10th Christmas in the Philippines/10.Weihnachtsfest auf den Philippinen

This has been our 10th Christmas in the Philippines together with some family members - and, I must confess, it was wonderful.

Dies war das 10. Weihnachtsfest auf den Philippinen zusammen mit einigen Familienmitgliedern, und, ich muss sagen, es war wunderschoen.

Christmas in the Philippines - no more culture shock for me as before... .

Weihnachten auf den Philippinen - kein Kulturschock mehr fuer mich ... .

German, Philippine, and International Music in Davao City

ADI (Advanced Design & Innovation) Davao City presents the "Musikverein Kressbronn Brass Band" from Germany LIVE, featuring German, Philippine, and international music on January 9, 2010, at 7 pm at the People's Park, Davao City, and on January 10, 2010, at 11:00 am at the Paradise Park and Beach Resort on Samal Island. For further information you might call Luz at the Paradise Park and Beach Resort city office (082) - 234 2926.

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Der Musikverein Kressbronn Brass Band von Deutschland ist fuer zwei Tage live in Davao City - und zwar am 9. Januar 2010 um 19 Uhr im People's Park und am 10. Januar 2010 um 11 Uhr im Paradise Park and Beach Resort auf Samal Island. Viel Spass bei deutscher, philippinischer und internationaler Musik.

Are YOU a credit card holder?

It's really amazing: three Philippine financial institutions took home top honours in MasterCard Worldwide's Hall of Fame Marketing Awards, which had its inaugural launch in Singapore on the first of December 2009.

Banco de Oro, Allied Bank and RCBC Bankard won three out of the ten awards - Best Cardholder Promotion, Most Effective Card Marketing Program and Best Usage Campaign (cross-border), respectively - for their outstanding marketing efforts in launching or promoting MasterCard card programs in South- and Southeast Asia. Their wins inducted them,along with 23 other Asian banks, into MasterCard's Marketing Hall of Fame. Congratulations.

I am glad to know that. As an expat it's necessary to know which bank should be choosed for money transfers from abroad, i.e. for pension transfers.

NOCH EIN BUCH UEBER DIE PHILIPPINEN/BOOKREVIEW

Es gibt unzaehlige Buecher, die sich mit dem Thema "Philippinen" beschaeftigen. Darunter findet der Leser (immer noch) jede Menge Reisefuehrer, die, kaum veroeffentlicht, schon wieder ueberholt sind. Davon habe ich "tonnenweise" (aeltere und ganz alte!) Ausgaben in meiner Buecherei.

Vor einigen Monaten erhielt ich vom Verlag Shaker Media GmbH in Aachen "noch ein Buch ueber die Philippinen" - aber, ein ganz Besonderes. Es ist Wolfgang Bethge's "Die Philippinen" mit wirklich grandiosen Einblicken in Natur, Kultur, Geschichte und Gesellschaft der Philippinen. Der Autor hat dieses Werk seiner philippinischen Ehegattin Eva A. Torres gewidmet. Eine wunderbare Geste - dieses in Leinen gebundene Epos faellt aus dem Rahmen vieler Buecher ueber die Philippinen, die ich jemals in den Haenden hatte.

Autor Bethe erwaehnt (zu Recht) das Resultat "aus einer nun doch schon mehrjaehrigen Bechaeftigung mit dem faszinierenden Land Philippinen". Natuerlich versteht sich das Buch als Ergaenzung zu vielen auf dem Markt befindlichen Reisefuehrern. Und, es ist das wirklich. Ich habe manche Stunde fasziniert gelesen - und noch viel dazu gelernt, wenn es zu bestimmten Themen ueber die Philippinen kam.

Das Buch bietet wirklich jedem etwas. Auswanderer, die hier schon leben - so wie ich, oder solche, die es werden wollen. Bethge's Werk gleicht einem Gemischtwarenladen - aber, das ist gerade das, was es so faszinierend macht.

Wolfgang Bethe, Die Philippinen, 314 Seiten, gebunden, 27 EURO, www.shaker-media.de.

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Again another book about the Philippines - but, a very special one. It's unfortunately only in German. Really unfortunately, because an English translation would help many expats living in the Philippines to overcome the culture clash, which can't be avoid - where ever you live on this globe, or where ever you live in this beautful country named Philippines.

What's YOUR favourite Philippine Airline?

Honestly, it's very difficult for me to explain by mentioning several airlines. I got some very bad experiences with one! Let's talk about good things happened right now.

Just being back again from Manila in Davao, I really enjoyed Philippine Airlines: excellent service and very much being on time departure and arrival. The new slogan 'With us, you're ALWAYS NO. 1' let me really feel smiling.

By the way, if you plan to travel to Sydney you can avail the "777 only" (US$ 777) for round trip economy class, all-in-fare (excluding government taxes). Don't get me wrong, this is not a paid advertisement. I only got this information from  an Australian expat friend, who also kept on praising the nation's flagship Philippine Airlines.

Maybe you have some other experiences. Feel free to post your comment here on www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.

My (Philippine) Music/Meine (philippinische) Musik

I love music since I was four years young. I started playing piano and got my first "Hohner" accordion. I really love any kind of music: from Beethoven up to the Beatles.

Moving to the Philippines for good meant also to bring my whole music collection (and library with more then 2000 books). It helped very much to ease some "culture shocks" in the beginning of my expat life here in the Philippines.

I started being very much interested in Philippine music.

Meanwhile I could mention hundreds of favourite Philippine compositions: "Dahil Mahal Na Mahal" (Pinoy Biggie Hits), MINDANAO, or Kung Ako Na Lang (Sana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

Talking about movie themes: I was really lucky to find in SM City Davao finest music by the best artists - YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE 101. These are 101 digitally remastered recordings on 6 CD's. A really awesome collection for music lovers produced in 2009 by Universal Music International. Check out www.getmusic.com.ph.

Have you ever heard about "Manilac Lay Labi"? This is the second part of a Philippine suite for piano by Ryan Cayabyab "Pahilaga" which is Ilocano meaning in an easterly direction. Manilac Lay Labi means a quite night and this delicate piece transports us to just that - a calm, untroubled and peaceful night.

How about "Pandangguhan"? This is a popular and well-loved Filipino dance piece. One can imagine a Filipino couple dance skillfully and rhythmically to the familiar tune. The piano arrangement is really interesting and exciting.

And, I love Philippine Telenovelas' music. For avid followers of well-known Tagalog TV series such as "Pangako Sa Iyo" or "Sana'y Wala Ng Wakas" these melodies evoke the familiar and the intimate.

Merry Christmas to all of you my dear readers!Froehliche Weihnachten fuer alle meine Leser hier!

German Christmas Party in Davao City/Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier in Davao City

My wife and me got an idea. Why not inviting German nationals from Davao City and its surroundings for a Christmas party? Here they came- and, I am sure, they enjoyed! Good food, some drinks, some very enjoyable hours with a touch of German AND Filipino Christmas spirit at the Roadway Inn Hotel in Davao City. Merry Christmas!

Meine Frau und ich hatten eine Idee. Warum sollten nicht deutsche Staatsbuerger von Davao City und Umgebung zu einer Weihnachtsfeier eingeladen werden? Und siehe, sie kamen- und, ich bin mir sehr sicher, sie fuehlten sich alle sehr wohl. Gutes Essen, einige Drinks und einige sehr unterhaltsame Stunden mit deutsch-philippinischen Flair von Weihnachten im Roadway-Inn-Hotel in Davao werden unvergesslich bleiben. Frohe Weihnachten!

Philippine Long Distance Company and its goals

PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone -Company-) has been my sponsor for six months for my former radio show "Classics at Night"on an FM station in Davao City together with "Deutsche Welle" (the "German International BBC") as a rebroadcasting partner.

Some of my in-laws are still working with and for PLDT.

Please bear with me, if PLDT feels great to be a winner! I am not talking about PLDT's 3rd quarter results, which shows a core net income up to 11% to 31 billion PHP! Allow me, my dear readers, to mention the Quill Awards!

PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone) and SMART received a total of 13 Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), one of the world's most prestigious of business communicators.

The Philippine Quill Awards of Excellence and Merit are conferred to organizations that have the highest level  of thought leadership, strategic management, creativity, resourefulness and succesful solutions.

SMART Communications also bagged eight Quill Awards including three awards for its various communication campaigns and programs for 'Tipid Sulit  Pinas!"

Minus 6 Grad und Schneefall/6 degress below Zero and Snowfall

Waehrend ich diese Zeilen schreibe, erhalte ich gerade den neuesten Wetterbericht aus Deutschland. Nun, ich war noch nie ein Freund vom Winter. Vielleicht war dies auch ein Grund, warum ich immer in die Heimat meiner Familie auswandern wollte. So sah es in unserer Umgebung am 1.1.2005 (Neujahr) aus. Aehnlich ist es auch heute, wenn auch der Himmel wolkenverhangen ist und gelegentliche Regenschauer ueber uns herniedergehen. Frohe Weihnachten!

While writing this post, I am receiving the last weather forecast from Germany. Honestly, I have never been a fan of winter time. Maybe this has been one reason for me and my family to move to the Philippines for good. Watch the photo: that's how our surroundings looked like on New Year 2005. Today it's very cloudy with some rain showers. Anyway: Merry Christmas!