Facing the new school year with a new phase of challenges

 

Editorial Manila Bulletin

Each new school year brings with it a different set of hopes, goals — and in these tumultuous times — challenges that were unheard of in past school years. This academic year, like last year, is starting in a peak of a pandemic, which has forced the Department of Education (DepEd) to once again implement a blended or distance learning setup.

This kind of learning is the best that the DepEd can come up with. Students learn their lessons via multiple learning delivery modalities — via print, online, television, or radio. A combination of any two or more modalities constitutes “blended learning.”

Even with the setup, the DepEd has said it was “encouraged” to see the rise in the number of enrollees. In fact, the agency revealed that the number of students who enrolled for school year 2021-2022 has breached the 24 million mark based on first day of classes in public schools.

A DepEd official reported that this upward trend is an “indication not only of our learners from last year continuing this year, but also that some of our learners who opted to skip last school year are coming back.” Of the 24.6 million enrollees, 23.2 million are enrolled in public schools, 1.4 million in private schools, while at least 41,000 in state and local universities and colleges offering basic education.

Amid this encouraging news, there are groups who have contradicted DepEd’s readiness, insisting that concerns and problems about distance or blended learning are still “unaddressed.” Two groups, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), in separate statements, raised concerns and feared that the new school year might be just a “repeat” of the previous one. They noted that many students and their families still cannot keep up with the online requirement of distance learning, especially those that have lost their livelihood due to the pandemic.

On the first day of school opening, students vented online, allowing the hashtags #PagodNaKami and #AcademicBreakNow to trend on Twitter. Aside from calls for academic break, some netizens are also urging the government to provide concrete plans for the safe resumption of face-to-face classes at all levels.

The DepEd seems to be listening at this stage. On school day opening, it announced that enrollees would still be accepted until the end of September. The agency also said that there is a proposed face-to-face pilot run for Kinder to Grade 3 students, supervised by medical experts. This, as DepEd hoped, will be “done in areas with minimal risk and in coordination with the prescription of the Department of Health.”

Whatever the intended outcome of the new academic year that the DepEd plans it would be, one can only hope that the initial mistakes from last year were addressed and improvements were generally implemented. If not, the pandemic would not only mean lives lost from the virus, but would also lead to a”lost year” of learning, making students academically ill-equipped for the challenges of the future.

What is the best way to earn money online in the Philippines?

By: Samuel Astacaan Escabarte

In the Philippines, there are several ways to earn money online. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Filipinos who earn money online increased multifold. Being confined at home, Filipinos have turned online for livelihood to feed their families.

Online jobs of the Filipinos:

1. Blogging. With basic knowledge in English language, many Filipinos turn to blogging.
2. Vlogs. It's another platform for online livelihood for the Filipinos. Armed with smartphone or DSLR camera, many Filipinos have tried their luck vlogging.
3. Online selling. Online selling has been the favorite livelihood of the Filipinos especially during lockdowns. Filipinos sell different items online from beauty products to ready to wear (RTWs) clothes.
4. Online teaching/tutorial. Millions of Filipinos earn online through tutorial to different nationalities.
5. Since the pandemic, lives of the Filipinos have been hard. Millions of Filipinos have lost their jobs temporarily and permanently. Many mothers plead for help online. Exchanging things for their babies' milk.’

Why is Balut a unique cultural icon of the Filipinos?

 

By: Bisaya

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

Balut is a unique cultural icon of the Filipino culture because it is not the only representative of Filipino culinary habits but also tells stories and legends behind every taste. To those who find its taste scary, they must understand that such an experience starts with daring the unknown and that overcoming preconceptions opens up opportunities to explore if you can manage to look past your inhibitions. You are rewarding yourself with a delicious meat lining and a boiled egg at the end: two parts for tasting and one part for swallowing (and calling it quits). Moreover, this dish also provides links to traditions of our ancestors; some swearing by characteristics of their life's blood while others see themselves as food deserving of respect, if even for just moments. These traditions and legends that span generations and start with a simple balut egg: the unique cultural icon of the Filipino.

Why are my Filipino friends keep saying it’s already Christmas, when September just started?

 

By: Stuart Hopkins

Keen to discuss all things music, aviation, food and drink.

Retired professional pianist. Living in the Philippines with Grace, our daughter who will be turning three in August, and our two-month-old son, Marcus:)

After four years of living in the Philippines, I tend to live like a hermit as much as possible from 1st September until the end of the year.

Ah yes, Christmas in the Philippines.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do love Christmas. Being British, Christmas is a very different thing here. The biggest difference one notices is that there's no snow, ice, and I therefore don't have to spend several months freezing my arse off. My first ever Christmas Day away from the UK was in 1994 and I spent it on a beach in Phuket eating Chicken fried rice, sweating, rather than freezing my derier off. From then on in, I was hooked on hot Christmases.

I digress.

So, here we are, in the throws of what are commonly known as the ‘Ber Months' here in the Philippines. September, October, November and December.

Right now, there are people hanging up their Christmas decorations. There are shopping malls with gigantic Christmas trees on display. Supermarkets are playing Christmas music. Some staff member of a book shop somewhere is dressed as an elf, is standing outside said bookshop - ringing a handheld brass bell in the rhythm of Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the fucking way - while advertising pre-christmas discounts, and yes, you can even buy Christmas hams, cakes and other jolly seasonal products right now.

One thing I will say about Christmas here is that everyone is highly organised when it comes to gift buying, unlike myself. It's generally all done and completed a couple of days before the big day.

And that's great for me, because as one of those guys who decides to go out and do his Christmas gift shopping at about 3pm on Christmas Eve, I find myself in deserted malls and can get it all done in 30 minutes flat!! That, however may change this year due to it being out daughter's first Christmas. She will be precisely four months old on the big day.

I'm considering buying her a radio controlled aeroplane, and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, but I haven't mustered up the courage to tell her mother yet.

Then, of course, the 1st January arrives and we're bombarded with Valentine's Day gifts. Get that done, it's Easter time. Mother's Day, Father's Day. I seriously think we should take all of those things, pick a random date and call that date ‘Buy Everything for Every Special Occasion Day'.

So, that may give you some insight as to why your Filipino friends are telling you it's Christmas, because for Filipinos, Christmas starts on the 1st September.

www.quora.com

BREAKING POINT

 

My column in Mindanao Daily and BusinessWeek Mindanao

BREAKING POINT

OPINION

By KLAUS DÖRING

 September 10, 2021

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I got my first breaking point as a German expatriate in the Philippines as a result of culture shocks. This was a long time ago and very much different from today's situation.  Meanwhile I have been living here smooth and sound for several years. 

 

Time changed. We all continue to suffer from the previous pandemic and the restrictions in our daily lives. Many friends, colleagues and neighbors I talked with are reaching the breaking point.

 

They are  experiencing mood changes. Indeed, the emotional effects of stress can have a serious impact on your day-to-day mood and mental health. Firstly, you may find that you’re feeling more irritated or pessimistic than usual. This mood change can then begin to affect your motivation to work, socialize with your loved ones or complete the things on your to-do list. If left unchecked, these feelings can threaten to completely overwhelm you, leaving you feeling apathetic, depressed, frustrated, panicky or trapped.

Many are having trouble sleeping. If you’re going through a stressful period in your life, you may have noticed just how difficult it can be to maintain a regular sleeping pattern. For instance, you may find it hard to fall or stay asleep at night. You may also have trouble getting up in the morning. A lack of proper sleep can leave you exhausted during the day which often leads to increased caffeine consumption which further exacerbates the issue. If left unmanaged, you may start feeling like you never have the energy for anything and soon reach an emotional breaking point.

A lot of people around me can’t seem to focus or concentrate properly. If you’re battling to concentrate, keep focused or remember certain things, this is a good indication that you’re feeling the effects of anxiety. These changes in thinking and memory (also known as “brain fog”) can occur when you’re trying to manage several stressful situations at once, which can make you confused and forgetful. These situations may include demanding jobs or emotionally-taxing tasks. Unregulated emotional exhaustion can really impact your attention, executive functioning (organizing and planning), and memory.
 

A lot of people are expressing  difficulty with personal relationships. You’ll often notice emotional exhaustion from prolonged stress manifesting in your relationship and your capacity to connect with your family on a meaningful emotional level. You may find yourself picking fights over small things, feeling angry at or unsatisfied with your partner or being overly judgemental. Tension in your close relationships can cause you to feel anxious, detached, and withdrawn which can make it difficult to ask for emotional support when you need it or be there for those you love.

A low self-esteem is being reported a lot these days. If lately you’ve found your mind overwhelmed with negative thoughts, you’ve probably also noticed their impact on how you view yourself. Perhaps you’re feeling more cynical and hopeless than usual? Or maybe you’ve lacked confidence in situations where you would normally speak up. At times, you may even have found yourself wondering if what you’re doing even matters anymore. It is important to recognize these changes. If left unchecked, these feelings may progress into symptoms of depression.

 

To stay in balance you need to turn these behaviors around. The smallest changes make a difference, but pay attention to changes that aren't so small, like getting enough sleep (without drugs), dealing with your anger and anxiety before they erupt, moving around during the day, making time to play, eating sensibly and simply being with yourself.

Especially during the pandemic, I learned that prevention is the best medicine. Reaching your breaking point means that you've crossed into the red zone, from which it's hard to return. You won't get to your red zone if you apply the habits of self-care I've just listed. The choice is really yours. Medical research has abundantly validated that being in balance is the healthiest way to live. Spend the next two weeks getting back into balance. You'll be amazed and pleased with the results. I adopted a certain "Bahala-na"-emotion especially when it comes to "bad news". I enjoy playing my piano and listening to wonderful relaxing music. I enjoy staying together with my family. I talked to God... .

‘Sara to seek reelection as Davao City mayor’

 

By: Emmanuel Tupas - The Philippine Star 

Mayor Christina Garcia said Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is firm on her decision not to run for president after her father, President Duterte announced his acceptance of PDP-Laban’s endorsement of him as its vice presidential bet in next year’s elections.

MANILA, Philippines — After announcing her decision not to run for president, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has opted to seek reelection in next year’s polls, her spokesperson Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco of Liloan, Cebu said Thursday.

Frasco said Carpio is firm on her decision not to run for president after her father, President Duterte announced his acceptance of PDP-Laban’s endorsement of him as its vice presidential bet in next year’s elections.

“The fact of the matter is Mayor Sara and the President made an agreement that only one Duterte will run (for national post) in 2022. And Mayor Sara is being true to her word,” Frasco said in an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News Thursday night.

Frasco said Carpio has set her sights on running for a third term as mayor of Davao.

“Since she is not running for a national position, then the local position is open for her and that is the position that she will be running for,” Frasco said.

On whether Carpio might have a change of heart if Duterte decides to back out, Frasco called such scenario hypothetical.

While Frasco is still hoping that Carpio would eventually lead the country, she said it may not be next year.

“I still personally harbor the hope that she will lead our country one day, perhaps not in 2022,”she said.

Which is your favorite church in the Philippines architecturally? And why?

 

Bjorn Von Possel

This is really, really hard. There are a bunch of beautiful churches all over the country and it’s easy to fill out a top ten just with an eye-test.

For this answer I’m going to go with two churches, not necessarily because they’re any better than the others, but because they just differ from the usual layout of the other churches.

My first is the Miag-ao church in Iloilo.

I mean, just look at that façade. Even from the distance of this far-away shot, you can still discern a bunch of detail in the stonework, Another thing I love about this church is the almost symmetry of the uneven bell towers.

Most Philippine churches only have a single bell-tower, and the fact that not only does Miag-ao have two, but being uneven as well, just shows a lot of character to me.

My other pick is the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist in Sibonga, Cebu.

It’s huuuuuuuuge.

How do Filipinos from urban areas view Filipinos from rural areas and vice versa?

 

By: Holly Benedicto

Middle-class brown Filipino from a developing nation

Bisaya. Lived in Northern/Southern Luzon and Northern/Southern Mindanao. Has travelled all over the Philippines, some Asian countries and the United States. Scientific background. Has worked in multi-cultural teams, most extensively with Americans. Knows three (3) Filipino dialects.

I have lived in cities in the Philippines all my life and am now in Metro Manila. We spent summers in a rural coastal town as a child.

Filipinos from rural areas are simple and to a degree, lucky, because they are near beaches that we city-dwellers, only dream of going to on occasion. I do wish I was like them, satisfied with the simple life. I have been used to the faster pace in the city and its conveniences that rural living does not appeal to me. I wish we had internet in those areas. Imagine working from home just a few steps away from the beach.

I wouldn’t say people in the rural areas are “less than”. They may not be as sharp or quick-witted in conversation compared to their city-educated peers, but they don’t work in corporate where it’s a necessity.

They may not be as ambitious or driven as the city counterparts because their city counterparts have bazillion bills to pay and need money, while they live with their parents in homes that their great grandparents put up (I’m referring to the rural middle-class to rich). They have little to no worries beyond what to eat and raising children. There is no house or car mortgage to worry about. And if they lose internet access, it’s fine. Their jobs don’t depend on it.

They may not be as “worldly”, or experienced in a variety of cultures like city-dwellers who get to have turkish, chinese, italian food delivered to them through an app. They may not have book collections, or Netflix that will help them think and understsnd western ideals. But they swim beaches or climb trees like no finicky city-dweller can. I have never climbed a tree, and am a poor swimmer.

City and rural dwellers were designed to fit the environment they live in. We can’t look at both from the lens of one and say one is superior. We all die at the end, just at different rates.

Bayanihan Sa Paaralan Build 2021 officially kicks-off in Davao de Oro

In the craggy mountains of Anitapan, Mabini, Davao de Oro lies Sitio Singapore, a small community situated in higher grounds, far from buzzling crowds, commercial buildings, and busy streets.

Reaching the sitio would take a lot of courage and will only be possible on feet, muddy pavements won’t even allow vehicles to get there, and raging tropical weather; the heat of the sun and cold showers of rain adds the challenge.

Living in a simple way, the sitio has an estimated number of 42 households, and locals rely mainly on farming abaca and coffee to support the needs of their families. Children in the community will have to travel from the sitio down to Brgy. Anitapan to access proper education in the public school during pre-pandemic times, and it is not an easy feat.

“Amung mga estudyante, kaniadtong wala pay pandemic, muadto pa pababa padulong sentro sa Anitapan para mueskwela. Kung musakay ug motor, mamasahe pa mi ug 150 pesos para maabot sa sentro.” said Terisita Paican.

 The call for a learning institution echoes in the vast environment of the sitio. The geographical location of the community seems to deplete the chance of putting up a school for them, but this doesn’t stop the spirit of bayanihan.

Dreams will do come true in no time as the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro in partnership with the Department of Education, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, private partners, stakeholders, and volunteer employees of the provincial government officially started the ceremonial kick-off of the “Bayanihan sa Paraalan Build 2021” on September 4, 2021.

The “Bayanihan Sa Paaralan” has always been one of the major initiatives of the provincial government under the governance of Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy. Since 2019, the upcoming school building in Sitio Singapore will be the 7th established learning institution, a byproduct of dabawenyos’ volunteerism.

 “Ubay-ubay na nga kabukiran ang atuang natukuran ug eskwelahan. Karung tuiga aduna tay upat ka eskwelahan nga itukod tungod kay aduna pay mga communities sa kabukiran diin mubaba pa ang mga kabataan, mubyahe pa ug layo, para lang maka eskwela, why not atuang ibutang mismo sa komunidad ang eskwelahan. Mao na ang atuang purpose, dire sa Davao de Oro walay mabilin nga kabantan-onan ilabi na sa mga kabukiran.” said Governor Uy.

In more or less than a month, a One (1)-unit, two (2) classroom building will rise in the soils of the sitio, making quality education accessible for the children in the far-flung community.

It is never easy to get there, but nothing beats the bayanihan way. (Jasteen Abella, Information Division Davao de Oro, photo by Ronel Renz Alvarez)

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (XXX): The Last Chapter

Beginning with a decree of the German Foreign Office dated October 17, 2016 the Federal Republic of Germany called me as Honorary Consul for Mindanao. After the Philippine Government accepted my appointment through the Department of Foreign Affairs, then German Ambassador to the Philippines  Dr.Jan-Christian Gordon Kricke arrived in Davao City on June 20, 2017. I took my oath and served Filipino and German nationals until my retirement as consul in December 2020. My administrative district encompassed all of Mindanao except Sulu Archipelo, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan. It was a challenging job especially acting as notary public: issuing Legal Capacities to Contract Marriage in the Philippines or Philippine Driver's Licenses, urn/cadaver  certificates, certified true copies of German and Philippine documents, consultations - the list would all be long. 

[Members of the Diplomatic Corps:

Hon. Consul Joji Ilagan-Bian (Bangladesh), Consul Yosiaki Miwa (Japan), Acting Consul General Mohd Jafri Bin Mohd Sharif (Malaysia), Asec. Romeo Montenegro (MINDA), Hon. Consul Maria Lourdes Garcia-Monteverde (Mexico), Madame Elisabeth Napitupulu, Atty. Zuleika Lopez (City Administrator), Hon. Consul Peter Faistauer (Austria), Consul General Berlian Napitupulu (Indonesia), Asec Robert Ferrer (DFA for Mindanao), Consul General Li Lin (China), Hon. Consul Edgar Ang (South Korea) and Hon. Consul Klaus Doring (Germany)]

It was one of the greatest honors that I, as a German national in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao, received. Being a member of the diplomatic family opened many new opportunities for me. Retirement means very often the end of everything. The last chapter in life. Not for me. 

After leaving the diplomatic stage and the University of Southeastern Philippines, suddenly other interesting tasks didn't make my "old age" seem boring.

Teaching (again!) German at Ateneo de Davao University, Language Center and a lot of translation works - my home office keeps on booming. One of my hobbies, exploring German-Philippine relations and the differences between both countries' culture and tradition and writing about, takes up most of my free time now. And another hobby that I have neglected very often recently is to be revived: Classical Music. Myself at the piano or some other audio carrier... .

The last chapter - here. But I pray to our good  and Almighty Lord, that He might allow me some more chapters on earth - together with my wife Rossana, to whom I dedicate this 30-part biography and together with our awesome Philippine family, to whom I owe a lot if not everything!