Song of songs

 

ABOUT US

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

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By Klaus Döring

October 30, 2026

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is an exquisite collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. It presents an inspired portrayal of ideal human love, a resounding affirmation of the goodness of human sexuality that is applicable to the sacredness and depth of married union.

U.S. musician and author Ted Gioia argues in his excellent book “Music: A Subversive History” (2019): “At every stage in human history, music has been a catalyst for change, challenging conventions and conveying coded messages — or, not infrequently, delivering blunt, unambiguous ones. It has given voice to individuals and groups denied access to other platforms for expression. Pop music has often been dismissed as ‘lightweight’ given its young audience, simple snappiness and mainstream status, but those elements are really where its strength is concealed. Pop songs don’t originate themes of mental wellbeing, equality, liberty, activism — but they do transmit them to the broadest platforms possible.”

Snap the radio on, zip to any station, and what are you likely to hear? Love songs. Songs of new love, songs of disappointed love, songs of grateful love, songs of crazy love. I still remember my time as a radio host in Davao City several years ago, playing the hits of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Nothing has changed. Times change, but throughout history, the flow of love songs has been a constant.

Plenty of people are surprised or even shocked to find an explicit love song in the Bible — complete with erotic lyrics. But the “Song of Songs” is exactly that. It shows no embarrassment about lovers. Consequently, intermittent attempts have been made to rule the “Song of Songs” out of the Bible. It’s like making it “for adults only.” Imagine, my dear reader, in 16th-century Spain, for instance, professor Fray Luis de León was dragged out of his classroom and taken to jail for four years. His crime? He translated the “Song of Songs” into Spanish.

If you start reading the “Song of Songs,” you will find that this book conveys a very different atmosphere from most modern love songs and pop music. Since love songs are always popular, many people approach the “Song of Songs” with great expectations. However, readers often find the book quite different from what they had expected. One challenge is its poetic imagery. Another is that the “Song of Songs” is hard to follow. One part doesn’t seem connected to the next.

explore the “Song of Songs.” One thing is for sure. You’ll learn a lot about the love between God and His people.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit my blogs at www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

What could happen to Earth in the future?

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

BUREAUS:KaliboBoracayRoxasBacolodAntiqueGuimarasManila

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By Klaus Döring

October 24, 2026

Our planet’s incredible biodiversity is under threat. Deforestation, habitat destruction, and pollution are leading to the extinction of countless plant and animal species. Ecosystem imbalance: The extinction of even a single species can disrupt an entire ecosystem.

Welcome to the future! An increasingly globalized humanity is faced with climate change, dwindling resources, overpopulation, and technological upheaval. Diverging paths for humans and transhumans, eco-technic societies dominating the globe, and the accelerating colonization of space are among the possibilities.

Mother Earth provides the plants, animals, birds, and fish that give their lives to feed and clothe human beings, while trees, plants, and soil provide us with shelter, warmth, and a way to grow some of our food. Insects ensure that our plants are pollinated and assist with their growth.

What is happening to Earth right now in 2026? Earth’s average temperature is approaching 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Climate models have warned of an increasing likelihood of reaching or exceeding that threshold.

What is happening to our Earth in 2026? The strength of solar activity will help determine how severe space weather becomes. Powerful solar flares or coronal mass ejections can cause problems here on Earth, too.

Future changes are expected to include a warmer atmosphere, a warmer and more acidic ocean, higher sea levels, and larger changes in precipitation patterns. The extent of future climate change depends on what we do now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The more we emit, the greater the future changes will be.

How can we save our Earth? Protecting our planet starts with simple things we can do to help protect it.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Cut down on what you throw away. Volunteer for cleanups in your community.

Conserve water. Shop wisely. Use long-lasting light bulbs. Plant a tree.

Geologist Ed Mathez commented: “I wish I could tell you what the future will bring, but no one knows for sure how global warming will play out.

“In fact, not knowing is one of the problems. Global warming is a significant risk to society. On the one hand, we do not know exactly what will happen. On the other hand, we realize that what could happen could be serious. And these consequences could affect different parts of the world in different ways.

“For example, there could be long periods of low rainfall in a particular region. The western United States is one area that is at particular risk to widespread drought.”

Humans’ negative impact on the environment is nothing new. We have always refused to maintain a balance with nature.

We are responsible for the climate crisis we are facing.

I see climate change happening, and I see it getting worse all the time. This makes me wonder what the future is going to look like for us. We have failed to realize that climate change directly affects us and our basic rights, such as the rights to food, clean air, clean water, education, and development. Temperatures are rising, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, and deforestation continues…

There is no us without Mother Nature.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

BAHALA NA!

 

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told. 

BUREAUS:KaliboBoracayRoxasBacolodAntiqueGuimarasManila

By Klaus Döring

Ever since I was a kid, I often heard the phrase/expression, "Bahala na.", usually in reference to being presented with something that's beyond one's control and leaving the outcome up to fate, GOD, or to the heavens.

In later years as I grew up, I was exposed to many philosophies, religions, and histories of a wide array of people. One of those was of the Vikings. Now, as I've understood it, the equivalent to the Christian idea of "Heaven" is the Norse "Valhalla".

Learning of this, it always piqued my curiosity if the Vikings ever traveled to the Philippine Islands and if, possibly, the origin of that phrase/expression of, "Bahala na!" has roots leading back to the Norse's "Valhalla".

From the sheer goodness of one's heart - are we really doing even small things for our fellow creatures?  Hey, don't you see it? We are becoming more and more uninterested. We live without concern. We are not making the difference. We don't even try or think about it. We have no influence or weight - neither good nor bad. Is that really what we want?

The taxi driver has learned his way and makes a detour without his conscience pricking him in taking my purse: "Nong, asa ka? Diretso lang!" ... "Sorry Sir!"

On the other hand, while walking a short distance somewhere down town, I don't care about the (blind?) beggar, who might really need a single centavo. Many other "business beggars" or swindlers have dulled my usually open handed character. Bahala na - suddenly, I don't care!

Several years ago, while riding a Jeepney (yes, I always loved to do so!), I listened to two passengers. "You know, our neighbor suffers from lung cancer. He asked me for a loan because he needs to be hospitalized." "And, what did you do?" -  'Wala, nothing, bahala siya. Why did he never quit smoking as I have told him already a long time ago!"

Well, here we are! Why should I help other people around me, if, on the other hand, MY cries of help or urgent appeals have been rejected, as intentionally unanswered? Indifference or egoism? It seems to be a privilege for us to close our eyes, ears, and mouth in such an indifferent and shameful way, that we hurt those who seek our attention.

Somebody tries to become our friend. Sure, why not?

Somebody was hired as a leader and needs the support of his or her staff. Sure, why not?

Somebody is ill and is suffering from persecution and needs us. Sure, why not?

Somebody needs our advice because he or she is facing a difficult decision or homelessness or living alone or losing the job. Sure, why not?

Somebody suffers overwhelming prejudice, provocation, and loss of reputation and badly needs the involvement of another helping hand. Sure, why not?

Because of indifference, we keep on destroying our good nature and the whole globe by unintentional or international contamination of the environment. Indifference allows wars instead of looking for peace. Indifference allows man to hide behind stupid excuses. Indifference goes so far that the employees of a company do not care about their work and jobs by wasting time and money. They must not be surprised if inevitable bankruptcy results.

Bahala na? I don't care? Another human scourge...!

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn  or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com. 

Aggression’s hotbed

 

ABOUT US

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

BUREAUS:KaliboBoracayRoxasBacolodAntiqueGuimarasManila

By Klaus Döring

October 17, 2026

Aggression’s hotbed can refer to both a metaphorical concept in psychology and a specific linguistic commentary: In neuroscience and psychology, the amygdala is often described as the brain’s hotbed for reactive aggression. It processes fear, threat, and anger, triggering immediate, impulsive aggressive responses before the prefrontal cortex can regulate them.

Empirically, extreme heat serves as a literal and situational hotbed for violence. The “heat-aggression hypothesis” suggests that rising temperatures can increase irritability, hostile thoughts, and physical assaults.

In societal commentary, journalists and columnists often refer to the unregulated media environment, or a “wicked pen,” as a hotbed that shapes public anger and societal conflict.

Honestly, it’s rarely a pleasure, joy, amusement, fun, or whatever to read and look closely at different daily papers here in the Philippines and elsewhere around the globe. Only bad and negative headlines seem to help increase a paper’s circulation. Yes, sure, our world has not become better.

The three “C’s” are the fundamental factors: catastrophes, crime, and crisis! Surely, television and other news media are not much better.

Sensible suggestions and negotiations, failed compromises, disclosures from prominent figures’ bedrooms, double standards, the church in deep crisis, calumny suits, and sometimes reports, editorials, and columns that drip with bad taste and spitefulness.

For more than 65 years, I have learned that a journalist can — of course — mentally form and shape public opinion, characters, life, communities, and the way things go. That’s why I have also learned that a journalist should always remember self-discipline, responsibility, care, inquisitiveness, and respect.

Of course, empathy and sound judgment, along with self-assurance, common sense, and human dignity, also belong, whether the topic is politics, economics, commerce, culture, sports, or special topics such as police reports or war correspondence.

Chasing rumors, revealing embarrassing and mostly untrue things, producing sensational reports to make money and increase circulation or viewership, and pursuing personal prestige are harmful to the public and especially to journalists themselves.

Writing with a wicked pen and having a sharp tongue don’t mean that a journalist, host, or commentator should walk disrespectfully through life, so to speak, like an elephant in a china shop. Likewise, it is the journalist’s duty to uncover, disclose, or reveal what the public should know, but without getting personal. Yes, eternal vigilance matters, even without a wicked pen and a sharp tongue.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X (formerly Twitter), or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

AGGRESSION'S HOTBED

 

By Klaus Döring

Aggression's hotbed can refer to both a metaphorical concept in psychology and a specific linguistic commentary:

In neuroscience and psychology, the amygdala is often described as the brain's hotbed for reactive aggression. It processes fear, threat, and anger, triggering immediate, impulsive aggressive responses before the prefrontal cortex can regulate them.

Empirically, extreme heat serves as a literal and situational hotbed for violence. The "heat-aggression hypothesis" proves that rising temperatures directly cause increases in irritability, hostile thoughts, and physical assault.

In societal commentary, journalists and columnists frequently refer to the unregulated media environment or a "wicked pen" as a hotbed that mentally shapes public anger and societal conflict.

Honestly, many times it's not a pleasure, joy, amusement, fun or whatever, to read and look closely at different daily papers. Here in the Philippines and wherever around the globe. Only bad and negative headlines seem to help increase the paper's circulation. Yes sure, our world has not become better.

The three "C's": are the fundamental factors: catastrophes, crime and crisis! Sure, television or other media news are also not much better.

Sensible suggestions and negotiations, making compromises fall through, disclosures from prominent figures' bedrooms, double standards, the church in deep crisis, calumny suits, and, sometimes reports, editorials and columns, which drip with bad taste and spitefulness.

For more than 65 years, I learned that a journalist can -of course- mentally form and shape the public opinion, characters, life and community and the way things go. That's why I also learned: a journalist should always remember self-disciple, responsibility, care, inquisitiveness, and respect.

Of course, empathy and power of judgement together with self-assurance, common sense and human dignity belong also to it, no matter if the topic is politics, economy, commerce, culture, sports or special topics such as police reports or war correspondence.

Chasing after rumors, revelation of embarrassing and mostly untrue things, sensational reports to make money and to increase the circulation or viewer-ship and the drive for personal prestige is negative for the public and especially for the journalist him-/herself.

Writing with a wicked pen and having a sharp tongue doesn't mean that a journalist, host or commentator should walk disrespectfully through life, so to speak, as an elephant in China. Likewise it is the journalist's duty to uncover, disclose or reveal, what the public should know, but, without getting personal. Yes, eternal vigilance is very important, even without a wicked pen and a sharp tongue.

+++

Email: doringklaus@gmail or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or (X)-Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

52 filmmakers, 24 hours, one theme: ‘Biyahe’

 

By 

Mariela Angella Oladive

October 14, 2026

ILOILO CITY — Three student-made films emerged as the top entries in the Film as Pedagogy: A 24-Hour Film Challenge, the lead-up to Cinematahum 2026, the annual film festival of the University of the Philippines Visayas.

“Going Nowhere” by DFD Pictures, “Guyod” by FunFun Lang Productions, and “Sikway” by Tifosi Tintindisarapin Productions were selected from 10 films screened at the UP Visayas Cinematheque Centre in Iloilo City on Oct. 4.

Their final rankings will be announced at the Cinematahum 2026 Awards Night on Oct. 24, following screenings during the festival on Oct. 22 and 23.

Organized by Sineclub, UP Visayas’ university-wide student film organization under the Division of Humanities, the challenge gathered 52 filmmakers to produce a three-minute film within 24 hours based on the theme “Biyahe,” the Filipino word for journey.

The activity opened on Oct. 3 with a message from Ilonggo screenwriter-director Kevin Piamonte, who reminded participants that meaningful filmmaking does not require a large budget.

He encouraged the filmmakers to find joy in the creative process, work within their available resources, and let their passion sustain them through the challenges of production.

Filmmaker and writer Professor Jose Ruel Garcia also led a film development workshop during the opening program, sharing insights from his industry experience and practical advice on developing stories under tight deadlines.

Garcia encouraged participants to look beyond the technical aspects of filmmaking and draw from personal experiences and a clear sense of purpose.

He outlined four principles of storytelling: sharing oneself, listening to others, approaching stories with empathy, and understanding why a film needs to be made.

He also challenged the participants to reflect on whose stories they were telling and why those stories deserved to be heard.

“Ang henerasyon ninyo ay hindi na bago sa pelikula. Bahagi na ng buhay nyo ang pagawa ng films. Ang hamon ngayon sa inyo ay hanapin ang PUSO ng pelikula,” Garcia said.

Translation: Your generation is no stranger to filmmaking. Making films has become part of your lives. The challenge now is to find the HEART of the film you are making.

On screening day, Oct. 4, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano expressed support for student filmmakers and the university’s efforts to nurture local talent and promote film as a platform for storytelling and creative expression.

The completed films offered varied interpretations of “Biyahe,” extending the concept of a journey beyond physical travel to explore personal transformation, relationships, difficult choices, and social realities.

Through their narratives, the student filmmakers portrayed journeys experienced by individuals and communities.

Participants came from schools across Iloilo, including UP Visayas, UP High School in Iloilo, the University of San Agustin, Iloilo Doctors’ College, Iloilo Science and Technology University, and Central Philippine University.

ABOUT US

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

BUREAUS:KaliboBoracayRoxasBacolodAntiqueGuimarasManila