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!
During his second administration the former President Marcos said, "No redemption is possible without the solid foundation of virtue." In EL FILIBUSTERISMO Jose Rizal said, 'Redemption presupposes virtue; virtue means sacrifice, sacrifice means love ... it means existing reason and the dignity of the individual, loving whatever is just, good and noble."
Dr. Jose Rizal is indeed the initiator of Philippine-German Cultural Relations. He was one of the first Filipinos who admired the Germans in the Philippines and abroad. More than anybody else, it was he, "initiated the cultural relations between Germany and the Philippines and German speaking scholars. Dr. Cecilio Lopez, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Oriental Studies at the University of the Philippines, wrote in his article "Rizal and the Beginning of German-Philippine Cultural relations," that: "With his inquisitive nature and thirst for knowledge, particularly in what concerned his country, Dr. Rizal sought out these scholars, exchanged ideas with them, and nurtured friendship to the end." (Quotation from "The Joint Enterprise", Manila: Rizal Publishing House Co, page 33).
In "One Hundred Letters of Rizal", page 24, one can read what he wrote to his parents:
"With respect to my studies about diseases of the eye, they are progressing well. I know how to perform the operations. I shall have to train in studying the ocular fundus which needs much practice. In Germany, I am told that they teach this well. I am going to Germany with nearly $100 which will be reduced to $75 after deducting the transportation fare. If I find that the cost of living is cheap I shall matriculate and it may not be necessary to help me in two or three months. In six months, I hope to speak german, study and follow my specialty... ."
I also learned from my mentor Professor Dr. Monsignor Hermogenes 'Gene' E. Bacareza, that Rizal even translated Friedrich Schiller's "Wilhelm Tell" (William Tell), which his compatriots in Spain asked him to do. In his letter to Blumentritt dated October 2, 1886 Rizal wrote:
"Meine Landsleute haben mir tagalische Übersetzungen von Schiller's Werken verlangt. Wie schwer muss diese Arbeit für mich sein, dass können Sie sich leicht einbilden, welche einer sehr verschiedene Ausdrucksart als die deutsche hat. Ich muss erst eine Phrase lange besinnen und betrachten, und dann suche ich den entsprechenden Ausdruck in Tagalisch, die Umschreibungen und die germanismus sorgfältig vermeidend. Ich tröste mich mit dem Gedanken, dass ich die Ehre haben werde, der grossen Schiller die Philippinen in Tagalisch vorzustellen.
My countrymen asked me for a Tagalog translation of Schiller's work. You can easily imagine how difficult I shall find this task, as the modes of expression are very different in German. First, I have to study and examine a phrase for a long time, then I try to find a corresponding expression in Tagalog, carefully avoiding paraphrases and Germanism. I console myself with the thought that I have the honor of presenting the great Friedrich Schiller to the Philippines in Tagalog".
Sometimes we want to see in every Filipino "another Rizal". I agree with Father Gene, that, surely not every Filipino can equal Rizal in intellectual endowments and in heroic grandeur. But in the facts of his or her personality, every Filipino has within him- or herself the capacity to be "another Rizal". With a citizenry such as that being developed in the new Society and in accordance with the mandate of the new Constitution of the Republic, the Filipino people could move on without trepidation and face with courage and confidence the hazards and challenges of the future.
Today, June 19, 2023, marks the 162nd anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s birth. We not only commemorate his life but also his legacy in various fields such as literature, arts, medicine, and philosophy. He is, after all, widely regarded as the “greatest Malayan who ever lived.”
It is disheartening that many young individuals today fail to grasp the significance of Rizal’s short yet impactful life. It is rare for someone in their 30s to exhibit such immense intelligence and have words and actions that carry profound consequences for a young nation, yet Rizal proved that age is not a limitation but merely a number.
Academicians, cultural experts, and even political pundits have consistently emphasized that to truly honor Rizal, we — especially the youth — must not forget his contributions to our nationhood. While the youth may probably recognize him from multiple films or documentaries, or as the face on our one-peso coin, the statue in the center of Luneta Park, or the namesake of a province, it is crucial that Rizal’s name continues to resonate with the values of freedom, intellectual pursuit, and national pride.
One of the best ways to (re)acquaint ourselves with Rizal is through his books. High school students cannot graduate without deep diving into the world of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Both literary masterpieces, these works played a pivotal role in igniting the sense of nationalism among Filipinos who, for centuries, were shackled under colonization. Rizal’s pen awakened the spirit of nationalism and lit a fire within the hearts of his compatriots, urging them to fight for their rights and reclaim their independence.
Beyond his literary prowess, Rizal's intellectual curiosity is endless. A man of many talents, he was not only a skilled writer but also a painter, sculptor, musician, and linguist. His thirst for knowledge led him to become a doctor, anthropologist, archaeologist, botanist, etc. He even knew how to speak in over 20 languages.
Despite the brevity of his 35 years on earth, Rizal left an indelible mark on our nation's history, challenging oppressive systems and enlightening minds. He proved that education possesses the power to break the chains of oppression, thus his insistence for the youth to be educated as seen, for example, in his establishment of a small school during his exile in Dapitan.
What truly sets Rizal apart is his humanity. He was not a mythical figure but a man who experienced both genius and doubt, of curiosity and caution. His beliefs were idealistic yet grounded in reality. He advocated for peaceful change, yet he simultaneously challenged the status quo. Though he explored the world, he still yearned to set foot on the land of his birth. Today’s Filipino youth can learn invaluable lessons from Rizal’s life, helping them navigate their own paths with purpose and perseverance.
As we celebrate Rizal's birth anniversary, it is not sufficient to merely pay homage to his achievements. Each of us must hold dear the values of freedom, justice, and love for country. If we ever waver in our nationalism or lose our way when faced with challenges, we need only recall Rizal’s works, his life, and his legacy. Through these, we will surely find our way back and continue to move forward as one nation.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan wants Filipino students to master more foreign languages aside from English.
Libanan said the students should be inspired by the great Dr. Jose Rizal, who mastered a bunch of foreign languages.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan (left), and Dr. Jose Rizal (Facebook, Wikipedia)
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan wants Filipino students to emulate national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in terms of the latter's mastery of foreign languages.
For this purpose, Libanan penned and filed House Resolution (HR) No. 910, which urges the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate foreign language studies into the K-12 Program.
“Our school system by tradition has been teaching Filipino children to emulate and aspire to be like Rizal. We might as well encourage them to study foreign languages, just like Rizal,” Libanan said.
Doing so would "acquaint learners with foreign languages other than English" and "encourage them to learn foreign language that will vastly improve their employability in the global labor markets of the 21st century", the veteran solon said.
Owing to his fascination with foreign languages, Rizal--often described as a polymath--became conversant in Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, and Swedish.
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, in her 2023 Basic Education Report, had declared that the department intends to revise and improve the K-12 program, with the aim of developing lifelong learners who are competent and job-ready.
In his resolution, Libanan said that “The whole world has become a global village with multilingual labor markets, thus creating a strong demand for workers with foreign language skills.”
Global corporations based in the United States, China and Japan – the world’s three largest economies – have been known to prefer hiring staff who can speak a second foreign language besides English, Libanan pointed out.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippines deployed a total of 2,150,000 workers to overseas labor markets in 2019, or an average of 5,890 every day, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
The number of Filipino workers deployed abroad has since dropped to less than one million yearly.
Despite the deployment slump, the World Bank estimates that the Philippines received up to $38 billion in cash remittances from all channels in 2022, making the country the world’s fourth-largest recipient of money from overseas workers, after India, Mexico and China.
Rizal grew up to be skilled in both arts and sciences, and is better known as the author of his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Rizal also contributed to La Solidaridad, a newspaper that pushed for reforms. His famous essays in the newspaper were the Sa Mga Kadalagahan Sa Malolos, Bulakan, Filipinas Dentro De Cien Años (The Philippines Within a Century), and Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos).
Other written works of Rizal are Mi Retiro (My Retreat), Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), and an annotated edition of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
The country continues to pay tribute to his heroism through the many monuments, shrines and places that are named after him.
No one can miss Rizal in a regular day in the Philippines, starting with his face on the one-peso coin, a main avenue in any city or town named “Rizal Street,” major sports venues, university, elementary and high schools, even hospitals that carry his name.
PHILIPPINE HERO – Dr. Jose Rizal, who used nonviolent means for advocating reforms, was executed by a firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896 after being convicted of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy. (Photo by Library of Congress website/Manila Bulletin file photo)
Jose Rizal, a Philippine hero who stood up against Spanish colonizers by choosing the pen and not the sword to fight injustice, is the focus of tributes as the nation commemorates his 126th death anniversary on Dec. 30, a non-working holiday.
Rizal’s life was short. At the young age of 35, Rizal was executed by a firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan after he was found guilty of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy.
I first “met” Rizal through a small, thin book that I read when I was a kid. The book—titled Talambuhay ng mga Bayani—tells the short biographies of Filipino men and women who contributed to the country’s independence from Spanish colonizers. I learned the story about the hero from a summary of his life from his birth to death. I was very young then and I remember trying to memorize the details, especially his complete name.
Rizal (Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda) was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh among 11 children—two sons and nine daughters—of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.
RIZAL MONUMENT -The Rizal monument stands at the Rizal Park, more popularly known as Luneta Park, in Manila. (Manila Bulletin File Photo)
He grew up to be skilled in both arts and sciences, and is better known as the author of his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Rizal also contributed to La Solidaridad, a newspaper that pushed for reforms in the country. His famous essays in the newspaper were the Sa Mga Kadalagahan Sa Malolos, Bulakan, Filipinas Dentro De Cien Años (The Philippines Within a Century), and Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos).
Among Rizal’s popular written works are Mi Retiro (My Retreat), Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), and an annotated edition of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
Rizal’s written works are proof that the pen and paper are powerful tools to influence opinion and to bring reform as they inspired people to take action. He chose the pen as a peaceful way to advocate reforms without causing bloodshed.
Rizal’s talent and skills exceeded what is expected from one person. Aside from being a writer, Rizal was an “architect, artist, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian,” according to joserizal.ph website.
The country continues to pay tribute to his heroism through the many monuments, shrines and places that are named after him. No one can miss Rizal in a regular day in the Philippines, starting with his face on the one-peso coin, a main avenue in any city or town named “Rizal Street,” major sports venues, university, elementary and high schools, even hospitals that carry his name. There have been many essays and stories published about him, and films and television shows produced about his life.
In Manila, Rizal Park, popularly referred to as Luneta Park, is the main venue for family gatherings, festivals, shows, exhibits, and dozens of tree planting activities held every so often to celebrate any occasion.
It is also at Rizal Park where a 12.7-meter monument stands with honor guards 24-hours a day.
Near that monument, in a small corner of Rizal Park is the site of where the national hero was executed on Dec. 30, 1896. A diorama of the execution showing Rizal and the soldiers stand in that plot of land to remind locals and foreigners of our hero.
If you want to pay your respects to our hero today, visit Rizal Park.
The production and creative team of GMA Network’s top-rating and phenomenal series ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ take part in the latest #MagingMagiting advocacy program of Ayala Foundation, Inc. which highlights the heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal.
This Dec. 29, Ayala Foundation will premiere on its Facebook page the seventh edition of the Digital Magiting Conference with the theme “Rizal Revealed: Muling Kilalanin ang Magiting na Bayani.”
Present during the recorded digicon were GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Creative Consultant of Maria Clara at Ibarra, Suzette Doctolero; the show’s director, Zig Dulay; and Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo who plays the role of Ibarra.
Rasonable recounts the moment they pitched the exceptional concept of Maria Clara at Ibarra for the first time, “One of the most nerve-wracking processes para sa aming mga producer ay ang mag-present sa top management lalo na kapag ang konsepto ay kakaiba. But I am proud to say that those concepts were the ones greenlighted by our bosses. And we thank our top management because that is the reason why the Entertainment Group has been able to present a really wide range of topics.”
Ching-Sy also shares how they came up with the story of a Gen Z who enters the world of Noli Me Tangere, “At that time we were looking for material that will challenge the drama department in all aspects of production. It was Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes who came up with the idea. Sabi niya, ‘why don’t we do a retelling of Noli and El Fili?’ And then Suzette Doctolero took the challenge and she added the element of Gen Z to resonate with the younger audience.”
Meanwhile, Doctolero highlights the nationalism of Rizal as seen in his works and now in the hit series, Maria Clara at Ibarra, “Ang mga akda ni Rizal ay napaka-relevant pa rin hanggang ngayon. Kung ano ang usapin tungkol sa exploitation ng mga Pilipino noon ay nagaganap pa rin ngayon. Ang Noli Me Tangere ay napakayaman na content para i-adapt sa soap opera. Bilang manunulat, ang ambag namin para sa nation building ay ituro ang ganda ng kultura at kasaysayan natin kasi ang sarap maging Pilipino.”
Dulay also narrates the main factor on why he accepted this groundbreaking project, “Noong sinabihan ako na ire-reimagine ang obrang ito, sobrang saya ko kasi sino lang ba ‘yung nabibigyan ng pagkakataon para makaambag sa bansa gamit ang sining. Super favorite ko ang Noli at El Fili dahil bukod sa great love story nina Maria Clara at Ibarra, itinataas niya rin ang konsepto ng pag-ibig maging sa bayan at sa sarili bilang isang Pilipino. Sa isang henerasyon kung saan usong-uso ang fake news, ang saya sa pakiramdam na magtanghal ng ganitong klase ng teleserye.”
Trillo, on the other hand, reiterates that their series is a significant way to commemorate the bravery of Rizal,“Magandang pagkakataon ito na ituro sa kanila ang mga likha ni Rizal at malaman ng bawat Pilipino na siya ay isang halimbawa na dapat tularan, lalo sa kanyang adhikain para sa bayan at kabataan. Hindi siya natakot kahit ganito ka-dark ang kwentong isinulat niya kaya’t na-expose ang sitwasyon ng mga Pilipino noong panahon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila.”
Viewers of the digicon are primarily public school teachers. Hence, GMA Network and Ayala Foundation aim to inspire them to see Rizal in a new light and therefore share with their students a newfound enthusiasm for his novels.
“Each and every one of us sa broadcast industry has that responsibility to promote love of country. Tulad sakin na dekada na ang binilang sa pagpo-produce ng programa, nandun ‘yung gusto mong magpatawa, magpaiyak, at magbigay ng impormasyon pero dahil sa ganitong programa na naghihikayat sa kabataan na mahalin ang bansa nila, mare-realize mo na you have so much power to help shape a country,” Rasonable said.
Ching-Sy added that Rizal is an epitome of the greatness and brilliance of Filipinos, “Bilang media practitioner, mae-embody ko ang kagitingan ni Rizal by sharing these stories. I hope kaya nating i-showcase sa buong mundo ang artistic excellence ng mga Pilipino. Kung paano ang directing, acting, design, and cinematography, we have to share to the world how beautiful our stories are.”
Doctolero also points out their biggest goal for Maria Clara at Ibarra, “Gusto naming ma-remind ang audience na kahit naaaliw tayo sa ating pinapanood, importante na kapag nahihiga na sila sa gabi, maiisip nilang ang ganda pa rin talaga ng Pilipinas kahit ano pa ang mga problemang nangyayari kaya dapat lagi nating ipaglaban.”
“Natutuwa ako na nakakatulong ang Maria Clara at Ibarra sa pagbibigay-halaga sa kasaysayan at kultura ng Pilipinas. Sinisikap ko talaga na maging socially-relevant ang mga proyekto ko. Ito ‘yung responsibilidad ko bilang storyteller na dapat bukod sa nakakalibang ay nakakapagtanghal din siya ng kahalagahan,” Dulay mentioned.
Moreover, Dennis believes that through his craft, he can manifest the patriotism of Rizal, “Pinatunayan ni Rizal ang kagitingan niya sa pamamagitan ng paglaban kung ano ang tama at makatarungan. Malaki ang role namin para ipakita sa kabataan ang ganda ng bansa at mga katangian natin para mas lalo nilang mahalin ang pinagmulan nila.”
Catch Maria Clara at Ibarra,weeknights at 8 p.m. on GMA and at 9:40 p.m. on GTV.
Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.GMANetwork.com.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan (left), and Dr. Jose Rizal (Facebook, Wikipedia)
