Froehliche Weihnachten! Merry Christmas!

EIN GESEGNETES UND FROHES WEIHNACHTSFEST IHNEN ALLEN LIEBE LESERINNEN UND LESER. GOTT SEGNE SIE!

A BLESSED AND VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU MY DEAR READERS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Karl Amadeus Hartmann - A Figure Unique in German Music

Karl Amadeus Hartmann is indeed a figure unique in German music - the only composer to stay put and defy Adolf Hiter for the duration of the Third Reich...

Check out more here:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com 

Lapis at Papel... Kulang pa Project -

The Batch 81 Holy Cross of Mintal LAPIS AT PAPEL...KULANG PA PROJECT is an outreach program and is holding a monthly gift giving of pencils, pad papers and other educational materials for day care center kids in, especially in the remote areas of Davao City.

The communities have been to serve in 2011 in different parts of Davao City and celebrated the first anniversary last December 17, 2011 after the last gift giving for this year 2011.

Barangays Manambulan and Guianga are the next target areas. More people are badly needed to encourage and support the Batch 81 Holy Cross of Mintal.

Please conact President/Coordinator Emma Linda Malacaste Diolola-Ocampo: emsdiolola@yahoo.com.

CONFUSED

(Today's Editorial of Mindanao Daily Mirror - with friendly permission of my publisher and editor-in-chief 'Tita" Marietta Siongco.)

What is with us?

We pretend to defend decency in public office, yet we condone abominations like a midnight appointment. We mouth motherhood statements about the blight of corruption, yet we whine about bold measures aimed at weeding out the crooks. We purport allegiance to the Constitution, yet we use, nay misuse, the same sacred instrument to compromise earnest efforts to better our society. We say one thing, yet mean another.

This sums up our pathetic national discourse over the last months. For how explain the rank inanities favoring such a widely discredited figure aas Chief Justice Renato Corona? What must we make for the throng that lapped up his street language late last week, clinging to his post as if he were the High Court itself, and taking the President, no less, to task as a -take note- dictator?

How else explain the public statements of such bodies and individuals like the IBP (which cavalierly invoked the constitutional principle of separation of powers, as if any of those institutional powers were beyond criticism), Sen. Joker Arroyo (who, not unlike, of all people, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, critized the Chief's Justice's impeachment at the House), former Sen. Nene Pimentel (who said he wasn't happy with the swift impeachment process), and confessed GMA friend Fr. Eliseo Mercado (Mindanao's very own peace advocate who painfully noted that Gloria Arroyo was being "demonized as if she were the personification of evil.")

Are we missing something?

... .

We're a confused people - unworthy of, or desperate for, principled, modern leadership.

Natural Disaster in Mindanao

 The tropical storm Washi (Sendong) struck the northern coast of Mindanao with very heavy rain in a region not accustomed to typhoons, causing rivers to burst their banks, sweeping many residents out to the sea.

The cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro were transformed into mud-filled waterways choked with vehicles and downed trees.

Also Davao City, where I am residing was placed under unusual Storm Signal One. Heavy down pours followed. Storms are indeed rare this far south of the country, and Davaoenos have always boasted that the city is free of storms and typhoons...

Climate changes?!

German Christmas Party 2011 in Davao City/Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier 2011 in Davao City

Ein Bild sagt mehr als Worte. A pixture says more then words...

Trotzdem sind hier einige Worte: Ein grosser Teil der Deutschen Gemeinde in Davao traf sich zu einer wunderbaren Weihnachtsfeier mit Besinnlichkeit, Spass und einem excellenten europaeischen Buffet (kreiert von Freund und General Manager Wolfgang Pfuner) im Apo View Hotel, Davao City.

Members of the German Community gathered together during a wonderful Christmas Party with joy and fun and a wonderful European Buffet (a creation of friend and General Manager Wolfgang Pfuner) in Apo View Hotel in Davao City.

Wann geht's denn endlich los? When shall we start? 

 Spiele und Spass - hier mit den beiden MC's Susie Rexrodt und Rossana Balcom-Doring und einigen weiblichen Kandidaten... 

Games and fun - here with MC's Susie Rexrodt and Rossana Balcom-Doring and some female candidates...

 

 Merry Christmas to all of you. Ein Frohes und Gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest   Ihnen allen!

Season of Homesickness

(A repost of my column "IN MY OPINION" from MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR - December 16, 2011).

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Much could be written or told about all the wonderful places worldwide. A lifetime would not be enough to discover the whole world. Millions of Filipinos migrants are still working and living in many countries all over the world. But those Filipinos are so occupied and tired with work, that in a half-day of not working, they don't even have the energy to go out anymore.

They prefer to rest instead. they work until dawn. There's even no more time for letters or send emails anymore. They get up early next day to do the same activities. Again and again... . They fail to appear on dates or appointments even schedules were already set. On the last minute going out on a free half-day, but suddenly guests arrive who need to be served for example. All these and more make it very diffcult for the OFWs to find time even for themselves.

Christmas time should let uns remember and remind us of our beloved ones somewhere out there. Being "there" is something like being in a garden of roses. Everybody is free to pick up flowers, but surely everybody will not find that easy because the roses are on top of the thorns. being abroad is even more complicated then that.

Indeed, much has been written and talked about homesickness of mind and heart - especially during Christmas season and the time between yesterday and tomorrow.

Many Filipinos stay in countries, where deep winter is reigning right now. Wearing three jackets a day, warm winter clothes and, from the start one must be always on top form, but not only lively but also egantly.

Homesickness usually attacks, when 'your people abroad" receive unpleasant notes from home, as I heard many saying before: "Problema at magpadala ka ng pera!"

The loved ones overseas even try to save  a little amount for airfares just in case they need to  come immediately to their families in the Philippines. many times they consider the difficulty and complication in sending money home. Many imes they even can't afford to visit the Philippines for a long time... .

Homesickness comes, when we hear that one of the boys at home doesn't want to go to school anymore. Homesickness comes when misunderstandings between husband and wife or closed friends arise... .

How about me? Sure, homesickness comes along also for me, especially during this time. Even living in the Philippines as an expatriate for good since 1999, I still do miss my home country Germany and many people there. Season of homesickness... .

Mr. and Miss Photogenitic Grand Finals in Davao City

Deutscher Konsularsprechtag/German Consular Day in Davao City

Die Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gibt bekannt, dass am

Donnerstag, den 20. August 2015

von 8.30 bis 12.30 Uhr und von 14.00 bis 17.00 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 und Porras Streets), Barangay Obrero, Davao City (hinter dem Victoria Plaza Mall), Tel./Fax 082-227 1761und 0915-219 9002. Ansprechpartner ist der Leiter der Rechts- und Konsularabteilung der Botschaft, Herr Ulrich Koehler!

Bitte beachten Sie, dass wegen biometrischer Daten (u.a. Fingerabdruecke) nur noch vollstaendige Antraege auf Ausstellung vorlaeufiger Reisepaesse und Kinderreisepaesse  - NICHT jedoch Antraege fuer Europapaesse - entgegengenommen werden koennen.

Leider koennen Visaantraege in Davao City NICHT gestellt werden. Die Visaabteilung in Manila ist nicht mit der University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) in Davao City vernetzt. Bitte haben Sie Verstaendnis, dass aus diesem Grund auch Fragen zu einzelnen Visaantraegen NICHT beantwortet werden koennen!

Fuer eine erforlgreiche Bearbeitung Ihres Anliegens (z.B. Beurkundungen, Beglaubigungen etc.) setzen Sie sich bitte rechtzeitig zwecks Vorbereitung der Urkunde(n) mit der BGotschaft in Verbindung.

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

+++++++++++++

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany would like to inform you that the Head of the Legal and Consular Section, the First Secretary, Mr. Ulrich Koehler, will hold office on

Thursday, August 20, 2015

from 8:30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  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 (at the back of Victoria Plaza Mall).

Please note that due to biometric specifications only complete applications for German Temporary Passports and Children's Passports can be accepted. Applications for Regular Passports with biometric specifications (e.g. fingerprints) CANNOT be accepted.

Unfortunately, visa applications CANNOT be accepted as well. Inquiries regarding visa applications will 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 prepared.

You may also visit our website www.manila.diplo.de 

A Hot Chocolate, Rain and More Classical Music - RELAX KO

After writing the whole day,  I  enjoy now,  as I said, a hot chocolate, more rain, and especially more classical music of  Alexander Glasunoff and  Karl Goldmark.