From Germany to Gubat: Philipp Dukatz Travels to the Philippines

Enjoying a buko juice on the beach of Sabang, Palawan. All photos courtesy of Philipp Dukatz

Philipp Dukatz was working for Germany’s biggest telecommunications company when he decided to leave his job, give in to his wanderlust and travel to Southeast Asia, as he had long dreamed of doing.

The result is a year-long trek in which he zig-zagged the region, visiting the temples of Thailand and walking with the Komodo dragons of Indonesia, crashing a wedding in Hue and riding on top of jeepneys in Sorsogon—all chronicled in his blog Escapology.eu.

While Dukatz has since gone back to the corporate world, he says there are still some places he wants to visit, and others he wants to go back to. He spoke to GMA News Online via email about his travels in the Philippines.

Sambawan Island, Leyte.

Q: Was the language barrier a big one? Were you able to communicate easily with people?

A: I have traveled all across Southeast Asia, visited 9 countries overall, and I can say that communicating in the Philippines was probably the easiest. This was due to the Filipinos’ good command of the English language which made interaction easier. I found it a lot easier to get to know people, strike up a conversation and socialize than in any of the other countries I have visited. And all of this made for the unique travel experience which I ended up having.

Q: You talked about living the "Buhay-Baboy" in Gubat, Sorsogon. Was that a radically different lifestyle than you were used to in Germany?

A: The term was coined during a longer stay in Gubat, a small seaside town in the province of Sorsogon. We spent Holy Week there at a little beach and surf camp organized by the local surfing community. We got to know locals as well as other Filipinos from Manila who were also there for the so called Hayahay camp. We often sat together, had good food, drinks, listened to music, sang and enjoyed those relaxed days. It was a good life, without much to worry about, lot of laughter and happiness. Someone called it “Buhay Baboy” which, as far as I remember, translates to a “pig’s life”. Everybody liked it so much that it stuck instantly. My travel mates and I adopted the term for the rest of our journey and quoted it whenever we had another one of those “Buhay Baboy Moments”.

This lifestyle, of course only temporarily, was very different from what I was used to at home. I was caught up in a stressful job, lots of obligations and lots of worries, which, now that I look back, where not even justified. So yes, it was different and I enjoyed it a lot.

Dukatz with some residents of Gubat, Sorsogon.

Q: Do you prefer going to the off-the-beaten-track places?
A: I definitely prefer it on a general note but sometimes it also feels good to return to the backpacker trail. Just to enjoy the company of other travelers, exchange stories and travel tales. But usually venturing off the beaten track makes for the better travel experience. The things you experience are more unique and the interactions with the people are more real than in areas which have been exposed to tourism for some time. I can say that the best memories of my journey wouldn’t have been possible without going off the beaten track. But as I said, mixing it up a little is usually good as being on your own in the remotest areas can become a bit exhausting after a while.

Q: I don't think you went to Mindanao. Was it a deliberate choice not to go there, and are you planning to go there in the future?

A: We were actually supposed to go there but in the end we ran out of time. I think to really explore Mindanao, we probably would have had to skip Palawan and that was a place I really wanted to see. But yes, being a surfer I really would have liked to surf Cloud 9 in Siargao, to see the enchanted river, visit Davao and explore the other highlights of Mindanao. In the end, you can’t do everything but it is something that is high up on my list for my next visit to the Philippines. Hopefully not before too long.

Wreck diving off the coast of Coron, Palawan.

Q: You noted all of your expenses. Is this part of your routine when going on extended travels?

A: In my opinion this is a must if you are traveling long term. It is easy to lose track of your expense if you don’t note them in one way or another. For most people who decide to travel long term, money is the limiting factor rather than time, and this was also the case for me. So if you can prevent to overspend and budget wisely, you will be probably able to stay away for a couple of more months. And that is a good motivation.

Q: Did you have any truly unusual experiences, the kind that made you go, "I can't believe this is happening to me right now" or "I can't believe I'm doing this"?

A: Well maybe two different kind of experiences. The first thing involves me setting out for a solo trek into the Malaysian jungle of Taman Negara. You are not supposed to that on your own but at that time I didn’t feel like joining a group tour. I underestimated the trek and it ended up being a grueling march through leech-infested terrain with 35 degrees at about 90 percent humidity outside. I found an abandoned bungalow complex by the river and camped out overnight. The next day I really didn’t feel like hiking back so I hitchhiked a local longboat to make it back to the village I was staying at.

The other story is about my stay in Gubat, which I mentioned above. It was nothing crazy or thrilling, but there I was allowed to experience the amazing and unique Filipino hospitality first hand. During those days, I was offered food, drinks and shelter by people whom I was just introduced to. I was able to make real friends which is an extraordinary thing when traveling long term. I look back at this time with a smile on my face and a humble feeling of gratitude.

Dukatz and some newly made friends in Batad, Mountain Province

Q: Where are you off to next?

A: For now I am back to work so I can’t even tell when I will go traveling again. But I definitely want to visit the Philippines again and I can just hope that it won’t be before too long. I have received so many travel tips by my blog readers and facebook fans, that my list of places I want to explore is too long already. I’d like to see Ilocos, Batanes and Mindanao, just to name a few. Apart from that there a few countries in my bucket list which are really intriguing. Certain parts of India, Bhutan, Mongolia or Tibet for example. But at this time I have no real plans made..... not yet.

Cliff jumping in Siquijor.

Aufraeumarbeiten nach Dauerregen auf den Philippinen

Am Donnerstag haben die Aufräumarbeiten begonnen.

 

Schweres Gerät für Aufräumarbeiten.

Die Bewohner der überschwemmten Region um die Hauptstadt Manila reinigten ihre Häuser. Nach drei Tagen Dauerregen - die heftigsten Güsse seit vier Jahren - normalisierte sich die Lage langsam.

Nach Angaben des philippinischen Roten Kreuzes zog sich das Hochwasser aus dem Großteil des Stadtgebiets zurück. Nur noch zehn Prozent des Gebietes stünden unter Wasser, sagte Rotkreuz-Chefin Gwendolyn Pang. Es werde weiter Nothilfe geleistet, das Rote Kreuz konzentriere sich aber verstärkt auf die langfristigen Bedürfnisse der Flutopfer.

Nach Angaben des Sprechers der nationalen Katastrophenhilfe, Reynaldo Balido, kamen durch das Unwetter 17 Menschen ums Leben. Mehr als 500.000 Menschen seien aus ihren Häusern geflohen. 217.000 von ihnen seien in staatlichen Notunterkünften untergebracht, 346.000 weitere seien bei Freunden oder Verwandten untergekommen.

Nördlich von Manila standen 500 Dörfer weiterhin unter Wasser. In Manila gingen die Menschen wieder an ihre Arbeitsplätze in den Büros, der Börsenhandel wurde wieder aufgenommen. Die Schulen sollten dagegen noch für den Rest der Woche geschlossen bleiben. Sie mussten gereinigt werden oder wurden als Notunterkünfte gebraucht.

Take you to the Philippines- Philippine Music Video

Philippines' Music and Images

No Burial of Marcos At Heroes’ Cemetery

Check out more here:

Bishop says no to burial of Marcos at heroes’ cemetery

Fishkill

I have been and I will remain an intolerable, merciless, and unrestrained environmentalist. Ecodooms and pollution as well as contamination of our environment go on without limits. This latest news infuriated and distressed me again and again. Yes, I have written about this topic many times already. And also this post will not be the last!

Last November large "Imelda" fish went belly up in the Pasig River, while the surface of Bicol's Lake Buhi was nearly covered with dead 'tilapia". Good heavens! I stayed twice at Lake Sebu in South Cotabato and enjoy this wonderful fish three times a day! I was really sad to know that in Southern Metro Manila, large milk fish or "bangus" has being sold for as low as 10 Pesos per kilo as cases of fish kill were reported across Luzon in the wake of typhoon "Basyang" last year.

Fish kill has been occuring with increasing frequency all over the Philippines in recent years, and not just during the typhoon season. The phenomenon, which can leave tons of fish decimated, has become a regular reminder of the need to clean up the Philippines' waters. Fish kill has been occuring more often as toxic waste is dumped into the waters around the archipelago. Of course, pollution is also killing spawning grounds of marine life, resulting in a steadlily dwindling fish catch.

What are our local governments doing to protect the environment and avoid the horrific damage of the nation's food security?

I feel horrible reading such news from Australia, that scientists have discovered sea life hundreds of meters below the Great Barrier Reef, in an unprecedented mission to document species under threat of ocean warming. Can you imagine? Ancient sharks, swarms of crustaceans and a primitive shell-dwelling squid species were among the astonishing life?

Let's keep in mind: scientists have already warned long time ago that the attraction is a serious jeopardy, as global warming and chemical run off threaten to kill marine species and cause disease outbreaks.

Quo vadis, Mother Earth?

The Noble Mind and Heart

In times of WikiLeaks releases, truth commission, natural disasters (Cancun?), global  economical problems and (again) dwindling hopes of several people around me, dreaming (not only) of a White Christmas but a better future, I do feel inspire to put the cart before the horse.

Maybe at the end of this piece I'll tread the footsteps of other bloggers, columnists or commentators. So be it!

Pride comes before a fall - but never magnanimity, The dictionary defines magnanimity as in greatness of mind and generosity of heart especially in forgiveness. Often times Filipinos are really a magnanimous people having the quality of being high souled, rising above pettiness or meanness and the generosity in overlooking injury or insult.

The late Harry Emerson Fosdick, a famous Protestant teacher wrote: "No man ever saved anybody, or served any great of left any enduring impress, who was not willing to forget indignities, bear no grudges. The world's saviors have all, in one way and another, loved their enemies and done them good!"

Magnanimity, applied to relations between nations and people, transforms hostility into helpfulness. No "West Berlin inhabitant" (and count me in!) will forget the U.S. airlift during the East German-Russian blockade, when the so-called "raisin bomber planes" kept West-Berlin and its people alive. 

What quality in human character do you consider the most admirable of all? How about the tolerance toward another's viewpoint without smugness? How about refusal to judge another's action or motives without first knowing what lies behind them?

U.S. writer Clarence W. Hall said before: "Magnanimity must be developed and habitual by practice, but it's a virtue that sweetens and glorifies life."

People with a noble mind and heart are fond of day dreams. Of course, fantasies don't have to be a flight away from reality. In fact, psychologists are discovering since long time, that day dreams can play a creative role in self-development and a better mutual understanding. They are also one of the best things for the well being of a family - and a whole nation.

Philippine Barangay Power

It is really good that every three years between local government elections, every Filipino will have the power to choose who will govern the neighborhood in which he or she lives.

As one could learn from several books, barangays are in the Philippines since pre-Hispanic days. When the Americans took over in the Philippines, the barangay was renamed BARRIO and the leader became the barrio captain or tiniente del barrio. Under the Marcos regime the barangay was once again revived, and the name of its head replaced as barangay captain. 

Why do I talk about barangay power? Of course, the Local Government Code of 1991 has given back the barangays more power and structure, as well as reponsibilites. Fact is also, that there have been several attempts to modify and even abolish this indeed most basic of the Philippines' political units.

The barangay is keeping the community working and is responsible for local matters such as peace and order and constitutes a powerful link for any city, provincial and national politician. Barangays are still taken a load off the regular courts since conflicts are encouraged to be resolved at the barangay level. 

I also strongly agree with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) which wants the barangays as the first line of defense against global climate change. Costal barangays, in example, should be given more priority since they are the most vulnerable to rising sea levels rise. 

(Barangay Captain from Buhangin, Davao City, James "Jimmy" Salvador, during an interview after his re-election)

An Email from InterNations GmbH in Germany

I was very glad to receive the following email from Germany:

Dear Mr. Klaus Doring,

First of all let me congratulate you on your informative website. I liked the way you structured the information in order to give useful tips for your visitors about culture, lifestyle, your adventures and a lot more! I was personally happy to see your commitment and ability to write interesting posts about the daily life in the Philippines as an expatriate!

I am sure that our expatriate members would be happy to have a look at your blog! ... I will be more than happy to create an entry for you in our City Guide. This way we can draw our members' attention to your website and promote it among 200,000 members. 

... Here is some more information about InterNations: InterNations is the biggest global networking site for expats of various nationalities and their family members. At the moment InterNations unites more than 200,000 members in 235 cities worldwide. On our platform, expatriates and their partners can connect with compariots, ask for advice on everyday life in their host country, provide other members with useful tips, make new contacts and find information in our City Guides.

... The restrictions - membership is invitation-only - are necessary for our community in order to maintain a high level of quality, trust and confidence for our member base. The registration process is easy, safe, free of charge, and it will take you only a few minutes.

...Keep on updating your exciting Blog!

Sincerely 

PHILIPP VON PLATO

Founder & Managing Director InterNations GmbH, Muenchen/Germany.

Thank you very much Philipp von Plato. I joined already your community and for all those, you like to join also, here is the link:

http://www.internations.org/expats/home/philippines
http://www.internations.org

Or visit my "Important Links/Wichtige Links" and click "Expatriats"!

Hunger in The Philippines

Actually I am always very careful when it comes to surveys. Not only in the Philippines - everywhere! After being back from several trips to Cebu, Manila and some parts in Mindanao I came across the Social Weather Stations (SWS) - BusinessWorld nationwide survey conducted last September among 1,200 respondents.

Fewer families claiming to suffer hunger!  So far so good. The latest hunger figure is lower than the 21.1 percent of families (4 million households) then in the survey conducted last June. 

Survey questions about household hunger are always directed to the household head, using the phrase 'experienced hunger; and did not have anything to eat'! The measure of hunger refers to involuntary suffering because the respondents answer a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of anything to eat. 

Three times daily a meal? 

Overall hunger declined in all geographical areas: Mindanao, 16.3 percent (which SWS translates to 700,000 families); Visayas, 15.3 percent (580,000); Balance of Luzon, 14.7 percent (1.2 million); and Metro Manila, 20.3 percent (507,000 families). Likewise, the survey also showed, that there were about nine million families or 48 percent who claimed they are poor.

Again: it is just a slight improvement: fewer Philippino families claiming to suffer hunger.

Dengue - and no end!

While being back in Davao I received another interesting PNA-message from Iloilo City about predators' disappearances blamed for dengue rise - not ONLY in the Philippines.

An environmentalist lawyer, who has been assigned by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Iloilo chapter to assist the city government in prosecuting violators of environmental laws, has cited the disappearance of natural predators as one major setback in the fight against the spread of dengue fever.

Attorney Daniel Dinopol said natural predators in the barangays - such as frogs, insects and specially spiders - are fast disappearing. These could have helped in the battle against dengue, he said.

Honestly, I am always glad and happy to find spiders and frogs in my wild natural tropical garden here in the Philippines.

Listen to this: Dinopol said the friendly insects and spiders are part of the natural environmental cycle that kill the dengue-carrying mosquitoes, especially in stagnant and water-clogged areas. The spiders spun its web to trap the flying mosquitoes while frogs and other insects prey on the mosquito larvae as their food.

The lawyer also said the situation is further aggravated by the unrestricted use of pesticide that also killed spiders and other environmental-friendly insects. The Department of Environment and Natural resources and the Department of Agriculture should take steps in restricting the killing of these friendly insects, especially the spiders.

Philippine Musicians and Their Future

I am living in Davao City since 1999. Sad to say, but if it comes to Philippine music, Philippine musicians and Philippine music culture, Davao City remains as a cultural fallow field. 

If one talks about the whole Philippines, one really has to agree with  Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit president OGIE ALCASID, who pointed out: "If there is a dismal lack of major local concerts these days, at least there are small gigs around town that show "life goes on for Pinoy musicians". Again, even being an expat, please allow me to express: HAY NAKU!"

For those, who are residing in Manila, or those, who can afford just to fly there, it might be correct. Of course, it has been a great event - the most unexpected jam, even long time after midnight, when one of my idols, Gretchen Barretto sang "Last Night of the World" and "Sun and Moon" from "Miss Saigon". Tracks I have been brought many times during my radio show "Classics at Night"... . As Pocholo Concepcion of the "Philippine Daily Inquirer" stated very correctly: "Gretchen should indeed seriously pursue a singing career!"

Yes, life goes on for Philippino musicians and singers. But is this really enough?

Visa Program Generates Jobs

The Bureau of Immigration reported some days ago that 530 foreign investors and their dependents have availed themselves of the agency's special visa for the employment generation (SVEG), which in turn gave at least 35,000 new full-time and regular jobs to Filipino workers.

A report submitted to Commissioner Marcelino Libanan showed that 141 Korean investors topped the list of the visa applicants since the scheme was implemented in April last year. 

Bureau of Immigration Spokesman Floro Balato Jr. said that aside from Koreans, the list of applicants includes 43 Chinese, 27 Americans, 19 Taiwanese, 16 Britons, 15 Indians, 11 Japanese, 11 Australians, 8 Malaysians, 6 Singaporeans, and 4 (!) Germans.

Other nationalities who availed themselves of the job visa are Austrian, Bangladeshi, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Egyptian, Finnish, Greek, Hong-Kong, Indonesian and many more.

Balato said that as of May 2010 344 principal applicants and 186 of their dependents have availed themselves of the job visa and paid the Philippine government more than 6,7 million Pesos in immigration fees.

7107 Islands - in The Typhoon Belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire

My 100th column 

on this site is more or less a reprint from Manila Bulletin in October 2009. I find the article very interesting and would like to share it with you here:

The Philippines has experienced some of the world's most fatal natural disasters, but it has also witnessed a population united, relentless, and selfless in extending help those in need.

August 31 - September 4, 1984: Typhoon Nitang - One of the deadliest typhoons in Philippine history, its heavy and rainfall and wind killed 1,492 people. Between 200,000 and 480,000 people were left homeless in the wake of the storm. In Surigao del Norte, at least 27 towns were completely destroyed by the typhoon, leaving at least 304 dead. Nearly 100,000 people were left homeless in Cebu. About 70 percent of Surigao City was destroyed. Immediately following Nitang, the Philippine government dispatched a C-130 aircraft carrying relief supplies to the affected areas. The large loss of life resulted in morgues running out of coffins, leading to bodies being as asoon as possible buried to prevent the spread of diseases.

July 16, 1990: Luzon Earthquake - The densely populated island of Luzon was struck by an earthquake with a 7.8 surface-wave-magnitude, resulting to a 125-kilometer-long ground rupture that stretched from Dingalan, Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya. An estimated 1,621 people were killed in the earthquake; most of the fatalities were located in Central Luzon and the Cordillera region. Baguio City was hardest hit by this earthquake, causing the collapse of 28 buildings, including hotels, factories, government and university buildings, as well as many private homes and establishments.

November 10 - 14, 1990: Super Typhoon Ruping - The typhoon's heavy rainfall produced mudslides that, combined with the heavy wind, resulted in damages worth over 14 million US$.over 748 people were reported killed, making it the strongest and deadliest typhoon of the 1990 Pacific typhoon season. Ruping's damage to the infrastructure of the city and province of Cebu forced its local leaders to rethink governmental priorities. A conscious effort to rebuild after the damage was promoted, resulting into the boom of Cebu's economy, dubbed CEBOOM.

June 15, 1991: Mt. Pinatubo Eruption - Over 800 people were killed by the eruption, mostly by roofs collapsing under the weight of accumulated wet ash, a hazard that was greatly exacerbated by the simultaneous arrival of Typhoon Yunya. The evacuation in the days preceding the eruption certainly saved tens of thousands of lives, and has been hailed as a great success for volcanology and eruption prediction. In total, 364 communities and 2.1 million people were affected by the eruption, with livelihoods and houses being damaged or destroyed. More than 8,000 houses were completely destroyed, and a further 73,000 were damaged. The estimated cost of repairing the damage to infrastructure was 3.8 billion Pesos.

Tropical Storm Uring followed (November 2-7, 1991) as well as the Super Typhoon Rosing from October 30 - November 4, 1995. Later the Philippines experienced Typhoon Milenyo (September 27-October 1, 2006) and Typhoon Reming (November 26-December 1, 2006).


September 25-28, 2009 - Typhoon Ondoy - The resulting landslides and severe flooding left at least 246 people dead and 38 others missing. Public and private roads were clogged by vehicles stuck in floodwater. Thousands of motorists and more than 500 passengers were stranded at the North Luzon Expressway. Distress calls and e-mails from thousands in Metro Manila and their worried relatives flooded TV and radio stations overnight as most of the power, communication, and water lines were lost. On the Internet, citizens turned to various social networks like Twitter, facebook, and Multiply to share news updates and forward cries for help from people trapped in the floods. Google Maps was used to pinpoint locations of stranded people while various blogs and websites shared information on how to donate money and in-kind goods.

Philippines - my Philippines! Meine geliebten Philippinen!

One thousand variations... eintausend Variationen...

I love the ocean. One main reason more for me really enjoy living in the Philippines. Ich liebe das Meer. Ein Grund mehr, warum mir das Leben auf den Philippinen so viel Freude bereitet... .

Once Philippines - always Philippines.

Einmal Philippinen - immer Philippinen.

I like to thank Mr. Klaus and Mrs. Helen Uy-Schweinheim for sharing their pictures (taken in Iloilo and Bohol) with us.

Philippine Dances/Philippinische Taenze

Eine junge Frau bewegt sich langsam und selbstsicher vorwaerts, Sie traegt ihren Kopf erhoben, nach fuerstlicher Art. In den Armen haelt sie zwei grosse Faecher. An ihrem praechtigen Kleid laesst sich ablesen, dass sie reich und priviligiert ist - sie ist eine Prinzessin. Eine Dienerin haelt einen mit Quasten besetzten Sonnenschirm ueber ihren Kopf und folgt jedem ihrer Schritte. Vier Begleiter bringen zwei Bambussstangen herein, legen sie kreuzweise auf den Boden, ueber- und untereinander, und beginnen, sie in einem rhytmischen Fuenftertakt gegeneinanderzuschlagen. Die Edelfrau beginnt mit grosser Anmut und Gelassenheit zwischen den in bewegungbefindlichen Stangen zu tanzen. Dieser Tanz, der moslemische SINGKIL, wird  haeufig von halbprofessionellen Tanzgruppen aufgefuehrt. 

Tief im Innern des Landes hoert man das Echo des Gonges, die verkuenden, dass die Maedchen zu tanzen beginnen. Mit Floeten und Bambusharfen spielen die jungen Maenner des Dorfes ihrer Geliebten eine Serenade.

Jeder Stamm hat seine eigenen Traditionen und Braeuche, eigene Taenze und dazu eine eigene Musik. 

MABUHAY heisst Willkommen {"Welcome"), und das wird das erste Wort sein, das Sie hoeren, sobald Sie das farbenfrohe Inselreich betreten.

Expats and HealthcareAuswanderer und Gesundheit

Long time before starting to be an expat (not only in the Philippines) I thought about the very important topic health care and insurance.

Read more in www.edgedavao.net.

Just look for the Competitive Edge Section and my expat column.

My Philippine Mentor

I owe him a lot. I met him for the first time during the 1980's, when he was the Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin. "Father Gene" involved me in many things - especially, when it came to media and publishing.

Msgr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, SVD, born in Maribojoc, Bohol, was an internationally known scholar, author, linguist, lawyer and historian, holding two doctorate degrees in Modern European History and Canan Law. He studied at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Goethe-Institut Inter Naciones in Munich/Germany, at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome/Italy, specializing in Ecclesitical Rotal Jurisprudence with a grade of Summa cum Laude.

He has written several books and published numerous articles in different learn journals. I was blessed to be part of his two publications for Filipinos abroad and in Germany during the 1980's (Ang Mabuhay and Deutsch-Philippinischer Informationsspiegel Berlin). 

Some time in January 2003 in appreciation of his efforts to promote harmonious relations between the Philippines and Germany, Dr. Johannes Rau, former German President, conferred on Father Bacareza, the highest honor from the Federal Republic of Germany, the "Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse" (Insignia of the Order of Merit) at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School Auditorium in the presence of his students, faculty, German Embassy officials and members of the German Community in the Philippines.

His doctorate and several publications regarding the Philippine-German Relations are not only interesting to read - it's a must to read for every one, who wishes to know more about this topic.

From time to time, I'll be publishing some more facts and notes here on my website.

Until his death, Father Gene kept on teaching in Manila. He visited my family and me in Davao City shortly before he passed away in April 2011. Thank you very much Monsignor Bacareza for teaching us/me a lot about this fascinating topic.

Staying for Good in The Philippines?

Staying for good in the Philippines? Yes, why not!

My view, and not only mine, on safety and security has changed over the last 30 years. I have written about it several times in different publications. As I said before, I did stay in more then 60 countries worldwide. The rise of terrorism and natural disasters told me that there was not and that there will be no place on earth, which is entirely and absolutely safe.

Foreign travel advisories especially regarding the Philippines, and mostly Mindanao are (sorry!) absurd and never well proven. Many friends of mine abroad are still planning to retire in the Philippines and stay here for good. Some of them are getting discouraged because of all these negative news.

As I said, there is no absolutely safe place in the whole world. I visited "dangerous' places like the "Black-People-Soweto" in Johannesburg, the Golan Heights and some well known infamous parts of Los Angeles, being the only White among Blacks birthday parties. 

Even before living in Mindanao, I went to several places in Davao Oriental, Monkayo and even stayed in Cotabato. Of course, media, especially from so-called "safe countries" (again which are these?) still love to sensationalize the negative aspects in the Philippines.

Back to the other half of those foreigners, who are planning to settle down here: they feel happy and safe. Of course, sensibility and awareness are always parts of our life. Here and everywhere. this has nothing to do with the Philippines. 

The dream that globally governments and people might build peace and unity by respecting all cultures and religions and work for equitable distributions of the world's resources, and more for sustainable development that respects nature, will remain as a dream.

Whatever are the decisions of others, I stay in this country for good and forever. Living in a gated village or not - one can live a simple but meaningful life - here in Davao City or where ever in the Philippines.

Mabuhay!

One EARTH - our EARTH

As Philippine writer Ida Anita Q. del Mundo confessed: "With the formation of Earth Day Networks, people around the world have recognized the importance of taking care of the Earth. Now on its 40th year, countries all over the world will be clebrating Earth Day on April 22!"

Earth Day is indeed an example of the power of one - as Bebet Gozun, chairman of Earth Day Network Philippines and 2007 Champion of the Earth awardee of the United Nations Environment Program voiced it out several days ago.

In 1990, Earth Day went global, with the Philippines becoming one of 144 countries that joined the celebration. Since then, the Philippine branch of Earth Day Network has established itself as an active supporter of the cause. I really love to publish this also here on my website. During the last two years the Philippines placed first in the world when it comes to Earth Hour participation. 

This is the way for people how to show they care!

And, how DO YOU care?