This might not be the typical expat blog, written by a German expat, living in the Philippines since 1999. It's different. In English and in German. Check it out! Enjoy reading!
Dies mag' nun wirklich nicht der typische Auswandererblog eines Deutschen auf den Philippinen sein. Er soll etwas anders sein. In Englisch und in Deutsch! Viel Spass beim Lesen!
You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?
There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!
Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!
Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!
Rm. 602 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City
PRESS RELEASE
26 January 2017
Cayetano: Independent probe on Mamasapano essential
The truth will prevent a repeat of another Mamasapano
"Let the independent commission get to the truth quietly and without politics."
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano stressed this as he welcomed the order of President Rodrigo’s Duterte creating an independent commission that will investigate the gruesome Mamasapano massacre that led to the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos.
“Together with President Duterte, I have witnessed how the families of SAF’s Gallant 44 have suffered,” said Cayetano. “For the past two years, justice continues to elude them and they have yet to receive the full assistance that was promised to them,” he added.
“Many have pledged not to forget and vowed to do everything for justice to be served. I am one of them,” the senator said.
The senator further said he is saddened by the disappointing reaction of some of his colleagues, belittling the presidential initiative, labeling it merely as a political diversionary tactic.
Senators Antonio Trillanes and Leila De Lima accused the administration of using the reopening of the investigation of the Mamasapano massacre as a way to divert attention from allegations of abuses.
“It is hypocritical on the part of Senators Trillanes and De Lima to oppose the reopening of the investigation, when they pretend to be the staunchest advocates of human rights and justice,” the senator lamented.
Cayetano noted how the two senators repeatedly accuse the administration of condoning human rights violations, but are now the first to turn a blind eye to the SAF families’ call for justice.
In his speech before the SAF families and the President in Malacañang, Cayetano said he believes President Duterte is the right person to get justice for SAF 44 but at the same time finding the right balance in pursuit of true and lasting peace.
He called on the public to continue supporting the administration’s efforts to resolve the case.
"While I remain confident in President Duterte’s commitment to deliver on this promise, I also urge the Filipino people to support the administration’s fight for justice,” said Cayetano.
"I continue to pray for the families of the gallant SAF44. Rest assured that change, justice, and compassion are real and within reach under the Duterte leadership,” he intoned. ###
A career is a rapid motion. A course of action. A professional conduct in life. A progress through life. What is a careerist? One who rushes widely and makes his own personal advancement his or her own aim in life.
When career doubts won’t go away? What if you’re not happy in your job? Is it possible that you’re in the wrong entirely?
My parents always (!) wanted me to become a banker. So far so good. Why not? Maybe I would have been more (or very happy) in my job. Or not?
The pressure “to be” someone starts in life early indeed. Not only my parents, also peers and teachers begun to exert influence. Yes, I even didn’t know where my inclinations lie.
Being a doctor or a lawyer? Yes, I was interested in law and medicine during that time.
“The way that people pick careers is incredibly primitive,” said Nicholas Lore, founder of the Rockport Institute, a career coaching firm, and author of “The Pathfinder”. So, it’s no wonder, he said, that so many people are dissatisfied with their jobs. Me too! Yes, count me in! Not mass-communication has been been my subject, but publishing house management. So far so good.
I always thought about a true calling for me. Sure, people whose careers aren’t the right fit often feel like impostors, the Professor Robert I. Sutton, an organizational psychologist at Stanford University in Palo Alto, said. Very, very well said, Sir.
How about you, my dear reader? Are you also placing too high your value on the external rewards of job, like money, prestige and power? Sure, these things are indeed important. Hold on! The work you do and the skills your opportunity require and the value of your work are really more vital to fulfillment. Paperwork or not…. You think, you find a better career fit? Go ahead – but don’t expect that this is your life’s career!
I waited my “better calling” experiencing many better and wonderful moments in life. I experienced also that what I did had been very much compatible to me, as what my parents thought.
I became what I am now. A professor, a businessman, yes -thank you Lord!- a columnist, radio host and an expatriate in the Philippines since 18 years now (!) enjoying life here and cherishing the incredible companionship with these incredible Filipino people.
The prenuptial photos of sexy actress Bangs Garcia and Filipino-British fiancé Lloydi Birchmore were released Friday, four days before their wedding.
Opting for a more simplistic feel, Nice Print Photography decided to use a single background for the whole shoot: a vintage-looking bifold doors and faded pastel orange walls. To add to the effect, the set was surrounded with antique lamps and huge, worn-down pots.
In the photos uploaded on Facebook, Garcia is wearing a heavily embellished, sheer-lace gown, while Birchmore is donning a navy blue ensemble he matched with a white polo and brown leather shoes.
The pair will walk down the aisle on January 24, a first of two planned weddings — first in Boracay and then in London, where Birchmore is based.
In a previous interview, Garcia described Birchmore as God-send. "I must have done something really good for me to be blessed with an amazing man like him," she admitted. "Madaming nagtatanong kung bakit daw ako blooming ngayon. Actually the real answer is: the root of my happiness is God and Lloydi is the fruit."
Garcia and Birchmore were engaged in January 2016. Garcia said she is fortunate to have a supportive boyfriend who understands how show business works even if he is not from the industry.
Check out the rest of the photos from the prenup below:
As part of the Berlin International Film Festival or Berlinale, 250 selected talents in the film industry from around the world are brought together with professionals from the industry in a series of workshops and discussions under the banner of “Berlinale Talents.”
This year, six Filipinos are joining the 15th edition of Berlinale Talents with other emerging professionals from a total of 71 countries. Exploring the theme “Courage: Against All Odds,” Berlinale Talents will hold over 100 events during a six-day program from 11-16 February 2017 in theaters of HAU Hebbel am Ufer.
The Filipino contingent includes documentarian Alyx Ayn Arumpac, actor Aaron Rivera, art director Monical Sebial, production designer Popo Diaz, film critic Richard Bolisay and producer Tonee Acejo who leads the group.
Rm. 602 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City
PRESS RELEASE
21 January 2017
Cayetano lauds Trump's support for independent foreign policy
Sees better RP-US relations
“We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world - but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.” – President Donald Trump
We welcome the pronouncement of newly inaugurated United States President Donald Trump to seek friendship with other nations while respecting each country's own national interests.
We can see how, much like President Rodrigo Duterte, President Trump is driven by a strong fervor of patriotism and nationalism. They both focus on having an independent foreign policy that benefits their respective people and nations.
For our part, a truly independent foreign policy allows the Philippines to craft its own destiny with our national interest and the immediate improvement of the lives of our people as the paramount consideration.
We look forward to a stronger relationship with the US, a kind that will be based on mutual trust and respect.
We expect all agencies and instrumentalities of the United States of America to stand by and pursue this policy of mutual respect, cooperation, and non-interference.
We congratulate President Trump and his family and pray for his and America's success.
During an El Niño, a band of unusually warm ocean water develops in parts of the Pacific. The phenomenon affects the climate globally, disrupting weather patterns.
Media captionHow global temperature has changed
According to Nasa figures, 2016 is now the warmest year in a record that dates back to 1880.
"2015 has been the warmest year on record up until now, so 2016 has just beaten that and and it's beaten that by about 0.1- 0.12 of a degree Celsius, which doesn't seem like a lot, but in terms of the year to year variations it's actually huge," Dr Gavin Schmidt from Nasa told BBC News.
"This is a very clear record that we're seeing. It is driven mainly by changes in the tropical Pacific where we had an El Niño event that produced a lot of warmth. But we've also seen long term trends in warming mostly due to the increasing greenhouse gases."
Image copyrightNOAAImage captionMany parts of the world had their warmest recorded year in 2016
Another factor that has affected temperatures in 2016 is the unusual warmth in the Arctic.
The sea-ice covering the Arctic reached its second lowest level (in terms of extent) in September 2016. The sea-ice grows in autumn and winter and shrinks each spring and summer.
While the sea-ice extent last year didn't break the record, the mercury stayed high and the smaller amount of ice now present in the region is at unprecedented levels for the time of year.
A number of meteorological agencies from around the world have released their figures today. They all suggest that warming in 2016 was a record that had an important contribution from El Niño.
The Met Office says it contributed about 0.2C to the annual average for 2016. However, researchers believe that while this is substantial, it is not the whole story.
"We understand the contribution El Niño makes fairly well and we've seen it many times," said Prof Ellie Highwood from the University of Reading.
"But even if you take that contribution away, we would expect 2015 and 2016 to still be the warmest years we've seen, so a majority of it is coming from global warming and the greenhouse effect."
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which pulls together temperature data from a number of sources, agrees that 2016 broke the record by 0.07C.
Not all of the reports on temperature data in 2016 are clear that the warmest-year record has been broken.
Century dominated by records
The Met Office says that 2016 was 0.77 above the long term rate, but with a plus or minus error margin of 0.1C, meaning that last year was at the very least, one of the two warmest years on record.
"The final figures confirm that 2016 was yet another extremely warm year," said Peter Stott from the Met Office.
"The temperature for last year was very close to the year before, temperatures for 2016 exceeding those for 2015 by a small margin."
Regardless of the small margins, when the new data on 2016 is included, 15 of the warmest 16 years on record have now occurred since 2001.
According to Noaa (the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the only year from the 20th Century to break into the top 16 is 1998, and which ranks seventh warmest.
This prolonged period of warming was having significant impacts around the world.
Image copyrightWMOImage captionThe Arctic region exceeded the long term average by up to 6C through most of 2016
"We have also broken sea ice minimum records in the Arctic and Antarctic," said Petteri Taalas from the WMO.
"The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the global average. The persistent loss of sea-ice is driving weather, climate and ocean circulation patterns in other parts of the world. We also have to pay attention to the potential release of methane from melting permafrost," he said.
Of great concern to scientists and politicians is the fact that the newly published temperature data shows the Earth is once again more than one degree warmer than pre-industrial times, and edging closer to the threshold of 1.5C set under the Paris climate pact.
With the Trump administration about to take office in the US, there are concerns that political support for climate action might fade. This would be a big mistake according to scientists.
"Climate change is one of the great challenges of the 21st Century and shows no signs of slowing down," said Prof Mark Maslin, from University College London.
"The decarbonisation of the global economy is the ultimate goal to prevent the worst effects of climate change. The hottest year on record is such a clear warning siren that even President-elect Trump cannot ignore it."
Researchers say that 2017 is unlikely to break the warming record but will be in the top five hottest years.
Miss Universe candidates wear Uniqlo’s latest collection during their visit to the brand’s store at SM Seaside City Cebu. With them are Uniqlo marketing director Georgia Velasco and Uniqlo COO Katsumi Kubota.
TWELVE of the 86 Miss Universe candidates visited SM Seaside City Cebu at the South Road Properties (SRP) on Tuesday afternoon.
These were delegates from Argentina, the Bahamas, Czech Republic, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Namibia, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, and Venezuela.
The pageant beauties were welcomed by global casual apparel brand, Uniqlo, at their store located on the mall’s upper ground floor.
They arrived at 5:15 p.m. and proceeded to change into Uniqlo’s new Spring-Summer collection, which they later on modeled for local press and bloggers.
The candidates appeared in the brand’s latest offering of denim pants, cotton crew neck shirts, and jackets.
Uniqlo chief operations officer Katsumi Kubota gave the welcome remarks.
They did not stay for more than 10 minutes at the store as they also had to visit Forever 21 and Flawless, also at same mall.
At around 6:30 p.m., they headed back to Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark in Lapu-Lapu City where the pageant’s swimsuit presentation was held Tuesday morning.
At the resort, a gala party was held for all of this year’s Miss Universe candidates.
Prejudices against our beloved president? Against US-president-elect Donald Trump? Against your lot-neighbor or your co-worker? Yes, unlimited and unrestricted, we do have prejudices! Everyone of us. Prejudices give a sense of pride in our one and only world.
Try to make a fundamental and common definition of “prejudice”: It’s an opinion, of course, favorable or unfavorable (more often the latter!). Many times; it’s an opinion formed without fair examination of facts. Prejudice creates biases, bad influences, and inquiries. Do you still remember the latest election campaigns? What a shame sometimes!
A possible correction afterwards is seldom given or will be even rejected. Very often prejudices become coarse, rude and gross generally.
In all parts of our globe, we find an ethical hierarchy. It’s an indirect status with fixed judgement and points of view. Social distance and discrimination predominate and make it easier to use categories such as “race”, “nation” or “culture”. Social differences have been built up.
Gays and lesbians are “unnatural” (?), all black people are “dirty” (?), all white people are “rich”? – Heaven forbid! But I experienced it myself many times: I stayed in Israel sometime in 1978 and was not really welcomed by the people, because of my “Nazi-roots” (though I was born in 1953!). Later, I have been rejected from the Golan Heights, because I came from (enemy!) Israeli territory. Staying in South Africa sometime in 1980, I experienced the terrible racism and fascism of the former apartheid government and its painful effects and consequences. Yes, I mentioned such things already earlier in the corner.
Most racial prejudices have its roots from the heritage of colonial supremacy. Justification of slavery goes back to the 17th century. In early colonial history skin color was not the main reason, it was the paganism of original inhabitants in America, Africa, and Australia.
Terms such as “Indian” and “Negro” can be even found in the literature: the good-natured Indian variant “Winnetou” (Karl May, 1842-1912, Germany) or “Friday” (Freitag), the noble savage in “Robinson Crusoe” (Daniel Defoe, 1660-1731, England), or how about “Uncle Tom” (Harriet Beecher-Stowe, 1811-1896, USA).
Political conflicts between “white colonial supremacies” and “colored subjects” have been explained and described as racial segregation – many times instigated by Christian missionaries. Innumerable examples in world history proved brutal force and power up to genocide.
Prejudices? “Love your neighbor as yourself!” (Leviticus 19:18). “When an alien lives beside you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born!” (Leviticus 19:33,34). Integration, ecumenical movements, support of especially discriminated and disadvantaged groups are keynotes for future. They should be!
The “stranger in media” or “the strangeness – a feigned difficult standard” … we could really really live together easier and more respectful of each other. Let’s honor each other more in future. If there is a will, there is also a way!
IN MY OPINION
