WORLD FAMOUS SINULOG FESTIVAL 2013 TRAVEL, CULTURE, ADVENTURE...

Maybank injects US$100m into Philippine operations

Maybank also started building in Davao City.
Check out more here:

Maybank injects US$100m into Philippine operations

The German Ambassador For the Philippines/Der deutsche Botschafter auf den Philippinen

is 

During my last Manila trip I got the chance to meet German Ambassador for the Philippines, Dr. Joachim Heidorn in the Embassy in Makati City/Manila. He took a lot of time allowing me to talk with him about "God and the whole world" - as a saying goes...

Dr. Heidorn is indeed a incredible statesman.

He was born in Hanover, Lower-Saxony in 1951, is married and has three children. He received his Ph.D. in Political Sociology in the University Marburg.

Dr. Heidorn stayed in several countries in the past, i.e. in the German Embassy London - as Deputy Head also in the German Embassies in Tripoli, Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Riad (Saudi Arabia). As he told me: Colombo was his most challenging time so far.

From 2008 till 2011 Dr. Heidorn became German Ambassador in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Since October 2011 he appointed in the Philippines.

Yes, it has been his wish to stay in the Philippines as German Ambassador. Long time ago he has been visited the Philippines as a tourist and fell in love to this tropical nation and its people. His family and he are feeling very well here and are well established already. 

Dr. Joachim Heidorn likes diving, the Beatles and reading. His favourite books is Thomas Mann's "Buddenbrooks".

The German Ambassador in Manila Dr. Joachim Heidorn: a very pleasant representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Philippines.

Thank you very much Ambassador for taking time and allowing me to ask many questions.

Philippine German Month February 2013

ComVal Suffers More...

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE (Jan. 23)----- The rain has stopped but the Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils remain ready with their respective rescue teams and keep on watch for any sudden change of the weather condition.

There were family evacuees in the province as rains poured in since Friday evening (January 18).  Per flooding incident official report issued by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as of 8:00 a.m. of January 21, 2013, there were 2,143 families who vacated for safety to the identified evacuation centers.  As of 8:00 a.m. of January 22, the number of families became 441.  As the water subsides, those residents of flooded areas which are accessible already have started to go home.

Governor Arturo T. Uy being the Chairman of the PDRRM Council earlier issued an order for the suspension of classes in schools for the safety of the students and teachers considering the flood risks. But today, classes have resumed already.

PDRRM Officer Raul Villocino said that with the experienced weather disturbance, the people are advised to stay alert and abide to any issued public warnings and safety measures implemented by the local authorities. 

Thank you Grace Almedilla, ids-comval for your update...

 

Philippine German Month 2013

Enjoy - and more details right here...

Flood in Davao and its Neighbours

DAVAO CITY – More than 5,000 families or 25,000 individuals have been affected by the flooding that hit riverside villages here following non-stop rain since Saturday night.

The city government has called off classes from kindergarten to high school, in both public and private schools, Monday as the city continues to assess the extent of the damage from one of the worst flooding the city has experienced in the past years.

Emmanuel Jaldon, the chief of the Davao City Disaster Risk and Management Council (DCDRMC), said local officials have issued the warning as early 9 p.m. Saturday because of the overflowing of the Tamugan river, one of the main tributaries of the Davao river.

As a result, at least 12 barangays (villages) lining down Davao river was submerged in flood.

Jaldon, however, said some residents who have already been used to floods, refused to evacuate, which was the reason some of them were trapped.

“The problem is their coping threshold, most of them have already experienced the worst of flooding, so, they just don’t evacuate until the waters reach critical level,” he said. “They still stayed on the second floor of their houses, believing they still have a second chance.”

Jaldon also said the rain still continues in the upland areas of Davao City, and that as of 2:30 p.m. Sunday, the water continues to rise.

Dante Donayre, operations chief of the DCDRMC, said that despite the disaster-preparedness training held for community leaders in the past, the disaster-preparedness is still wanting in the community level as elected barangay officials still fail to re-echo these in the communities.

Malou Bermudo, chief of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), said a total of 5,165 families from 12 city barangays affected by the flood are now in different evacuation centers; among them, are 2,700 families from Buhangin area, which covered the Jade Valley and Juliville Subdivisions.

Choreyn Mae Dumape, 20, a resident of Jade Valley who was rescued from the top of their house, said her parents were still inside the village.

“My parents are still there,” Dumape said, adding that the water rose at around 1 a.m. Sunday.

In Compostela Valley, at least 178 families have left their homes, even as authorities forced some residents to evacuation centers as water levels in major rivers there continue to rise, threatening low-lying communities, according to Raul Villocino, provincial disaster officer.

In neighboring Davao del Norte province, over 800 people have been evacuated overnight as floodwater swamped the rice-producing municipalities of Kapalong, Sto. Tomas, Braulio Dujali and Asuncion, said Romulo Tagalo, Davao del Norte assistant administrator.

Those evacuated, according to Villocino, included 129 families in the villages of Andap, Cogonon and Cabinuangan, in New Bataan, the town which suffered the most number of casualties in last December’s killer storm.

At least 37 families also headed to the evacuation centers in Basak and Magsaysay villages in Nabunturan, while 12 families from Sitio (Sub-village) Pag-ibig, in the mining village of Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo town sheltered at the village hall due to fear of a landslide, the disaster official said.

Waist-deep floodwater has submerged most of Maniki village, the center of Kapalong town, forcing many residents to flee to safer grounds, Mayor Edgardo Timbol said. Germelina Lacorte, Dennis Jay Santos, Karlos Manlupig, Ayan C. Mellejor and Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao

How is the Weather in The Philippines?

Davao Light and Power Co. has now made weather updates and forecasts available to its customers and all readers of this website through its own website www.davao-light.com .

This has been made possible through the site's link to the Weather Philippines Foundation (WPF) website.

WPF provides localized and regularly updated weather forecasts in major cities in the Philippines, of course, including my new home town Davao City. Weather Data is transmitted every 10 minutes automatically.

Thanks a lot to Davao Light and Power Information Officer and friend, Mr. Rossano Luga.

The Sound of Music - The Musical - IN DAVAO

P

In 1930's Austria, a young woman named Maria is failing miserably in her attempts to become a nun. When the Navy captain Georg Von Trapp writes to the convent asking for a governess that can handle his seven mischievous children, Maria is given the job. The Captain's wife is dead, and he is often away, and runs the household as strictly as he does the ships he sails on. The children are unhappy and resentful of the governesses that their father keeps hiring, and have managed to run each of them off one by one. When Maria arrives, she is initially met with the same hostility, but her kindness, understanding, and sense of fun soon draws them to her and brings some much-needed joy into all their lives -- including the Captain's. Eventually he and Maria find themselves falling in love, even though Georg is already engaged to a Baroness and Maria is still a postulant. The romance makes them both start questioning the decisions they have made... 

INDIGENT CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, INC.

ICEA OERFORMING ARTS

in cooperation with

CATHOLIC WOMEN'S LEAGUE - ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO

presents

A NIGHT ON BROADWAY FEATURING

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

February 9, 2013, Saturday at 7:30 PM CAP Auditorium, Anda Street, Davao City,

For more information and ticket reservations please call:

MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR, publisher Marietta F. Siongco, 082 - 2275716 or 082 - 2224595 and all MERCO outlets.

Tickets: 500, 300 and 200 Pesos.

A Philippine Hero

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the Philippine Contingent to the Golan Heights territory received a Peacekeeper of the Month Award at a United Nations Office in Syria for saving the lives of 14 Austrians, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Tuesday.

Technical Sergeant Herman Galiza of the Philippine Battalion was awarded by the UN Disengagement Observer Force for his "exemplary performance and devotion to duty rendered" as bus driver for the Austrian and Croatian Contingents' rotation convoy from Camp Faouar to Damascus International Airport last Nov. 28. Galiza managed to secure and protect 14 Austrian passengers when the 25-vehicle convoy came under heavy fire from anti-government forces while on its way to the airport.

“This award will reflect on how the 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights performed well in its mandated tasks and mission. Likewise, this will boost the morale of the officers, men and women of the Philippine Battalion,” Lt. Col. Nolie Anquillano, commanding officer of the Phillippine Contingent said.

The sixth Philippine Contingent assumed peacekeeping in the Golan Heights last Nov. 19.

"Technical Sergeant Herman Galiza’s bravery and exemplary performance in the line of duty are truly remarkable and worth noting.  He highlighted the gallantry and selflessness of each and every Filipino soldier at home or anywhere in the world. He truly deserves the award, commendation and recognition of the Community of Nations. The Philippines is proud of you.  Mabuhay po kayo and the rest of the Philippine Contingent in the Golan,” Philippine Ambassador to Israel Generoso D.G. Calonge said.