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!

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Showing posts with label Living in The Philippines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living in The Philippines. Show all posts

Monday, June 10, 2024

Be still and know


 



“Be still and know that I am God,” the first half of Psalms 46:10, is a popular verse used to encourage believers to be still and silent before the Lord. This interpretation promotes a healthy rest in the presence of the Lord.


This command—“Be still…”—is written in a time of trouble and war; therefore, we should consider the verse with that context in mind. The phrase “Be still and know that I am God” calls us to pause and reflect. It reminds us that God is still in control no matter what happens in our lives.


Like many Bible verses, this one  is often ripped from its context to declare something not intended in the passage itself. Well-meaning Christians may use this as a consolation in times of worry and frustration – as if God is saying, “relax, I got this.”


In other words: Be still and stop your running to and fro. Slow down. Slow down long enough!


We have been conditioned to feel guilty whenever we are not “productive.” Stillness, even for the purpose of rest or prayer, can feel like wasted time to someone who lives in a world that values wealth, competition, high productivity, full schedules, and general self-importance.


Why is it important to be still? Being still is like replenishing the stores. It allows us time and space. It gives us time and space to self-reflect and actually hear our thoughts.


Yes, we are living in a noisy and hectic world. We also become noisy and hectic, many times. No time for rewinding and turning off the daily din and racket. We all become noisy people and troublemakers. Have you noticed it already?


Making time for moments of stillness can have powerful mental health benefits. 


Today, stillness can be hard to come by. There’s just so much going on. So much noise both inside and outside our brains, so many tasks on our to-do lists, and at least several screens within reach.


According to the Oxford Dictionary, stillness is “the quality of being quiet and not moving.”


Moments of stillness are possible even on the busiest of days. They are within our reach whenever we need them.


So many times, our relationships with partners, friends, relatives, work mates and neighbors get cracked.


Be still and know. Slow down long enough to hear God's voice too. There is indeed so much God if we only would slow down long enough to hear His voice. We are so overwhelmed with our earthly desires that all we think of is. Yes, God, I want You to do this for me, and I want it now!


What a fatal attraction! Learn to wait quietly on Him. When you begin to grasp something of our Lord's true greatness, you will be truly amazed.


Be still and know.


Tuesday, July 5, 2022

What is the pre-colonial word for "Kumusta" (Hello) in Tagalog?

 By

(Kumusta) is derived from the Spanish phrase (Como Estas?) which translates to (How are you?). In Tagalog this would translate to (Na pa'ano ka na?).

  • During pre-colonial times, the earliest type of greeting that was recorded is (Swasti), which was written on the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. This was dated to be from 900AD, or 1,100 years ago. This greeting was adopted from Hinduism.
  • The second greeting was (Salamat), which is derived from the Islamic greeting (Salaam). This is also related to (Shalom), which is a Hebrew greeting. However, in modern times (Salamat) simply translates to "Thank You" in Filipino. In our neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia, (Selamat) is still a greeting.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Next press secretary sees herself as a 'problem solver'


By Kristina Maralit, Manila Times


PRESS secretary-designate Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles will lean on her years of experience as a lawyer in performing her job as the incoming administration's chief communicator.

Describing herself as a "problem solver," the next chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said one of her priorities will be plugging the holes in the PCOO and its attached agencies.

"As a lawyer, when you handle a case, you solve the problem that a client has. Coming into the PCOO, what I want to do is help and that help comes in the form of solving certain problems," Cruz-Angeles told The Manila Times.

Her main job still is helping the president. "That is the main reason I'm here," she said.

"I'm also in charge of several attached agencies that come with their own unique challenges. I'd like to solve those challenges. I'm not saying that I'm going to succeed, but I like the idea of being able to come in and say, 'OK, let me do this for you. Ayusin natin 'yan (Let's fix that). That's my idea of public service," she said.

Cruz-Angeles had said she has started reviewing the existing projects of the agency as well as those in the pipeline to determine which will continue, and which will be shelved for the meantime.

Among the projects is the upgrading of the state-owned network PTV-4 and IBC-13 to give the government a wider reach in conveying its programs and achievements. To do this, the PCOO must first secure the needed funding, one problem the lawyer-turned-vlogger hopes to solve.

Still, Cruz-Angeles remains confident she and the rest of the Marcos administration's communications team will have few problems in making the public take notice and digest messages they will convey.

Because President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is "very personable," Cruz-Angeles sees "no issues" in communicating with the public.


Why the president-elect will be his ownspokesman on certain issues and questions

"Like he's very popular on social media, so we would like to hear and see him more on radio, other platforms. It's [about] bringing the presidency and his unique brand of leadership to where it is seen and appreciated. I want it to be more consistent, and now that he's going to be the leader of the entire country, he will now be directly talking to people and I'd like them to see how he is," she said.

Cruz-Angeles said Marcos "doesn't need to be interpreted, he's clear." The only thing she needs to do is find out Marcos' message. "I just want it to be like, 'OK, sir, I'll take this, and I will bring it to the people, more people.'"

She gave assurances that under a Marcos leadership, the rights of media workers will be protected and press freedom respected.

"There's never been an issue about dissent. The president-elect doesn't even answer his critics. You're free to talk. We're not changing anything. Whatever freedoms we have now will always be our freedom. Our Constitution guarantees that," she said.

Whatever happens, trust God always




By Fr. Roy Cimagala *



“WHY are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. (Mt 8,26)


These words of Christ, addressed to his apostles who were terrified when their boat was buffeted by big waves, should remind us that we should always go and trust God, especially in our difficult moments. He takes care of everything, even if his ways may not be in accord with what we want. His way of resolving our problems will always be what is best for us.


We have to realize firmly that nothing happens in our life without the knowledge and permission of God. And if he allows certain difficulties, calamities, predicaments to come to us, it is simply to give a trial and a chance to prepare ourselves for the end of our life. He always knows how to derive good from evil.


So, let us never be afraid of anything. We should just learn how to react spiritually and supernaturally, avoiding being trapped in our merely earthly estimation of things. Only then, can we see God’s ever-wise and merciful designs for us in every predicament we can find ourselves in. God’s providence never fails.


With all the things that we have to contend with in this life, we certainly need to have a healthy sense of trust in God’s loving and wise providence, abandoning ourselves in his will and ways that often are mysterious to us and can appear to be contrary to what we would like to have.


A healthy spirit of abandonment in God’s hands is necessary even as we exhaust all possible human means to achieve our goals or simply to tackle all the challenges, trials and predicaments of our life. We should never forget this truth of our faith.


Let us quote some words of Christ that form the basis for this belief:


“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?


“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?


“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Mt 6,26-34)


We need to engrave these words in our heart so that whatever difficulty we encounter in our life, we will know how to react. Very often, we tend to face things simply on our own, relying only on our own powers that no matter how impressive can only do so much.


* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com


Saturday, June 25, 2022

The right to disconnect

A LIFE WITHOUT CELL PHONE? I remember the time, when one of my first Japanese friends kept on complaining, why I didn't operate a cellphone. Believe me, during that time, sometime in 2000 or 2001, I was even typing my articles on an old typewriter from Germany.


My Japanese friend then bought me a computer - and a cellphone! Some other friends congratulated me: "Welcome back to the world!" 


Sometimes, I observed (business-)people operating with two or even more cellphones at the same time. I asked them: "How did you survive doing business before without these units?" Believe me or not. The answers have been mostly: I really don't know!


Doing business nowadays without a cellphone? Even a very private life? I can't imagine it anymore. Philippines' cellphone companies really provide us with the widest distribution and the broadest coverage to very affordable charges or even for free. I really enjoy, for example, the unlimited call experience - just to mention one.


Two handsets or even three. Ok lang, as long as it keeps my business running. 


Journalist Chris Stokel-Walker explained it very well: for the average working person, there’s no greater feeling than powering down your computer and kissing goodbye to your avalanche of work emails for the day. If we’re lucky enough to disconnect from the job on evenings and weekends, we’re overjoyed to leave work emails and the stress that comes with it in the office.


But experts say we’re increasingly failing to do so, instead bringing the burden home with us and fielding emails during our free time. Unsurprisingly, this routine has some serious consequences.


Now, it is a reflex, like checking my Facebook or Twitter timeline. Yes, it's indeed so - but never 24/7.


Working abnormal or long hours has long been linked with depression, anxiety and even coronary heart disease. Crucially, the importance of weekend recovery has also been correlated with weekly job performance and personal initiative. While further research revealed psychological detachment during off-work time, reduced emotional exhaustion caused by high job demands and helped people stay engaged.


So, if we know all this, it begs the question: why are we still letting work invade our precious weekends? 


According to Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology at Manchester Business School and president of the CIPD, the recent trend even spills into the way we access our work communications and projects.


Today, says Cooper, work emails are just a tap of a smartphone away. “You don’t carry your laptop around when you’re out to dinner, but you do carry your mobile phone,” he says. “The smartphone changed everything.”


The right to disconnect is a proposed human right regarding the ability of people to disconnect from work and primarily not to engage in work-related electronic communications such as e-mails or messages during non-work hours. The modern working environment has been drastically changed by new communication and information technologies. The boundary between work life and home life has shrunk with the introduction of digital tools into employment. While digital tools bring flexibility and freedom to employees they also can create an absence of limits, leading to excessive interference in the private lives of employees


If we don’t switch off from work we don’t recover from work. We should get the right to be disconnected. At night or during weekends.

Philippine Quality of Life

 


Friday, June 24, 2022

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐝𝐎𝐂, 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭-𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬


 

The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro, recently recognized the milestones of “𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑫𝒅𝑶𝑪", acknowledging its front-liners and partners in delivering genuine services to the constituents during the hardest of times.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hits the province, after one week or two, one of the programs initiated by the head of provincial hospitals, with the help of the technical working group of the province, was the formulation of “𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑫𝒅𝑶𝑪 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆” which is in response to limit the face-to-face contact during the pandemic intensification. Under the program, the patients, even if they are only in the comfort of their home, will be able to consult medical specialists from four (4) Provincial Hospitals in Pantukan, Laak, Montevista, and Maragusan through online modality and phone calls as well. 

In a statement by Governor Uy, “who would have thought of the onset of the pandemic, an innovative program developed by the young province can be made sustainable.”  The governor also highlights the achievement of the province within the 2-year time since the program has been developed, “September last year, we already catered all 250+ barangays, including the special barangays … as of today, the service has reached, served and treated almost 50,000 cases for free”.

The cost-free program garnered “3𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝑪𝑬 𝒊𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 & 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆” which is the first national award given by DICT last 2020  and it was also awarded as “𝑻𝑶𝑷 20 𝑺𝒆𝒎𝒊-𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒐𝒐𝒌” for sustainability out of 200 nominees. Thus, this could not be achieved without the untiring support of the Teleconsults/Doctors, Executive Committee, Government Internship Program, TWG especially for the Provincial Information and Communications Technology Office (PICTO) “the brains behind technology integration”, and even outside partners including APEX Mining Inc. for the administrative support, Globe Telecom for the implementation and UP Mindanao for the research and development of the program.

During the recognition and thanksgiving, medical front-liners shared their experiences during the darkest of times in protecting the lives of others and their families. Despite it, they were very much happy, the numbers tell, not only for the achievements and rewards of the program but also for the lives that have been saved. 

The ceremony also served as the appreciation of Governor Tyron Uy for Call DdOC’s partners during his term as Governor of the province.

“This is the result of our ingenuity and innovation sa atong probinsya and tungod pud sa atong mga dekalidad nato nga mga doctors and medical staff nga walay lain gihunahuna kon dili ang welfare gyud sa atong mga katawhan. Thank you kaayo sa atong partners,  we wish to continue this program, hopefully we can find ways that we can collaborate still under the Vice-Governor’s Office. This is not the end of our journey but rather this is just start of our journey towards attaining quality healthcare for all sa atong probinsya. Kanatong tanan, daghang salamat!” Gov Uy added. (𝐽𝑎𝑦𝑛𝑢𝑠 𝐹𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑧, 𝑃𝐴𝑂-𝐼𝑃𝑅𝐷, 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜s 𝑏𝑦 𝐽. 𝐶𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑧)


Inflation 'shock' hits euro economy

By Agence France-Presse


BRUSSELS: Economic growth in the eurozone plummeted in June, a key survey showed on Thursday, as high prices took the wind out the strong recovery from the deep lows of the coronavirus pandemic.

The closely watched monthly purchasing managers' index by S&P Global fell from 54.8 in May to 51.9 this month. A figure above 50 indicates growth; below that, a contraction.

The slowdown, caused by a "cost-of-living shock," is "the most abrupt recorded by the survey since the height of the global financial crisis in November 2008," excluding the pandemic-caused lockdown, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global.

Since the beginning of the year, the European economy has recovered strongly from the lifting of restrictions linked to the Covid-19 crisis. The move revived tourism in countries like Spain and Greece, as well as transport.

It also benefited from household spending, as consumers burned through savings accumulated during many months of confinement, offsetting the negative impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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But in June, the "tailwind" of this pent-up demand "is already fading," Williamson warned.

The latest data "is now consistent with gross domestic product (GDP) growth of just 0.2 percent for the second quarter, compared to quarterly growth of 0.6 percent at the start of the year," he said.

Thursday, June 23, 2022

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘄 “𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲”


After years of fighting against the communist movement, the entire Province of Davao de Oro is now free from insurgency after the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) recently passed a resolution declaring the province as 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲.  

The declaration also came after the combined forces of the 1001st and 701st Infantry Brigades of the Philippine Army successfully dismantled all the Guerrilla Fronts, which were all under the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the province since 2016.

10th Infantry Agila Division Commander Major General Nolasco Mempin said that "the total defeat of all the CTGs in the province is attributed not only to the dedication and aggressiveness of the commanders on the ground but to the strong leadership of Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, in his exemplary efforts in achieving its ultimate goal of lasting peace in the province.”

In response, Governor Uy expressed gratitude to all the members of the PPOC, national agencies, private partners, local government units, and the security sector – the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for their unwavering commitment and relentless efforts to counter and weaken the influence of communist rebels.



“𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛-𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑦𝑎 𝑠𝑎 𝑔𝑜𝑏𝑦𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜, 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑦 𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑦 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑏-𝑜𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑎ℎ𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑤 𝑠𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑦𝑎, 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡, 𝑤𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑠𝑎 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑜 𝑑𝑒 𝑂𝑟𝑜,” Governor Uy said.

The Oplan Pagbabago to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, a localized whole of nation approach program of the province, also takes a significant stride in transforming conflict-affected areas into peaceful and developed communities. Among the intervention programs implemented are the conduct of Serbisyo caravans, building of Bayanihan schools, and infrastructure projects to the areas which were hard to reach and seemingly left out of much-needed government services. 

The ceremonial declaration was also attended by National Security Adviser, GEN Hermogenes Esperon Jr., GEN Jose Faustino, Former 10th ID Commander, and appointed OIC of the Department of National Defense, LTGEN Greg Almerol, Eastern Mindanao Command Commander, PMGEN Filmore Escobal, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, Brigades and Battalion Commanders, Provincial Officials, and other key dignitaries. (𝑅ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑛𝑜 – 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒, 𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑅𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝐴𝑙𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑧)

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Metro Manila may reach peak of Covid infections in early July, says OCTA


(SCREEN GRAB FROM LAGING HANDA PUBLIC BRIEFING)


by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz


With the steady increase in new infections in Metro Manila, the OCTA Research Group projected that the Covid-19 cases in the region may reach its peak by the first or second week of July.

In a televised briefing on Tuesday, June 21, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said that Metro Manila’s seven-day average infections increased to 225 cases per day this week, from 131 cases last week.

This translates to a growth rate of 72 percent.

Moreover, Metro Manila’s Covid reproduction number and positivity rate also rose to 2.05 and 4 percent, respectively.

Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual, while positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who have been tested for Covid-19.

“Posible itong [average daily cases] tumaas between 500 and 1,000 [cases] by end of June or first week of July. Kapag ganyan masasabi na natin baka nasa moderate risk na yung situation natin (It is possible that the average daily cases will rise between 500 and 1,000 cases by the end of June or the first week of July. By then, we can say that our situation may be at moderate risk),” David said.

David pointed out that Metro Manila may see the peak in infections in early July.

“Tumataas yung bilang ng kaso [at] hindi pa natin nakikita yung pagbaba niyan anytime soon. Baka yung peak niyan could happen sometime first or second week of July (The number of cases is increasing and we are not seeing that to decrease anytime soon. Maybe the peak could happen sometime between the first or second week of July),” he added.

However, he noted that the region’s health care utilization remains within “safe” level, at 22 percent.

“We’re not projecting an increase in hospital utilization. Tataas ito pero hindi ganun kataas (It will go up but not that high) so we should still be okay,” David said.

“Hindi naman tayo kailangan matakot, maalarma. Pero syempre patuloy pa rin ang pag-iingat natin at personal responsibility (We don’t have to be afraid, be alarmed. But, of course, we still have to continue to be careful and practice personal responsibility),” he added.

He also noted that other parts of the country, such as Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Iloilo, and Benguet, are also seeing an increase in cases.

David said there is a need to “raise awareness” rather than “raise alert levels.”

“Ang gusto natin is raising awareness na tumataas yung cases, not necessarily raising alert levels. Kasi kung raising awareness yung mga kababayan natin mag-iingat sila, baka magpabakuna, magpabooster, at the same time matutulungan natin ang ekonomiya natin na hindi natin pipigilin (What we want is raising awareness that cases are rising, not necessarily raising alert levels. Because if our countrymen are raising awareness, they will be careful, maybe get vaccinated, boosted, and we can help our economy to further open up),” he said.

High gas prices mean fewer cars on EDSA

By Christian Crow Maghanoy, Manila Times


THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has noted a decrease in the number of vehicles traversing EDSA as a result of oil price increases triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.


In a news briefing on Tuesday, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the drop was noticed before the May 9, 2022 elections when they logged 27,000 users, a decrease from the daily average of around 500,000 pre-pandemic.


"On May 5, 2022, 417,000 vehicles traversed EDSA or above the 405,000 pre-pandemic level. But on June 9, we counted only 392,000. The other day [June 19], we counted again, and there were only 390,000 users. I think a big factor here is the continuous increases in prices of petroleum products," Artes also said.


He added that the MMDA will not expand the number coding scheme or the Modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (MUVVRP), which bases the scheme on license plates on particular days of the week, except holidays.


Under the scheme, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., license plates ending in 1 and 2 are barred from Metro Manila roads on Mondays; 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Sara to Filipinos: Love God, country


15th VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, takes her oath as vice president during rites in her hometown in Davao City, on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Duterte-Carpio clinched a landslide electoral victory despite her father’s human rights record that saw thousands of drug suspects gunned down. Also in photo are, from left, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman, and President Duterte. AP Photo/Manman Dejeto


By Catherine S. Valente, Manila Times


(UPDATED) TAKING her oath as the country's next vice president, Sara Duterte-Carpio on Sunday urged Filipinos to commit themselves to loving "God, family and country." She was sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando at the San Pedro Square in Davao City before a crowd of 5,000 people.

Her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, held the Bible by which she took her oath while her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, joined them on stage.

In her inaugural address, Duterte-Carpio said she believed that "we should commit to heart the priorities of God, country, and family" as one country united and determined "to overcome our difficulties and achieve our aspirations." She said the voice of the 32.2 million Filipinos that voted for her "was loud and clear — with the message to serve our motherland, and this message has been reiterated in my oath: to consecrate myself to the service of the nation." "There is a God. A God whose will transcends the desires of our hearts, one whose will direct us to the way that we might not have imagined — but a way that consecrates ourselves every day to help our fellowmen overcome the difficulties they face in their lives, to change lives, to save lives," Duterte-Carpio said.

"If we all take a moment to listen to the call to serve and decide to heed the call — in the same way that many are already devoting their lives as hardworking farmers and fisherfolk that ensure there is food on our tables, dedicated health workers who help the sick, brave soldiers who fight for our country, honest and fair entrepreneurs who support our economy, patient school teachers that guide our children — I believe the country will be heading toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability and progress," she said.

Duterte-Carpio called on the people to become patriots and draw inspiration from the life and works of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

"May his memory light up the fire within us to become patriots. Rizal taught us that selflessness and sacrifice could change our country's fate and shape our children's future. The bravery of Rizal completes the fabric of our identity as Filipinos," she said.

"Let us show our love for our country by taking care of our families and communities despite the unending challenges that come our way," she said.

She noted that "a strong, loving, happy family sets down all the basic foundations essential in the development and growth of a child." "Today, our children are facing a very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties. Some of these challenges include the winding cycle of poverty, the trauma of broken families, the life-long baggage because of irresponsible and bad parenting, the abandonment issues due to an absentee parent, the anguish of gender confusion and discrimination, the destruction brought about by drugs, the lure of easy money in criminality, cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, the failure to identify and speak up against different kinds of abuses, the life-altering effects of teenage pregnancy, the detrimental effects of illiteracy, the emotional injury of bullying, unstable mental wellness, recruitment to support terrorism, misinformation in the internet — and the list could be endless," she said.

We are meant to judge, but to judge fairly




By Fr. Roy Cimagala *




IN spite of our first impression on Christ’s words that we should not judge, since he said, “Judge not that you may not be judged,” we have to make it clear that we are actually meant to judge, but to judge fairly.


We are meant to judge precisely because we have been given the capacity to know things, situations and people as well with our God-given powers of intelligence and will. The very act of knowing already involves some judgment. We cannot know anything unless we make some judgments.


But we need to realize that we should judge fairly. Somehow this point is implied when Christ said, “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. And with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.”


In fact, in the gospel of St. John, we hear Christ saying: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge just judgment.” (7,24) It’s clear that we have to be most careful in our judgments. We cannot be reckless about them, judging persons and things on the basis of instincts or feelings alone, or on some opinions, personal preferences, social trends, and even sophisticated theories and ideologies. 


Such way of judging cannot capture the essential issues involved in a particular case. It will unavoidably get entangled with the non-essential elements. It will be at the mercy of the wiles of the flesh, the world and the devil himself.


We have to judge with Christ himself, and now in the Holy Spirit. With respect to this point, St. Paul had this to say: “He that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” (1 Cor 2,15) It is not pride to aspire to that ideal of being so spiritual to be able to judge all things.


Only in this way can we become persons of sound judgment. It’s an ideal whose importance, relevance and urgency are increasing these days, given the complicating conditions we are getting into.


That’s actually an understatement. We know that to be a prudent man or a person of sound judgment is essential to us, considering our nature and dignity, plus the growing scope of the responsibilities we are acquiring nowadays.


Not only do we have to contend with the multiplying pressures and conditionings on our personal, family and professional life. Not only do we have to grapple with the confusing ramifications of our social, economic and political life, sorting them out as best that we could.


With escalating insistence, we need to learn how to integrate the material with the spiritual dimension of our life, the here and now with the eternal and supernatural destiny meant for us.


We have to know how to live by faith, hope and charity, the essence of our supernatural life with God, in the middle of our daily activities and concerns, and in the pursuit of our temporal affairs, be it in business, politics, education, culture, sports, etc.


This necessity demands of us to be nothing less than persons of sound judgment. We have to overcome our tendency to be guided mainly by instincts, emotions, moods, fashions, and some sophisticated philosophies and ideologies that, while offering many good elements, actually lead us away from our proper end.


Let’s never dare to emit judgments that are mere products of our own making. We have to make them always in the presence of God and motivated by nothing other than love for God and for everybody else. We have to continually check on the rectitude of our intention, and the correctness and timeliness of our words and deeds.


* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Negativity kills

Sometimes, we feel our life is turning miserably. Our negativity doesn’t allow us to keep our eyes, ears and, most importantly, our minds, hearts and souls opened. We’re reaching our breaking point.


As I said several months ago here: this breaking point can be the prelude to our strongest moment. It is when we reach our breaking point, that we discover our real strength. Allow me to ask you, my dear readers, “What happens to you or with you when you reach your breaking point?” Do you face it, or do you run away?


I’ll be giving you a very simple answer: If you face it, you break it. If you run away (and/or close your ears, eyes, and mouth) – it surely breaks you!


Every day, a dull reality! Many of us will answer this question with a big YES! Actually, we do like to cover a newborn’s day already with a grey veil. Each day has a new face, but sometimes we don’t have the strength to watch its countenance. Of course, not every day has adventures and highlights.


But we enjoy quarreling and arguing. With other people and even with ourselves.


Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that, at the same time, seemed especially desolating and painful with a particular satisfaction. Indeed, everything I have learned, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness.


If it ever were to be possible to eliminate affliction from your earthly existence, the result would not be to make life delectable, but to make it too banal and trivial to be endurable.


By observation, we can feel that many of us need help to manage our everyday life. We need something that would keep us going as we journey through life. Many times, we can also learn from other people and their experiences.


Blue eyed or very philosophical but so very true: If the world is to be brought to order, a nation must be first changed.  If the nation isn’t changed, my hometown is to be reordered and must first be set right, my dear brothers and sisters. And one step further: If my family is to be regenerated, I MYSELF MUST FIRST BE!


And here is one more thing: Affection is the humblest love – it gives itself no airs. It lives with humble and private things: soft slippers, old clothes, old jokes, and the thump of a sleepy dog’s tail on the kitchen floor. The glory of affection, the disposition of mind, the good will and tender attachment, is that it can unite those who are not “made for one and another,” people. Who, if not out down by fate in the same household or community, would have nothing to do with one and another.


For me life has been a thing of ups and downs in approximately equal measure. I don’t have something sensational to report every day about my progress. Often, I wonder if fulfillment in life is necessarily tied to change for the better.

Saturday, June 18, 2022

What are Filipinos like?

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Filipinos are some of the most friendly, hospitable people you will ever meet. They are always quick to help out a stranger, and they love to celebrate. There are few things that Filipinos enjoy more than a good party, and they are always ready to dance, sing, and eat. Filipinos are also incredibly proud of their culture and heritage.They are quick to tell you about their country's history, and they are happy to share their traditions with anyone interested. If you want to experience the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people, there is no better way than to visit the Philippines yourself. You will quickly see why Filipinos are known as some of the most welcoming people in the world.


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Proud Bisaya Ko
Pinoy Podcaster
Lived in Iligan City
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What is the strongest tribe in the Philippine archipelago before the Spaniards arrived?

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Dayang Marikit

There we’re tribes in the deep mountainous interiors of the islands, but the most powerful cultures in the archipelago were not tribal.


Based on archeological evidence, it seems that Manila bay polities always has some form of influence over the archipelago. We could see this in the Laguna Copperplate, where it seems that Tondo had political influence as far as Dewata in Butuan.


By the time of Spanish contact they also mentioned that Manila had a monopoly of the archipelago’s trade, thus making the other polities in the archipelago almost completely dependent on Manila. It is important to note that by around this time, Tondo had become more of a port town, and its leader (Lakandula) was said to be more of a port supervisor than an actual ruler, most of the political power was concentrated in Manila. Chinese products would enter the port of Tondo and be transported to Manila, from where these products would be redistributed across the islands.

Based on Spanish accounts, when the Spaniards arrived in Butuan, they attempted to trade with the locals, but merchants from Manila ordered the locals not to deal with the Spaniards unless it was silver that was being traded. The Spaniards were also able to settle in Cebu because of Manila Moro interpreters who helped them make deals with the local rulers, then when the Spaniards almost starved to death in Cebu, Manila Moros brought them food and supplies. A Spaniard also mentioned that there was a powerful Moro ruler in Manila who was well known throughout the islands and that he was obeyed as little less than a king. Manila had basically woven a trading colony or a trading empire prior to Spanish colonization, and the Spaniards actually based their colony on Manila’s network.

The Spaniards also relied on the local blacksmiths in Manila to manufacture cannons for them, this is because they were already knowledgeable about cannon-making, even before European contact.


The main takeaway here is that Manila monopolized trade in the archipelago and that made the other polities become very reliant on them. The Spaniards also relied on Manila to make their own colony. In my opinion, that makes Manila the most powerful political entity by the time of Spanish contact.

  • The Spaniards were able to settle in Cebu with the help of Manila Moros, but the Spaniards still wanted to move to Manila. I think that gives you an idea about how wealthy and attractive Manila was.