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!
1. The ultimate trust is when people mock you, but you remain silent because you know who you are and who they are.
2. Quiet people are either carrying a big sorrow or a big dream.
3. You didn't create this world to impose your conditions on others. First, correct yourself so that you can be an example to others, then expect them to be like you.
4. Arguing with ignorant people is like drawing on water, no matter how hard you try, you won't achieve anything.
5. Shoes have tongues but don't speak, tables have legs but don't walk, pens have wings but don't fly, clocks have hands but don't hold, and many people have minds but don't think.
6. They speak ill of you, then sit with you and smile at your face, these are the worst people.
7. Difficult times are the best way to reveal a person's true character.
8. Small-minded people have small problems, while big-minded people don't have time for problems.
9. Don't be close to someone who makes you happy, but be close to someone who is only happy with you.
10. People are like waves, if you go with them, they will drown you, and if you oppose them, they will exhaust you.
11. I don't know the secret of success, but the secret of failure is trying to please everyone.
12. I am determined to achieve my goal, either I will succeed, or I will succeed, or I will succeed.
13. If we didn't have the blessing of forgetting, many of us would go crazy.
Most importantly: 14. Remove yourself from the list of stingy people and send blessings to the Seal of the Prophets. These wisdoms will not only bring you peace of mind but also help you improve your life."
Showing her commitment to senior citizens' welfare, Marikina 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo joined a rally at the Senate on Monday, Jan. 20, to push for the passage of the proposed Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens Act.
Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo speaks to her fellow rallyists outside the Senate in Pasay City (Rep. Quimbo’s office)
Showing her commitment to senior citizens' welfare, Marikina 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo joined a rally at the Senate on Monday, Jan. 20, to push for the passage of the proposed Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens Act.
“The Universal Social Pension Act is about fairness and dignity. It ensures that no Filipino senior is left behind, regardless of their economic status. This is our way of giving back to those who have contributed so much to society,” said Quimbo, acting chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Thousands of senior citizens and supporters attended the rally to highlight the financial challenges faced by the aging population in the Philippines. Quimbo emphasized the importance of passing the bill, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives but has yet to advance in the Senate.
The rally sought to urge senators to prioritize the legislation, which aimed to establish universal coverage by providing every Filipino aged 60 and above with a guaranteed monthly pension.
Quimbo penned and filed House Bill (HB) No.10423 (Universal Social Pension for Senior Citizens Act), which was passed by the House of Representatives in 2024.
Several elderly citizens from Marikina, who support the bill, joined the congresswoman at the rally.
The proposed legislation seeks to address critical gaps in the current system under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (RA 9994). The current framework limits pension eligibility to indigent seniors.
This exclusionary provision leaves millions of elderly Filipinos who may not meet the criteria for indigence but still face financial hardships without access to necessary support. Of the 4.085 million seniors listed under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) social pension program, only 783,000 have received payouts due to logistical delays and issues with local government units (LGU) compliance in liquidation processes.
Key provisions of the bill include automatic pension eligibility for all Filipinos aged 60 and above, efficient distribution mechanisms with no transaction fees, and provisions to ensure funds are used efficiently and rolled over when unused.
"By extending pensions to all senior citizens, we can reduce inequality and ensure that no one is excluded from receiving the support they deserve. This social pension will be a vital lifeline for seniors without other income sources, significantly reducing their risk of poverty," Quimbo said.
"Moreover, the increased spending capacity of our elderly will stimulate local economies, especially small and medium enterprises, as they invest in essential goods and services," added the aspiring Marikina mayor.
The growing demographic trends in the country show that the senior citizen population is expected to reach nearly 11 million by the end of 2025. Many of these individuals face significant financial and health-related vulnerabilities, with 59 percent of their medical expenses paid out-of-pocket in 2018.
Quimbo stressed the urgency of addressing these inequities through universal pension coverage. “This bill is not just about numbers; it’s about lives. Our seniors deserve to retire with dignity and the financial means to meet their basic needs,” she said.
Creamline stakes its unbeaten run when it tangles with Capital1 on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Creamline stakes its unbeaten run when it tangles with Capital1 on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Set at 4 p.m., the Cool Smashers are gunning for their fifth consecutive victory in their first match of the year after the holiday break against the Solar Spikers, who are seeking to crawl out from near the cellar with their 1-4 win-loss card.
Also out to extend its winning run is Petro Gazz as it aims to hike its 5-1 record when it takes on Chery Tiggo (4-2) in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap.
Cignal (4-1) and Galeries Tower (1-5), two teams coming from different ends, collide in the 1:30 p.m. opener.
Showcasing their depth and talent that won them the Grand Slam last year, Creamline expects to continue that same firepower in this six-month long conference.
Out of their four triumphs, they have only dropped three sets so far.
Anchoring the squad as usual are Bernadeth Pons, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao in facing the Solar Spikers, who recently beefed up their roster following the acquisition of outside hitter Trisha Genesis.
Genesis is expected to join forces with Leila Cruz, Jorelle Singh and Des Clemente with high hopes of pulling off an upset win against their favored rivals.
Meanwhile, Petro Gazz aims to pick up where it left off in keeping its place atop the leaderboard, with Brooke Van Sickle slated to fire up its assault along with MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo.
Chery Tiggo, for its part, has its own deadly trio in Cess Robles, Ara Galang and Aby Maraño in teaming up with new recruit Risa Sato.
Filipino seafarers stand to benefit from a joint initiative between the European Union (EU) and the Philippines to enhance maritime education, training, certification, and labor conditions.
In a special press briefing on Dec. 2, 2024, organized by the European Union Embassy, Niclas Kvarnström, managing director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service, emphasized the Philippines’ importance as a partner of the EU. “Our relationship with the Philippines has remained strong and multi-dimensional,” he stated. As such, people-to-people exchanges and capacity-building initiatives for seafarers are high on the agenda of the EU.
Kvarnström, who is leading the EU contingent in the Fourth Joint Committee with the Philippines, highlighted the EU's commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas beyond maritime training.
This initiative is part of the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE), which includes a €4 million allocation to improve seafarer training and certification in the Philippines. The program, launched last month, aims to ensure Filipino seafarers remain globally competitive while benefiting from fair labor conditions.
He also met with key government officials and civil society organizations and discussed areas of mutual interest to both the EU and the Philippines.
European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro added, “The European Union is collaborating with the Philippines to improve and sustain the quality of the country’s system of maritime education, training, and certification. These efforts ultimately support global trade and economic stability.”
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Maritime Higher Education Institutions, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are key stakeholders in this initiative.
It will be recalled that the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport extended its recognition last April 2023 of the Philippine government’s maritime education, training, and certification for seafarers after taking note of the country’s actions in addressing some of its serious deficiencies.
Filipino seafarers were facing a ban from European-flagged vessels following a detailed assessment of the training and certification system in place in the Philippines in December 2021. The Commission said it would withdraw recognition of Philippines-issued seafarer certificates unless serious measures were taken, including the compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
With approximately 1.15 million seafarers—the Philippines is a leading supplier of maritime talent, providing approximately 25 percent of the global seafaring workforce. The shipping sector is a key pillar of the Philippine economy, making substantial contributions to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Over the next three years, the initiative will help train Filipino seafarers so they can continue working internationally and under good labor conditions.
In addition to the seafarer training initiative, Kvarnström also discussed other global challenges, including disinformation campaigns stemming from countries involved in conflicts and international issues. “We are actively working with the Philippines to counter disinformation and cyber threats. Strengthening civil society is critical to building resilience against these challenges,” he explained.
He further stressed the importance of global cooperation in securing cyberspace. “Responsible actors who adhere to international law must work together to ensure cyberspace remains secure and governed by principles of justice and accountability,” Kvarnström concluded.
'It’s Showtime' announced the return of 'Sexy Babe' and the launch of new segment 'Hide and Sing.'
Carmelle Collado of King Thomas Learning Academy, Inc. was hailed as the first-ever grand champion of the School Showdown edition of “Tawag ng Tanghalan" during its grand finals on “It’s Showtime” last Jan. 18.
Carmelle earned a total average score 98 percent from the hurado scores, beating her fellow contenders Isay Olarte of City College of Calapan, who scored 97.7 percent, and Arvery Lagoring of Claret School-Lamitan, who got 92.5 percent.
As the grand champion, Carmelle will take home P1 million, a management contract from Star Magic, a recording and music label contract from Star Music, and a trophy created by renowned Filipino sculptor Ronald Castillo. Her school King Thomas Learning Academy, Inc. will also receive P100,000.
In the final round, the talented student from Camarines Sur earned a standing ovation from the judges and the madlang people after performing a powerful medley of Aretha Franklin hits “Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” and “Ain’t No Way.”
Carmelle impressed the 17 “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” hurados Louie Ocampo, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Marco Sison, Nonoy Zuniga, Jolina Magdangal, Yeng Constantino, Erik Santos, Kyla, Nyoy Volante, Jed Madela, Bituin Escalante, Klarisse De Guzman, Darren, Dingdong Avanzado, Kean Cipriano, and Sofronio Vasquez.
Meanwhile, the “It’s Showtime” hosts announced the return of “Sexy Babe” and the launch of new segment “Hide and Sing” on Monday.
Don't miss the excitement and fun on "It's Showtime," Mondays to Saturdays, 12NN, on GMA, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, GTV, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment's YouTube channel, and Facebook page, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV. Catch its online show, "Showtime Online U," on It's Showtime's YouTube channel.