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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Sunday, November 6, 2011

Standing By Myself?

(Pre-published in Mindanao Daily Mirror, Friday, November 4, 2011)

While being a columnist of "Tinig ng Bayan" (published in Abra) during the 1980s I remember our Taiwanese coordinator Cristina Lising-Geronga, who expressed herself in innumerable write-ups about the topic loneliness. Sure, "Tinig ng Bayan" has been a publication for Filipinos abroad. Loneliness, borne by Filipinos living abroad while missing their families in the philippines became a very "normal" expression.

During that time my late mentor Monsignor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin, started together with me publishing "Ang Mabuhay". Believe me, "loneliness" became a main topic in many write-ups.

How comes that loneliness is still a general topic in so many families?

Loneliness has been called one of the main diseases of this century. It really doesn't strike not only the Filipinos abroad and their love ones back home. Too often loneliness is being followed by alcoholism, drug abuse and even suicide. Yes, loneliness becomes a modern day plague. I observed several people (also expatriates) trying to surround themselves with so-called "friends" only to find that such relationships are often shallow and unsatisfying.

Loneliness can be painful but being lonely or alone at that is not always a bad thing. Ask yourself, how do you use your time, if you are really alone? Do you simply let the time passes without doing anything at all? Why not use such time productively? There are many worthwhile activities to engage in, even if you are alone, such as reading, writing, listen to good (light?) music, play an (forgotten?) instrument, gardening... .

Reading the bible can be also very particularly beneficial. The  Word of God is "alive and exerts in power" and can take  our minds off ourselves.
To break the cycle of loneliness, one must be a giver. Let's keep an eye, not only and always on our personal interests but also on the interests of others. Look around and watch out who needs help, or who needs a real friend or good listener. Once you have spotted such a person, act! Thus, in order to have you must act like a friend. Luke 6:38 says, "Give to others, and God will give it to you!"

A blessed and relaxing Sunday to all of you!

Old Glory of Ambuklao Dam

SN Aboitiz Power successfully launched the 105-MW Ambuklao hydro-electric power plant in Benguet, bringing back to life the oldest  and what was once the biggest hydro power facility in East Asia from its 12-year slumber.

After an earlier formal ceremony involving dignitaries and national government officials, amore traditional launching ceremony was held last October 27 following rituals of the Igorot natives of Itogon, Benguet - the host community of the project in a wonderful environment...

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Davao Food Safety Team Inc. Formed

The Davao Food Safety Team Incorporated (DFST, Inc.), previously Davao Food Safety Team (DFST) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of Region XI (Mindanao), where I am presently working as consultant, was created to support the food processing projects in Southern Mindanao under the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). an umbrella program which rationalizes and links all DOST services to address the technological needs of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with the concerted efforts of DOST regional offices, Research and Development Institutes, Council and other institutes of the Department.

The DFST Inc. is composed of equally competitive and knowledgeable professionals and service providers both from the government and private sector. The team is expected to play an important role in imparting and disseminating information on food safety regulations and requirements to food handlers for the continuing improvement production of safe, healthy and unadulterated foods for both local and export markets.

The DFST Inc. has been actively participating in food safety advocacy since its inception. It has been busy catering to requests for speaking engagements on awareness, full course training for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for LTO application ore renewal as well as plant layout and other pertinent food safety programs. 

Parallel to servicing the needs of the local food industry, are the numerous capability building up seminars and workshops participated by various food safety members. 

Existing for 5 years now, the group is composed of food safety practitioners who are experts on their respective fields, represented by specialists from the various public and private agencies. These include the Food and Drugs Administration, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry - Davao National Crop Research and Development Center, Davao City Water District, Department of Health, just to mention some among many others.

At current, the team has 25 food safety experts. It offers 25 Different Food Safety Modules. For more information, visit the group at the DOST 11 Regional Office, Corner Friendship-Dumanlas Roads, Bajada, Davao City, or you may call their staff, Ms. Loi Tolentino at numbers 082 - 227-1313 or 0932-4422221. 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Take A Breath - with ORLANDO DI LASSO and LEO BLECH


I relax, with them...!

 Here is more about them:



Be Part of Davao's Evolution!



I was very happy being invited by the FTC Group of Companies to the Investors Night and Soft Launching of AEON Towers last Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Together with Mr. Gabby Conception as special guest, sumptuous cocktails and a lots of surprises came along my way.

I was one of almost 1,000 guests to witness the unveiling of the new and state-of-the-art showroom furnished with the most modern, stylish and top of the line interior brands. (Third photo includes also the AEON President - second from right!).

It's indeed one of the first condominiums in the Philippines to provide SMART Home technology (Fiber Optics) in every unit.

It's indeed a pioneering project at J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City... .

Blaze at Catholic Radio Station ‘ARSON’

I started being a radio host in DXGN, "The Good News Radio" 89.9 FM, a member of the Catholic Media Network, sometime in 2000. Meanwhile I am back in a "religious radio station", "The Edge Radio Davao", 104.3 FM.

News like this horrify me.

Check out more here:


Blaze at Catholic radio station ‘arson’

5000 policemen for All Saints’, Souls’ Day


At least 5,000 policemen will be deployed in Metro Manila alone for security in observance of All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day according to the National Capital Region Police Office.

Here are more details:

5000 policemen for All Saints’, Souls’

Friday, October 21, 2011

Generalizations (regarding Mindanao)

One of the unfortunate side effects of the killing of Italian priest Father Fausto Tentorio is the inevitable painting of Mindanao as a "lawless" land. Media reports on the murder have invariably included such adjectives on the island, calling it "conflict-ridden", "war-torn", "troubled", and man others. The foreign wire services have also taken pains to give a background of Mindanao, saying this is where Islamist militants operate, where kidnap-for-ransom gangs abound, and where the Al Qaeda has a presence through the Abu Sayyaf. All this despite the fact that the killing occurred in a small town in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato, and despite that it was perpetrated not by terrorists but by either the military or business interests in the mining sector.

We understand the negative generalization o Mindanao, of course. Being far away from the national capital, not many people around the world know where the island even is, much less what the actual condition in it is. But these generalizations are what kills the island and scares away visitors and investors whose presence would enrich Mindanao culturally, socially, and economically. Prior to Father Tentorio's death three countries had already issued travel advisories on Mindanao, telling their respective nationals to avoid traveling to the island: Britain, the U.S., and Australia. Now we add also Italy, the good priest's home country, and we are the poorer of it.

Again the reaction of the Italian government is understandable, but it would have been better if it - and the three other countries - give specific areas for their travel advisories instead of lumping all of Mindanao togeter. As we Mindanaoans say, the island is not the war-torn, conflict-ridden, troubled place that the media paint it to be. Mindanao is beautiful and its people peace-loving, we say, we are sure that Father Tentorio, as an adopted Mindanoan, would say the same exact thing.

(Reposted "Editorial" from Mindanao Daily Mirror with friendly permission of my publisher and Editor-in-Chief Marietta F. Siongco as well as Society Editor, Health Journalist and General Manager Ana F. Basilio).

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Floods, Floods, Floods - in The Philippines (and everywhere...)

My last Manila trips have been cancelled twice due bad weather condition. Right now I am waiting again ... As we all know: also Manila and its people suffered very much during the last weeks. 

Retarding basins will be built now in low lying areas  of Metro Manila, including Espana Boulevard, as part of national government's approach to flooding problem that has cost already billions of Pesos annually.

In a media briefing I learned from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson, who said, that he has high hopes on the construction of water retarding or detention basins as most viable solution to reduce downstream flooding during rainy season.

Such basins are constructed to temporarily store some, if not all, of the rain water run-off, to absorb and contain flooding in periods of high rain and pump it out later at regulated rate of flow to a level that can be safely carried by nearby rivers or esteros.

Secretary Singson cited the construction of a detention tank underneath Padre Burgos Circle during the development stage of the present Fort Bonifacio Global City that has now been helping saved the area, including that of Kalayaan Avenue (where I usually like to stay in a Hotel during my Manila visits!) and Efipanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) from flooding. 

Secretary Singson said that inasmuch as flood management in Metro Manila is under the Metropolitian Manila Development Authority, this is proposed engineering solutions will be discussed wuth MMDA officials. 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Philippine US Ambassador Apologizes

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. has extended his apology to department of justice Secretary Leila de Lima for his recent declaration that 40 percent or four out of every 10 foreign male tourists visiting the Philippines come here for 'sex-tourism'.

In a one-page letter to De Lima dated October 11, 2011, Thomas said he regrets issuing the statement without any factual basis during his speech at a recent roundtable discussion on "Combating Human Trafficking in the Philippines" with the Philippine Judicial Academy, Court of Appeals, and the U.S. DOJ Crimina Division.

"I deeply regret that my comments regarding human trafficking and sexual tourism in the Philippines have caused angst and misunderstanding. Clearly it was not my intent to insult Filipinos, a people who I have to come to admire and respect. I should not have said 'that 40 percent of American (?) males come to the Philippines for sexual tourism' without ability to confirm those statistics. I want to assure you that the U.S. Embassy Manila will continue to work with your government to combat this modern day form of slavery... . Working together with honest and dedicated officials, our two governments can end this global scourge... ." Thomas said.

Weekend With More Beautiful Classical Music

It's weekend again - and, time for relaxing after a very stressful week... I can relax very well with Classical music. Before I disappear, I still like to share some more stories about three classical composers with you...

And, don't forget to tune in to 104.3 FM "The Edge Radio Davao" and enjoy listening my show "Classics with Klaus Doring" on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. or via live stream http://davao.theedge.ph


 CHRISTIAN SINDING



















GAETANO DONEZETTI














 WILHELM FURTWAENGLER

Check out  more here:

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Produce Enough Rice in The Philippines!

Dr. Gelia T. Castillo, national scientist and member o the Philippine Rice Search Institute (PhilRice) Board of Trustees, challenged Mindanao farmers to improve their yield during the recent Farmer's Field Day and Forum in PhilRice Agusan in Basilsia, Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte.

Close to 1,000 farmers, students, representatives of local government units, and members of the press from Regions 10, 11, and 13, attented the activity,

Recognizing the issues on food production, Castillo said "farmers have a huge role to play" in producing more rice to feed the ballooning population. "The Caraga region has slightly higher per capita rice availability average (129 kg) than the national average (119 kg)... .The challenge now is how to increase rice productivity so the region can contribute to Philippine rice self-sufficiency," Castillo said. 

For more information you may visit their website http://www.philrice.gov.ph or text your questions to 0920-911-1398.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Undiplomatic Diplomat


An ambassador's job is to strengthen goodwill with the nation he is assigned to and win friends among the people therein for his country. The ambassadorial post serves as a country's first link of good elations with another. Doing something that could antagonize citizens and officials in his country of assignment is farthest from actions expected of a foreign envoy.
The presence of a foreign ambassador is a strong indication of friendship between the nation he is assigned to and his home country. So, it was not surprising that US Ambassador Harry Thomas' statement that 40 percent of male tourists to the Philippines are only after sex with local women drew flak from politicians. The most vocal in censuring the US envoy's undiplomatic comments were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Panfilo Lacson.

Standing part on his comment by three legislators to make an apology to Filipinos, saying that he had bases his assertion with records on sex trade gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents working with the National Bureau of Investigation,

It cannot be denied that some nationals from other countries come to the Philippines or sexual pleasure with our women who are mostly attractive. But without doubt the great majority of male foreigners come to the country for short visits because there are many things to see in this tropical paradise. ...

Another thing that draws foreign tourists to the country is the low cost of food, services,transportation and hotel accommodations here compared with tose of most other countries. And, because we have sunshine the whole year around, foreign tourists can come to the Philippines at any time of the year.

With his undiplomatic statement that earned the ire of MANY Filipinos, the Ambassador Thomas should heed Senator Lacson's call that he 'pack his bag and go home" for being "tactless, offensive and undiplomatic".

(With friendly permission: Editorial of Mindanao Daily Mirror, October 7, 2011, by publisher Marietta F. Siongco and Ana Theresa F. Basilio, General Manager).

Comment:

I strongly agree, although today the Ambassador expressed his apologizes... .

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Zamboanga City moves To Protect Tarsiers

Following the discovery of tarsiers in some places here in Zamboanga City, the city council has adopted two resolutions calling for the protection of tarsiers and their natural habitats.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has disclosed that tarsiers, locally known as "Chonggo Magu", can be found in Baluno, Bungiao, Dulian, La Paz, Lumayang, Pasonaca, and Tolosa.

Two tarsiers, one of them wounded, were found several weeks ago at a populated area in La Paz. The DENR has said that the tarsiers are coming down to populated areas because of the rampant cutting of trees up in the mountains. 

The resolutions sponsored by Councilor Rogelio Valesco (Kudos to your, Sir!), were unanimously approved during the regular Tuesday's session. Valesco is also chair of the city's council's committee on tourism.

The first resolution prohibits people to hunt, kill and capture tarsiers for private keeping and the second is for the DENR, as well as the stakeholders in the barangays, to protect the tarsiers and their natural habitats.

Valesco said, he authored the two resolutions citing that tarsiers are endangered species and that Zamboanguenos should feel fortunate that the little primates exist in this city.

Very well said, Sir! Salamat po!