Bureau of Immigration Adopts New Queue System

The Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines - again in the critics - started implementing a new queuing system, which is called the "snake-line"  or "s-line" for arriving and departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in bid to prevent connivance between human smuggling syndicates and unscrupulous BI personnel, as I could learn from officials during my stay in Cebu City some days ago.

BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said by changing the line formation, they hope to stop the Filipinos 'tourist workers' from ending up as illegal workers in other countries. As one could also learn from several press releases: in the previous straight line scheme, the passengers are able to choose which immigration counter to queue. Human smugglers usually instruct victims to line up in front of the counter manned by corrupt BI personnel. But by adopting the s-line, the passengers would be distributed in the different counters. 

I agree strongly with this and hope and pray, that the initial results are really very encouraging and, that the Immigration officers really will be very cooperative in the implementation of the new system. Not only in Manila - but as well as at all arrival and departure counters of the Philippines at the soonest possible time.

For the sake of my second home, the Republic of the Philippines!

Oktoberfest in Davao City

Don't forget: Oktoberfest in Davao City with Miss Susie Rexrodt, GMA TV host in Swiss Deli, Damosa, Davao City. Check out my previous posts.

Vergessen Sie nicht unser Oktoberfest in Davao City in Swiss Deli, Damosa Davao City mit GMA TV Fernsehmoderatorin   Susie Rexrodt.

Limited seats are still available.  

Call now/Rufen Sie JETZT AN: 082 - 227 1761! 

Philippine Boy Scouts Wage War versus Dengue

Dengue has found a formidable foe: the Philippine Boy Scouts. This after the two-million strong boy scouts of the Philippines decided to wage its own battle against the increasing cases of H-fever caused by the aides egypti mosquito.

"Scouts may be the next victims," secretary general J. Rizal C. Pangilinan said in a memorandum issued to BSP's 112 local councils and 10 scouting regions nationwide. I know about it, because I am still a passive member of this institution.

The nationwide campaign dubbed "Scouts Against Dengue" involves the holding of massive clean-up operations aimed at eradicating sources of dengue and the holding of information campaigns.

Scouts will conduct house-to-house campaigns and assist local government units in distributing anti-dengue leaflets. Scout units are encouraged to form their own groups in the campaign. 100 percent participation is really expected.

Amid the increasing number of cases and deaths, the Boy Scouts Philippines is called upon to do its share in the massive effort of helping minimize, if not totally eradicate, the deadly disease. BSP councils shoud to be cautious in conducting scouting activities like camping, hiking and other outdoor activities. All must be prepared by following certain guidelines being issued by the Department of Health and other health agencies against the dengue fever. 

As it has been mentioned several times before, my dear readers: "Prevention is still the best medicine. We must be always be prepared to help stop the spread of the disease!

Wage war against dengue!!!

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.