German Language a Must for Pinoy Nurses

Filipino nurses who plan to seek work in Germany must learn the German language first.

In an interview on Friday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Filipino nurses should  familiarize themselves with the German language and German culture first if they plan to work there.

"They (German officials) are the ones who came to us, and the EU knows our concern about brain drain and based on our official statements, we have an oversupply of nurses here and the EU is now preparing for more demand [for health care workers]  so Germany now wants to recruit Filipino nurses," she said.

However, a Filipino nurse must have German "language proficiency and cultural [awareness]"  as these are  among the requirements for employment.

Japan has also imposed the same requirement in hiring Filipino nurses.
Baldoz added that the DOLE and its German counterpart are still finalizing the text of the agreement regarding the hiring of Filipino nurses in Germany and that the agreement is expected to be signed Tuesday, March 19.

Philippine Opera Company

The members of the Philippine Opera Company’s Young Artists group

MANILA, Philippines - After a successful first season, The Philippine Opera Company presents the Young Artists Series Black Box event on March 20, 6:30 p.m., at the Opera Haus with Elite.

In the theater the term Black Box refers to a devoted space where daring experiments and new visions are tested through performance. Performers who choose to go and perform in a black box are usually the ones with most open hearts and sincere desires to hone their talent.

Last January, the Philippine Opera Company hosted a “Black Box” affair for its Young Artists Series (YAS). The YAS started in October 2012, as a soiree every third Wednesday of the month featuring the Young Artists of the Opera Company. After the success of the first two events, artistic director Karla Gutierrez and artist-in-residence, mezzo soprano Clarissa Ocampo, decided to enhance the program by engaging the artists in more creative work and perform scenes from various operas, as well as, musical theater pieces that have crossed over into the classical arena. What makes this event different from the rest is the challenge given to the young artists to hone and develop their artistry by giving them the opportunity to stage their own scenes. To assist and mentor these artists, POC invited several established and well-known directors in the theater industry.

The Philippine Opera Company closes the series by putting the spotlight on their best and strongest Young Artists. An “Elite” YASer is a Young Artist who exemplifies attributes of a world-class artist and musician. They possess exceptional vocal prowess and unmatchable performances throughout the YAS season. These artists will perform Opera scenes from Bellini’s I Capuletti ed I Montecchi, Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, Gounod’s Faust, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, Delibe’s Lakme and Verdi’s La Traviata.

The show features Gabriel Panlilio, Marian Santiago, Twinkle Prietos, Lara Maigue, Ellrica Laguardia, Lena McKenzie, Cris Go, Al Gatmaitan, Lawrence Jatayna, Janine Santos, Joseleo Logdat and Clarissa Ocampo with surprise guests.

For inquiries, call the Philippine Opera Company at 822-9609 or 0917-5272880.

Diving in The Philippines (II)

The Philippines are one of my favorite places to go for diving. You will find everything a diver wants. From steep coral walls in Balicasag and Cabilao to underwater mounds with sharks at Malapascua, muck diving of the best in Negros and a bay full of wrecks in Busuanga. Current swept islands like Apo, Apo Reef and Tubbataha with large fish or gentle slopes around Siquijor - the Philippines has everything to your hearts content!
I have been there seven times for extensive diving. I have compiled many pages of information, tips about dive areas, descriptions and maps of dive sites and liveaboards, photos of the underwater animals you will find there, and much more.- Teresa Zubi.
www.starfish.ch

Valerie Taylor, passionate diver and book author wrote 1982:

"The Philippines is today one of the richest marine areas I have ever seen. I remember clearly my first trip there. Many marine creatures I have seen only once. Some specimens new to science, others uncommon in our waters... . The mother of all living things, nature's ultimate gift, yet we destroy its treasures, pollute its purity, rape its abundance, ignoring the warnings of approaching disasters, for already it is dying and the life it supports it with."

Remember, she wrote this 1982. How looks marine life today? Divers can tell you...

Diving in The Philippines

Angelica Panganiban Named Top Comedy Actress

Angelica Pangaiban won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress award in a Gag or Comedian Program for the show "Banana Split" in the Entertainment Press Society Golden Screen TV Awards. She first received this award in 2011 for thr same show. Angelica also appears in the newly launched "Banana Nite", the nightly serving of the gag show where they feature new gags and talents. "Banana Nite" airs Monday to Thursday after "Bandila" on ABS-CBN.

Compostela Valley Celebrates its 15th Year

by Grace Almedilla

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE-----Opened with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Bishop Wilfredo D. Manlapaz, the Comvalenyos are thankful that the province stands still despite of the experienced trials.

In her remarks during the Foundation Day Program, Congresswoman Maria Carmen Zamora pointed out that the significant event is a realization that indeed Comvalenyos draw strength from each other and moving on is not impossible having each other.

Governor Arturo T. Uy with a grateful heart expressed his deep appreciation to everybody, for through thick and thin, they are there in the province’s journey supporting each other.

An USWAG Gawad Kalinga Raffle Draw followed with exciting prizes for the lucky winners (a brand new 4x2 Pick-Up, Yamaha YBRs, Honda Scooters, Samsung Galaxy III Cellular Phones, and Samsung Tab units).

Announcing that the world is also celebrating today the Women’s Day, Governor Uy, Congresswoman Zamora, Congressman Rommel Amatong, and the Province Sports Consultant Tyrone Uy entertained the crowd with their talents in singing and dancing.

A game variety show was also conducted in the afternoon dubbed as “Gov Time, Big Time” actively participated by the Municipal and Barangay Officials of ComVal’s eleven municipalities.

Another highlight of the day’s celebration was the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing of rehabilitation projects and turn-over of checks as agriculture interventions of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in support to the Tindog ComVal Movement. 

These interventions include: assistance to Cacao Rehabilitation Program in partnership with Kennemer Foods, Inc. amounting to P13,125,000 in the form of seedlings, fertilizers, and cash for work training;   assistance to Coffee Rehabilitation Program worth P3,200,000 also in the form of seedlings, fertilizers, and cash for work training in partnership with Nestle Philippines;  P21,850,000 intervention for Banana Rehabilitation;  P3,000,000 worth of rubber seedlings for Laak;   P4,466,535 farm machineries & equipment for sustainable Rice Recovery Program;  P1.2 Million Farm Tractor for Corn Program;  P1.4 Million for the rehabilitation of Deep Well & Spring Development at Pasian, Monkayo and;  P1,518,307.09 Mini-Warehouse for Rice Program in Mawab.

These interventions from DA under the High Value Commercial Crops Development Program through the Office of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Director Remelyn R. Recoter of DA-XI Field Unit totalled to P49,709,842.  (grace almedilla, ids-comval)

Bakla, the Third Sex in The Philippines

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What could be the reason for the presence of so many Bakla in the Philippines?
To me it looks if there are more than ever before. I visited the Philippines for the first time 25 years ago and I live here now almost 5 years. To me it seems that the number of Bakla is growing by the year. In this article from my Dutch friend Dan can you get some answers:

www.expatinthephilippines.com

3 Philippine Men Guilty of Importing Weapons to US

Here is more about it:

3 Philippine Men Guilty of Importing Weapons to US - ABC News

Take you to the Philippines- Philippine Music Video

PALAWAN - EL Nido - One of the Most Beautiful Places in the Philippines