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!

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Laurice Guillen films to watch this Women's Month

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

March 22, 2025 | 10:23am

LIST: Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Laurice Guillen films to watch this Women's Month

Clockwise: Stills from 'Moral,' 'Karnal,' 'Sunday Beauty Queen,' and 'Babae at Baril'

ABS-CBN Sagip Pelikula, Voyage Studios, Cignal Entertainment and Epicmedia Productions via CCP

MANILA, Philippines — The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) listed a number of must-watch movies directed by women, all of them found in its Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts (EPA).

The CCP EPA, touted as the Philippines' most authoritative and comprehensive source of arts and knowledge, includes movies that serve as catalysts for inclusivity and change for society as a whole.

This is on top of more than 5,000 articles and video excerpts from dances and musical performances straight from the the corporation's archives, both printed and digitally preserved.

These are the must-watch classic films on women, for women, by women listed by the CCP:

"Brutal" (1980)

Directed by Mairlou Diaz-Abaya (National Artist)

The first of Diaz-Abaya's trilogy of films about women with screenwriter and fellow National Artist Ricky Lee, "Brutal" was the first Filipino movie to address gender-based violence as a feminist issue within the patriarchial Philippine society.

Synopsis: Monica Real became a suspect of the murder of her own husband, Tato, and two other men. While in jail, she refuses to speak and withdraws herself from the world until Clara, a bold journalist, dives deeper into her case and discovers a grotesque truth.

"Moral" (1982)

Directed by Mairlou Diaz-Abaya (National Artist)

The second movie in Diaz-Abaya's trilogy of films about women with Lee.

Synopsis: Joey, Maritess, Slyvia, and Kathy are best friends who are exploring their lives hand in hand until the resistant demands of their own individual lives get ahead of them. As they struggle and realize the risks that they need to take, the four women go their separate ways, each indulging in their newfound individuality.

"Karnal" (1983)

Directed by Mairlou Diaz-Abaya (National Artist)

The third and final movie in Diaz-Abaya's trilogy of films about women with Lee.

Synopsis: A couple, Puring and Narcing, settle in the latter's hometown, where the former meets Gusting, Narcing’s father. Gusting immediately takes interest in Puring after finding similarity to his then dead wife, which eventually leads to family tension and tragedy.

"Salome" (1981)

Directed by Laurice Guillen

A film also written by Lee but this time for actress-filmmaker Laurice Guillen. Lee has lamanted that "Salome" may not be restored like his other films.

Synopsis: Salome, a married woman, is fatally stabbed by her persistent suitor, and three conflicting versions of the crime unfold.

"Milagros" (1987)

Directed by Mairlou Diaz-Abaya (National Artist)

Another movie by Diaz-Abaya, but with a screenplay by Rolando S. Tinio

Synopsis: A bar dancer is hungry for her father’s love, but things take a turn after learning he died and left her and her overbearing mother in debt. She ends up as a maid of her father's creditor with his three sons.

"Madrasta" (1996)

Directed Olivia M. Lamasan

Lamasan not only directed this movie but co-wrote the screenplay with the previously mentioned Lee.

Synopsis: Mariel finds herself adapting to her new life as a wife when she married a single father with three children.

"K'na the Dreamweaver" (2014)

Directed by Ina Anita del Mundo

Del Mundo not only directed but also wrote the screenplay for this film.

Synopsis: Set in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, T'boli princess K'na inherits the power of dreamweaving from her grandmother. In the community, dreams are visions bestowed by the abaca goddess to select T'boli women to interlace the fibers into the most exquisite patterns of T'nalak, a sacred fabric.

"Sunday Beauty Queen" (2016)

Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama

This film became the first documentary to win Best Picture at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Synopsis: A modern-day Cinderella story following the everyday life of five female migrant wokers in Hong Kong, wherein one day each week, they are granted a moment of beauty, joy, and dignity in a local pageant.

"Babae at Baril" (2019)

Directed by Rae Red

This film by Rae Red, which she also wrote, was just her second directorial outing after "Si Chedeng at si Apple" from 2017.

Synopsis: A saleslady realizes the gravity of owning a gun when she finds one left on the street after seeing a man flee from a shooting near her house.

"A Thousand Cuts" (2020)

Directed by Ramona Diaz

The most recent of the films included in the CCP's list, directed and written by Ramona Diaz.

Synopsis: The documentary follows Rappler co-founder Maria Ressa in her experience as a journalist who becomes a target of the administration while reporting on the war on drugs, extrajudicial killings, and the elections.

Earth Hour: Uniting for a sustainable future

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Mar 22, 2025 00:25 AM

E CARTOON MAR 22.jpg

Give an hour for Earth today. Turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., to raise awareness on environmental issues and promote energy conservation.
Every year in late March, millions of people across the globe unite to show that they care about the future of our planet by switching off for one hour.

Earth Hour, on March 22, is an annual event which started in 2007. It has become a global movement with millions of participants in more than 190 countries and territories. Initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2007, Earth Hour began as a symbolic lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, to draw attention to climate change. In 2008, just a year after it started, more than 50 million people across 35 countries took part, with iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA, and Rome’s Colosseum in Italy going dark in solidarity. The movement has continued to grow, inspiring millions worldwide to take action for the planet.

The WWF leads Earth Hour globally with the WWF-Philippines spearheading the movement in collaboration with various sectors to promote environmental awareness and action.
The Department of Energy (DOE), which leads government initiatives to support Earth Hour, has urged the public to adopt responsible energy and water conservation practices in line with the theme – “Switch off and secure water for all.”

Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla stressed the interdependence of energy and water; that every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed requires water – whether for cooling processes in thermal power plants, hydropower systems, or the energy needed to pump and distribute water.

Various organizations and businesses actively support Earth Hour. For instance, the Jollibee Group announced that over 4,300 of its stores across 16 markets will turn off their lights on March 22 at 8:30 p.m. local time, demonstrating their commitment to the cause. Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, in collaboration with WWF, will lead Earth Hour 2025 with a series of sustainability-focused events, one of them the Bike Parade, a community ride in partnership with Firefly Brigade and Greenpeace PH.

SM Supermalls and Robinsons Malls will also be switching off lights for Earth Hour and will hold various events on Sustainability.

Moreover, local government units are organizing activities to engage communities. For example, the City Government of San Fernando, La Union, is hosting an Earth Hour 2025 Poster Making Contest, encouraging residents to showcase their love for the environment through art.

In many schools across the country, activities and programs are held to strengthen awareness on environmental issues, and nurture a love for nature.

Switching off the lights on Earth Hour has expanded to other actions to protect the planet. In 2023, the “Biggest Hour for Earth” movement asked everyone to switch off and give an hour for the planet to the “Hour Bank.” In just the first year of the campaign, WWF reached more than 410,000 hours pledged in the “Hour Bank.” In 2024, supporters from more than 180 countries collectively contributed over 1.4 million hours through the “Hour Bank,” which collects initiatives from individuals who do something positive for the planet for 60 minutes.

Supporting Earth Hour goes beyond the symbolic act of turning off lights; it represents a commitment to sustainable living and environmental stewardship. By participating, individuals and organizations demonstrate their dedication to reducing energy consumption, mitigating climate change, and preserving natural resources for future generations.
Collective actions, even as simple as switching off lights for an hour, can lead to significant positive environmental impacts when adopted globally.

By turning off our lights for one hour tonight, we not only conserve energy but also signal our commitment to a sustainable future.

A review of 'Bonhoeffer'

BY AJ SIYTANGCO

Mar 22, 2025 00:12 AM

AT A GLANCE

While it has no big names to draw crowds, "Bonhoeffer" is still engrossing enough to capture one’s attention for its roughly two-hour runtime.

On the surface, "Bonhoeffer" is a war film full of intrigue and combat.

The trailer enforces the notion with shots of the war and the featured dialogue about a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. But while yes, the movie mostly takes place during World War II, it doesn’t precisely center around it. You quickly discover that it is much more than that.

Instead, it can be read in two distinct but related ways. One, it is a frightening depiction of how calculatingly systematic the Nazi rise to power was. From Hitler’s rise to Chancellor to the indoctrination of the youth to the dealing with the “Jewish Question,” it covers, almost step by step, how the Nazis slowly but surely capture Germany in its grasp.

Two, it is a heroic portrait of those who opposed it. Looking back through movies and history books, it is easy to see Germany as a unified force that spread evil worldwide. But the truth is that some stood up against the Reich at significant cost.

One such dissident was the titular Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Jonas Dassler), a noted theologian and pastor, who spoke up openly against the crimes and oppression perpetrated by the Nazis on everyone, Germans and non-Germans alike.

By jumping back and forth through different times, we see Deitrich grow from a naive young boy to a man who dared to speak truth to power. We see him as an idealistic young seminarian whose eyes are opened to the world’s injustices and inequalities while studying in America, then eventually, as a leader, a symbol of the resistance.

A large chunk of the movie concerns Bonhoeffer’s steadfastness in his faith. He opposes the Nazi’s oppression because it is the right thing to do. After all, his faith demands it. He cannot stomach the evils visited upon the Jews or the blatant corruption of the church. He calls on his faith in God for wisdom and strength for what he believes must be done. This highlights one's faith and trust in God, which can make this, strangely enough, something fit for Lenten's viewing.

While it has no big names to draw crowds, "Bonhoeffer" is still engrossing enough to capture one’s attention for its roughly two-hour runtime. It is probably the closest thing to a feel-good war movie you’ll find.