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!
IT'S five o'clock on a Friday afternoon. Maybe you have an ordinary office job. Your office mates are gone for the weekend already earlier. You haven't had a date for years, on family is waiting at home for you. Your best friend has an out-of-town meeting.
Are you lonely? You betcha.
That's one kind of loneliness. The temporary kind that makes you feel a bit uneasy but not totally down. But, there's another kind of loneliness that lurks especially in the lives of today's generation. And it's far more threatening than this Friday afternoon five o'clock one-timer.
It's the painful loneliness that sets in when broken relationships cut you off from people you actually value very much. When you know the former warm spot in your heart will remain cold. It happens many times, when life goes on while death, separation, breakup, or alienation cuts you off from these people who could eliminate your loneliness.
Yes, a variety of things could happen when this kind of loneliness turns a world into an island. We are on the way to isolationism, figuring that if we can't find someone significant to share life with, we might as well wrap ourselves up in pity.
Or how about this? We can turn to God. His presence can take away the loneliness. His care can neutralize our concerns. His love can warm that cold spot in your heart.
What do you think? You're the 'only lonely' on this globe? Talk to God! Listen to Him! Read Psalm 23 ('The Lord is my shepherd') and realize that He is talking to you. Let Him take away your loneliness.
Dog neutering (Castration) is one of the highlights as the province joined the nation in celebrating the World Rabies Day celebration last September 28.
Several activities were also conducted like information, education and communication campaign on animal and human rabies virus.
The Provincial Government together with the Municipal Government of Montevista also conducted a massive registration and vaccination in all dogs.
The activity was held at the Evacuation Center, Poblacion, Montevista, Davao de Oro on September 29-30, 2020.
The activity was spear haded by the Provincial Veterinary’s Office (PVO) in partnership with Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAGRO) of Montevista through their Veterinary Section.
As one of the priorities in global health, the celebration was held on to raise people’s awareness on the impact of rabies and how it can be prevented and to control their population.
According to Dr. Dannie A. Apelo, Veterinarian-IV, the provincial government manifested strong support and commitment to the national goal of making Davao de Oro a rabies free province.
“This is the first time in the province that we conducted a massive dog castration. Nagpahigayon ta ug pagkapon sa atong mga lalaki nga iro, diin usa kini ka pamaagi para sa pag control sa population sa nagkadaghan nga iro diri sa atuang probinisya,” said Dr. Apelo.
Helping implement the program are the health experts from the PVO together with the various groups from the different sector, in coordination with the veterinarian’s of the 11 municipalities of the province that supports the anti-rabies campaign. (Rey Antibo, ID Davao de Oro)
++ Updates zu Flügen VON DEN Philippinen (Stand 30.09.20) ++
Viele Airlines haben den Personentransport von den Philippinen nach Europa wieder aufgenommen (Singapore Airlines, Thai und Kuwait Airways noch nicht) und bieten - wenn auch in kleiner Frequenz - wieder Durchgangsverbindungen an. Hier eine kleine Airline-Übersicht mit aktuellen Abflughäfen und COVID19-Test-Anforderungen:
Airline - PH Abflughäfen - PCR Test benötigt / nicht älter als
Asiana - Manila, Clark - PCR Test ja / 48h Cathay Pacific - Manila - PCR Test nein China Airlines - Manila - PCR Test ja / 3Tage Emirates - Manila, Clark, Cebu - PCR Test ja / 96h Etihad - Manila - PCR Test ja / 96h Gulf Air - Manila - PCR Test nein Qatar Airways - Manila, Clark, Cebu - PCR Test ja / 72h KLM - Manila - PCR Test nein Korean Air - Manila - PCR Test ja / 48h Oman Air - Manila - PCR Test nein Turkish Airlines - Manila - PCR Test nein
Internationale Flüge ab Davao gibt es aktuell leider noch keine.
Kontaktieren Sie uns gern, sollte Ihr (bei uns gebuchter) Rückflug aktuell auf Eis liegen und Sie die Philippinen bald verlassen möchten. Wir prüfen die Umbuchungsmöglichkeiten Ihres Tickets. Unter gewissen Umständen kann es auch Sinn machen, den Original-Rückflug erstatten zu lassen und ein Oneway-Ticket einer anderen Airline zu buchen.
Wir beraten Sie gern bei der Planung Ihres Rückfluges.
Schreiben Sie uns dazu einfach private Nachricht hier in Facebook oder eine Email an info@kirschner.de Am besten immer mit so vielen Infos wie möglich zum Standort und zur bisherigen Planung etc. - das macht es uns leichter.
Telefonisch sind wir weiterhin MO bis SA 9 bis 13 Uhr MEZ unter +49 221 9201 9201 erreichbar.
Private companies Maerks and MCC partner with DA to bring Davao fruits to Manila
Author: DA Communications Group | 25 September 2020
September is considered a fruit season in Mindanao. Durian, marang, mangosteen, and lanzones are abundant in various regions in Mindanao, including Davao.
To make these fruits accessible to consumers in Metro Manila, the Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) partnered with Maersk and MCC Transport Philippines to bring tons of fruits to the National Capital Region (NCR).
Maersk and MCC Transport Philippines are accommodating the first shipment of fruits from Davao to Manila for free with eight tons of durian and eight tons of mangosteen. These were from the farmers of Durian Industry Association of Davao City that will be shipped from Sasa Davao City to Manila Port on September 26, 2020, through the efforts of DA Regional Field Office Reg 11.
Accommodation includes providing trucks to pick-up and deliver the products from the seaport, as part of their service. The free shipment of agri products is their contribution to address the logistic needs of the agriculture sector in support of food security and accessibility.
Transporting agri commodities by land was one of the challenges the agriculture sector was faced with when NCR was placed under enhanced community quarantine in March. This opened several discussions on the importance of pre-positioning, government support to marketing and logistics, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector.
Recognizing that food security will also entail inter-island shipment of agri commodities to address both food sufficiency and oversupply in certain areas, Maersk and MCC Transport Philippines proactively offered assistance for logistics.
The exploratory talks between DA-AMAS and Maersk and MCC Transport Philippines started in June 2020. Discussions on special rates for the succeeding shipments of agri producers are on-going.
The Department continues to implement policies and develop programs that will help agri producers take on more roles in the value chain, including capacitating them to be able to bring their own produce to the market through the Enhanced Kadiwa Financial grant. ### (DA AMAS)
————
Reference: DA Asst. Sec. Kristine Evangelista Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness 0977-6987971
Davao de Oro --- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao de Oro Provincial Office distributed livelihood kits to some twenty (20) micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in Barangay Sto. Niño, Nabunturan to help provide assistance affected by the economic crisis thru its Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay-Livelihood Seeding Program (NSB-LSP) today (September 28, 2020).
MSME beneficiaries under this program will each received P5,000 worth of livelihood starter kits for the sari-sari store, food vendor, carpentry, welding, hollow blocks making, and black smith. Of the 20 identified barangays in the province, seven have been already rolled out including Barangays Bawani, Manipongol, Andap, San Isidro, Diwata, Panansalan, and Sto. Niño.
Under the guidelines in managing the livelihood kits are the following; monitoring system thru the Barangay Development Council, reporting system as to the sales and income, and success stories on how the augmentation kit helps their way of living.
The ceremonial turn-over was attended by DTI Regional Director, Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, DTI-DdO Provincial Director Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, DTI-Division Chief, Patrick Kim B. Evangelio, Municipal Mayor, Chelita C. Amatong, and other barangay officials.
(Rheafe Hortizano, Provincial Information Division, Photo courtesy of DTI-DdO)
My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Metro Cagayan de Oro Times
Sometimes, I feel paralyzed with anger. Strong words. Yes, sometimes there is no sense in crying or being mad, but we feel paralyzed. A good friend of mine told me that a couple of days ago. Words cannot describe it and words fail me, but I wouldn't be a writer, if I couldn't express the right words at the right moment.
After the long talk with my friend, I must confess that, many times, I also felt speechless and paralyzed.
In difficult times like right now, follow ups seem to become the new national and international character. Indifferent people in our surroundings let us feel like that every day. Indifference seems to become one of the varagies in today's new society.
We try to get an appointment, but the other side seems to be very busy - every day of the week! Of course, we don't want to encroach in other people's time. Let's try again tomorrow! How do you feel, if you observe certain employees, who should be in service of the people, instead of reading a magazine, doing private telephone calls, doing (important!) text messages and getting down-right cheeky, if we started uncounted follow ups. Then, suddenly, we have to learn that "the boss is out of town" or so... . Grabe.
Yes, I might fall out of favor with some readers with today's column, but guys, what's the difference between being busy, making a good deal of money out of something and just being indifferent or "not in the mood" to entertain people.
I can tell you frankly: Many people feel paralyzed and experience a terrible loss of power of movement or sensation while dealing with uselessness, if indifference, arrogance and ignorance determine the different situations in our daily life.
If the promise has been given to help or support someone, it shouldn't be broken by endless excuses and terrible stalling tactics. A "YES" is a "YES" and a "NO" should be a "NO" and not "MAYBE", if a promise can't be held understandable and comprehensive.
I don't like to let somebody wait for an answer or during an appointment. I try to look after it or take care of it. If I have been informed that somebody tried to contact me, but missed me, I really do everything to find him or her. What's bad about it? Sorry, I really don't like being late or "remain silent"... .
How many good ideas and highly appreciated business deals had gone with the wind because of uncomprehending, unsympathetic and unappreciated everyday deals between fellow creatures? Can you get the hang of it? Especially in times of "new normality" we should try our very best to stay in contact with our environment people.
Yes, sometimes I also feel uncomfortable while observing lost chances. The present is bad enough! Remember: we don't get anything for nothing in the whole word - sure! But first, we should learn how to keep promises, to help each other, to be honest and to be one of the leaders of national stabilization and consolidation.
Davao de Oro Province---With much potential seen on its land area, the United IPs Irrigators Association (UIIA) of Barangay Bahi in Maragusan, Davao de Oro committed more or less 20 hectares of land area to be developed into rice fields.
The conversion of the 20 hectare-land as an initial production area will also pave a way to interest other land owners in pursuing and replicating rice production initiatives using modern technology as way of adding income generating farm endeavors.
Bahi has a total of 106 hectares of land feasible to rice field conversion according to survey and for the time being only 20 hectares were utilized.
Barangay Bahi also has an irrigation facility unutilized to its full potential that compliments the conceptualization and implementation of the project and will greatly add assurance to food security in the province when fully functional.
“Sa ginagmay nato nga mga resources ug pagtinabangay, ma-achieve nato atung gipangandoy nga nindot nga basakan.” said Minda Agarano, Head of the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office of the province.
he groundbreaking ceremony was held on the 23rd of September 2020 and attended by partner agencies of PLGU Davao de Oro specifically the Department of Agriculture RFO XI, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Irrigation Administration Davao de Oro, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Davao de Oro, MAGRO Maragusan, BLGU Bahi, United IP Irrigator’s Association of Bahi, 66th Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police – RPSB.
The involvement of the AFP and the PNP through ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict) strategy is relevant to the project as this will precede to attain lasting peace, transformation and alleviate poverty in Barangay Bahi as the place was once deeply infiltrated by communist movement years ago.
(Jasteen P. Abella, Information Division, Davao de Oro)
Davao de Oro ---Some 67 indigenous peoples (IPs) from Barangay Panangan, Maco and Barangay Awao, Monkayo in this province have graduated and received certificates for completing Training Cum Production on Toddy Tapping under Community -Based Training Program given by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) last week.
The implementation of community-based skills training program is dubbed in Executive Order No. 70 under Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) which aims to capacitate trainees economically in their own ancestral domain and geared into a competitive and productive individual.
Jasmin J. Neri, Provincial Director of TESDA-Davao de Oro, congratulated the graduates and thanked them for finishing the courses. "Ang gobyerno naningkamot nga mahatagan ug serbisyong dikalidad dili lang kay sa dug-ol nga dapit apan lakip usab sa pinakalayo nga area dria sa probinsya. Malipayon ako nga nakitang naka graduate mo niining toddy tapping nga programa ug nanghinaot ko nga daghan kamug production nga mabuhat aron madala natu kini sa market arun moangat kanunay ug mulambo ang inyung sitwasyon sa kinabuhi," Neri said.
Ruel O. Cayao, Toddy Tapping Trainee and Purok Chairman expressed gratitude for granting his as one of the beneficiaries of the said program.
"Mapasalamaton kami diin nadungagan amuang kahibalo nga magamit namu sa amuang panginabuhian. Sa akung mga kauban maningkamot ta nga maka produce ta sa atuang nakat-onan karun kay mao nani siya ang atuang gitawag nga paglaom nga makatabang sa atuang matag-usa ka pamilya," Cayao added.
The program was initiated by TESDA-Davao de Oro in partnership and coordination with Davao National Agricultural School (DNAS), national government, and local government units.
Meanwhile, TESDA-DdO turnover 92 container gallons, 50 washable face masks, 1PH meter, 1 wall clock, and 10 Mahogany seedlings donated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (Rheafe Hortizano-PAO ID, Photo courtesy of TESDA-DdO)
COMPUTERS and phones have become the go-to note-taking method for many. But your brain benefits from an old-fashioned pen and paper, says Hetty Roessingh, a professor of education at the University of Calgary.
Are you old-fashioned? I am. Check out my office, and you might be shocked when you see my mess of papers all over the place. Phone notes, new ideas for columns, conference notes, details from online meetings and so on and so on .
How about you my dear reader: do you pick up any old notebook and pen when you need them, or do you have a thing for Moleskines or Montblancs?
Let me quote Professor Roessingh again: "Whether or not you’re picky, know that tools for the hands are tools for the brain. Handwritten notes are a powerful tool for encrypting embodied cognition and in turn supporting the brain’s capacity for retrieval of information. And secondly, when you take notes by hand, your hands create a robust external memory storage: your notebook". Roessingh really speaks to me from the soul.
Taking notes by hand is a win-win, and belongs in every student’s cognitive tool kit. Learning how to take notes by hand effectively, and how to ingrain note-taking as a key learning and study tool, can begin as early as grades 3 or 4, but it’s never too late to begin. Yes Professor, I strongly agree, and I am no more ashamed about my messy office.
Of course, we live in a digital age where daily functioning involves digital communication. Automaticity in keyboarding is an important skill too, and the tools and applications for digital communication will continue to evolve and have their place. But keyboarding does not provide the tactile feedback to the brain that contact between pencil or pen and paper does — the key to creating the neurocircuitry in the hand-brain complex.
I am not sure if our laptops might seem faster and more efficient, but there are good reasons for having a paper-bound notebook and pen — any kind you prefer — at the ready. Or lots of notes somewhere placed at the office. And only I know where the notes are stuck.
Researchers have found that note-taking associated with keyboarding involves taking notes verbatim in a way that does not involve processing information, and so have called this “non-generative” note-taking. By contrast, taking notes by hand involves cognitive engagement in summarising, paraphrasing, organising, concept and vocabulary mapping — in short, manipulating and transforming information that leads to deeper understanding.
Experts say taking notes by hand engages your brain in different ways, makes you interact with the material in different ways, and overall, deepens understanding.
An interesting quotation comes from Leonardo da Vinci, who wrote: “…the more minutely you describe, the more you will confuse the mind of the reader and the more you will remove him from knowledge of the thing described. Therefore it is necessary to make a drawing … as well as to describe …”
If writing is a requirement of your profession whether in journalism, teaching, architecture, engineering, fashion and more, you already know the benefits and importance of note-taking and sketching. Worth to think about it.
A drilling rig conducts geotechnology survey for the Davao-Samal connector between Paradise Island Beach Resort and Lanang Beach Club. The Rodriguez family, who’s property will be affected by the bridge, reiterated that the family is not opposing the project but only wanted that another location in Samal Island be considered. Edge Davao
The Rodriguez family has finally spoken and asserted they are not opposing for the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Bridge, however, appeals to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Hong Kong-based consultant Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong Ltd. for the realignment of bridge’s landing site in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) to protect the marine environment that they are preserving for a long time.
“We do not oppose the bridge project but for the choice and for selection of the alignment of the said bridge, we were not informed of this proposed alignment prior to August 2019. Despite our meetings with DPWH and Arup to make our concerns clear only Arup decided that this proposed alignment is final with little regard to the ill effects on the white sand beach, rich sea life, and undersea flora and fauna,” said Atty. Ramon Rodriguez Lucas, corporate secretary of Paradise Beach and Island Resort (PIBR), in a Zoom conference on Thursday.
The family has commissioned scientists Dr. Filipina Sotto, Dr. Cleto Nañola, and Joey Gatus to do a study of the ecosystem and biodiversity around the area of Paradise Reef, an area that will be hit by the bridge. Based on the study, there are three sites (stations) considered feasible for the landing site of the bridge: Lomos (station 1), Bridgeport (station 2), and the Paradise Island Beach Resort (PIBR, station 3).
The study also recommended that in the event station 2, the old shipyard now Bridgeport is not feasible, station 1, which is actually a portion of El Paril Beach Resort known now as Lomos beach, is offered for donation by the Rodriguez family, owners of PIBR, to be used as a compromise for the final landing site of the bridge.
Lucas said the donation is their family’s way of supporting the construction of the bridge and not to delay it.
“We recommend the landing sites and why not even consider that? Why would Arup not want that? Until now we don’t know why. They always tell us ‘we are looking at so many criteria and environment is just one of the factors’. I mean you cannot make environment as one of the factors it is the main factor because you can build the bridge in four or five years but you cannot rebuild a coral reef even in 100 years,” Lucas said.
Lucas added that by simply realigning it a kilometer away from the Paradise Reef would not have same environmental catastrophe.
“Why wouldn’t you consider that? Is there any political reason why you have chosen this and not that? Unsa ba gyud? I think the public can demand those answers from DPWH and Arup. They (DPWH, Arup) maintain until recently, that their study indicated the damage will be minimal and easily be mitigated. We were disappointed as our concerns are not properly addressed. As a result our family was compelled to seek the help of a marine and environmental scientists to make a comprehensive study on the impact and to enable us to make an informed decision and assessed the situation and not based on speculations,” Lucas said.
The study entitled Biophysical Assessment on the Affected Reefs of the Proposed SIDC connector Bridge off the North-Western part of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) provides comprehensive information on the status of the marine resources in the said three assessed stations to recommend to the DPWH, DENR, and LGUs the best option for the proposed SIDC connector landing site with paramount consideration on environmental impact. It also concluded that in constructing the bridge’s landing site where the main bridge and its approach viaduct will be constructed must be given utmost consideration as it is inevitable that during construction of the bridge, the benthic communities will be irreversibly and irreparably destroyed.
“All the family’s want is to protect and preserve Paradise Reef for the sake of public interest and the common good for the present and future generation of Samaleños, Dabawenyos and for humanity itself. They are doing it against all odds, against powerful vested political interests, and even personal attacks against their family,” said Atty. Julito “Sarge” Sarmiento, CEO and Founder, Enya, Climate Change Adaptation Resettlement Earth (CARE).
Scientific findings
Based on these scientific findings and comparing them with both the Arup 2019 and JICA 2016 studies, Dr. Sotto’s team concluded that station 3’s Paradise Reef is home to rich marine life and corals preserved by the Rodriguez family as a de facto marine life sanctuary for almost 100 years.
No Writ of Kalikasan filed
Sarmiento affirmed the Rodriguez family has not filed any legal case not even a Writ of Kalikasan despite all the pronouncements of DPWH and Arup that the landing site proposal is final.
“The family has reached out to DPWH and Arup. It reached 13 months of lobbying to DPWH and Arup. It reached 13 months of lobbying to DPWH and Arup that we now come and partner with the media for the truth, facts, and the science to come out. For the family, the Writ of Kalikasan will delay substantially the construction of the bridge, but they don’t want to delay it,” he said.
According to him, the family was appealing to DPWH and Arup even before they made the final design and the detail for them to consider the second best alignment in their own Feasibility Study and make their own environmental study of that second best alignment.
“Despite this persistent effort to talk with DPWH, to engage them and let them know the truth and get the public support, through all fora. And yet the DPWH would really not do its part in terms of realigning the bridge.
And they are themselves asking for the delay of the bridge and no matter how difficult it is for the family that there will be a delay because a Writ of Kalikasan will certainly delay it, if there is no other option, the last resort of the family is to file a Writ of Kalikasan that would delay substantially the construction of the bridge, which the family of course does not want to happen,” he said.
Short documentary film
A short documentary titled “Alang KaNemo” was also launched during the Zoom conference. It follows a group of marine biologists and environmental advocates as they conduct an environmental assessment of the potential landing sites of the Samal Island – Davao City Connector Bridge, primarily on the side of Samal Island. Their report aims to provide a scientific basis for recommending the best location for the bridge, a recommendation that goes against the findings of a multi-million dollar consultant.
“The campaign will compel for the realignment of the bridge from Paradise Reef,” Sarmiento said.
ECC hearing
A geo investigation survey in the Davao City side for the construction of the Davao-Samal connector project by Arup is ongoing.
Lucas said they already received notice from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Manila about the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application hearing of the Arup on September 28, 2020.
“There will be a hearing and all the issues of the environment including the pre-construction services should be threshed out,” Lucas said.
Sarmiento said the DPWH and Arup and local contractor have been trying to ask permission to enter the property for geo technical services and survey but the Rodriguez family has been asking questions as the family is concern about the impact on the environment.
“We are waiting for the reply of DPWH and Arup with respect to the impact on that and what are the compliances that they have done environmentally to allow them to conduct these kinds of services especially within the family’s property and outside,” Sarmiento said.
