Now is the Time for PEACE!

(PNA) - Saying the Filipino is weary of all the fighting, discord, and senseless armed combat characteristic of the growing gap between the government and members of the rebel groups, President Benigo Aquino called on all the stakeholders and concerned citizens to rally behind his administration and support  the resumption of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The President made the call during the "Ilaw ng Kapayapaan" (Light of Peace) candle lighting ceremonies held at Quezon Memorial Circle last Tuesday night. 

Peace: - calm, repose, freedom from disturbance, war or hostilities as well as tumult and commotion. 

A German sayings goes like this: "Ein Friede ist besser als 10 Siege!" One peace is better then ten victories.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God!" (Matthew 5:9).

Also as an expat living in the Philippines and knowing the Philippines, especially Mindanao since the early 1980s, I wish us peace. In Mindanao, in the Philippines, and of course, in the whole world!

Bela Bartok - Another Incredible Classical Music Composer

Even while living in the Philippines I do still love also Bela Bartok's music.

Check out more:

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

"CAN-CAN" and more. Jacques Offenbach...

Check out more about this unique classical music composer from France:

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Expats and Healthcare in The Philippines

I am lucky. Yes, I am! When I moved to the Philippines for good in 1999, i was still able to get some very good health insurance plans: critical illness, accident, death because of accident etcetera etcetera....

And, I also joined PHILHEALTH.

I informed several other expats and (Filipino) friends of mine about it. One of them became very lucky. He has been hospitalized and needed a blood transfusion several months ago. I informed him about the latest statement of Dr. Rey B. Aquino, President and CEO of PhilHealth: "In keeping with its trust objective of providing its members with responsive benefits, blood transfusions done even as an outpatient is now being paid  for by the state run Philippine Health Insurance cooperation (PhilHealth). This took effect already on al claims for outpatient blood transfusions starting one year ago.

Of course, it should be clarified that while purchase of blood is not included in the benefits , all medically-necessary drugs and medicines used during the transfusion shall be compensated in addition to the usual blood donor screening test.

What ever, however, being a PhilHealth member is a must - also and/or especially for expatriates living here in the Philippines.

Das Goethe Institut Manila

Das Goethe-Institut engagiert sich im Auftrag der Bundesrepublik Deutschland auf der ganzen Welt - also nicht nur in Manila auf den Philippinen. 

Die Kernaufgabe liegt dabei, neben der Pflege der internationalen kulturellen Zusammenarbeit, vor allem in der Foerderung der deutschen Sprache. Das Goethe-Institut, wo auch immer auf der Welt, bietet vielfaeltige Leistungen im Rahmen der Sprachfoerderung.

The Goethe Institut works on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany all over the world and not only in Manila in the Philippines. Goethe Institut's core role is not only maintain international cultural dialogue, but most importantly to promote the German language.

A real demonstrating that the Goethe Institut offers a wide range of services in the context of language improvement.

Mehr dazu:

Check out more:

http://www.germaninthephilippines.tropicalpenpals.com

Philippine Classical Music

Mike Velarde, Jr.



 or

 Lucio San Pedro

Philippine Classical Music is unique and helps me to relax and unwind.

Check out more on my website: 
http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

 (Constancio de Guzman)

GARY GRANADA

ALAY MO BUHAY KO was one of the songs recorded in the album DAMDMAIN NG BAGONG KABATAAN, released November 1986. Philippine classics... .

Sung by the WEA's Children's Choir, the song was a charity project of WEA Records and Safegiuard. The proceeds were used for the benefit of the UNICEF project to protect the children of Negros. 

Composer Gary Granada is probably better known in the gospel music industry. He has won many competitions for his compositions, the most recent (!early 1988!) of which are: EARTH KEEPER for the Environment Song Contest, and BAHAY for the KBP Music Fest. His song ALAY MO BUHAY KO (I brought on air many times in my radio shows in Davao City!) also won an award in last year's advertising congress.

 

Casino Filipino Davao celebrates Chinese New Year 2011

Enjoy the

LION DANCE at 8:00 PM

and

FREE BEER and COCKTAILS

as well as

FORTUNE TELLING!

Cultural Center of the Philippines - PIANIST RAUL SUNICO IS NEW CCP PRESIDENT

Cultural Center of the Philippines - PIANIST RAUL SUNICO IS NEW CCP PRESIDENT

When it came to Philippine Classical Music, I got really honoured to meet Raul Sunico,

who obtained the degrees of Bachelor of Music (cum laude) among many others. He later obtained his Master of Music degree from the Juillard School of Music in New York under Sascha Gorodnitzki.

In the Philippines, he was a winner of the Manila Symphony Young Artists Auditions.

Because of him I learned more about Philippine classical music.

Check it out also here

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

How to price your property - News and Information | MyProperty.ph

How to price your property - News and Information | MyProperty.ph

It's indeed a very interesting post, I would like to share with you.

Take Good Care!

I am an expatriate living in the Philippines for good since 12 years. I have never been back in Germany, my home country. I visited the Philippines since 1976 - since 1982 on a regular basis. I always remember the phrase: "Take good care of yourself!" Sure, I did! I always did good care of myself - also whiule staying in more then 60 other countries worldwide. 

Although one takes good care, anything can happen: an accident, an illness. Also YOU, just reading this, may be at risk.

Did you experience any chest pains or heaviness? Come on, stop smiling. Have you had a weakness or numbness on one side of your body which resolves completely at the end of the day? Come on, yes I DID BEFORE! I experienced it twice - mild strokes. Nearly 26 million people worldwide die (!) every year of diseases associated with "atherothrombosis". 

Now, hy am I so concerned about this topic? Sure, everybody can get sick or ill. Filipinos and expats living herein the Philippines. Fact is, the Philippine health infrastructure is deadly! I really hold my breath reading alot of news while researching for this post. No, no good news! Sorry, really bad news!

It happened several months ago, but it's still up to date: Philippine "STAR"-columnist Boo Chanco, whom I really admire, has been talking to a number of doctors and always got the same message: "If you should have a heart attack or stroke, pray that neither happens outside of Metro Manila nor Metro Cebu!" Boom-bang! How about all the other places in the Philippines? Mindanao, Davao City - has not breath a word. 

It means to say: Proper emergency care is not available outside Manila and Ceby. Which hospitals, I am referring to Mindanao, in my case especially Davao City - can provide proper emergency care and treatment for these two medical emergencies?

Let's mention again basic tourism programs, retirement programs or the development of luxury second homes away from the metro areas, as Boo Chanco stressed. I am pretty sure we can't wait for the government again to provide us. The private  sector developers indeed will have to include adequate mdeical facilities in their plans.

PhilHealth is not bankrupt. Even being an expat I am a member of. And, by the way, the "Generic Pharmacy" (Mabisa na - Matipid pa!!!) is still extending nationwide. 

Take good care of yourselves, guys! Stay safe and healthy in the Philippines.