LOVE, MARRIAGE AND MORE

My column in Mindanao Daily and BusinessWeek Mindanao 

OPINION

By KLAUS DORING

 September 14, 2021

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I am old-fashioned. For many decades, I have loved collecting old magazine and newspaper clippings. Can you imagine what my two offices look like?

Anyway, in a very old issue of PHILADELPHIA NEWS from 1999,  then columnist Larry Fields confessed: "I lead a life of wine, women and song (by the way, a wonderful waltz of the Austrian Johann Strauss!) - it's cheaper than petrol, food and rent!"

Is LOVE just an expression? Or love and marriage?

Some marriages are made in heaven. You know some? I do. The best of the rest is just simply down-to-earth. Maybe also yours? I am blessed and happy to celebrate my 39th wedding anniversary very soon... .

Maybe, my dear readers, you remember this, "Then the prince swept the lovely young maiden into his arms and carried her home to his castle. And they live happily ever after!" Indeed, they did. Meanwhile, I met several couples, who would say: happily never after!

What I would like to see is an autonomous in home affairs study of all these titles of nobility bearers seven years after their happily-ever-after marriages. Or even earlier, because the so-called darned and tricky seventh marriage year could be even the first one already.

The truth is that life isn't made up of the continual highs found in the initial stages of courtship. Of course, flirting is fun and a wide groove exists. But after a while our system needs a rest. Unanimously, we're in the second stage sooner or later and our marriage life badly needs a new outside coating.

All of a sudden, the partner prefers day and night watching all the sports channels, falls asleep while you're revealing your innermost secrets and even forgets the anniversary for the first or even second time . Just bear in mind: You've won each other's acceptance  and sometimes even feel terribly gloomy. This acceptance shouldn't be undervalued.

Even we see a house that has to be cleaned, many other things have to be organized, and the partner, who looks as fatigued and bored as you feel. Logical question: "That's it? That WAS it?"

And suddenly, we experienced the third stage and learned why it's worth the ups and downs. Maybe we men don't mention any more, how incredible she looks, but we enjoy bleating and grousing at her spending innumerable hours putting her together. But then, suddenly, we men unload the garbage without being asked for it.

Although no marriage is continually blissful - it can be pretty good most of the time. When we last through arguments, money worries, and kid's problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationship is not always a big day celebration.

It's because the fundamental  reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day-to-day living: we love each other. That's MY idea of "Happily ever after, indeed!"

Valentine's Day is not around the corner. No guys, don't worry! And by the way, this one and only day  should not be a reason or a sad excuse to bring flowers for our partner and invite her to an amazing lunch or hotel overnight stay. As I said, I am very much old fashioned.

Farmer's Association in Davao de Oro receives BDP livelihood project

Davao de Oro --- The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro officially turned-over the P1-million worth of livelihood project named "Five-hectare Banana Lakatan Farm" to the Sangab Energetic Farmer's Association (SEFA) in Maco on September 10, 2021.

The project is funded from the Local Government Support Fund-Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) with the end goal of bringing development programs to former conflict-affected communities.

 Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy represented by Board Member Raul C. Timogtimog lead the ribbon cutting together with PAGRO Assitant PG Head Ronald Sibayan, LTC Danny D Bustamante, Battalion Commander of 28th IB, Captain Delbert Canedo, barangay officials, and members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

 Aside from Lakatan Farm, other approved projects are expected to be implemented in the Barangay Sangab such as the farm-to-market road, construction of portable water system, Sitio electrification program, rehabilitation of barangay health center, and cash for work assistance.

 Eugene C. Cabalida, Chairman of SEFA thanked the government for the PHP20 million fund covering various projects under the BDP.

 "Dako ang amoang pasalamat ug kalipay nga nahimong isa ang amoang barangay sa mga benepisyaryo sa BDP diin ang kaniadtong gihandom nga mga proyekto, hinay-hinay nang nag-abot sa amoa tungod kini sa walay puas nga pagsuporta ug tabang sa gobyerno ngadto sa amoa", Cabalida said.

The program is part of the government's efforts to address the root causes of insurgencies in the province. (Rheafe Hortizano - Provincial Information Office of Davao de Oro)

What is the Philippine national anthem’s message and what is it trying to convey?

What is the Philippine national anthem’s message and what is it trying to convey?

It's related to the book of Revelation in the Bible.

Revelation 12…

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.