WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (XXIX) : Back on air and first diplomatic impressions

A great day of honor awaited all of us: my mother became 90. She had "one more wish". "Let's go to the Waterfront Insular Hotel again", she asked Rossana and me. We went there. After that, she never left the house again. A year later, just four days after my birthday, she never woke up from her nap. In the morning, during breakfast, were her last words, "Those were the best 16 years in my life that I was  allowed to spend with you and our Filipino family".

Yes, that's so true:  the most important thing about having a Filipino family is that you will always have someplace to go, even if it’s your third or fourth cousin from your mom’s side whom you haven’t seen in fifteen years. For Filipinos, when a family shows up at your door, you let them in. Much like how Robert Frost’s famous poem goes, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

For months I have received phone calls, emails and even letters telling me when I would finally be hosting a classical music show on the radio again. "And what do you want to do? Can you still manage of all this in addition to your teaching and other work"? Rossana asked me with a big frown. "If you help me, I can do anything", I answered her in a confident voice. The then 104.3 FM Edge Radio Davao gave me time-slots on Sundays: in the morning from 9 to 11 and as replay from 7 to 9 PM. Ludwig van Beethoven and all classic masters were back again. 

While Rossana kept our business in Davao City going, I traveled to Manila several times a year. For several years I have enjoyed speaking to the different ambassadors (photo with Ambassador Thomas Ossowski). Main topics were the situation in Mindanao and the Philippine-German relations. I had learned a lot on the latter subject from my mentor, Monsignore Hermogenes Bacareza, Father Gene. The former Philippine Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Minerva Jean A. Falcon mentioned it during on of her speeches: Philippine-German relations are built on the strong foundations that link the people and culture of two countries. Formal relations between the Philippines and Germany began only in the 1950's, but the social  and economic relations date back to the colonial times when Hamburg opened  a consulate in Manila. The Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, stayed in Germany from 1886 to 1887. It was in Berlin where he published his novel Noli Me Tangere.

Rossana and I were then invited to Manila: 60 years of Diplomatic Relations between Germany and the Philippines & 24 years of United Germany. A touching event, i.e. together with the Philippine Madrigal Singers and  an amazing violin soloist a la Vanessa Mae.

Back in Davao, I continued my German language teaching. In the meantime, I, as well as my students, had got used to a very special phenomenon: Filipino Time. Picture this: You turn up at an event 30 minutes late. You probably didn't mean to, but that's just how things turned out. When you get there, you realize you're not late at all because the organizers accounted for Filipino time and set the real start of the event an hour later than stated. But I could never imagine being late with my radio program as well as teacher at the university ... .

(To be continued!)

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (XV)

Chapter XV: My home - two countries

Meanwhile, Rossana and I had been married for over six years. We commuted back and forth between a lot of work for various publishing houses and several trips within Germany. Our flights for the next stop in the Philippines were also already booked. 

"Can't we go to the theatre or a concert again?" Rossana asked. "I already miss Ludwig van Beethoven and all the others", she added. Said and done. Although we were both piano lovers, this time a violin concerto awaited us. The one in d-major, opus 61 - Beethoven's only completed concert in this genre. Rossana was particularly fond of the third movement Rondo-Allegro. With its 6/8 theme, it is reminiscent of a hunting theme, which is later processed in a virtuoso cadence.

From Beethoven to Imelda Papin - from Germany to the Philippines. The difference couldn't be greater. But Imelda Papin was on a European tour and also paid a visit to Berlin for a performance in our Philippine Community.

Imelda Arcilla Papin (born January 26, 1956) is a Filipino singer and one of the bigger names in the Philippine music industry. Dubbed the "Sentimental Songstress", Imelda Papin is responsible for songs such as "Bakit (Kung Liligaya Ka Sa Piling Ng Iba)" and "Isang Linggong Pag-ibig". 

Our life became once again a roller coaster. "She" really came to Berlin. Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, born Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009), popularly known as Cory Aquino, was a Filipino politician who served as the 11th President of the Philippines from 1986 - 1992 as the first woman to hold that office. It was an official state visit. 

Once again, I developed feelings of wanting to live in the Philippines forever, although Rossana and I were really not doing badly in Germany especially in Berlin.

In March 1989, we flew again to Rossana's (and meanwhile my second) home - this time for another six weeks and with our best friends from Berlin: Christa, who worked then at the American Embassy, Barbara and Ronald as well as Jochen. 

First travel destination: Cotabato City. At that time, it wasn't exactly a safe plan... !

(To be continued!)

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (XII): Special Visitors

Chapter XII: Special Visitors

The time just flew by. Rossana's culture shock was gone. I wondered why she never talked about homesickness. The first year of her stay in German was over. We spent our first vacation in the Canarian Islands - one of my favorite places before. Sun, sand beaches, the ocean, blue sky, and pleasant temperature. 

The editors' conferences of my law magazines made it possible to travel more and more: by plane or by car. Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Bayreuth, and then Cologne. My publisher just let Rossana come with us. "At least that's how she gets to know Germany", he replied when he saw my incredulous looks.

"I feel so insanely small", she was amazed when we visited and inspected the Cologne Cathedral.

Back in Berlin, we visited one of the largest trade fairs in the city - the International Tourism Exchange. "There is sure to be a Filipino stand there too?" Rossana asked me. "I'm pretty sure, there is", I replied. It was the first time she'd speak to Filipino compatriots. Eva was one of the first. She invited us to join the Filipino Community in Berlin.

 

The community became her second home in Berlin. Cultural events as well as Filipino customs like the Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo took place. Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. Flores de Mayo (or “flowers of May” in Spanish) is a month-long festivity held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Santacruzan (that's “holy cross” in Spanish), on the other hand, is a colorful procession that recalls Queen Helena's search for the holy cross.  

The regular Filipino Sunday mass with Father Gene Bacareza and happy get-togethers: well, Rossana's homesickness didn't exist anymore. Letters from her family asked more and more often, when we would visit the Philippines again.

And then came the big day of a private visit of vice-president Laurel and family. Salvador Roman Hidalgo Laurel (November 18, 1928 – January 27, 2004), also known as Doy Laurel, was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the vice-president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 under President Corazon Aquino and briefly served as the last prime minister. Rossana had so many questions for entertainer son Kokoy.

Then finally Rossana and I sat down and discussed how we could book our flight to the Philippines because the news from home wasn't all positive.

(To be continued!)

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (III)

Chapter 3: Land of the setting sun

Our touch down in Tokyo was precise to the minute. "Like in Germany", commented my buddy Jürgen. And he continued, "The Japanese have a lot in common with the Germans, they are always on time and love to work a lot". 

Well, this was 1976. I am not sure about nowadays. Fact was, I plunged into a world with many opposites to mine. It also meant that in the future I would make many mistakes that could not be consistent with Japanese tradition.

Our family stays were designed in such a way that we could get to know typical Japanese life in different social classes. In Tokyo, my "papa-san" was a television director. In Kyoto, my "papa-san" worked as a bank employee. In Osaka, I found myself in the countryside - my "papa-san" was a rice farmer. The great moment, Michiko would enter my life.

Tokyo - a breathtaking city where we lived in a small space. I got the impression that the TV studios where I was allowed to go in and out were bigger than our home. My "papa-san" made it possible to put me on screen in different TV-shows as "his son from Germany". I was overwhelmed... . 

My appetite for media of all kinds grew. It was television first.

Kyoto followed. And a bank manager. I remembered that my parents always wanted me to become a bank manager one day. But even then, I already knew I wanted to be a journalist one day.

Osaka follows. An awesome and wonderful life in the province remains with me from my childhood - just a little bit different. Now I had countless rice fields in front of me. Only many years later in the Philippines would I get the same feeling that I did here. And in Osaka, I met my first love at sight in Asia - Michiko.

It was the love story of my life at this time. I learned that we couldn't walk hand-in-hands behind the public. I learned that she could never travel to Germany and marry me there. I learned a lot more about Japanese traditions.

Six months after returning back to Germany, I got a very sad message from another Japanese close friend. A terrible earthquake had killed her and her family.

Hiroshima was one one of my saddest experiences in Japan that was never forgotten in my heart. Visiting the atomic bomb memorial left me with a lot of doubt and negative thoughts. As an opponent of the arms and war, in 1974 I had moved to West Berlin -  a place, where, as German citizen, I couldn't be drafted into the army. West Berlin is a place that would dramatically shape my future. Not only because one day I would even meet Nora Aunor there personally.

After my return from Japan, another big event awaited me in West-Berlin. A trip to Moscow. A trip and invitation. Radio Moscow - German Language Production had written a letter. For me a journey into uncertainty. A journey in between the world powers during the Cold War. I asked my buddy Jürgen to accompany me. "What do you want in Moscow, man? It's already in winter", he asked me.

I could convince him to travel with me. 5 days - not longer! I agreed.

(To be continued!)