Congratulations to Mayor elect from Davao City: Inday Sara Duterte

I met Davao City mayor elect Inday Sara Duterte already several times before. I was really amazed talking with her again last week - after the elections. Yes, Miss Sara, who assumes within less than a month from now as Davao City's first woman mayor, and the youngest so far, told me a lot of her (four) priorities  and how she, together with her team, would govern till 2013.

Yes, all eyes will be on her.  A lot of work is waiting for her.  Some dramatically changes can be expected. One of her (four - or even more) priorities is to ensure that Davao City has a favourable business environment that encourages foreign investment and job development. Good. Mayor Sara - go, go, go! Peace and order? No question about it!

And how does the EDGE DAVAO Editorial from this week ends? "Sara speaks: we can expect the unexpected from another Duterte, SARA!"

From the bottom of my heart (and not only from mine), Mayor Sara: "Good luck and all the best for you and your team and the new generation politicians, such as good friend Al Ryan Alejandre, as well as Karlo Bello, Joanne and Louie John Bonguyan, just to mention a few". Yes, you can make the difference! 

Talking about young generations: Councilor Pilar Braga, also a good friend of mine and my family since many years "survived" again this election. No wonder, because she is indeed not an ordinary politician in Davao. She ran as independent. I always tried to avoid political statements on this web blog: but Braga is indeed strong on name recall. Congratulations and God bless! 

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Check out also my column in www.edgedavao.net. Just go the Competitive Section and look for my Expat-Column. This week: "All that is now past!".

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.

Filipino Smiles... Philippinisches Laecheln

Ja, Philippinos sind Meister im Laecheln. Sie laecheln, wenn Sie loben, aber auch auch wenn sie eigentlich nicht einverstanden sind und etwas zu kritisieren haetten. Sie laecheln, wenn sie aufgeregt oder erregt sind oder selbst Aerger verursacht haben. Sie laecheln, wenn sie eigentlich etwas um bitten moechten...

Wenn ein Autofahrer sich in die Luecke vor Ihrem Auto hereindrueckt, und er sieht sie spaeter nochmals, tja, er wird sich anlaecheln. 

Jede unangenehme Sitatuation erfordert irgendwie und irgendwann ein Laecheln. Schwer zu verstehen fuer uns Mitteleuropaer - und doch, es hilft...!

Ein Laeacheln ist tatsaechlich der beste Weg, Worte zu umgehen, die eigentlich Unfrieden und Streit hervorrufen koennten... .

German Goethe Institut Manila and USEP ink Partnership

It was really a great day: Monday May 17, 2010. The Memorandum of Understanding between USEP (University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City) and the Goethe-Institut Manila/Philippines on cooperation in the Promotion of the German Culture in Mindanao has been signed by:

- Mr. Helmut Frielinghaus, Language Consultant and Vice-Director Goethe Institut Manila/Philippines

- Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin, SUC-President University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City

witnessed by:

Executive Director Institute of Languages and Dean Dr. Patricia Elbanbuena and yours truly Klaus Doring, Faculty Member for German Language.

More details here on this website soon... .

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Ja, es war schon ein grossartiger Tag der 17. Mai 2010:

Unterzeichnung der Schriftlichen Vereinbarung im gegenseitigen Einvernehmen und Einverstaendnis  zur Foerderung und Unterstuetzung der Deutschen Kultur in Mindanao zwischen dem Goetheinstitut Manila und der University of Southeastern Philippines.

Mehr darueber demnaechst auf dieser website... .

Radio Deutschland live? Kein Problem! Listen German radiostations live? No problem!

Ich habe schon immer das Radio geliebt. Nein, nicht weil ich auch schon als Radiomoderator auf den Philippinen taetig war. Nein, aber es macht mir Spass, mit meinem frueheren Heimatsender in Kontakt zu bleiben. Und, ich bin froh, dass es Moeglichkeiten gibt, diesen Sender (und viele andere) der ARD angeschlossenen Sender hier hoeren zu duerfen.

Klicken Sie auf meiner website unten an "Radio Deutschland live" und suchen Sie Ihren Sender. Viel Spass beim Lauschen. Und inzwischen koennen Sie weiterhin meine Artikel lesen.

Liebe Gruesse von den Philippinen...

Ihr

KLAUS DORING

Der Monat der Blumen/The Flowers of May/Flores de Mayo

May is the month of flowers - not only in the Philippines - in mostly all parts of the world. This is the time when springs ends and summer begins in so-called temperature countries, like in my home country Germany. 

In tropical countries, like in the Philippines, May is the height of summer, when the flower buds begin to open up and burst into a kaleidoscope of colors. The fields, mountainsides, forets, churches, shps, parks and gardens.

I can even experience this in my own tropical garden surrounding my residence. Promise: more photos will follow soon here. 

After almost 12 years in the Philippines I experienced also: after the cold of December to February comes the warmer climate of March and April, whcih awakens the underground bulbs and the terminal branches of flowering shrubs and trees.

Flowers, les fleurs, flori, flores, hana, bulaklak, angre, mei lan, Blumen....... whatever name is given by countries all over the world, it's the same creation given by God that makes our world liveable and lovable... .

Almost all countries in the entire world have their national flowers: Austria has its EDELWEISS (I am pretty sure you know the wonderful musical melody!); The Netherlands (or Holland) has its TULIPS; France has its FLEURS DE LICS; Japan (of course!) CHRYSANTHEMUM; China has its LOTUS; Hawaii its HISBISCUS - and the Philippines? Of course the SAMPAGUITA!

Flowers are all around: Americans bring baskets of daisies, gereaniums, gerbera and roses to the sick to make them feel better. Thais offer lotus leaves formed into baots filled with all sorts of flowers.

In the Philippines, especially during Palm Sunday people make decorative coco palm fronds with flowers to symbolize  Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. During the month of May children offer flowers picked from gardens daily to the Blessed Virgin Mary in churches and chapels and to culminate the floral festivities of the May. Young ladies in their beautiful TERNOS converge in town plazas and walk in procession carrying flowers around the major thoroughfares.

Let us help restore our heavily damaged environment so that our children and their children's children will experience many many more "Flowers of May" - Flores de Mayos... .

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.

PLDT and SMART ink Deals with Bureau of Immigration

PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone) and SMART Business Solutions recently closed deals with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to be the latter's provider of data and wireless communications technology that will allow the bureau to broaden its services and extend further its operation in order to sustain its growth and efficiency.

The Bureau of Immigration is the administration and enforcement of immigration, citizenship, and alien admission and registration laws in accordance with the provisions of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, the Alien Registration Act of 1950, including other pertinent laws related thereto.

It is committed to uphold national integrity as a sacred trust through humane, responsive and conscientious control and regulation of foreign nationals and migrants in the Philippines with the view of excellence in public service.

Kudos to present BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and his whole staff. 

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!