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Philippinen: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise


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Die philippinischen Behörden haben aufgrund der Ausbreitung der Atemwegserkrankung Covid-19 ein Einreiseverbot für alle Reisenden aus Ländern mit bestätigter lokaler Übertragung des neuartigen Virus  verhängt, hierzu zählt auch Deutschland. Betroffen sind auch Transitpassagiere. Ausnahmen gelten für philippinische Staatsangehörige und Reisende mit einer längerfristigen Aufenthaltsgenehmigung für die Philippinen. Diese unterliegen jedoch nach Einreise ggf. einer 14-tägigen Quarantäne. Diese Regelung gilt bis auf weiteres.

Für den Großraum Manila (Metro Manila) gelten ab 15. März 2020 ab Mitternacht bis zunächst 12. April 2020 Ein- und Ausreisesperren auf dem Land-, See- und Luftweg. Quarantäne-Maßnahmen können von den lokalen Gemeinden kurzfristig beschlossen werden. Mit weiteren Einschränkungen muss gerechnet werden.

• Überprüfen Sie Ihre Reisepläne und nehmen Sie mit Ihrer Fluggesellschaft bzw. Reiseveranstalter Kontakt auf.
• Erkundigen Sie sich ggf. bei der für Sie zuständigen philippinischen Auslandsvertretung vor Reiseantritt nach den aktuellen Einreisebestimmungen.
• Verfolgen Sie die lokalen Medien und folgen Sie den Anweisungen der Behörden.
• Bitte beachten Sie unsere fortlaufend aktualisierten Informationen zu COVID-19/Coronavirus.

Die Deutsche Botschaft gibt bekannt

Liebe Landsleute,

die Ausbreitung der Atemwegserkrankung COVID-19 führt weltweit zu verstärkten
Einreisekontrollen, Gesundheitsprüfungen mit Temperaturmessungen und Einreisesperren.
So haben auch die philippinischen Behörden aufgrund der Ausbreitung der Atemwegserkrankung
Covid-19 für alle Reisenden aus Ländern mit bestätigter lokaler Übertragung des neuartigen Virus ein
Einreiseverbot verhängt – hierzu zählt auch Deutschland. Betroffen sind auch Transitpassagiere.
Ausnahmen gelten für philippinische Staatsangehörige und deren Familienangehörige sowie für
Reisende mit einer längerfristigen Aufenthaltsgenehmigung für die Philippinen. Diese unterliegen
jedoch nach Einreise gegebenenfalls einer 14-tägigen Quarantäne. Diese Regelung gilt bis auf
weiteres.

 Erkundigen Sie sich ggf. bei der für Sie zuständigen philippinischen Auslandsvertretung vor
Reiseantritt nach den aktuellen Einreisebestimmungen und setzen Sie sich ggf. vor
Reiseantritt mit Ihrer Fluggesellschaft in Verbindung.

Für den Großraum Manila (Metro Manila) gelten ab 15. März 2020 ab Mitternacht bis zunächst 12.
April 2020 Ein- und Ausreisesperren auf dem Land-, See- und Luftweg. Quarantäne-Maßnahmen
können von den lokalen Gemeinden kurzfristig beschlossen werden. Mit kurzfristig verhängten
weiteren Einschränkungen muss gerechnet werden.

 Bedenken Sie, dass innerphilippinische Reisen, insbesondere von und nach Manila (einschl.
Flughafen) eingeschränkt, ggf. unmöglich sein werden.

 Erwägen Sie ggf. eine umgehende Rückkehr nach Deutschland und setzen Sie sich vor
Reiseantritt mit Ihrer Fluggesellschaft in Verbindung.

 Nach bislang vorliegenden Informationen sind internationale Flüge über Cebu und Clark
möglich. Diese Flughäfen sind nach derzeitigem Stand auch nach dem 15. März 2020 noch
erreichbar.

 Verfolgen Sie die lokalen Medien und folgen Sie den Anweisungen der Behörden.

Vor dem Hintergrund der Ausbreitung der Atemwegserkrankung möchte Ihnen die Deutsche
Botschaft Manila noch einige Hinweise und empfohlene Maßnahmen weitergeben. Zur Vermeidung
einer Infektion bzw. Weiterverbreitung der Erkrankung sind folgende Maßnahmen empfohlen:

- Bitte beachten Sie die fortlaufend aktualisierten Informationen zu COVID-19/Coronavirus.

- Kein Händeschütteln zur Begrüßung oder Verabschiedung, keine sonstigen Berührungen der Hände.

- Gute persönliche Hygiene, insbesondere regelmäßiges richtiges Händewaschen. Desinfektionsmittel
zur Händedesinfektion sind nicht zwingend erforderlich, wenn die 10 wichtigsten Hygieneregeln der
Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung unter
https://www.infektionsschutz.de/hygienetipps/hygiene-beim-husten-und-niesen.html befolgt
werden. Ggfs. sollte Desinfektionsmittel benutzt werden, dabei bitte auf Wirksamkeitsstufe achten:
Wirksam sind Mittel, die als „begrenzt viruzid“ (wirksam gegen behüllte Viren), „begrenzt viruzid
PLUS“ oder „viruzid“ eingestuft sind.

- Husten- und Nies-Etikette unter https://www.infektionsschutz.de/hygienetipps/hygiene-beim-
husten-und-niesen/

- Vermeidung von engem Kontakt mit Personen mit Atemwegserkrankungen.

- Regelmäßige Reinigung von Kontaktflächen (Arbeitsflächen, Türgriffe, Tastaturen, Handläufe an
Treppen etc.) mit Desinfektionsmittel, v.a. in Räumen, in denen Menschen ein- und ausgehen.
- Ggfs. in Erwägung ziehen einer Impfung mit dem aktuellen Impfstoff gegen Influenza. Influenza ruft ähnliche Symptome wie SARS-CoV-2 hervor. Unabhängig von dem persönlichen Schutzeffekt trägt die Impfung zur Vermeidung unnötiger Verdachtsfälle und Belastungen von Gesundheitseinrichtungen bei.

- Bei Auftreten von Fieber, Husten oder Atemschwierigkeiten in oder nach Rückkehr (bis maximal 14
Tage nach Erkrankungsbeginn) aus Risikogebieten
https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete.html soll umgehend
telefonischer Kontakt mit einem Arztes oder einer Ärztin aufgenommen und das weitere Vorgehen
besprochen werden.

- Bei Symptomen wie Husten oder erhöhter Temperatur ab 37,3°C, zuhause bleiben. Sollte Kontakt
zu einem COVID-19-Fall bestanden haben, soll umgehend telefonischer Kontakt mit einem Arztes
oder einer Ärztin aufgenommen und das weitere Vorgehen besprochen werden. Halten Sie sich bitte
zudem an eventuelle Vorgaben durch das lokale Gesundheitssystem.

Weitere Informationen können Sie auch in den Reise- und Sicherheitshinweisen des Auswärtigen
Amts unter dem Link https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-und-
sicherheitshinweise finden.

Sie können die Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise auch als Newsletter abonnieren:
www.diplo.de/newsletter. Für mobile Geräte bieten wir unsere Gratis-App „Sicher Reisen“ an:
www.diplo.de/app-sicherreisen. Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie auch über den Twitter-Kanal des
Krisenreaktionszentrums des Auswärtigen Amts: https://twitter.com/aa_sicherreisen?lang=de

Die Botschaft Manila bleibt für den Publikumsverkehr in der Konsular- und Visaabteilung bis auf
weiteres regulär geöffnet. Sollten Sie nicht in der Lage sein, Ihre gebuchten Termine wahrzunehmen,
stornieren Sie diese bitte über unser Terminvergabesystem. In dringenden Notfällen erreichen Sie die
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können nur während der Dienstzeiten eingesehen werden.

Alles Gute und bleiben Sie gesund!

Ihre Botschaft Manila

Perfectionism

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

OPINION

By KLAUS DORING

 March 12, 2020

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MANY of us believe perfectionism is a positive. You may count me in. More often than I’d like to admit, something seemingly inconsequential will cause the same feeling to rear its head again. Something as small as accidentally squashing the makeup, I was bringing my first girlfriend’s family for Christmas can tumble around in my mind for several days, accompanied by occasional voices like “How stupid!” and “You should have known better”.

Falling short of a bigger goal, even when I know achieving it would be near-impossible, can temporarily flatten me. When a former agent told me that she knew I was going to write a book someday but that the particular idea I’d pitched her didn’t suit the market, I felt deflated in a gut-punching way that went beyond disappointment. The negative drowned out the positive. “You’re never going to write a book,” my internal voice said. “You’re not good enough.” That voice didn’t care that this directly contradicted what the agent actually said. And, up to now, I didn't finish my first book, yet... It's already 2020... .

That’s the thing about perfectionism. It takes no prisoners.

If I’ve struggled with perfectionism, I’m far from alone. The tendency starts young – and it’s becoming more common. Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill’s recent meta-analysis of rates of perfectionism from 1989 to 2016, the first study to compare perfectionism across generations, found significant increases among more recent undergraduates in the US, UK and Canada. In other words, the average college student last year was much more likely to have perfectionistic tendencies than a student in the 1990's or early 2000's.

“As many as two in five kids and adolescents are perfectionists,” says Katie, who researches child development and perfectionism at West Virginia University. “We’re starting to talk about how it’s heading toward an epidemic and public health issue.” The rise in perfectionism doesn’t mean each generation is becoming more accomplished. It means we’re getting sicker, sadder and even undermining our own potential.

Here is another great example: a perfectionist, French Claude Monet often destroyed his paintings in a temper while saying, ‘My life has been nothing but a failure'.

Perfectionism, after all, is an ultimately self-defeating way to move through the world. It is built on an excruciating irony: making, and admitting, mistakes is a necessary part of growing and learning and being human. It also makes you better at your career and relationships and life in general. By avoiding mistakes at any cost, a perfectionist can make it harder to reach their own lofty goals.

But the drawback of perfectionism isn’t just that it holds you back from being your most successful, productive self. Perfectionistic tendencies have been linked to a laundry list of clinical issues: depression and anxiety (even in children), self-harm, social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, binge eating, anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, hoarding, dyspepsia, chronic headaches, and, most damning of all, even early mortality and suicide.

“It’s something that cuts across everything, in terms of psychological problems,” says Sarah Egan, a senior research fellow at the Curtin University in Perth who specializes in perfectionism, eating disorders and anxiety.

Culturally, I learned, we often see perfectionism as a positive. Even saying you have perfectionistically tendencies can come off as a coy compliment to yourself; it’s practically a stock answer to the “What’s your worst trait?” question in job interviews. (Past employers, now you know! I wasn’t just being cute).

It is difficult to tell who is motivated and conscientious and who is a perfectionist. In my daily teaching in Davao , I met the student who works hard and gets a poor mark. If she/her tells herself: “I’m disappointed, but it’s okay; I’m still a good person overall,” that’s healthy. If the message is: “I’m a failure. I’m not good enough,” that’s perfectionism.

That inner voice criticizes different things for different people – work, relationships, tidiness, fitness. My own tendencies may differ greatly from somebody else’s. It can take someone who knows me well to pick up on them. (When I messaged one of my friends I was writing this story, he immediately sent back a long line of laughing emojis).

Perfectionists can make smooth sailing into a storm, a brief ill wind into a category-five hurricane. At the very least, they perceive it that way. And, because the ironies never end, the behaviors perfectionists adapt ultimately, actually, do make them more likely to fail.

Thinking of perfectionism, makes me think of my own childhood peppered with avoiding (or starting and quitting) almost every sport there was. If I wasn’t adept at something almost from the get-go, I didn’t want to continue – especially if there was an audience watching. In fact, multiple studies have found a correlation between perfectionism and performance anxiety even in children as young as 10.

Mental health problems aren’t just caused by perfectionism; some of these problems can lead to perfectionism, too. One recent study, for example, found that over a one-year period, college students who had social anxiety were more likely to become perfectionists – but not vice versa.

In many ways, poorer health outcomes for perfectionists aren’t that surprising. “Perfectionists are pretty much awash with stress. Even when it’s not stressful, they’ll typically find a way to make it stressful,” says Gordon Flett, who has studied perfectionism for more than 30 years and whose assessment scale developed with Paul Hewitt is considered a gold standard. Plus, he says, if your perfectionism finds an outlet in, say, workaholism, it’s unlikely you’ll take many breaks to relax – which we now know both our bodies and brains require for healthy functioning.

After all, many of us live in societies where the first question when you meet someone is what you do for a living. Where we are so literally valued for the quality and extent of our accomplishments that those achievements often correlate, directly, to our ability to pay rent or put food on the table. Where complete strangers weigh these on-paper values to determine everything from whether we can rent that flat or buy that car or receive that loan. Where we then signal our access to those resources with our appearance – these shoes, that physique – and other people weigh that, in turn, to see if we’re the right person for a job interview or dinner invitation.

Fear of failure is getting magnified in other ways, too. Take social media: make a mistake today and your fear that it might be broadcast, even globally, is hardly irrational. At the same time, all of those glossy feeds reinforce unrealistic standards.

In my opinion, and I am not alone with it, it’s the idea that you don’t have to be perfect to be lovable or to be loved. It’s a work in progress. And,  what I’ve noticed too, is that, each time I’m able to replace criticizing and perfecting with compassion, I feel not only less stressed, but freer. Apparently, that’s not unusual.

Davao de Oro: Taking Women to the next level

Davao de Oro Province-- In a fast changing world, it’s the women who take the lead. The role of women goes beyond household chores. Today, we see them as prime movers of change in different areas, be it in academe, legislation, politics or commerce.

In celebration to the National Women’s Day in the Philippines, the province of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Women’s Development Council (PWDC) honors the role of women in the province and envisions their progress in the next three years.

The province of Davao de Oro being notable to be rich in indigenous cultures will continue to unleash the hidden gifts of each IP Group.

As key towards developing and improving the lives of its constituents, the golden province conforms to the policies and mandates concerning Women Empowerment through the implementation of the Women Development Program. This program subscribes to the goal of uplifting and redefining women in Davao de Oro. It promotes equal rights to economic resources, makes public services widely accessible, provides enabling technologies to ease their nature of work and allows women to be competitive and make their own living.

The Provincial Women Development Council has engaged to thousands of women across the province through its socio-economic programs.

These interventions narrowed the gap between the government and its people, it allowed women from Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas to get reached by delivering government services through livelihood, technical and vocational training, caravans, making them active participants in decision making for more sound policies and linking them to institutions to further hone their skills.

Today, Davao de Oro women get featured both locally and globally. This was made possible through the partnership with NGA’s (National Government Agencies), non-government organizations and private sectors. By the full support of the province, products from our women farmers and fisher-folks, muslim, IP’s and all-marginalized women in every municipality who engaged in livelihood trainings starts to rack-up beyond its local market.

These successful product-market linkages are just tidbits of the bundles of success stories of the women of Davao de Oro.

The PWDC was spearheaded by Ms. Sholai Lim, who was awarded as one of the Outstanding Woman Business Leader by the 8th Mindanao Business Leaders and Entrepreneur Awards, she is also the ambassador of the International Women Peace Group (IWPG) was regarded by Philippine National Police General Manuel S. Garlaen as one of 2018’s PNP Region XI Six Most Outstanding Women Leader in Davao Region and was elected as Vice President for Mindanao by the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women.

Indeed, there will be no greater force than a group of women who are all determined to rise, no challenges too hard to conquer for women whose eyes are fixed on the goal - veer from the usual and conquer the peak.

Photocaptions Women Display Center--- As the province of Davao de Oro continues to advocate women economic empowerment, New Bataan's Women Product Display center recently opened on March 2, 2020. The center will bridge our local women entrepreneurs to more possible markets and partners showcasing the golden province's rich and diverse culture of it's varied IP groups. (photo by the Provincial Women Development Council)

Photocaption Business Award--- Provincial Women Development Council of Davao de Oro Chairperson Sholai Lim was awarded as one of the Outstanding Woman Business Leader by the Business Mindanao Week Corporation in their annual Mindanao's Most Outstanding Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Awards. The award recognizes untiring and relentless effort to pursue excellence of professional leadership in business and trade, and for the economic upliftment of communities in Mindanao. (photo by the Provincial Women Development Council)

Naboc River rehabilitation continues

Davao de Oro Province--- After awarding the principal dredgers with their permits for dredging the Naboc River last February 13, 2020 the Naboc River is now starting to rebuild its youth and restore its natural state as what it is before.

Almost three decades when the inhabitants of Mt. Diwalwal started to mine gold reserves and practice using small-scale mineral processing plants and now finally, Naboc River was given justice. The mercury content and high fecal coliform count in the river doesn’t solely affect the province of Davao de Oro, but also other provinces who rely on the river in terms of irrigation needs in farming and other agricultural matters.

Due to the activation of the Task Force Naboc River and the implementation of the cease and desist order, the original figure of operators for small scale-mineral processing plants were continuously shredding off. Out of 390 operators, there are only 130 who were found to be operating and will surely be stopped and transferred to the Mabatas Area, which means more than half were following what is strictly implemented.

Three weeks ago, five individuals in Mt. Diwalwal were caught by the Philipine National Police (PNP). They were still operating in Mt. Diwaldawal resisting the order imposed by the government which is strictly prohibited. "Nakasabot ang lokal nga pang-gobyerno nga ilaha kining panginabuhian ug temporaryo kini nga naundang, ang amung intervention nga gipropose sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) nga mahatagan sila ug ayuda alang sa atung mga displaced workers karung higayona didto sa Diwalwal, " said Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy

The provincial government of Davao de Oro would like to appeal for a better and faster cooperation with the residents of Mt. Diwalwal. Direct cooperation in terms of transferring the operations from Mt. Diwalwal to the Mabatas Area would lessen the chance of completely killing Naboc river and operators can operate again in the preferred area for it has a containment facility preventing direct discharge of wastes in the river.

The movement doesn't concretely mean to stop the bread and butter of the people of Diwalwal. It aims to establish a practice and a mindset who prioritizes the sake of the majority in a sustainable manner. (Jasteen Abella, ID DAVAO DE ORO)

Photocaption- On March 5, 2020 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City, Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy of Davao de Oro province guested the press conference of the Philippine Information Agency Region XI. Among the discussed topics were the updates on the progress of the Naboc River rehabilitation, development of Davao de Oro in relation to the plebiscite held, sustaining peace and stability in the province and  ASF and Covid-2019 effects on Davao de Oro's tourism. (photos by Rey Antibo)

SPLENDID ISOLATION

My column in Mindanao Daily and BusinessWeek Mindanao
Social anxiety is the single most common psychological problem according to innumerable survey results worldwide. The magnificent, gorgeous and excellent isolation, resulting out of being nervous when meeting people is really the opposite. The state of being isolated, reminds me of being in a hospital with an infectious disease. Especially nowadays while experiencing the Coronavirus spreading all around the world.

Does the project of giving a speech or going to a social gathering give you the willies? Relax, there are always ways and solutions to help you by teaching you "never to be nervous again".

I have been always the most silent pupil in elementary and high school. I was ashamed even to talk to or with my teachers. Several terrible school records have been the result. But, I wanted to become a journalist. I am still one. And, I was  teaching 12 years at an university. I will be teaching again German language soon at Ateneo de Davao.

During college times and while writing my first articles, I learned from my first boss, a daily news publisher, to avoid being nervous while meeting people. I was always prepared. Preparation for any communicating situation is a must. I have been invited to many parties and gatherings. I always asked for the guest list. I scanned all newspapers and browsed in the net.

"In your opinion, who..." or "What do you think of....?" kept the momentum going. That was sometime during the 1960's. Since that time I was just very lucky to meet always the right people at the right time and place, which kept on teaching me how to avoid splendid isolation. Whether you're delivering a speech, approaching your boss, or joining an important social occasion, do at first your homework.

The most polished, smoothly delivered and spontaneous soundings talks are the result of many hours of work and years long experiences. The memorable one-liners and moving phrases that went down in history didn't come from the last minute bursts of inspiration.

I also learned from Harvard University historian Richard Marius, "that good writing is a kind of wresting with thought". Or, as New York Times columnist William Safire expressed before: "To communicate, put your thoughts in order, give them a purpose, use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce!"

Let's don't forget, that everyone of us has something to be proud of, and that everyone enjoys talking about it. But, you have to make it happen!

DDO employees rendered Bayanihan services in Sitio Puting Bato

Davao de Oro --- The Provincial government of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Administrator’s Office - Information Division (PAO-ID) and Information Technology and Communication Development Division (PAO-ITCDD) rendered Bayanihan services in Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay Ngan, Compostela, Davao de Oro on February 21, 2020.

Among the services rendered are the school ground beautification and community-based feeding program.

Puting Bato in Ngan is one out of five beneficiary schools built in just 20 days through bayanihan way. It’s the farthest area in the province classified as Geographically isolated and Disadvantage area. The school is served as a path way in searching a quality and life-changing education to their upcoming future.

Michelle Ivory Mangco, Teacher 1 expressed her thanks and gratitude to the Provincial Government through the different projects and programs implemented to Sitio Puting Bato Elementary School. “It brings a great help when it comes to landscaping and school ground beautification,” she said.

She added that every Friday the children felt happy and excited as they perceived the sound of trucks coming to their school. A great gratitude also for being a role model and letting the children inspired as they continue in cultivating their golden future.

“This is definitely another major step towards a sustainable development and improvement not only in our province but also to our people,” Mangco added.

Pastora Myrna Mansige, shown her appreciation for the good governance towards the people such as providing materials needed in school beautification and expressed her gratitude for arming our children with good and quality education through Bayanihan Activity.

“Even if we’re in a far-flung area, the local government is still here to uplift and valued us by fulfilling our necessary needs” she added.

 (Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao De Oro)

8000 Google-Mitarbeiter müssen zuhause bleiben

Die beiden US-Technologie-Konzerne Google und Twitter weisen Teile ihrer Belegschaft an, von zu Hause aus zu arbeiten. Bei dem Suchmaschinenbetreiber sind alle 8000 Mitarbeiter in Dublin betroffen, nachdem ein Kollege grippeähnliche Symptome meldet.

Der Kurznachrichtendienst Twitter schreibt Heimarbeit für alle Mitarbeiter in Hongkong, Japan und Südkorea vor. Zudem werde das Home-Office für alle Beschäftigten weltweit empfohlen, wenn dies irgendwie möglich sei.

Stars come out for Berlin

... Film Festival’s 70th anniversary

As the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the festival come to a close, Tom Brook reports for Talking Movies.

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28 February 2020

Stars of international cinema graced the red carpet in chilly Berlin last week to mark the opening night of the Berlin Film Festival, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. One of Europe’s major festivals alongside Cannes and Venice, Berlin is known for showing challenging, often ‘political’ films.

“I think that whenever a film questions your position it becomes political, because you have to react and understand better what your position is towards the other,” Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director of the Berlinale, tells Tom Brook, from BBC World News’s Talking Movies.

The opening night was a more subdued affair than usual, as it was held on the same night as the mass-shooting in Hanau. The festivities were also marred by recent revelations that the festival’s founder was a high-ranking Nazi, reports Tom Brook.

What does faith mean for you?

What does faith mean for you?

OPINION

By KLAUS DORING

 February 29, 2020

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My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

TRUST or reliance?  A pledged word? Loyalty? A system of religious doctrines believed in? I would say, faith is everything. And clearly: without faith, we are really nothing.

Faith is belief; believe in us, beliefs in our works, talents and personalities. Belief in God.

We also should believe in our parents or better, in the whole family including the black sheep, who can be found everywhere. We should also believe in our friends, even sometimes it seems to become a very difficult task. A friend? A real friend? An expatriate friend...?

Without faith, we will be reaching the rock bottom. Please don't say, it's a likely story. The German poet Johann Christian Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) mentioned in his drama "Maria Stuart": "Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive." Yes, I can live with this.

Faith and hope belongs together.

In his book "Through the Valley of the Kwai", Scottish officer Ernest Gordon wrote of his years as a prisoner of World War II. The 6'2'' man suffered from malaria, diphteria, typhoid, beriberi and jungle ulcers. Many circumstances quickly plunged his weight to less than 100 pounds. Lying in the dirt of the death house, he waited to die. But every day, a fellow prisoner came to wash his wounds and to encourage him to eat parts of his own rations. As this fellow prisoner nursed Ernest back to health, he talked with the agnostic Scotsman of his own strong faith in God and showed him that, even in the midst of suffering - there is hope - and faith!

Faith is indeed tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner, a German classical composer and poet found the following lyric: "Blessed are those people, who know how to life their life in humility and faith!"

Well, let's even continue believing in our government. Faithful hope is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable.

Faith looks beyond the transient life with hope for all eternity. The hope, we read about in the scriptures is not a wishy-washy optimism. First and second Chapter of Thessalonians, for example, give encouragements to all Christians, who have been undergoing persecution for their faith. And, Corinthians 13:2 says: "If I have faith it can move mountains!"