Just in time?

SAT, FEBRUARY 25, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

At least when it comes to policy towards Asia, US President Donald Trump is becoming a little bit more dependable it seems, says German TV- commentator Frank Sieren.

It’s rare, that I agree with my fellow German media friends. Yeah, sometimes, we also meet on a different level. Yes, this time: it was a close call, but US President Donald Trump seems.

Donald Trump  has come to his senses just in time. He had already spoken to over 20 heads of state before deciding to put a telephone call through to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last week. This was too late considering China’s economy is already stronger than the US’ in terms of purchasing power, China contributes four times more than the US to the global economy, China has the largest global population and is the fourth-largest country in terms of area after Russia, Canada and the USA. The Chinese government had every right to take offense but it stayed calm, even as it made clear behind the scenes that there were certain limits that should not be overstepped.

These limits would have been overstepped if Donald Trump had not called Xi before receiving Japanese President Shinzo Abe and certainly if he had not confirmed officially that he would honor the “One China” policy after hints that he would not in the past. He also, in a press conference, said that the phone call had been “very warm.” His willingness to back down is perhaps surprising, but it seems that Trump is going to play it cool from now on. It was also clever to not say a word about thorny issues such as the South China Sea territorial dispute, or the trade surplus.

Before the phone call, the US president involved his relatives to lessen the blow to China. In a first for the White House, he sent his daughter and her five-year-old Arabella to a New Year’s reception at the Chinese embassy. Moreover, a video of his granddaughter singing “Happy New Year” in Chinese went viral. The New York Times said this was a “diplomatic coup” on the part of Arabella, even if it did come two weeks too late.

It seems as if Trump is dealing with foreign policy in the same way as he does business: He sees how far he can go before having to backtrack, as he has done now with regard to China, NATO and Canada. He has also been reasonable with regard to North Korea, barely reacting to Kim Jong Un’s attempt to attract attention through missile tests. Internationally, there has been some relief that his non-reaction was as balanced as it would have been before him. In any case, his unusual behavior – tweeting, blustering, playing golf with Abe, let alone having his granddaughter play the diplomat – is keeping his opponents on their toes.

Beijing understood Trump’s game and remained remarkably calm during the time of the provocation; it can afford to stay calm: The world is well behind China when it comes to trade. But Trump is under pressure – he has to deliver on promises regarding economic growth and jobs in the US. He will have to show his hand soon; there can be no bluffing with regard to China. The economies of the US and China are simply too interdependent now.

Games? We should take a watch.

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Email: doringklaus@g mal.com or just follow me in Linkedin, Twitter ot Facebook or visit www. germanexpatinthe philippines.blogspot.com.

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What is this mysterious giant blob creature?

Locals baffled after hairy-looking beast washes up in the Philippines 

• Stunned locals have flocked to the beach in Cagdainao, Dinagat Islands to gawp 
• The huge white hairy beast came ashore following a recent earthquake
• Pictures have since gone viral online with people trying to solve the mystery.
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By Hannah Al-Othman For MailOline

 
 
 
 
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A huge, hairy mysterious sea creature has washed up on a beach in the Philippines.

Stunned locals have flocked to the beach in Cagdainao, Dinagat Islands to gawp at the monster-like beast and take selfies with it.

The huge white hairy beast is thought to have come ashore following a recent earthquake.

Several unusual sea creatures have been washing up on the shores of the tropical islands following the deadly quake on Sunday. 

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A huge, hairy mysterious sea creature has washed up on a beach in the Philippines

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Shocked locals have flocked to the beach in Cagdainao, Dinagat Islands to gawp at the monster-like beast

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The huge white hairy beast is thought to have come ashore following a recent earthquake

Images of the creature have since gone viral online, with several people offering up their suggestions as to what the monster could be.

Several suggested that the beast could be Appa, a fictional character from the Nickelodeon animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

Austin Blanch‏@austinblanch tweeted saying: 'Yhink it's appa. Or a big Shitzu. I could be wrong.'

While another Twitter user, J Flow, said: 'It's that creature from The Neverending Story.'

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Images of the creature have since gone viral online, with several people offering up suggestions as to what it may be

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The beast is actually a 20 foot long whale carcass, local scientists have said

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John Paul Garcia suggested the beast may be similar to a supposed half-whale half-polar bear creature that washed up in Margate, South Africa, on 25 October 1924, which was nicknamed Trunko.

'Globster/Trunko right? Half whale half polar bear?' he said.

Globster is the name given to an unidentified organic mass that washes up on the shoreline of an ocean or other body of water.  

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A supposed half-whale half-polar bear creature washed up in Margate, South Africa, on 25 October 1924, and was nicknamed Trunko

However, the beast is actually a 20 foot long whale carcass, local scientists have said.

The body of the whale, which weighs approximately 2,000 kilograms, is believed to have turned white due to an advanced stage of decomposition.

The animal is thought to have died approximately two weeks ago, possibly after being hit by a ship.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4253402/Locals-baffled-hairy-beast-washes-Philippines.html#ixzz4Za5Evvql
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Boracay Newcoast Project Entices New Investors

 (philstar.com) 

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It seems that the island is already perfect as it is. But Megaworld's Global-Estate Resorts Inc. brings the island to a whole new level.

There's more to look forward to in Boracay with the development of an integrated tourism property inspired by the world's best beach neighborhoods.

Every city dweller in the country will likely agree that when you want a vacation that makes a balance between partying hard and relaxing rigorously, the island of Boracay is still the top choice.

It seems that the island is already perfect as it is. But Megaworld's Global-Estate Resorts Inc. brings the island to a whole new level as it develops Boracay Newcoast, a 150-hectare integrated tourism estate that melds the best beach neighbourhoods in the world.

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With Boracay's natural beauty coupled with state-of-the-art structures, your future visits to the island will truly be unlike anything you've ever experienced before. But more than that, Boracay Newcoast is a booming tourism estate where you can also be a stakeholder of the expansion—own a part of the township's residential spaces, shophouses, condominium hotels, and other real estate structures, and be a part of a vision to make Boracay an even more popular island, perfectly competitive globally.

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Boracay Newcoast boasts of districts that offer titled lots ideal for the investing community. First is the Town Center North, consisting of the Shophouse District and the Boutique Hotel District.

The Shophouse District, inspired by communities like Key West in Florida and Old Town in Ibiza, mixes residential and commercial components, where owners can put up shops at the lower floor and have their home at the top floors.

Meanwhile, the Boutique Hotel District allows buyers to build their own hotel brands or tie up with foreign institutional hotels. This district is particularly enticing because their guests will have access to three private beach coves with one kilometer of pristine white sand.

Second is Boracay Newcoast's Newcoast Village, which offers lots ranging from 250 square meters to 375 square meters in an exclusive vacation-inspired subdivision setting. It will have exclusive amenities such as parks, pocket gardens and grill areas.

The community will also be brimmed with condominium clusters. The first one is Oceanway Residences, which now offers ready-for-occupancy units with views encompassing the beauty of the Fairways and Bluewater Golf Club and the Sibuyan Sea—an astonishing blend of blues and greens. For this reason, Oceanway Residences was awarded as the "Best Luxury Development (for a resort)" in the 2015 Philippines Property Awards.

For more information, contact via email boracaynewcoast@global-estate.ph, landline 553-0926 or mobile 0917-728-2284. Visit boracaynewcoast.ph and its Facebook account.

'Double Honor' for President Duterte at PMA

By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) 

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President Duterte wears Class 1967 hat during the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City yesterday. KRIZJOHN ROSALES

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte said he is “doubly honored” to be adopted by the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. more than two decades after he became an honorary member of PMA Class of 1967.

“I am an adopted ‘Dimasupil’ Class of 1967, that is already honor enough but to be formally adopted by the Philippine Military Academy Alumni is a double honor,” Duterte said in his speech before PMA alumni at the PMA Grandstand in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City yesterday.

He said the latest honor was “because of my long and harmonious relationship with PMA alumni (and) not about political consideration.” He thanked the alumni association “for clarifying that.” 

Duterte said he is just as happy doing his work as public servant.

“The work I do, I do in the service of the people,” he said. “And somehow, I also feel at home here at PMA because of its mission to train and develop graduates with character and skill.”

Although he is not a soldier, Duterte said he is aware of the demands of being one. It requires inner strength, a choice to live by courage and principle, he pointed out.

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He said, “My own life has been molded by the principle of love of country, compassion for the poor and needy and pride in being a Filipino.”

On Friday at the Baguio Country Club, Duterte extolled cadets and alumni for their deep commitment to serve.

“I am confident therefore that our mistahs who are holding key positions in the public and private sectors will deliver what is expected of them and more,” Duterte said.

“We are now in the process of modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police so that they may perform their mandates effectively,” he added.

In the same event, Duterte said he has directed law enforcement agencies “to be relentlessly pursuing those who would do harm to our people and the country, including criminal organizations, drug syndicates and terrorists.”

“So, no matter where our journey in life led us the last 50 years, our shared love and sacred duty to serve our motherland will always bond us together as members of the ‘Dimasupil’ Class of 1967,” Duterte said.

When boredom strikes

TUE, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

While being a columnist of “Tinig ng Bayan” (published in Abra) during the 1980s, I remember our Taiwanese coordinator Cristina Lising-Geronga, who expressed herself in innumerable write-ups about the topic loneliness. Sure, “Tinig ng Bayan” has been a publication for Filipinos abroad. Loneliness, borne by Filipinos living abroad while missing their families in the Philippines became a very “normal” expression.

During that time, my Philippine mentor, the late Monsignor Professor  Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin, started together with me publishing “Ang Mabuhay”. Believe me, “loneliness” became a main topic in many write-ups.

Nowadays, loneliness and boredom seem to be the splitting image of each other – so to speak being as like as two peas in a pod. While browsing in social networks like Facebook, one can find more and more comments as in “When Boredom Strikes” or so. Boredom, ending up in loneliness – or vice versus?

How comes that loneliness and/or boredom are still a general topics in our today’s society?

Loneliness has been called one of the main diseases even during the last century. It really doesn’t strike not only the Filipinos abroad and their love ones back home. Too often loneliness is being followed by alcoholism, drug abuse and even suicide. Yes, loneliness becomes a modern day plague.  I observed several people trying to surround themselves with so-called “friends” only to find that such relationships are often shallow and unsatisfying.

Loneliness can be painful but being lonely or alone at that is not always a bad thing. Ask yourself, how do  you use your time, if you are really alone? Do you simply let the time pass without doing any-thing  at all? Why not use such time productively? There are many worthwhile activities to engage in, even if you are alone, such as reading, writing, listen to good (light) music, play an (forgotten?) instrument, gardening….

Reading the bible can be also very particularly beneficial.  The Word of God is “alive and exerts power” and can take our minds off ourselves.

To break the cycle of loneliness, one must be a giver. Let’s keep an eye, not only and always on our personal interests but also on the interests others. Look around and watch out who needs help, or who needs a real friend or good listener. Once you have spotted such a person, act! Thus, in order to have friends, you must act like a friend. Luke 6:38 says, “Give to others, and God will give to you!” Besides, “There is more happiness (and less loneliness) in giving then receiving,” says Acts 20:35.

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Suggestions, com-ments, questions? You can email me: doringklaus @gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthe philippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoring sclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

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Strong Quake Damages Some Buildings in Surigao

LOOK: Strong quake damages some buildings in Surigao

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Feb 11 2017 08:53 AM | Updated as of Feb 11 2017 11:19 AM

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Some buildings in Surigao City were damaged by the powerful earthquake that struck late Friday night.

One of the buildings that sustained heavy damage was the Surigao State College of Technology.

Metal beams, shattered glass, door frames, wires and boulders blocked the entrance to the college.

Debris also fell on top of an AUV parked outside the building.

Some portion of a mall in Surigao City also sustained damage to its walls and ceilings while cracks were seen in one of the bridges in the city.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the magnitude 6.7 quake hit at a depth of 4 kilometers at around 10:03 p.m.

The tremor was tectonic in origin. With a report from Richmond Hinayon, ABS-CBN News

The mother of all concerns

TUE, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Nonong Noriega, a fellow con-tributor of PLDT’s  ACCESS Magazine explained it very well several years ago: “Try tracing the information flow and you’ll find out that many leaders may not really have been amiss when it comes to directives that need to be relayed, goals that need to be cascaded or mandates that require strict compliance. But true communication suggests meaningful connection. This is not about fancying packaging. It’s more about diverse communication!”

The Internet – boon or bane?

Email blasts….

The year 2000 was not only a symbolic date. The “Year 2000 problem” in electronic data processing showed the world how easy it is to injure our high-tech-society. Branching out in all directions, disturbances in our daily public life have been imminent, if electronic processes that control economy, traffic and telecommunication have not been changed. The timely tracking down of software and hardware required costly measures.

Shortly after the birth pains of the new millennium -once upon a time- the computer virus I LOVE YOU created a sensation and additional financial burden in billion-fold amounts. Virus attacks or hacking on electronic information systems in our daily life, were following global damages. But, we can find global computer sabotage acts or spy networks as well as injuring of confidential data processing, electronic information systems’ removal changed dramatically also the political and economic conflict potentials.

I am an avid blogger since several years. I have been reading an old article, published in the MIRROR dated March 18, 2013 with  big interests. “Internet connection as blogger’s best friend”  – with testimonies of bloggers Vincent Tabor of Baguio City, Ruben Licera of Cebu City and Avel Manansala of General Santos City. Yes, indeed, it wasn’t too long ago when blogging was a novelty. Today, modern technology has enabled people to have their own little nook in the web where they can share their stories to the world. I do the same.

But,  the modern society needs an unlimited and unrestricted possession of its technical business – and concern means (very costly) precautions against acts of technical destruction such as criminal and terrorist acts.

Digital networks, first, the entire Internet, are public and are seldom really protected against criminal motivated abuse. Advanced technology accelerates and speeds up because each new generation invents more and more potent pools. Our knowledge, which defeats and overcomes cancer for example, allow us  to produce deadly pathogens in a lab.

Internet – boon or bane?

High technology countries can use their information-saved superiority for a faster communication and coordination of measures with international alliance partners. Such tasks will grow in the future. But, allow me to share my opinion again with Nonong Noriega:

Next time we preach the gospel of open communication, let’s not be transfixed with tasks that prove that we have sent the message. Let’s be just as preoccupied with hearing people out, getting their inputs, dignifying their wealth of views to make their message meaningful to them. Best validation? When recipients become respondents. Very well said, Nonong. Sometimes, I am still waiting for this – until now.

The mother of all concerns – communication – but not only through the Internet!