during art classes.
DepEd declared November as National Reading Month through DepEd Memorandum No. 244, series of 2011, signed by former DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro.
The memo also established “Araw ng Pagbasa,” during which elementary and secondary students from both public and private schools participate in storytelling sessions, reading list preparations, reader training, and a readership development program.
Schools and learning centers are encouraged to hold various activities for NRM, which may include a “reading camp” highlighting pupils' talents in communication arts through competitions and a “read-a-thon” to foster a reading culture among students and identify the most outstanding individual and team readers in public elementary schools.
During NRM, DepEd encourages schools and learning centers to implement the “Five Words a Week (FWAW) / A Paragraph a Day (APAD) / Library Hour a Week” programs. These programs encourage pupils to learn and master one word daily for five days a week and to read aloud one or two paragraphs each day before classes start, helping develop communication skills.
Additionally, remedial reading programs are offered, with teachers or class advisers providing lessons to students at the frustration reading level.
Schools and learning centers may also implement activities such as “Big Brother / Big Sister / Kaklase Ko, Sagot Ko / Shared Reading,” where older students or independent readers mentor those at a struggling reading level.
Another activity, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), dedicates 15 to 20 minutes daily for reading books or other materials available in the school.
A Day of National Mourning declared in memory of lives lost during the onslaught of a strong tropical cyclone is not an expected act from the President of a country that is visited by at least 20 weather disturbances like storms and typhoons every year. Records on such declarations show that a Day of National Mourning had been declared in memory of fallen soldiers, church leaders, and government leaders.
But early this week, on Nov. 4, the country paused to remember those who lost their lives – about 150 of them – when severe tropical storm Kristine blew into the country, bringing a month’s rainfall in 24 hours, causing floods and damage to properties and agriculture. And super typhoon Leon came soon after that and shook extreme Northern Luzon.
With Proclamation 728, and in accordance with Republic Act 8941, the national flag was flown at half-mast on that day in all government buildings and installations across the country and abroad. The international community with embassies in the Philippines expressed their sympathies, many of them posting on social media photos of their respective flags flown at half-mast.
President Marcos’ proclamation has emphasized the fact that climate change and global warming are very real threats to our lives. We have in a way become used to the visits of typhoons that we have failed to evaluate if our disaster preparedness needs to be strengthened because the weather disturbances will come with stronger winds and more rain.
Even with the disaster preparedness measures of government agencies and private groups, the loss of lives and damages to property and to our food security caused by “Kristine” have been high. Here are some of the most relevant numbers from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of Nov. 5:
* 8,847,888 people and 2,249,345 families were affected by the two weather disturbances — Kristine and Leon — in 17 regions;
* 194,272 people or 48,146 families stayed in evacuation centers, while 517,705 individuals or 106,152 families were taking shelter in other places;
* 217,425 houses were damaged, 183,622 partially and 33,803 totally.
* Damage to agriculture was placed at ₱5,913,505,507; to infrastructure, ₱8,247,425,268; irrigation facilities, ₱1,032,188,000.
“Kristine” entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Oct. 21 and made landfall over Isabela on Oct. 24. It left the PAR on Oct. 25. “Leon” entered PAR on Oct. 26, passing extreme North Luzon and exited on Oct. 31.
Because the country is located at the “typhoon belt” — and because climate change has changed the behavior of weather disturbances — disaster preparedness measures should keep on being upgraded to deal with the new wind strength, increased rainfall and flooding.
The enhancements on the present systems, and changes in strategies, have started with the President’s orders on relevant government agencies.
Warning systems will be improved by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) while closely coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to provide the public with timely information.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) have been ordered to gradually reduce water levels in dams before a typhoon even arrives.
The National Disaster Risk and Management Council (NDRRMC) is analyzing how its disaster response measures can be enhanced to ensure the swift delivery of assistance to affected communities.
There is more work to do to enhance our disaster preparedness systems to protect people and our food sources from the effects of stronger weather disturbances.
The film also asks us to consider what happens when we run out of time. Suddenly, every moment is a big deal; every memory is a precious treasure. Time is a funny thing. And always, always, there never seems to be enough of it.
Time is a funny thing. Sometimes, it seems agonizingly slow, and other times, it looks unnecessarily fast. In either case, what stays with us are moments, snippets of time that mean something, good or bad.
It's these moments that director Josh Crowley’s (Brooklyn) new film, We Live In Time, wants to try and explore. The movie follows the lives of Almut and Tobias, played by Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer, Dune 2) and Andrew Garfield (Tick Tock Boom, Spider-Man No Way Home) as they navigate their shared life together.
Almut is an aspiring chef and restaurateur with a bright career ahead of her, while Tobias is an affable recent divorcee working for the Weetabix company. In the romantic tradition of the meet-cute, Almut runs Tobias over with her car by accident, and the two, pardon the pun, hit it off.
Pugh and Garfield have an amazing on-screen chemistry together, particularly for a pair who have never played a romantic couple before. There’s a genuine-ness to their love that permeates their relationship regardless of whichever stage of their life you see them in. The same purity of affection that Tobias had when he first goes out with Almut is there when they face their biggest hurdles, and this is an endearing thing to see in a couple.
The story covers their ups and downs but does so non-linearly. The plot jumps back and forth between different eras or what you might call stages in their relationship. It can be confusing if you’re not a fan of the narrative style, but it does provide a change of pace from the typical romantic drama to see the effect of something before you find out the cause.
We see them with their daughter, yet when we jump into the past, we hear Almut say she doesn’t want kids. We immediately want to know how she changed her mind. Time jumps can often seem gimmicky, but they play into how we remember things and how memories shape our lives.
Time is a funny thing. It just seems to pass us by. We don’t remember everything, no matter how much we might want to. We can’t; there isn’t enough space in the average brain to remember everything in a lifetime. But the memories we do keep are the important ones. Meeting the love of your life, getting a new job, getting fired from a job, winning at something, having a child, and fighting an illness are all life experiences that define us.
The film also asks us to consider what happens when we run out of time. Suddenly, every moment is a big deal; every memory is a precious treasure. Time is a funny thing. And always, always, there never seems to be enough of it.
The premise is that Santa Claus (JK Simmons) has been kidnapped. So Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), head of North Pole security, enlists Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a bounty hunter, to help find Santa in time for you-know-what.
If you told me everything about this film was conceptualized and decided upon by an algorithm, I would not be surprised. It’s December next month, so the thinking at Warner Brothers and Amazon MGM would have been, let’s release something Christmas-themed, and let’s put Hollywood ‘dependables’ Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans together for the first time in a mismatched buddy/adventure film. Let’s tug at heartstrings and have lots of laughs, plus throw in an avalanche of CGI that will wow the kids and the ‘child in the adults’ who’ll be watching.
The premise is that Santa Claus (JK Simmons) has been kidnapped. So Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), head of North Pole security, enlists Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a bounty hunter, to help find Santa in time for you-know-what. Lucy Liu, Bonnie Hunt, Kiernan Shipka, and Nick Kroll are along for the ride, but they’re like the reindeer outside of Rudolph - forgettable support.
Directed by Jake Kasdan of Jumanji fame, with a screenplay written by Chris Morgan, from the story of Hiram Garcia, the start of the film throws us into the action right away, establishing the character of a young Jack as something of a spoilsport, and definitely on Santa’s naughty list. Of course, that’s also a heads-up that he’ll grow up to be the Jack portrayed by Chris Evans, so he is the main character with an arc. That one you can see coming from thousands of miles away.
I’ll give brownie points to the story concept and screenplay for updating this Santa and turning him into a facsimile of POTUS, ruling his North Pole kingdom. You have the supersonic reindeer, a polar bear that talks and acts as security, elves, and other magical creatures. To add to the texture, the screenplay then incorporates almost every conceivable Christmas legend - from Grampus to a Christmas witch and creatures that would rival the cantina scene of Star Wars.
There’s a play on the Dwayne Johnson screen persona, as the powers of this security elf will have you laughing the first time it’s utilized. And they try to make our main villain have something of a backstory - but inevitably, she has to take a back seat to our mismatched duo.
And that is where the problem lies - despite their prolonged screen time together, there’s never really much chemistry between the two. It’s more like they’re just out-quipping each other and figuring out whose turn to have the last word of that particular sequence.
This film will have some box-office ‘legs,’ as the kids will enjoy all the mayhem, physical scenes and jokes, and the overriding narrative. But somehow, I think the producers also hoped that adults would enjoy this film while bringing the children. For that, you have to be more pure in intention, like how Wild Robot works at different levels of appreciation. This one looks a tad ‘forced’, and falls short in that category. But full credit for trying!
Das Thema gilt als unromantisch, Experten halten es aber für wichtig: Wer heiratet, sollte sich darüber im Klaren sein, welche finanziellen Folgen eine Ehe hat. Wir erklären, worauf es ankommt.
München – Nicht jeder, der heiratet, macht sich darüber Gedanken, was eine Ehe rechtlich gesehen überhaupt bedeutet. Dabei hat eine Heirat große Auswirkungen.
„Die Ehe bringt finanzielle Vorteile mit sich, speziell beim Punkt Ehegattensplitting“, sagt Eugen Häuser von der Stadtsparkasse München. Relevant wird das Thema bei der jährlichen Steuererklärung: „Hier werden beide Einkünfte zusammengenommen und durch zwei geteilt, was zu einer geringeren Steuerlast führen kann“, sagt Häuser. „Das macht daher vor allem dann Sinn, wenn einer der Partner Gutverdiener ist und der andere weniger verdient.“ Im Steuerrecht heißt das: Die beiden werden „zusammenveranlagt“.
Mehr Geld nach der Heirat: Ehepaare sparen viele Steuern im Jahr
Die Experten des Portals Finanztip rechnen bezogen auf das Steuerjahr 2023 vor: Hat ein Single ein zu versteuerndes Einkommen von 50.000 Euro und wird einzeln veranlagt, zahlt er 11.343 Euro Einkommensteuer. Ehepaare oder eingetragene Lebenspartner zahlen demnach bei einer Zusammenveranlagung und einem gemeinsam zu versteuerndem Einkommen von 50.000 Euro nur 6560 Euro Einkommensteuer – das sind 4783 Euro weniger. Dass der Unterschied in dem Beispiel derart groß ist, liegt daran, dass in dem Beispiel angenommen wird, dass einer der beiden Partner bei der gemeinsamen Veranlagung nichts verdient.
Und es gibt noch einen Vorteil einer gemeinsamen Veranlagung: „Ein Vorteil ist auch, dass man eine gemeinsame Steuererklärung machen kann und man nicht zwei getrennte Steuererklärungen machen muss“, sagt Häuser. Das sei vor allem für diejenigen sinnvoll, die ihre Steuererklärung ohne Steuerberatermachen.
Ehepaare haben kein gemeinsames Vermögen: Nur der Zugewinn zählt
Manche junge Paare sind der Ansicht, dass es nach der Hochzeit nur noch ein einziges, gemeinsames Vermögen gibt. „Es ist aber ein Mythos, wenn gesagt wird, dass beiden alles gehört, das stimmt nicht“, sagt der Münchner Rechtsanwalt Erkan Elden und ergänzt „die gesetzliche Güterreglung ist die Zugewinngemeinschaft.“ Gemeint ist der Vermögenszuwachs während der Dauer der Ehe, relevant wird das etwa im Falle einer Scheidung.
Ein Rechenbeispiel von „Finanztip“ macht klar, was unter einem „Zugewinn“ zu verstehen ist: Ein Mann besitzt bei der Heirat 10.000 Euro. Bis zur Scheidung hat er ein Vermögen von 25.000 Euro zusammengespart. Seine Frau hatte zu Beginn der Ehe 5000 Euro und bei Scheidung 6000 Euro. Der Zugewinn des Mannes sind 25.000 Euro minus 10.000 Euro, also 15.000 Euro. Der Zugewinn der Frau sind 6000 minus 5000 Euro, also 1000 Euro. Der gemeinsame Überschuss an Zugewinn ergibt sich, indem man beide Werte miteinander verrechnet: 15.000 Euro minus 1000 Euro, das ergibt 14.000 Euro. Die Hälfte davon, also 7000 Euro, kann die Frau im Falle einer Scheidung von ihrem Ex-Mann verlangen.
„In der Ehe handelt allerdings jeder Partner mit seinem Vermögen selbst. Erst bei der Trennung wird der Zugewinn getrennt“, sagt Häuser. „Nur das Vermögen, das während der Zeit der Ehe entsteht, ist gemeinschaftliches Vermögen und muss im Fall einer Trennung aufgeteilt werden.“
Ehevertrag klingt „unromantisch“ aber kann sinnvoll sein
Es gibt aber auch die Möglichkeit, die Zugewinn-Regelung zu umgehen. Mit einem Ehevertrag. Gerade, wenn einer der Partner über ein großes Vermögen verfüge oder in einem Familienunternehmen engagiert sei, komme man um einen Ehevertrag kaum herum, sagt Rechtsanwalt Elden. Eugen Häuser von der Stadtsparkasse bestätigt das und ergänzt: „Während der Dauer der Ehe kann ein Unternehmen schnell wachsen, wodurch das Vermögen enorm steigt. Im Fall einer Scheidung kann es dann passieren, dass das Unternehmen zerschlagen werden muss, um das Vermögen zu trennen – mit einem Ehevertrag lässt sich das aber verhindern.“
Denn im Ehevertrag werde die Vermögensteilung im Trennungsfall definiert. „Ein Ehevertrag ist auch kein Tabuthema mehr“, sagt Häuser. „Die Leute entscheiden sich in erster Linie zu heiraten, und wissen in der Regel auch, wie es um das Vermögen des anderen bestellt ist, weshalb den meisten Leuten mit Vermögen klar ist, dass ein Ehevertrag Sinn macht.“ Sein Tipp: Das Thema vor der Heirat offen ansprechen, „auch wenn es unromantisch klingen mag“.
Eine Möglichkeit für einen Ehevertrag: Man behält die Zugewinngemeinschaft grundsätzlich bei, schließt aber das Familienunternehmen per Vertrag davon aus, erklärt Elden. „Und da geht es in erster Linie darum, das Familienunternehmen zu schützen und nicht etwa darum, dem Partner etwas vorzuenthalten.“ Unterhalt Aber selbst bei einem Ehevertrag gilt: „Ehepartner sind immer rechtlich verpflichtet, dem anderen Partner finanziell beizustehen“, sagt Häuser. „Der besserverdienende Partner muss den anderen, der beispielsweise aus gesundheitlichen Gründen nicht arbeiten kann oder in Mutterschutz ist, finanziell unterstützen.“ Auch für gemeinsame Kinder gebe es Unterhaltspflichten. Rechtsanwalt Elden ist aus der eigenen Praxis aber kein Fall bekannt, in dem ein Ehepartner versucht habe, die Unterhaltspflichten gegenüber dem Ehepartner oder der Ehepartnerin rechtlich durchzusetzen, denn das würde das Ende der Ehe besiegeln. „Aber klar ist, dass man in der Ehe für einander einstehen muss, auch mit Geld in Form von Wirtschafts- und Taschengeld – aber die genaue Höhe ist nicht geregelt und muss gegebenenfalls ermittelt werden.“
Scheidung hat Folgen für Rente und Erbe: Das sollten Paare wissen
Nicht jede Ehe geht in die Brüche, aber die Möglichkeit, dass das passiert, besteht immer. „Nicht nur die Scheidung, bereits die Trennung hat finanzielle Folgen“, sagt Rechtsanwalt Elden. „Ein Ehegatte kann von dem anderen Unterhalt verlangen, bei Kindern gibt es zudem Unterhalt für die Kinder.“ Wie hoch dieser Unterhalt ist, ist in der sogenannten Düsseldorfer Tabelle geregelt. Und neben dem Zugewinn, der am Ende geteilt wird, hat eine Scheidung auch Folgen für die Rente. Der juristische Fachbegriff heißt „Versorgungsausgleich“. Elden sagt: „Wenn die Ehe geschieden wird, werden auch Rentenansprüche, die während der Ehe erworben wurden, hälftig geteilt.“. Das gelte für gesetzliche Renten genauso wie für die private Altersvorsorge.
Wer heiratet, sollte sich auch über die erbrechtlichen Konsequenzen im Klaren sein: „Sofern testamentarisch nichts anderes verfügt ist, wird der Ehegatte mit der Eheschließung ein gesetzlicher Erbe“, sagt Erkan Elden. Auch finanziell hat das Folgen: „Mit der Eheschließung liegt der Freibetrag für Erbschaften schlagartig bei 500.000 Euro. Und bei Schenkungen kann dieser Freibetrag alle zehn Jahre angewandt werden“, sagt der Anwalt. Eugen Häuser erläutert, dass über diesen Freibetrag hinaus geringere Steuersätze für Ehepartner gelten, es gehe hier los bei sieben Prozent. „Erst ab einem großen Vermögen von über 26 Millionen greift der maximale Steuersatz von 30 Prozent“, sagt Häuser.