Being a Rotary Club Member in The Philippines

 

(Guest of Honor and Speaker Miss Mary Ann "Baby" M. Montemayor, Small Hotels Association of Davao's Vice President, Mr. Ronald Go, Rotary Club of East Davao's President and this writer)

I am a member of the Rotary Club of East Davao (Journalism/Foreign Media) since almost two years now. I became the Vice Chairman for Public Relation and I am a member of the Special Committees as well as Director elect for the Rotary Year 2010-2011. 

Why did I join Rotary? Rotary is a global network of community volunteers. Rotary members are business and professional leaders, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Some 31,000 Rotary clubs in more than 165 countries carry out service projects in their local communities and abroad to address such critical issues as poverty, health, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment.

As an expatriat I found many important things to do in this institution. Service above ourselves... .

Last Tuesday I was honoured and indeed privileged to deliver the introduction speech for Miss Mary Ann "Baby" Montemayor, an incredible woman with awesome eductional-, business- and work backgrounds. She is indeed a very active woman, when it comes to 'hand loomed products from Mindanao", for example. arts, culture, ecology, and of course, tourism.

She received several major awards, for example, the Datu Bago Award, a local award given by the City of Davao. She attended several international conferences abroad. Kudos to her... .

Yes, being a Rotary Club member is indeed a wonderful opportunity to serve my new community - even being an expatriat.

Deutscher Konsul in Davao City/German Consul in Davao City

 

Consul, First Secretary and Head of the Legal Department of the German Embassy Manila, Mr. Klaus Mueller in Davao

Konsul, Erster Sekretaer und Leiter der Juristischen Abteilung der Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Manila, Herr Klaus Mueller in Davao

(oben mit SUC Praesident Dr. Perfecto Alibin, University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City - an der ich Fakultaetsmitglied des Fremdsprachlichen Instituts fuer Deutsch geworden bin.) 

  

Zusammen mit Herrn Eduardo C. Arcilla, Assistant Alien Control Officer and Head Supervisor Davao International Airport.

 

  

 (With Miss Sonia Garcia, Regional Director Region XI of Department of Tourism, heading soon to Germany, International Tourism Fair, promoting Mindanao.

+++++ 

Und hier eine gute Nachricht: das Auswaertige Amt Berlin hat die Finanzierung eines Laptops in Aussicht gestellt, wonach ein Passantrag nach den neuen biometrischen Vorschriften dann auch wieder in Davao City and Cebu City moeglich sein wird. Sobald der Laptop in Manila eingetroffen ist, duerfen wir Herrn Mueller dann erneut in Davao City und Cebu City begruessen. Hoffentlich bald... .

Seit dem 1. November 2007 ist ein neues Passgesetz in Kraft, wonach neben dem biometrietauglichen Foto auch zwei Fingerabdruecke auf einem Chip gespeichert werden muessen. Hiervon sind alle Antragsteller ab vollendetem 6. Lebensjahr betroffen. Wegen der Idenitizierungspflicht, Unterschriftsleistung und Abnahme von Fingerabdruecken ist die persoenliche Vorsprache bei der Antragsstellung bis jetzt immer noch bei der Deutschen  Botschaft in  Manila unumgaenglich.  Hoffentlich nicht mehr lange... .

Good news for German nationals:  Hopefully soon new applications for the issuance of a German passport can be accepted in Cebu City and Davao City. The German government granted the financing of necessary equipment.

Living in The Philippines/Leben auf den Philippinen

Live in style... live in the Philippines! Great locations, facilities entertainment and leisure activities, matched by some of the warmest smiles in the world. You can't get a better deal than that. That's how the PRA brochure for the SRRVisa (Special Resident Retiree's Visa) goes. It's indeed a hassle-free visa, as I could learn (again!) during an interview with Jaime "Jimmy" B. LLames, good friend and OiC of the Davao Satellite Office of the Philippine Retirement Authority.

Its slogan "Smile at Life in the Philippines" indeed encapsulates the spirit behind the vision. Retirees who choose the Philippines can look forward to being treated as a person, not as a statistic. PRA helps provide the good life for retirees - not only for their material comfort, but also for their physiological and emotional well being as well.

My agency YONNEX became already a merchant partner of PRA - an accredited partner. That's why I am pretty sure, that also its programs will work FOR YOU! If you need any assistance, please contact me. I am glad to help you - without any costs!

The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is a government owned and controlled corporation created by the Executive Order  No. 1037, which wqas signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos, on July 4, 1985. On August 31, 2001, through E.O. No. 26, the control and supervision of PRA was transferred to the Board of Investments from the Office of the President.

The SRRV is indeed a non-immigrant multiple-entry visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines through the PRA to foreigners and former Filipino citizens.

The benefits are really amazing:

- Options of permanent residency - may live, retire and invest in the Philippines indefinitely;

- Muliple-entry privileges - may come in and go out of the Philippines, anytime;

- Exempted from the Bureau of Immigration Exit Clearance and Re-Entry Permits;

-Exempted from the Bureau of Immigration's Annual Registration requirement;

-Exempted from the Bureau of Immigration's "I-Card";

-Exempted from the Custom's Duties and Taxes for the importation of personal effects and household goods including personal car;

-Exempted from Trave Tax, Special Study Permit;

-Assistance in securing/obtaining documents from other other government authorities;

-Tax free remittance of annuities and pensions -

and many others... .

More about the documentary requirements can be read on the website www.pra.gov.ph, or don't hesitate to contact me as well as Mr. Jaime B. LLames, davao@pra.gov.ph or +63 929-5510954 or +63 82 2258888 loc. 6299.

PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone) is Saving the Environment

The PLDT is not only the nation's leading telephone company, it's also doing a lot things saving the environment. 

For example: PLDT joins PBSP Annual Reforestation Caravan. About 70 PLDT employee-volunteers, together with the partner farmer beneficiaries of Kantipla Ecosystem Enhancement and Protection Foundation (KEEP), planted more than 7,500 indigenous tree species such as Toog or Philippine Rosewood, Almaciga, Narra and Acacia or Rain Tree. The group hopes the trees will trap 33.75 tons of carbon dioxide and store 4,200 cubic meters of water in a year. Narra, for example is noted for its medicinal value. Narra leaves can be applied to heal ripening boils, ulcers, and prickly heat. It can be also used to treat diarrhea or dysentery.

Help for Laguna! The PDRF (Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation) clears Laguna de Bay of water lilies. It is for this reason the the newly-created foundation, which is headed by PLDT and Smart Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, went to Santa Cruz, Laguna, to offer help. One of the mandates of the PDR Foundation is to assist the government, in partnership with local government units and other civic organizations, to rebuild communities severely affected by the typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi last year 2009. The water lily project at the Laguna Bay is only one one of the many projects the foundation is lining up. More projects will be follow.

Want Your Adventure to Start NOW?

 

It's called "Volun Tourism" and "an adventure to make a difference". First time I visted Davao City has been sometime in 1982. "Once upon a time..." .My former Filipina girlfriend took me to the Philippine Eagle Foundation in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City. I must confess, I was very much impressed, and I thanked her very much introducing me to this unique institution.

Since that time, I visited this place innumerable times. I love it there. 

How about you? Would you like to go on an adventure with what Charles Lindbergh called "the air's noblest flier"? Yes, I am sure, you will experience immersion.

 

Save the eagle, save the forests, secure our future.  

You know me already as an energetic environment saver and supporter. Also here in the Philippines living for good as an expatriat! I wish, I could convince you as volunteer with the Philippine Eagle Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine Eagle and its habitat.

As an expedition volunteer, you can assist the team by helping collect data, interacting with communities implementing tree-planting programs or by providing camp site support.

Being an expat living in this wonderful country, I really keep myself busy "with such things". 

Contact any travel agent or inquire directly through eaglevoluntourism@yahoo.com or check out www.philippineeagle.org. This foundation is accredited and supported by the Philippine Department of Tourism.

I'm glad being able to provide you with these information. 

Do you have a cellphone? SMART or GLOBE?

Anyway, fact is: the cellphone companies' competition is getting more and more  preheated.

Really, it's an other first in prepaid history: the new SMART BUDDY SIM keep no-expiry reserve load. It's indeed like having a secret pocket in your SIM. Wow, imagine: now, addition to regular load and call & text load, SMART BUDDY gives you no-expiry reserve load that stays safe in your sim's RESERVE LOAD wallet until you're ready to use it. Just draw from your RESERVE LOAD and convert it to regular airtime or any call and text offer. Just visit your favorite retail outlet.

When I browse the Internet, I found another interesting article: Phone a friend with GLOBE Tattoo Broadband! I am sure you agree with me: Have you ever had one of those days when you slept through your alarm and woke up sweetly a half-hour later, only to be enveloped by the icy panic that pushes you to rush in a frenzy to start your hectic day grind? You leave the house in record time, waving down a ride, yet with a sinking feeling you've forgotten something. That's when it hits you: your precious mobile phone is sitting comfortably on your nightstand at home. Yipee, this just happened to me last week. I really started smiling while reading this. 

In a pinch, GLOBE has the lifesaver for us. All we need to do is whip out our laptops, plug in our new GLOBE Tatoo Broadband stick, and we cal call away, straight from our PC. Yes, I also find a website: surf over to www.globe.com.ph/tattoo.

We are really lucky under the SUN... .

Deutschentreffen in Davao City/Germans' Meeting in Davao

Jeden Freitag von 10 bis 14 Uhr in Victoria Plaza Mall in Davao City treffen sich deutsche Auswanderer mit ihren Ehepartnern zu einem zwanglosen Gedankenaustausch.

Bei auftretenden Fragen und Problemen wird gern versucht, weiterzuhelfen.

Oder senden Sie mir einfach eine email... .

Schauen Sie doch einfach mal vorbei!!!!

More Tourists for Region XI Mindanao?/Bald mehr Touristen fuer Mindanao?

Yesterday I got the chance to interview Department of Tourism Regional Director Sonia V. Garcia (Region XI). Actually she asked me to translate several flyers and brochures from English into German. I was really surprised and very happy to know, that Sonia and an additional group will be participating in the International Tourism Fair (Internationale Tourismusboerse - ITB) 2010 to be held on March 10-15 2009 in Berlin/Germany. The ITB is considered the world's leading travel and tourism show and could well be a good opportunity for the accredited tourism industry partners to meet their potential business counterparts in the said event.

This will be  the very first promotion trip for this region. Sonia Garcia will be joined by Philip S. Dizon (Davao Crocodile Park), Camela S. Infiesto (Tribu K' Mindanawan Cultural Village Representative), Jeanne April Kroell (Hof Gorei Beach Resort), Wanda Teo (Mt. Apo Travel @ Tours), Ruben Neri (Surelite Travel & Tours), Ma. Corazon Sanga and Katherine S. Owens (Turismo Davao INTAS), weaver Sonita Manangka, dancer Jelita Lamanilao, and from the DOT XI staff Judy G. Lagura (Cultural Village Coordinator for DOT Region XI).

Please check out  www.discoverdavao.com or www.visitmyphilippines.com - also mentioned in my "important links".

Gestern hatte ich die Gelegenheit mit der Regionaldirektorin des Tourismusdepartments fuer die Region XI (Mindanao), Frau Sonja V. Garcia zu sprechen. Sie bat mich, einige Prospekte von Englisch in Deutsch zu uebersetzen. Ich war wirklich sehr ueberrascht und gluecklich zu hoeren, dass Sonja mit einer Gruppe nach Deutschland reisen wird, um Davao City und die gesamte Region XI von Mindanao waehrend der Internationalen Tourismusboerse in Berlin touristisch mehr bekanntzumachen. In frueheren Jahren habe ich die ITB regelmaessig besucht und war doch reichlich enttaeuscht, kaum - oder besser gar nichts - ueber Mindanao bzw. Davao City vorzufinden. Das wird sich bestimmt bald aendern.  Zwischenzeitlich besuchen Sie doch einfach www.discoverdavao.com oder www.visitmyphilippines.com - auch erwaehnt in meinen "Important Links".

Deutsche Blaskapelle in Mindanao/German Brassband in Mindanao (II)

Das war schon eine Ueberraschung und eine riesengrosse Freude, als der Musikverein Kressbronn waehrend seiner Philippinen-Konzertreise auch nach Mindanao kam und zweimal in Davao City auftrat - einmal im People's Park und am naechsten Tag in meinem Lieblingsresort auf Samal Island, dem "Paradise Island Park and Beachresort".

Dies war die erste deutsche Band oder Kapelle, die jemals nach Mindanao bzw. nach Davao gekommen ist. Wir hatten alle viel Freunde und Spass bei philippinischer, internationaler und natuerlich deutscher Musik.

Vielen herzlichen Dank Musikverein Kressbronn - und kommt bald wieder!

 

Photos taken by Ricardo P. Balcom.

German Brassband in Mindanao/Deutsche Blaskapelle in Mindanao

It has been 20 years ago, when a band from the US performed in Davao City. This has been the first German Brassband from Kressbronn (near the German-Swiss border) being on a concert tour in the Philippines and performing twice in Davao City: at first in the People Park and next day on Samal Island, in my favourite beach resort "Paradise Island Park and Beachresort".

We all had a lot of fun listening Philippine, international and -of course- German music. Enjoy the photos.