Philippine Online Classifieds Market

Ringier AG and the great Philippine Summit Media have teamed up to form 'get Sold Corporation", a 50/50 joint venture that develops the online classifieds market in the Philippines.

The project offers a range of transactional online products and services and will initially focus on real estate.

For its flagship project, Get Sold Corperation launched www.MyProperty.ph, the Philippines' first online portal for real-estate buyers and sellers. 

MyProperty.ph is by far the most comprehensive source of real estate information and the first of its kind in terms of content, scale, and relevance to industry. With just one click, buyers and sellers alike will be able to access property listings, real-estate news and network with other buyers, renters, lessors, and sellers.

The Philippines is indeed one of the fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia and Ringier and its Mediaswiss subsidiary have well-established know-how in the field of online classified and directories. 

By the way, besides China and Vietnam, the Philippines is the third country in the Asian region in which Ringier has business activities.

Does The Today's Filipino Still Care Or Not?

The August 23, 2010 hostage drama is still in our minds. Since that day innumerable TV shows and newspaper articles asking many questions about the today's Filipino and a possible (new) generation that does not care any more.

One thing is for sure: after the hostage drama, there is indeed just too much negativity about and against the Filipino people and the nation Philippines! It is ashamed to read a lot of comments while browsing in the WorldWideWeb, i.e. from a foreigner (I'll not mention the nationality!), married to a Filipina, making a litany of the supposed stupidity or idiocy of Filipinos in general. Heaven forbid!

Also the Manila Bulletin reported about it several days ago. Allow me to quote this daily:

"Then there is an article of a certain Daniel Wagner of Huffington Post, wherein he said he sees nothing good in the Philippines' future".

How does that man know it? Is he a clairvoyant or just one of these notorious know-it-all-betters, who enjoy complaining about the lamentable and pathetic life in the Philippines?

Of course, there is no place like paradise on our whole globe. I say this as an expatriat living in the Philippines since 1999 for good, who stepped on Philippine soil in 1976 for the first time. Yes, it's true the hostage fiasco is being part now of the Philippine history, even Filipinos in general accepted the failure on their part. But, it should not allow other people to insult and offend the Philippines and its people.

Yes, the Filipino heart is one of history's biggest, as writer Alex Lacson published in the Manila Bulletin on September 5, 2010. The Filipino heart is one of the world's rare jewels and one of humanity's greatest treasures. Believe me, I experience this since many, many years in my surroundings and during my daily as an expat.

Alex Lacson is a Filipino lawyer, author, lecturer, philanthropist and politician who ran in the 2010 Philippine senatorial elections. He is best known as the author of "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country".

Lacson says:

"First, defend and protect the Filipino whenever you can, especially among your children. Fight all this negativity about the Filipino that is circulating in many parts of the world. Let us not allow this single incident define who the Filipino is, and who we are as people. Demand for good leadership and good government from our leaders. Question both, their actions and inaction; expose their follies of their policies and decisions."

Very, very well said Alex Lacson!

Deutschkurs in Davao und das Goethe Institut Manila/German Course in Davao and the Goethe Institute Manila

Nun kann man auch Deutsch in Davao City lernen... - eigentlich kann man das schon seit ueber 2 Jahren, seitdem ich an der University of Southeastern Philippines den Deutschkurs leite. Seit einigen Monaten bin ich Fakultaetsmitglied und im April 2010 unterzeichneten das Goethe Institut Manila und die University of Southeastern Philippines eine "Schriftliche Vereinbarung im gegenseitigen Einvernehmen und Einverstaendnis betreffend Foerderung und Unterstuetzung der deutschen Kultur (und eben auch der deutschen Sprache) in Mindanao".

USEP und das G.I. sind Partner geworden: http://www.goethe.de/ins/ph/map/net/ska/enindex.htm

Now you're also able to learn the German language in Davao - actually one can do this already since more then two years, since I started with a German language course with this institution. Several months ago I became faculty member for German language in the Institute of  Languages and in April 2010 the Goethe Institut Manila and the University of Southeastern Philippines  signed a Memorandum of Understanding in promoting the German culture (of course including the German language) in Mindanao.

USEP and the G.I. became partners:
http://www.goethe.de/ins/ph/map/net/ska/enindex.htm

Imelda Papin to go on Worldtour again

 I met Imelda Papin personally already during the 1980s, when she performed several times in Berlin/Germany. During that time I was the Head of Legal Affairs of the Philippine Community Berlin. I have been always a big fan of the Philippine Ambassadress of Goodwill.

It is recalled, that Imelda Papin, once dubbed the "Sentimental Songstress of Asia" and who was also vice governor of Camarines Sur, will tour together with Mrs. Dionisia Pacquiao, mother of box icon Manny. There are offers to perform in the US, Dubai, Hong Kong and other parts of the world. 

The song BAKIT (WHY? WARUM?) composed by the great John Manalili, has indeed brought Imelda Papin to phenomenal heights, setting a trend in the Philippine music industry. Imagine: in a record time of three months the song reached Double Platinum, paving the way for numerous hits and several movie offers.

"Bakit - the concert" will be on October 16 at the Aliw Theatre and is for the benefit of the dialysis project of the IAP Foundation, Inc. under the auspices of the foundation in cooperation with BuzzworksTrading, E Business and 618 International Entertainment, Inc. I hope, my time allows me to be there... .

I am still glad being able to listen BAKIT by Imelda Papin. "Bakit"-CD's distributed by Universal Records, are again available in most records outlets in the Philippines.

Oktoberfest in Davao City

Alle Jahre wieder!

Auch dieses Jahr veranstalten wir ein Oktoberfest mit Weisswurst, Brezeln und viel Bier in Davao City!

Also this year: German Octoberfest with sausages, sauerkraut and beer in Davao City!

Und Rolf aus Manila sorgt wieder fuer Stimmung!

Wo?

Swiss Deli, Damosa, Davao City.

Wann?

Am 9. Oktober ab 11 Uhr.

Reservieren Sie Plaetze und rufen Sie Rossana Balcom-Doring an:

082 - 227 1761!

Come and join us and have fun! For reservations please call Rossana Balcom-Doring 082 - 227 1761!

Or send me an email: doringklaus@gmail.com.

A Philippine Artist in Davao/Ein philippinischer Kuenstler in Davao

Are you interested? Sind Sie interessiert?

Contact me! Kontaktieren Sie mich!

Dengue - and no end!

While being back in Davao I received another interesting PNA-message from Iloilo City about predators' disappearances blamed for dengue rise - not ONLY in the Philippines.

An environmentalist lawyer, who has been assigned by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Iloilo chapter to assist the city government in prosecuting violators of environmental laws, has cited the disappearance of natural predators as one major setback in the fight against the spread of dengue fever.

Attorney Daniel Dinopol said natural predators in the barangays - such as frogs, insects and specially spiders - are fast disappearing. These could have helped in the battle against dengue, he said.

Honestly, I am always glad and happy to find spiders and frogs in my wild natural tropical garden here in the Philippines.

Listen to this: Dinopol said the friendly insects and spiders are part of the natural environmental cycle that kill the dengue-carrying mosquitoes, especially in stagnant and water-clogged areas. The spiders spun its web to trap the flying mosquitoes while frogs and other insects prey on the mosquito larvae as their food.

The lawyer also said the situation is further aggravated by the unrestricted use of pesticide that also killed spiders and other environmental-friendly insects. The Department of Environment and Natural resources and the Department of Agriculture should take steps in restricting the killing of these friendly insects, especially the spiders.

Tweet this? Yes, you can also find me in TWITTER! Ich bin auch in TWITTER!

I really enjoy social networks such as Facebook - and now also TWITTER. Let's meet there...

+++ 

Social Networks wie Facebook machen grossen Spass. Ich bin jetzt auch in TWITTER. Wir koennen uns dort gern einmal treffen... . Oder in Facebook!

 

Dengue in The Philippines Getting More Worst!

More then 62,000 people in the Philippines got sick with dengue during the last eight months, according to the Department of health. But, health secretary Enrique Ona said the DOH is on top of the problem and there is no epidemic disease in the country. Not yet!

Cagayan officials placed two days ago the city under a state of calamity following their declaration of a dengue outbreak due to the sudden rise in dengue fever cases in the past two months, here. Tuguegarao City reported 323 dengue cases during the first eight months 2010. 

In Carmona, Cavite, anti dengue brigades have been formed in schools. Mayor Dahlia Loyola, a doctor by profession, and the municipal health officials started to mobilize the schoolchildren in the fight against dengue. Municipal health officials and personnel are training the children in safeguearing their schools and communities. And not only in Cavite... .

Of course, the deadly bite is coming from mosquitoes. And the thing is: a total eradication of them is indeed impossible, because they are part of biodiversity. The WHO (World Health Organisation) in the 1950s actually aimed for the eradication of mosquitoes, and the diseases they carry - as we could learn from Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Executive director Jaime Montoya. But what happened? The WHO didn't succeed. In 20 years time they just changed it "to control"... .

Prevention is the only chance to fight against mosquito bites... .

PLDT Security Guard in Davao City Returns Lost Money!

His honesty brought him honor. I met him several times, while paying my PLDT-bills. 

When Ramil A. Rayos, security guard at PLDT-Smart Payment Center in Davao City returned a lost envelope containing cash to its owner, he was just doing his job. After all, it is indeed part of a guard's duty to return lost things to their rightful owners. Little did he know that he will be praised for his action.

"I commend SG Ramil Rayos for his honesty. He should be emulated by everyone!" said AMMG Head Rene G. Banez. 

On July 26, 2010, Rayos found an envelope containing more than 4,000 Pesos on top of a writing ledge at the payment center. Instead of keeping the money for himself as some people would probably do, he waited for the owner to come back for it.

So when Shane Delgado, an employee of the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, went to the payment center looking for an envelope she inadvertently left earlier, Rayos immediately ascertained her ownership of the lost envelope. He notified his detachment commander and the three of them went to the office of Mindanao Asset Protection division Head Wilfredo A. Arcinue where Rayos returned the envelope to Delgado. 

A man of humble circumstances, Rayos earns up to 3,500 Pesos every payday as a security guard. Rayos never thought twice about returning the money, saying: "I would rather work and earn my own money than spend somebody else's!"

Kudos to you and God bless!