What Do Filipinos Value Most?

When I read one of a national papers' poll, I could only strongly agree. Yes, that's what I experienced since the first moment I stepped on Philippine soil.

Allow me to share it with you:

Family comes first: Filipinos value most their families. Filipinos are very much family-oriented that they will sacrifice everything just to be able to give their children the best of life. It is indeed the family that matters most to all Filipinos. Close family ties characterize the typical Filipino clan. No other values could displace it in the hearts of true-blooded Filipinos. 

I also agree with several poll joiners, that Pinoys indeed give prime concern  to bonding with relatives AND FRIENDS., ready to spent the last penny to impress their unlimited hospitality. 

Time changes everything. Not only I observed it - also a lot of Filipinos joining this poll. Yes, it's true: there has been a paradigm shift in what Filipinos value. These values have eroded slowly. 

A good education still seems to be a status symbol in many Filipino families. Many Filipinos are keep on dreaming (and trying their best!) for the children to have a good education and a better future. And, Filipinos value loyality and honesty at work. 

"Crab mentality" is and will remain as a bane. 

Although, after 12 years living in the Philippines for good as an expat, I also value many things here: especially the hospitality, gratefulness and credibility, I can experience every single day. And, I feel save and happy and so very much secure in this family-oriented society. 

The Four Seasons/Die Vier Jahreszeiten

Enjoy reading.
Viel Spass beim Lesen!

Wellness and Medical Tourism in The Philippines

Since living in the Philippines for good, I have always observed the country's world-class physicians, very often a modern technology and the so very true brand of caring and compassion of Filipinos. no wonder that wellness and medical tourism in the Philippines is becoming more and more important as the country positions itself as a premier gloabl destination.

One thing is very clear: the pool of foreign tourist patients and health buffs in the Philippines is increasing dramatically. The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is doing well, pushing tour operators to develop more medical and wellness tourism packages. that will cater to the growing number of foreign patients visiting this country nowadays and in the future. 

I am not sure if this will materialize: The DOT honestly expects the Philippines  to corner a total of three billion US$ (!?) from the global medical tourism industry by 20154, if more or less 200,000 foreign patients arrive here annually. I wish these will figures really become true - for the sake of the Philippines. 

Of course, the innate hospitality of the Filipinos is very well-known, but health care providers should also constantly upgrade their facilities to be at par with world-class standards. 

Mabuhay , and welcome to the Philippines!

Deutscher Konsularsprechtag in Davao/German Consular Day in Davao

Die Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Manila gibt bekannt, dass am

Mittwoch, den 16. Februar 2011 von 9.00 - 12.30 Uhr und 14.00 - 16.00 Uhr 

ein Konsularsprechtag stattfinden wird in der

University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Board Room, Office of the President, Inigo Street, Haupteingang (in der Naehe der N. Torres, Cervantes and Porras Streets0, Barangay Obrero, Davao City (hinter Victoria Plaza Mall) mit Telefon-/Faxnummern 082 - 221 7737 und 082 - 225 4696.

Ansprechpartner ist der Leiter der Rechts- und Konsularabteilung der Botschaft, Herr Konsul Klaus Mueller.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass wegen der biometrischen Daten (u.a. Fingerabdruecke) nur noch vollstaendige Antraege auf Ausstellung vorlaeufiger Reisepaesse und Kinderreisepaesse - NICHT JEDOCH Antrage auf EUROPAPAESSE entgegengenommen werden koennen.

Visaantraege koennen NICHT gestellt werden. Fragen zu Visa werden NICHT beantwortet.

Fuer eine erfolgreiche Bearbeitung Ihres Anliegens (z.B. Beurkundungen/Beglaubigungen etc.) setzen Sie sich bitte rechtzeitig zwecks Vorbereitung der Urkunde mit der Botschaft in Verbindung.

Informationen und Formulare finden Sie auf der Webseite www.manila.diplo.de.


The Embassy of the Federal Republic of  Germany in Manila would like to inform you that the Head of the Legal and Consular Section, First Secretary (and Consul) Mr. Klaus Mueller, will hold office

Wednesday, 16th February 2011 from 9.00 am - 12.30 pm and from 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Board Room, Office of the President, Inigo Street, main gate (near N. Torres/Cervantes and Porras Streets), Barangay Obrero, Davao City, back of the Victoria Plaza Mall, Telephone/Fax: 082 - 221 7737 and 082 - 225 4696.

Please note that due to the biometric specifications only complete applications for the German Temporary Passports and children's passports can be accepted. Visa applications CANNOT be accepted as well. Inquiries regarding visa well not be answered and should be directed to the Visa Section of the Embassy. 

Kindly contact  the embassy well in advance in case  legal documents have to be prepared. 

You may also visit the embassy's website.

The Forgotten (?) Illness AIDS (in the Philippines)

The topic AIDS has been, is and will be always remain a hot potato. AIDS doesn't know any special season, but it seems to have been forgotten. Especially distressing is till, for many fellow the condemnation and ignorance about condoms - the one and only sure HIV-AIDS protection as has been proven many times.

For many people the saying still seems to be: "AIDS - doesn't matter!" What a fatal attraction who continue playing Russian roulette. Here in the Philippines - and worldwide.

I am not very comfortable with figures when it comes to "official numbers" of the Philippines. They said, since 1984 the Philippines registered 5,364 HIV and AIDS cases. I am pretty sure that these numbers never show the reality. 

Since 2004 the last figures showed the number of new infections hitting one record after the other. in several countries AIDS tests for willing married couples are still required by law.  So far so good, but how about most of the new infection cases involving heterosexual men, gays, or those men who force prostitutes to have unsafe sex without condoms? How about drug users, who spread the AIDS virus by using dirty injection needles?

The latest registry in the Philippines (and I carefully agree!) said most of the individuals, about 90 percent of them, were males and the most number of infections cme at the productive age group between 20 to 29 years old. And, sexual contact was the most common made fir HIV transmission. Worldwide immigration authorities require HIV/AIDS tests several times in different intervals before entering the country and/or before a continuation of immigration permanent status documents processing. I experience it for myself in 1999 when moving to the Philippines. Nowadays one can't find such requirements any more. 

Dr. Edsel Salvana, associate professor on the infectious disease section of the University of the Philippines (UP), Manila said, the Philippines could be facing an "epidemic" HIV/AIDS cases as numbers continue to rise while newly-infected individuals are even getting younger.

Chasteness and chastity seem to become more and more foreign words. Ask the young generation and don't wonder if you'll mostly hear a plucky laughter.

AIDS doesn't matter? What a fatal attraction!

Fishkill

I have been and I will remain an intolerable, merciless, and unrestrained environmentalist. Ecodooms and pollution as well as contamination of our environment go on without limits. This latest news infuriated and distressed me again and again. Yes, I have written about this topic many times already. And also this post will not be the last!

Last November large "Imelda" fish went belly up in the Pasig River, while the surface of Bicol's Lake Buhi was nearly covered with dead 'tilapia". Good heavens! I stayed twice at Lake Sebu in South Cotabato and enjoy this wonderful fish three times a day! I was really sad to know that in Southern Metro Manila, large milk fish or "bangus" has being sold for as low as 10 Pesos per kilo as cases of fish kill were reported across Luzon in the wake of typhoon "Basyang" last year.

Fish kill has been occuring with increasing frequency all over the Philippines in recent years, and not just during the typhoon season. The phenomenon, which can leave tons of fish decimated, has become a regular reminder of the need to clean up the Philippines' waters. Fish kill has been occuring more often as toxic waste is dumped into the waters around the archipelago. Of course, pollution is also killing spawning grounds of marine life, resulting in a steadlily dwindling fish catch.

What are our local governments doing to protect the environment and avoid the horrific damage of the nation's food security?

I feel horrible reading such news from Australia, that scientists have discovered sea life hundreds of meters below the Great Barrier Reef, in an unprecedented mission to document species under threat of ocean warming. Can you imagine? Ancient sharks, swarms of crustaceans and a primitive shell-dwelling squid species were among the astonishing life?

Let's keep in mind: scientists have already warned long time ago that the attraction is a serious jeopardy, as global warming and chemical run off threaten to kill marine species and cause disease outbreaks.

Quo vadis, Mother Earth?

MY Passion of Music (II) - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

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MY Passion of Music (II) - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

MY Passion of Music (I) - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

MY Passion of Music (I) - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow / Gestern, heute, morgen

Do you always count the days up to the next legal holiday without being on duty? Or do you start as early as September longing for Christmas? And do you wish the weeks or months to hopefully pass by like an assault up to the next possible salary increase?

Many times we are really too much in a hurry while feeling uncomfortable if we noticed how time flies. We have no time for some one or something, or even for ourselves. We don't make time for some one of something or even for ourselves.

When I was still a teenager, I was longing for the time to be a grown up already. Later, I enjoyed listening to my grandmother's stories such as "Once Upon A Time" or 'When I Was Young" from her "yesterday's life".

After a couple of years, especially while observing that time really flies like a rocket to the moon, I always have the same question in my mind: Are the present hours and days less valuable? 

These days between Christmas and New Year, between yesterday and tomorrow, I used to slow down and to relax. I even ignore my cellphone most of the time. I hide at a secret place to unwind. 

The next turn of the year is just around the corner. For most of us it's the time  to come to our senses. The future prospects smile at us already. What might the New Year 2011 bring us? Another hectic schedule of course! But hopefully also happiness, joy and health. 

Is life in future easier, nicer, more charming and being more fulfilled compared to the present? Many of us retreat into the past and forget their present existence. A possible topsy-turved world of a golden youth tries to let us forget that also the past have had its share of disappointments, pains, tears, darkness, as well as desperate days. Dreamy and sleepy days - yes, lost days, irretrievable time... .

I am glad and happy being able to live a wonderful life as an expatriate here in the Philippines - together with my family and many very good friends. It hasn't been easy during the first years. Now we stand on our own feet, because we worked hard and adjusted very well. 

Happy New Year to all of you and May God bless us!

My Parents' Music - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

My Parents' Music - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

Enjoy reading. Viel Spass beim Lesen.