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!
Showing posts with label MARGE C. ENRIQUEZ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MARGE C. ENRIQUEZ. Show all posts
Valeria wrap, Mariposa wrap and Bella Bonita were reimagined along with a new hand-draped Banaca short dress. —ARTHUR TSELISHCHEV
Ditta Sandico, pioneer of modern Filipiniana, is celebrating 40 years in the industry. She traces her roots to the mountains of Bulalacao, Mindoro Oriental, where her passion for sustainable fashion was stirred. As a teen in the ’70s, Sandico spent summers with her father, cattle rancher Fernando Hizon-Sandico, who developed agricultural lands. These trips, filled with immersion into the natural world and encounters with the Mangyan tribe, the Hanunoos, deeply influenced her.
Sandico was mesmerized by the fastidious embroidery and weaving techniques of the Mangyan weavers, who became her first teachers. However, as an established designer returning to Mindoro at the turn of the millennium, she was disheartened to discover that these traditional crafts had nearly vanished.
Determined to revive the art of Mangyan weaving, Sandico provided the weavers with materials, introduced fashion colors, and encouraged them to experiment with new designs. Since 2018, she has been collaborating with the Mangyan community on product development for her eponymous label.
Allow yourself an inner smile, a gentle greeting of self-love, and acceptance. —VECTEEZY
The time will come/ when, with elation/you will greet yourself arriving/ at your own door, in your own mirror/ and each will smile at the other’s welcome,/ and say, sit here. Eat./ You will love again the stranger who was your self./ Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart/ to itself, to the stranger who has loved you/ all your life, whom you ignored/ for another, who knows you by heart.
In his poem “Love After Love,” Derek Walcott examines the importance of cultivating self-love, a facet of oneself that is frequently overlooked.
Speaking in a webinar on self-compassion, British psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Eagger explained the poem’s gist: “That idea of, ‘Do I have my own best interests at heart?’ is crucial. Often when we’re in pain and suffering, we add insult to injury. We criticize ourselves. We indulge in perhaps not very healthy behaviors. We engage in actions that are not so constructive.”
She continued, “So the question becomes, ‘How do I become my own best friend?’ When we practice self-compassion, we’re essentially engaging in a form of meditation. We’re utilizing the energy of love. Spiritually, we understand that the energy of love, peace, and happiness resides deeply within our core. This is our true essence, beneath all the layers of experiences and the conditioning we’ve acquired throughout our lives. Our conditioning forms the outer surface. But what truly lies at the very center of our being? By practicing self-compassion, we tap into that spiritual energy, connect with the identity of our soul, and explore its core qualities.”
Taking action
Dr. Eagger is the chair of the Spirituality Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, also the National Spirituality and Mental Health Forum, the British Holistic Medical Association and the Janki Foundation, and a certified mindful compassion teacher.
“We often associate compassion solely with others. However, it’s crucial to consider: ‘What does compassion mean to me?’ The word ‘compassion’ literally means ‘to suffer with.’ It arises when we witness another’s pain or difficulty, prompting a desire to help. This is a specific, active emotion rooted in empathy, requiring us to recognize another’s suffering and feel their pain,” explained Dr. Eagger.
Compassion is more than just feeling sympathy; it involves a desire to take action. This active response is a practical emotion, driven by our innate caregiving instincts, she added. These instincts, rooted in the mammalian caregiving system, involve neurotransmitters such as oxytocin, the hormone associated with love, trust, and bonding, and endorphins, the hormone linked with pain relief, pleasure, and elation. The act of giving or cultivating compassion is beneficial for both the giver and receiver.
Citing Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer, leaders in the field of self-compassion, she said their work, and the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion website, offer valuable resources.
Neff identifies three core components of self-compassion:
Mindfulness: This involves self-awareness–consciously acknowledging and accepting your current emotional state. As the saying goes, “You’ve got to feel it to heal it.” Noticing your discomfort is the first step toward bringing that energy of kindness to it.
Common humanity: Understand that suffering is a universal human experience. Instead of feeling isolated or lonely, recognize that others face similar challenges. This shared experience connects us.
Self-kindness: Cultivate inner kindness toward yourself, replacing self-criticism with understanding and support. This involves recognizing that your inner critic may stem from past experiences or societal influences, and consciously choosing to counter it with self-compassion.
“Research has shown that the inner critic triggers my threat response system. This self-criticism literally activates my body’s stress response, increasing adrenaline and anxiety hormones. Instead of allowing this inner critic to dominate, we’ll cultivate self-kindness in response to my experience,” said Dr. Eagger.
Safe space
When faced with pain or difficulty, practice self-compassion, applying the three components: Use the words that best describe your current experience. Acknowledge and validate your feelings. Remember, you are not alone. Millions of others grapple with similar emotions. These are common human responses to difficult situations. It’s natural to feel kindness and compassion for yourself during this challenging time.
As a gesture of self-compassion, place your hand on your heart or any area that brings you comfort and support. Recognize that you possess the capacity for compassion that you readily offer to others; now, extend it to yourself. Breathe in love and kindness, and exhale tension and suffering. Gently guide your breath to soothe and comfort you.
“Allow yourself an inner smile, a gentle greeting of self-love and acceptance. Release your hands and rest quietly in this feeling. Notice any arising thoughts or feelings and gently let them go,” she said.
Dr. Eagger cited that everyone has a safe space inside of them. “Descend deeper into this feeling of peace and stillness. Beneath the surface of your thoughts and emotions lies your true essence: a place of stillness, safety, and love. Here, you may connect with the universal ocean of compassion, filling you with strength and connection.”
Hayag Farm School in Davao del Sur —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
As groundbreaking initiatives go, the Bamboo Bootcamp and Hayag Farm School in Davao del Sur have emerged as catalysts for sustainable construction and community development.
The Bamboo Bootcamp, a workshop for builders, has not only birthed one of the tallest bamboo structures in the Philippines but is also revitalizing traditional building techniques and fostering a deeper connection to the environment. Its center of operations, the Hayag Farm School, has enabled Indigenous people to relearn fabrication skills and celebrate their connection to their land.
“The headquarters of the farm school and Bamboo Bootcamp in Baganihan, Marilog district is a living laboratory for sustainable living. We’ve established a bamboo village where we teach Indigenous people and anyone interested on sustainable building methods, such as bamboo construction and earth building, which uses clay, mud, and limestone as alternatives to cement. We’ve also incorporated permaculture principles into our curriculum,” says Rica Villanueva Gadi, CEO of Bamboo Bootcamp.
Chelsea Manalo cools down after a hypertrophy training. —CONTRIBUTED
To gear up for the Miss Universe pageant, the Philippines’ bet Chelsea Manalo embarked on a personalized fitness plan, which she knows is crucial for pageant success. By targeting specific areas such as posture and muscle tone, she aimed to enhance her stage presence and stand out from the crowd.
At Surge Fitness + Lifestyle gym in Glorietta 3, Manalo utilized a 3D Body Scanner to obtain precise measurements of her lean muscle, body fat, weight and posture. The analysis revealed a weak upper back and core, resulting from a “tech posture.”
Despite being a newcomer to the gym, Manalo’s fears were eased by coach Karlo Marcelo’s motivations. The program focused on optimizing upper body muscle definition and adding curves to her derriere through such exercises as squats, hip thrusts, walking lunges and kettlebell swings. She was also introduced to dance fitness and spinning classes.
Joshua Encisco and Abigail Oliveiro in the title roles —PHOTOS BY TEDDY PELAEZ
Ballet Manila’s reimagined production of “Florante at Laura” invites audiences to take a fresh look at Francisco Balagtas’ narrative poem. Through a blend of music, dance and visual arts, the ballet transforms the story into a moving experience rich in cultural wisdom and literary depth. The unexpected turns of the plot are sure to keep audiences captivated.
Artistic director and CEO Lisa Macuja-Elizalde assembled a team of topnotch creatives to bring this epic to life. Libretto consultant Dr. Michael M. Coroza streamlined Balagtas’ narrative while preserving its essence. To enhance audience understanding, a series of Coroza’s essays exploring the story, characters and enduring relevance of this 186-year-old masterpiece have been uploaded to balletmanilaarchives.com.
The center stage is the OFW's tiny studio, with the kitchen near the door and the toilet conveniently located elsewhere. --PHOTOS BY SANDRO PAREDES
“Request sa Radyo,” a local adaptation of a German monodrama, is a marketing and promotions triumph. For months, Metro Manila buzzed about the reimagined Samsung Performing Arts Theater experience, featuring internationally acclaimed stars and a world-class production team. Postevent stories and social media posts were equally enthusiastic.
Nonetheless, the show lives up to the hype. We attended the preview starring Lea Salonga. Producer and scenographer Clint Ramos had seen Franz Xavier Kroetz’s “Wunschkonzert (Radio Request),” a play about a modest wage earner returning home from work and listening to the radio. In Western society, the solitary life, though common, can be daunting, forcing individuals to confront their feelings. Ramos adapted the play for the Philippine experience, focusing on an OFW in a New York suburb.
Monodramas, plays with a singular character, are ideal for intimate black-box theaters such as PowerMac Center Spotlight. However, staging it in a black box wouldn’t make news. The reconfiguring of the 1,200-capacity Samsung Theater by a Tony-award-winning designer would. Ramos transformed the conventional theater experience into an arena. As you enter, the theater is surrounded by crates, symbolizing the country’s export of caregivers.
