Of festival and environment

TUE, AUGUST 8, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

While writing this piece, the Kadayawan Festival 2017 in Davao City is just around the corner. Since every year, the celebration offers an incredible array of activities full of fun and joy: dance group competitions, street parties and yes, a food trip at the strip. Sure, Kadayawan is also everything about indulgence in the best cuisines that Davao has to offer. Kadayawan is indeed always a feast of sorts.

Living in Davao City for good since 1999 now, I observed the Kadayawan Festival becoming more and more attractive and enjoyable. I spoke with many tourists during last years and -of course! – expatriates, who kept on praising this festival and its incredible atmosphere. The friendliness and the warm hospitality of Davao people have been mentioned and experienced many times. What a sign for this wonderful city.

Kadayawan means also environment – in other words – thanking and protecting Mother Nature!  This is actually what my heart touches most, because I am an advocate of environment protection! Sometimes, believe me, in the Philippines a tough job!

After several publications about this topic, also in this publication, I did receive several messages and mails telling me, what nonsense I would write about Mother Earth and how to protect her/it. One Anonymous even wrote me, that the nature knows how to help herself. I just thanked this fellow guy for his very own opinion. During that time, I wasn’t really in the mood to start a (useless?) discussion.

Yes, our earth is still slowly (?) but surely dying – but, uninhibited innumerable people are still on stage as enviroNment destroyers – free from worries and drive away eventually existing moral conflicts. Don’t worry – I am not the one who is planning to destroy the Kadayawan Festival joy and party feelings. I just still like to recall former Davao City’s mayor  and now President of this country, Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Kadayawan message from 2009: “With global warming and climate change,  a very real phenomenon in our lives now, we need to look to our indigenous people for wisdom and guidance as they have always been respected toward their relationship with the earth!”

This was 2009. How about now in 2017?

Yes, all of us need to do more  in protecting and promoting our environment. As I mentioned it many times before: I hope and pray that plenty of us participate ACTIVELY if possible in a multi sector campaign of having a shared environmental responsibility. Start already during school education! It’s never too late.

For the sake of our following generations! Happy Kadayawan 2017 in Davao City!

The terrible scourge

The terrible scourge

WED, AUGUST 2, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

By KLAUS DÖRING

“Who was woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long on the wine, those who go in search of mixed wines? Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse words. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the mist of the sea, or like one, who lies on top of  the mast, saying: ‘They have struck me, but I wasn’t hurt; they have beaten me, but I didn’t feel it. When I shall awake, that I may seek another drink!'” (Proverbs 23:29-35).

When I recopied this part from my bible I got the idea to write about this topic. The writer of these proverbs expressed very well the effect of alcohol.

Alcohol is, as we all know, a depressant. It slows down the function of all the body’s parts. Vital functions can be slowed down to the point of death. Under its influence people choke to death at family picnics, drown at the beach, fall asleep while driving a car, hurt and even kill other people.

The devil alcohol creates a feeling of freedom without worries and euphoria. Our feelings are really free flowing, every-day worries are replaced with a carefree spirit. Wow, I really feel on top of the world today… .

I joined the circle of many other fellows around, more or less regular social drinking, and/or habitual drinking drinking with meals (beer or wine!). When I stayed in France, I couldn’t believe that for many Frenchmen a breakfast consists of bread (baguette), cheese, coffee – and red wine! Anyway, social drinking also means occasional drinks to relieve stress or boredom.

Once we reach the addictive stage we are already in danger. Gulping drinks and secret drinking daily to relieve stress makes one lose control, and being unable to stop drinking creates drinking habits. Danger is with us, if we lose control over when, where and how much we drink. The memory blackouts don’t let us remember anymore, where we had been or how we get home. We loose our self-respect and the performance of our work is seriously affected. Loss of interest in everything (except in drinking) means loss of jobs, conflicts with the law, mental deterioration, and even death. The sad consequences should let us tremble with fear.

A few people who decide to stop drinking find it easy. Having made the decision, they simply never drink again. And honestly, every time I enjoy a drink in really acceptable measurements I am trying to ask myself, if I could stop drinking right now. And I am pretty sure, the answer is YES. That’s how I quit smoking almost 25 years ago… .

Manila wants to protect senior citizens

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Updated August 1, 2017, 2:36 PM

By Jaimie Rose Aberia

The city government of Manila is seeking stricter implementation of an ordinance ensuring protection of senior citizens from all types of abuse.

The city of Manila wants to protect senior citizens in the city with a stricter implementation of an ordinance approved last year by the city council. (Mark  Balmores/Manila Bulletin)

Ordinance No. 8488  or the “City of Manila Ordinance Against Elderly Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect” authored by Councilor Ernesto Dionisio, Jr. and approved by the city council last year, protects the physical, mental, and social well-being of the 132,000 senior citizens in Manila.

While there has been no documented case of elder maltreatment in the city in the recent years, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said it does not mean that they will become lenient in implementing the ordinance.

The city’s Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) said it is currently working with the barangay officials in the establishment of a “rescue assistance” program for senior citizens.

“One measure we are considering is putting up a hotline or a senior citizens desk where concerned citizens could report any maltreatment of senior citizens or any activity or situation that causes intended, unintentional, or unnecessary harm to the elderly,” OSCA officer-in-charge Jeff Manansala said.

He said barangay officials will play a key part in this program since they know the neighborhood.

“’Yung mga kinukulong ng anak, ‘di pinapakain, pinapahirapan, maraming ganyang kaso,” Manansala said.

The ordinance defines elder abuse as “the physical, mental, or material maltreatment of an elderly person, including but not limited to beating and isolation, and deprivation of food and medication.”

It imposes a fine of P5,000 and a one year imprisonment, or both, to any person who “willfully subjects an elderly person to ill-treatment, whether physical or verbal, in such manner as to degrade the inherent value of his person…or willfully subjects an elderly person to prolonged mental or emotional harassment.”

LIVE List: Flooded areas in Metro Manila

LIVE List: Flooded areas in Metro Manila, July 27

By Rosette Adel (philstar.com) | Updated July 27, 2017 - 9:50am

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A commuter hops onto stones for a fee to avoid getting wet as heavy rains continue to inundate low-lying areas Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Manila, Philippines. Heavy rains continue to dump in Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces forcing some residents to evacuate to higher grounds. AP /Bullit Marquez

MANILA, Philippines — As Tropical Storm Gorio and the southwest monsoon continue to prevail in the country, some areas experienced flooding on Thursday.

READ: 'Gorio' to enhance habagat, bring rains

The state weather bureau issued a yellow rainfall warning over Metro Manila, Cavite, and Bulacan and warned of flooding in low-lying areas.

It also said "Gorio" may intensify into a Severe Tropical Storm within the next 24 to 36 hours. PAGASA said the southwest monsoon will enhance the weather system and bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over the western section of Luzon and light to moderate rains over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

READ: Class suspensions for July 27

Below appears the list of flooded areas in Metro Manila.

Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Manila 

11:15 a.m. - P. Burgos Victorino East Bound - Flood has subsided, All lanes passable

11:15 a.m. - R. Papa both bound - Above gutter deep, Not passable to light vehicles

11:15 a.m. - Quirino Roxas Boulevard along Taft Avenue South Bound / North Bound - Gutter deep, Passable to all types of vehicles

Caloocan City

10:00 a.m. -  Balintawak Cloverleaf in front of St. Joseph Church North Bound - Flood has subsided, All lanes passable

Malabon City

10: a.m. - Tonsuya - Gutter deep

11: 40 a.m. - E. Aquino Street - Below Knee Deep

11: 40 a.m. - P. Bautista Street - Below Knee Deep

11: 40 a.m. - Encarnacion 

11:40 a.m. - Niugan Elementary School - Below Knee Deep 
Interior Street
11: 40 a.m. - N. Vicencio Street (Sarmiento Area) - Knee Deep

11:40 a.m. - N. Vicencio Street (Mallari Area) - Knee Deep 

11:40 a.m. - N. Vicencio Street (Chapel Area) - Below Knee Deep

11:40 a.m. - M. Aquino Street (Pilapil Area) - Above Knee Deep

11:40 a.m. - C. Santos Street (Pastrana Area) - Below Knee Deep 

11:40 a.m. - C. Santos Street (Legaspi Compound) - Knee Deep 

11:40 a.m. - C. Santos Street (Cruz Compound) - Knee Deep

Taguig City

11:15 a.m. - C5 near Market Market South Bound - Flood has subsided, All lanes passable

Quezon City

11:15 a.m. - Quezon City A. Bonifacio C3 South Bound /  North Bound - Gutter deep, Passable all types of vehicles

11:15 a.m. - Quezon City A. Bonifacio 11th Avenue South Bound / North Bound - Gutter deep, Passable to all types of vehicles

11:15 a.m. - G. Araneta / Victory Avenue East Bound / West Bound - Knee deep, Not passable to light vehicles

11:15 a.m. - EDSA Aurora Tunnel North Bound / South Bound - Gutter deep Passable to all types of vehicles

11:15 a.m. - Quezon Avenue Biak na Bato East Bound - Gutter deep, Passable all types of vehicles

11:15 a.m. - Quezon Avenue Biak na Bato West Bound - Half tire deep, Not passable to light vehicles

Makati City

6:01 a.m. - Dela Rosa Street - Gutter deep

6:01 a.m. - Fernando Street - Gutter deep

6:01 a.m. - Taylo Street - Two feet-deep

6:01 a.m. - Victor Street - Three inches-deep

6:01 a.m. - Pasong Tamo - Gutter deep

6:01 a.m. - Barangay Pio del Pilar - Gutter deep

6:01 a.m. - Barangay San Antonio and Lumbayao corner Camachile - Two to three inches-deep

6:01 a.m. - Sampaloc corner Estrella Street - Two to three inches-deep

6:01 a.m. - Malolos Street, Davila Street, Primo Rivera Street, Barangay Tejeros District 1 - Gutter deep

Valenzuela 

8:00 a.m. - MacArthur Highway Road Condition corner Pio Valenzuela (3-4 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Savemore Marulas (6-7 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Corner PhilGun (13-14 inches) -  Not passable to light vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Corner CJ Santos (7-8 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - MH Del Pilar 3S Malanday(7-8 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - MH Del Pilar cor Tiwala (4-5 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Coloong 1 (4-5 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Pinalagad (2-4 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Karuhatan Market(18-19 inches) - Not passable to Light vehicles

8:00 a.m. - Maysan Road Condition corner CJ Santos (7-8 inches) - Passable to all types of vehicles

Tropical storm in the Philippines

Gorio slows down, expected to intensify into severe tropical storm

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 27) — State weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday expects tropical storm Gorio to intensify into a severe tropical storm within 24 hours as it slows down and maintains its strength.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Gorio was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph), and gustiness of 105 kph.

A tropical storm carries maximum sustained winds of 62-88 kph, while a severe tropical storm has 89-117 kph of maximum winds.

The storm was spotted 615 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, still moving northwestward at a slower pace at 9 kph, from the previous 13 kph. The slower pace of a tropical cyclone could give it more time to affect the areas.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within the 450 km diameter of the tropical storm.

Gorio (international name Nesat) will enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat), which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain over the western section of Luzon and light to moderate rain over the rest of Luzon and Visayas.

Classes and work in governement offices have been suspended in different parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, although no storm signals have been raised.

READ: #WalangPasok: List of class suspensions for July 27

The weather bureau said the storm was not expected to make landfall and would leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday morning.

However, PAGASA warned of monsoon rains that might trigger flashfloods and landslides in Metro Manila and the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), and MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan)

Who’s The Favorite FHM Cover Girl Of Your Celebrity Idols?

The power of prayer

TUE, JULY 25, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

When tragedy strikes, it’s easy to harden our hearts and cry out, “God, why did you let this happen?” May-be then, we started praying. Before, when everything goes smooth, we would not even think a minute about praying….

“To be a Christian without prayer,” said Martin Luther, “is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayer is the only way of becoming what God wants us to be. This is the reason, why Jesus spent many hours in praying.

Unquestionable, our needs bring us to a place of prayer. Confronted with danger or tragedies, as I mentioned earlier, we look for God’s help. Difficult times always cause the hearts of men to turn to God into prayer.

Let me ask you: How long has it been since you brought your burdens to God? Since you asked His forgiveness for your shortcomings?

In his very interesting book “People in Prayer”, Dr. John White reminds us that prayer is a divine-human interaction and it is always God who takes the initiative. White writes: “God speaks and we respond. God is always speaking. To hear his voice is not usually a mystical experience. It consists merely of a willingness to pay heed to God who lays a claim to our lives.”

Yes, God always speaks. It is up to us whether we will listen and respond to Him. Many think we are the ones who initiate prayer. But prayers begin and end with God.

There was a time, I wasn’t in the mood to pray any more. It seemed that God didn’t listen my prayer any more. I didn’t get what I prayed for. Of course, not…! That’s not the meaning of praying to God. All my wishes will be granted? Heaven forbid!

Sometimes, after we have prayed, God’s answers may puzzle us. But as time time goes by and as events unfold, we see God’s purpose in His answers. We might get a larger vision, what HE likes. Not what WE like….

Think about it for a moment: How does the idea that prayer begins and ends with God affect me now? Do I have the habit of listening to God? How do I respond to Him? How do I usually pray?

I confess that long time ago I have been trying to persuade God to change other people in my surroundings or circumstances. Nothing changed. Of course not, what a fatal attraction? I got confused because God never granted my requests. Meanwhile I got God’s answers to my prayers. Maybe very simple: I was willing to let God change me…. This is how each one of us should start. Happy endings. Because I prayed according to His will….

Nowadays, I live a wonderful life in my second and last home, the Philippines. I never regretted to move here for good. I have everything I could ask for. I can do everything I wish to do. Thank you Lord for all the blessings.

Palace lists 18 holidays in 2018

By Genalyn Kabiling

The public can prepare for their vacations this early following the release of the official list of regular and special non-working days in the country for 2018.

President Duterte has signed Proclamation No. 269 declaring 10 regular holidays and eight special non-working days for next year, paving the way for several long weekends.

President Rodrigo Duterte
(PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

The 2018 regular holidays are New Year’s Day, January 1 (Monday); Maundy Thursday, March 29; Good Friday, March 30; Araw ng Kagitingan,April 9 (Monday); Labor Day, May 1 (Tuesday); Independence Day, June 12 (Tuesday); National Heroes Day, August 27 (last Monday of August); Bonifacio Day, November 30 (Friday); Christmas Day, December 25 (Tuesday); and, Rizal Day, December 30 (Sunday).

The special non-working days are Chinese New Year, February 16 (Friday); EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary, February 25 (Sunday); Black Saturday, March 31; Ninoy Aquino Day, August 21 (Tuesday); All Saints’ Day, November 1 (Thursday); and last day of the year, December 31 (Monday).

Two additional special holidays are All Souls’ Day, November 2 (Friday) and Christmas Eve, December 24 (Monday).

The extra holidays were declared to “strengthen family ties” in commemorating such activities as well as promote domestic tourism.

The proclamations declaring national holidays for Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be issued soon after the dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos have been designated to inform the Office of the President of the actual dates when the holidays will fall.

The Department of Labor and Employment has been ordered to issue the implementing guidelines for the proclamation of the holidays in the country for 2018.

The proclamation, signed by the President last July 17, takes effect immediately.

SM Baguio spearheads planting in Busol watershed

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Published July 19, 2017, 10:01 PM

By Zaldy Comanda

Baguio City – In celebration of Cordillera Day, a total of 50,000 Benguet Pine seedlings were planted by the SM management and city government employees at an adopted site at the Busol watershed, last July 14, in this city.

SM City Baguio employees, together with representatives from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), local government of Baguio, and the Baguio Water District (BWD) trooped to the Busol watershed to plant some 20,000 Benguet Pine saplings as part of the company’s commitment to bring back the greenery of the city’s environment.

TREE-PLANTING COMMITMENT – SM City Baguio employees participate in a tree-planting activity at the Busol watershed in Baguio City where they planted 20,000 Benguet Pine saplings. (Zaldy Comanda)

The 20,000 saplings that were planted were part of the 50,000 saplings that were committed to be planted by the company within the Busol watershed. Deyan Construction, SM City Baguio’s reforestation contractor, will plant the remaining 30,000 seedlings.

Aside from the 50,000 tree saplings that were planted in Busol watershed, SM City Baguio’s contractor will be planting another 50,000 fruit bearing trees in the perimeter of the 139-hectare property in Sto. Tomas School Area and Camp 7 for the remainder of the year.

Mall Manager Rona Vida Correa, reported that from 2012 to 2014, SM City Baguio was able to plant within the Busol watershed some 24,092 assorted tree saplings which was the initial wave of trees that were planted within the city’s premier watershed that supplies some 40 percent of the city’s potable water supply.

Under its reforestation contract with SM, Deyan is obliged to maintain the planted trees for a three-year period until such time that the planted trees will be able to independently grow and service their purpose.

She said SM still has a balance of some 350,000 assorted tree saplings that will be panted in the different parts of the city.

“Thus, SM’s commitment to plant 500,000 trees within five years could be shortened depending on the availability of the planting sites where the saplings will be planted and maintained by its contractor, Correa said.

SM City Baguio assured stakeholders that it will remain committed in helping concerned government agencies and the local government sustain their environmental preservation and protection programs to be able to maintain the city’s forest cover instrumental in balancing its cool climate for the benefit of the present and future generations.

The challenge of our century

Sustainable food for everyone? The challenge of our century

TUE, JULY 18, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring 

If I think about it, peace is first in my mind. But there is still another challenge. Worldwide population is expected to grow to nearly 10 billion by 2050 – but agricultural lands won’t be able to follow the same pace. The problem is clear: something has to change. The question is what.

Sustainable food for everyone! Food – besides water!

The world’s population continues to grow – but the Earth’s surface doesn’t. And already one in nine people around the world suffers from hunger. Although fertility levels worldwide are declining, life expectancy is increasing – and therefore, the global population keeps growing. The United Nations estimates that the world’s population is increasing by more than 80 million people every year.

Forecasts offer a nonstop rise: The global population is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. So allow me to ask: How can we feed all these billions without destroying the Earth?

Although it’s a dire picture, but let’s face it: the situation is not as disastrous as it might seem. Food is not lacking – it is just poorly managed. I got the idea for this post after having watched an interview with Ralf Südhoff, head of the World Food Program of the United Nations in Berlin. He said: “Today, we would be able to feed many more people than we do.” “But we waste too much of the food we produce, and we lack efficient production – particularly in Africa.”

Forgotten are many rural areas. I agree with Südhoff who says that population growth is not the key cause of hunger, but rather a lack of efficiency in managing our resources. Indeed, farmers in rural areas of some African and Asian countries still lack the necessary means to maximize crop yields, misusing vast areas of land.

Imagine, the productivity of existing arable lands could be doubled, experts believe. And  experts agree that productivity could be increased through very simple means. Allow me to quote again Ralf Südhoff: “Efficiency could be doubled or tripled in African countries by providing basic means such as training, credits and land rights”.

According to Valentin Thurn, director of the German documentary “10 Billion- What’s on your plate?”, farmers in rural areas are the most affected by hunger – and the ones most commonly left behind.  He believes, and he is “deadly” correct,  smallholders should get integrated into the modernization processes – until now, only limited to big industrialized farms.

While it won’t necessarily be easy to feed 10 billion people sustainably, it is possible, experts believe.

“We are producing at such a pace that the natural cycle cannot recover fast enough,” Klingholz said. “And this is mainly rich countries’ fault.”  Global agriculture currently produces some 4,000 calories per capita per day – the double of what each person needs. Sad to say but it’s also true: we are already producing enough for 9 to 12 billion people – but we discard a third of the harvest worldwide!

Farmers are adapting to climate change. Yes, there is climate change! The World Food Program estimates that under climate change scenarios, the risk of malnutrition for children will increase 20 percent by 2050 – meaning 24 million more children could soon suffer from it. Industrialized countries are therefore even more responsible for mitigating the effects of climate change. Südhoff believes this and so do I and many others on this globe.