Heiner Maulbecker Relishes Retirement in His Beloved Baguio

By: Raoul J. Chee Kee, Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE ENTRANCE to Mother’s Garden is made of leafy vines forming an arch

Heiner Maulbecker cuts a familiar figure in Baguio City. The German national, who spent his childhood in a town near Heidelberg, first came to the Philippines in 1979 when he was asked to head Hyatt Terraces Baguio.

The hotelier was initially connected with the Hilton chain of hotels before joining the Hyatt Group. His last posting before the ill-fated Hyatt Terraces was at the Hyatt Bangkok. The 1990 earthquake caused the collapse of the Hyatt Terraces among other establishments in Baguio.

“After the earthquake, I was ‘clean.’ It took everything away, so I was able to move around with only an attaché case and two boxes of clothes,” he recalled.

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Instead of fleeing the Philippines and seeking another posting, he returned after a brief trip to Germany, worked at Camp John Hay and eventually became the general manager of The Manor at Camp John Hay.

In 2014, he retired after logging in 52 years as a hotelier.

“I have lived longer here than I have lived in Germany,” he said.

VEGETABLE garden supplies herbs for the restaurant on site. PHOTOS BY JILSON TIU

Easy access

Maulbecker has grown to love Baguio so much that he has built a house that overlooks part of the city. The bedroom is located on the first level for easy access for him and his partner.

“It’s an upside-down house,” he joked, but pointed out that it serves their needs well.

“People bought houses here with the intention of giving it to their grandchildren,” he noted, but their grandkids would rather stay in the city. It’s better this way, it’s quieter, you can actually hear birdsong.”

THERESE Jison and HeinerMaulbecker

Since retiring, he now has time to look through the stuff he has accumulated after close to 35 years of living in Baguio.

“I’ve basically been sorting out the mess I’ve collected… I would put stuff in a box and say, ‘I’ll sort these things out when I retire,’ and now that time has come,” he said.

Maulbecker has made a lot of friends through the years, but the people he likes being with can be counted on the fingers of one hand, maybe two. He meets regularly with fellow expat retirees.

“It was originally a group of people who spoke French, and we would meet up and talk in French, but then the Swiss joined in as well as the Germans. But I noticed that the German members gather in one group while all the Swiss stay in another,” he noted.

Maulbecker chose to retire in Baguio, but he said that to attract more retirees, the Philippines should upgrade its recreation values.

“Other than the malls or the gyms, there are few places to hike, bike or do other outdoor activities, unless you go to the beach,” he noted. “Security should also be looked into, and health care and transportation options for senior citizens.”

QUIET spot with a view of the mountains

Reality is different

Maulbecker also gave advice to those who plan to build a more compact place of their own. Basically, you should build it by taking your needs into consideration—not what you think others might need. He recounted how one of his neighbors built a beautiful house with a glass ceiling and a tub made of natural stones.

“She built the house for her artist-daughter who lived in Paris. There is even an atelier where her daughter can work should she need a space, but she has never come over to visit,” he said.

IFUGAO hut in the garden

Maulbecker then narrated how another friend, a fellow retiree, built his house in Alabang with a huge kitchen and a center island where he imagined he and his friends would cook and eat huge meals together.

“It never happened. Well, we were there once for Christmas and everyone was late two hours because of the traffic jams,” he said.

“People should build their homes the way they want to because they’re the ones who will end up living in them. Some people build based on fantasy scenarios, but reality is always different,” he added.

Restore European trust!

THU, JULY 7, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION

Bye-bye, UK. We’re leaving … .The second-biggest mobile telephone company in the world is considering the possibility of moving its headquarters out of the UK following the Brexit. Should Vodafone decide to relocate, Düsseldorf in Germany could emerge as a top contender to host the head office. Vodafone already has a presence in the German city, where it employs about 5,000 people. Moreover, Germany is the company’s largest market.

Restore EU trust with pragmatism, urges Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. And he is very right.

Europe needs fast and pragmatic moves to demonstrate a strong EU to citizens stunned by the Brexit. Indeed,  governments might need to override a sluggish Brussels.

Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister and long-time advocate of a “deeper” EU, has urged Europe’s governments to quickly tackle and solve “several central problems” to restore trust among its 508-million population. Also

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative ally told newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” (WamS) on last Sunday that it was not the time for visions or treaty reforms.

Yes, “pragmatic” efficacy must be demonstrated by the remaining 27 governments – assuming Britain formally exited the bloc.

How about a shift to inter-governmental precept? “If from the outset not all of the 27 pull their weight, then start with a few less,” Schauble commented. “And, if the [European] Commission does not act jointly, then we’ll take the matter into our hands and just solve the problems between governments.” “This inter-governmental approach proved itself during the Euro crisis,” Schäuble added, mentioning Europe’s asylum and migration policies as issues to which EU citizens wanted answers.

Europe’s member states each needed to clarify what they could do at national level, and “what we can’t do ourselves must be done at European level,” he said. Carrying on as usual was untenable amid “growing demagogy and deeper Euro skepticism,” he added.

Yes, the “EU Brexit summit” closed with continued uncertainty about future. One example among many: the Greece Central Bank reports ‘brain drain’ of 427,000 young, educated Greeks since 2008.

Let’s be honest, the question of whether the European Parliament should get the deciding role or not is not one that especially moves the public. I strongly agree with Schäuble, who was one of the architects of German reunification in the early 1990s.

Schäuble told also that Europe’s current priority should be to prevent “wildfire” disintegration and to avoid “the usual rhetoric,” adding that dumping EU treaties was no immediate answer. “We have to stay serious,” he said, insisting that it was not the moment to concentrate on reform of EU institutions.

Asked whether Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker was the right person as current president of the European Commission, Schäuble replied, “I pushed for Juncker.” “A personnel debate doesn’t get us any further. The Brexit decision must be a wake-up call for Europe,” the cabinet veteran said. “That’s what it’s about,” the 73-year-old, who in the 1980s was ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s chief of staff.

In her weekly video podcast on last Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe should become the most “competitive and knowledge-based continent in the world.” Also on Saturday, Economy Minister and SPD (social demoratic party) leader Sigmar Gabriel said Europe must shift its emphasis to a “growth pact” based on investment programs and “active” policies to boost its labor market.

Why is being a competitive and knowledge-based continent Europe also important for the Philippines? I learned from the German Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Thomas Ossowski, that the meanwhile frozen diplomatic relations between Germany and the Philippines should be restored as well as soon possible – as being discussed in a 40-minutes talk with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visitwww.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogsport.com .

Rody Duterte in Davao for Weekend 'President Time'

By Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star)

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He flew to Davao right after the turnover ceremonies of the police and military in Manila, true to his word that he would not stay in Malacañang. Malacañang Photo Bureau/Released

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte returned home on Friday night, using his “President’s time” to rest during his first weekend as Chief Executive.

He flew to Davao right after the turnover ceremonies of the police and military in Manila, true to his word that he would not stay in Malacañang.

For his inauguration last week, Duterte was reportedly billeted at the Holiday Inn Galleria in Ortigas Center.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines did not declare a 30-minute no-fly time over the skies of Metro Manila and its environs when the private jet carrying Duterte was flying. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) also did not send advance teams of helicopters.

This was in accordance with Duterte’s instruction given during his first meeting with his Cabinet last Thursday not to make a fuss about his flights.

“We do not have any presidential plane anymore. I want this stopped. We should not be treated different from other suffering Filipino passengers,” Duterte told the members of his Cabinet.

Again: Europe – quo vadis?

THU, JUNE 30, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

When the results were on the table, I really was shocked. And not only me? What does the Brexit mean for the United Kingdom’s and Europe’s future? What does the Brexit means for the whole global economy?

Let me focus especially to France and the United Kingdom. The French business might to gain from Brexit, but also a “Frexit” menaces. Following the Brexit, the UK’s closest continental neighbor faces its own political challenges. But the French are also poised to benefit should the UK lose access to the single market.

As Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities,” about Paris and London, begins, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The same could be said after Great Britain’s decision to leave the European Union with a nearly 52-percent vote. France, the United King-dom’s closest continental neighbor, will have its own set of political and economic challenges in the days ahead: from losing Great Britain as a partner at the EU round table to the specter of its own Frexit referendum. But the French are also poised to benefit should the UK lose access to the single market.

Honestly,  the Franco-British political relationship had never been defined by the European Union but is based on bilateral interests. I am sure, that this will not change.  It’s not like Germany, where the Franco-German relation-ship is extremely important as long as the EU is working well.

As for refugees – an issue that “Leave” campaig-ners had hammered hard to drum up votes – French center-right Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron had previously said migrants would no longer be stuck at Calais in the event of a Brexit. But Macron’s statement was just an empty threat, and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said France would uphold its end of the 2003 Le Touquet treaty, which allows UK immigration police to conduct controls on the French side of the channel.

Economy Minister Macron had said the Brexit would mean an influx into Britain from Calais. France had its own day of union reckoning in 2005, when voters rejected an EU-wide constitutional treaty. Could a Frexit be next?

Marine Le Pen, of the far-right National Front party, has long been an advocate of ditching the Euro currency and has already said that France needs to follow Great Britain’s lead and get out of the EU. Le Pen is expected to reach the second round of next year’s presidential elections and says France isn’t the only country that should have a referendum: She wants all EU members to go to the polls. At the latest then, the question will arise: Europe – quo vadis?

Ahead of the Brexit referendum, Herve Mari-ton, who is running for the center-right presidential ticket, had said he would expect the French to ask for a vote similar to the Brexit referendum, and he was not confident that voters would necessarily choose to remain.

As the Brexit referendum result sank in in Paris on Friday, 32-year-old Victor Jauvin said it was good that democracy exists to allow such votes, but he is nevertheless upset about the United Kingdom’s looming exit. “This was 200 years of developing this Europe,” he said. “It’s sad that it’s begun to disintegrate.” “Hyperdemocracy is going to come one day for decisions like this, where we have to consult the citizens of all EU countries,” Jauvin said.

Some called the decision to leave hypocritical and selfish. Indeed, every country in Europe is in crisis. The vote isolates others more than building solidarity. It can’t just be ‘yes’ or ‘no’: European governments and their people have to take another look at the union.

The foreign affairs analyst Pertusot said that if France’s center-right Republicans were to win next year’s presidential election, several of the party’s stronger voices could call for a show “in or out” referendum knowing that an out would be “very, very unlikely.” “The French like to say that they are disappointed with the EU, disenchanted – all the words the French love to say,” Pertusot said. “They dislike many aspects, feeling it’s too big or not French enough. But, at the same time, there is no hostility towards the EU like we see in some parts of the UK.”

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visitwww.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com .

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Travelers Capture Why They Explore the Philippines

BY:  (philstar.com) 

Photo features Bohol, as captured by one of the travelers who flew to different places in the Philippines via AirAsia Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines - As an old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

AirAsia recently launched #WhyIFly, an online campaign that seeks to drive more people to pursue their travel goals and spread the love of storytelling through beautiful films and photographs.

Company CEO Joy Cañeba shares, “Travel inspiration is everywhere. People are eager to break their routines, and are hungry for new and authentic experiences. Thanks to the Internet, Filipinos are becoming increasingly aware of the beauty and vibrant natural wonders of the Philippines and social media has made it very easy for people to share their discoveries, and spread a sense of wonder.”

To kick-off the campaign, several traveler-storytellers flew to different places courtesy of the airline to get a firsthand experience and to capture vibrant landscapes and idyllic country life many weeks ago.

Some young Filipino travel groups such as Where to Next, Free Spirits PH, SinoPinas, as well as videographer Patrick Martin journeyed far and near to explore Biri Rock Formations of Northern Samar; the bright turquoise waters of El Nido; the undiscovered beaches of Kalibo; and the lush forests of Bohol, and discovered little and large pockets of beauty.

One of the travelers is Javi Cang said the experience let them discover more places that are not known to many.

Lifestyle Feature - Travel ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

"If you go San Vicente in Palawan, there's so many nice beaches. If you drive through San Vicente,just on the road side, there will be white sand beaches just like what you see in El Nido and Boracay. It's a little rugged pa and not yet developed, but what travelers can do is just take on the challenge of exploring the areas," shares the 25-year-old finance professional/adventurer.

Below are some of the photos from the travelers, chosen for the exhibit which was displayed on June 23 at the CBTL in BGC.

Bohol

Kalibo

Tacloban

Palawan

#WhyIFly aims to inspire more stories and journeys from people through the #WhyIFly Challenge, a call to inspire friends and loved ones to embrace local travel by sharing their travel motivations through beautiful photos in social media. The challenge will take place via Instagram, and will require participants to post one photo of their trip a day for five consecutive days, and provide an answer to “Why I Fly” as captions.

Four winners will be randomly chosen from the pool of entries from June 24 to Sept. 30, 2016 and will win seats for two to Bohol, Palawan, Tacloban or Kalibo and discover their own #AirAsiainBohol, #AirAsiainKalibo, #AirAsiainTacloban, or #AirAsiainPalawan stories. - Alixandra Caole Vila

United or alone?

THU, JUNE 23, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

If it comes to relations with China, this question arises. Always. The German chancellor Angela Merkel is winding up her ninth state visit to China. Observers predicted this trip would be more difficult than previous ones: China is more self-confident. That’s also a chance! Yes, it is. And I agree with German TV commentator  Dagmar Engel in Berlin.

This commentary could be worded exactly like the commentaries on the chancellor’s past eight trips to Beijing. Was Angela Merkel outspoken enough on human rights, did she meet with artists and lawyers who are under threat, did she condemn the new repressive NGO legislation, did she demand free access to markets for foreign investors and did she criticize the Chinese steel industry’s surplus capacities and dumping prices? She was, and she did.

Let’s discuss the step in the right direction.

That’s the present. The future could be glimpsed, quite unexpectedly, in the joint final declaration. Chapter 2, as Dagmar Engel says, is about “cooperation in third countries and on third markets.” The Republic of the Philippines should be soon part of this “third-world-circle” too.

A first trilateral project – on disaster management and a university-level cooperation on coal mining – in example involving Germany and China has been launched in Afghanistan. That may seem like a small step, but for China, a country that normally follows strict noninterference policies, it’s a new direction. The German side’s plan is to get China involved and to use its influence – a strategy that already worked in the nuclear talks with Iran.

How about the new dimension of market power?

Concerning cooperation in third country markets, Germany’s idea is to include China, use its economic power – and make money.

Just one example: If the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) and Siemens join forces on high-speed trains in third countries, flanked by the China Railways Group and Deutsche Bahn in the fields of Chinese-European freight train transport and the service and maintenance of high-speed trains, that means a market power of entirely new dimensions. A look ahead shows the Chinese have ideas, too: the transfer of technology, learning a lesson from the German side’s superior image in third markets, making money and then continuing on their own. That’s what might happen – it’s a pattern that German businessmen have complained about often enough.

Germany cannot prevent that development single handedly. The European Union is big enough, but it would need a common strategy on China. At present, every country is taking care of itself first and foremost, a situation China knows to take advantage of. And just because China respects Angela Merkel and the German economic powerhouse, that doesn’t mean the goals are any different. Divide and conquer – EU heads of government including the German chancellor should counter the strategy with, Together, Germany and China are unconquerable.

Hopefully soon, I might be able to report and comment about Germany and the Philippines. And hopefully “to be united”. Especially, when it comes to Mindanao and Germany. A German Honorary Consulate is to be opened soon in Davao City….

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Email: doringklaus@ gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.german expatinthephilippines.blogspot.com .

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'Kill Duterte Plot" Scares Bilibid VIPs

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Philippine Daily Inquirer

By: Jerome Aning 

Sixteen of the so-called “VIP inmates” at New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City—some of them convicted of drug cases—denied on Wednesday that they were plotting to assassinate President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and incoming Philippine National Police head, Chief Supt. Ronald de la Rosa.

READ: Bounty for Duterte et al. now P1B

“We are not involved in this plot, if it [is] really true. We are afraid that this might be a way of ‘public conditioning’ so that we will be eventually silenced and the corruption that happened here inside NBP in the previous administration [will] be concealed,” they said in a letter sent to Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas through their lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

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The letter was from Jaime Patcho, German Agojo, Mario Tan, Jerry Pepino, Engelberto Durano, Rodel Castellano, Tomas Donina, Noel Martinez, Eustaquio Cenita, Herbert Colangco, Jojo Baligad, Clarence Dongail, Rico Caja, Joel Capones, Gilberto Salguero and Edgar Sayo Cinco.

Of the 16 inmates, six—Agojo, Durano, Martinez, Colangco, Baligad and Capones—were among the 19 prisoners moved in 2014 from the NBP to the National Bureau of Investigation  compound. This was after a raid led to the discovery of contraband such as money, drugs and luxury items, including a jacuzzi, inside their well-furnished “kubol” or quarters inside the prison. They were returned to the NBP last year but taken to Building 14, a highly secure and tightly guarded structure isolated from the 13 other buildings within the prison compound.

In their letter, the convicts said their transfer may be a prelude to their liquidation because of what they knew about the protection racket of previous NBP officials.

“[S]uch purported ‘conspiracy’ may even be intentionally exploited or taken advantage of as an excuse to silence them as they have, in the past, intimated on their knowledge on the dishonest and corrupt practices by the past administration,” Topacio said.

The letter was accompanied by a three-page handwritten petition signed by the prisoners who protested their being labelled as “high profile inmates” or drug lords and crime lords.  They also denied plotting to kill Duterte or De la Rosa.

“Our being labeled as ‘high-profile inmates’ has no basis and the truth is we are protesting this before the court and Commission on Human Rights as this is but part of the harassment being done to us in connection with the controversy over the protection racket under [NBP’s] previous administration that benefit the real crime lords here,” they said.

Topacio blamed “rumors being spread and fueled by unscrupulous individuals” as part of the conditioning of the mind of the public “such that any untoward incident that may happen to the prisoners in Building 14 may be unduly justified as related to the supposed ‘conspiracy’” against Duterte and De la Rosa.

De la Rosa recently claimed that millions of pesos had been offered as a reward by drug lords detained at the NBP who wanted him and Duterte dead. This was in response to Duterte’s vow to eliminate the drug problem in the first six months of his administration.