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!

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Friday, January 27, 2023

DA confirms eggs overpriced


A worker at Marikina Public market sort trays off egg by size last January 24 2023. Photos by John Orven Verdote


By Bella Cariaso, Manila Times



AN official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said the eggs sold in Metro Manila markets are overpriced by at least P1.50 per piece.


In an interview with The Manila Times, Agriculture deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said that based on his inspection in Mindoro Occidental, the retail price of eggs only rose by 50 centavos per piece. The province gets its eggs from Batangas, which also supplies Metro Manila.


"The egg producers have been saying the farmgate price is stable. Metro Manila and Occidental Mindoro both source their egg supply from Batangas. It seems that the problem is in between as when eggs are transported to Mindoro, they only cause an additional 50 centavos. In Metro Manila, from Batangas, the added cost is P1.50, P2 to P2.50 [per piece]," he said.


Estoperez noted the big disparity in the farm gate price and retail price in the National Capital Region.


"No less than the President said that the traders should only increase the farm gate price of eggs between three and five percent," Estoperez said, referring to the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to the DA to find out what was causing the spike in the retail prices of eggs.


Estoperez said that during his meeting with Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement James Layug and Assistant Secretary and spokesman Kristine Evangelista, they agreed to discuss with the different market masters tapping the local government units (LGUs) for monitoring egg prices.


"We will look into the cost structure as the retail price of eggs is unreasonable," he said.


Estoperez said that personally, he is against imposing a suggested retail price on eggs, "but if traders fail to comply, there should be a penalty."


Estoperez said that because of a shortage of eggs in Mindoro, when the province orders 200 trays, only 100 trays will arrive.


"The LGU said it is okay for them if there is no oversupply of eggs in the province. What is important is that the stocks arrive regularly," he said.


On Wednesday, DA officials led by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban met with the egg producers to comply with the President's directive to address the rising prices of eggs.


In a radio interview, Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative managing director Cecille Virtucio said the DA vowed to address the biosecurity problem, particularly in Central Luzon, where nine million chickens were culled following an outbreak of avian influenza.


"During the meeting, it was clear that the cause of the increase in the prices of eggs was due to the bird flu that hit Central Luzon. The Philippines was affected by avian influenza, particularly Central Luzon, where at least eight to nine million chickens were culled. This was confirmed by a cooperative in Minalin, Pampanga. Central Luzon is the next egg basket and as of now there is no production after egg producers were affected by bird flu in June to July 2022," Virtucio said.


Batangas is the country's biggest egg producer.


Virtucio said egg producers in Central Luzon cannot afford to implement biosecurity measures, the DA officials vowed to talk to financial institutions like Land Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines to help implement a program to repopulate the poultry industry and improve biosecurity.


He said the producers plan to bring their eggs directly to the DA's Kadiwa centers to do away with middlemen.


"Many of our farmers supply directly to their clients in Manila but many egg producers still have no means to transport their produce so they still rely on the traders to deliver to the markets in Metro Manila," Virtucio said.


The producers are also burdened by the high cost of feeds.


"We all know that big components of feeds are imported like soya. Even the cost of corn is increasing," Virtucio said.


She said the DA and egg producers will also meet with retailers to find ways to bring down egg prices.


Virtucio said the producers are also asking the DA for financial help.


"It is very difficult for egg producers to bounce back if they do not have capital. That's one of our requests to the government to normalize egg production," she said.


Never lose hope




By Fr. Roy Cimagala *


EVEN if we feel we already are a hopeless case because we have been abusing the goodness and mercy of God countless times, we should never lose hope. God is always ready to forgive and forgive, ready to help us in any way we need. We should banish the fear that there can come a time when God would finally say, “That’s enough!” It’s rather us who tend to say enough, because of our lack of faith and hope.


The mercy and compassion of God is endless. He may be mad at us for a while, and give us some punishment, but we can be sure that if we abide by our Christian faith, we know that his anger will only be for a moment, while his mercy is forever. 


And any temporal punishment he gives us will always be for our own good, our own purification and strengthening. It may help us to do some restitution, but it’s never a pure act of revenge.


We are reminded of this aspect of our Christian faith in that gospel episode where Christ freed a man who was possessed by a legion of evil spirits. (cfr. Mk 5,1-20) Despite his seemingly hopeless case, Christ helped and cured him.


This reminder about this virtue of hope is crucial these days since we cannot deny that many people today, especially the young ones, appear to be helplessly trapped in some addiction. Yes, the many intoxicating conveniences and advantages that our modern sciences and powerful technologies are offering are spoiling many of us, since we fail to use and enjoy them with God as the motive and goal. Instead, it is self-indulgence that is being always reinforced.


There is always hope because God is always a father who cares for all his children, both the good ones and the not so good ones. In fact, he gives some preferential attention to those in some difficulty, whether materially or spiritually and morally.


We need to avoid being swallowed up by the horror of our predicaments, difficulties and sins. We should not stop at lamenting and complaining. We have to remember what St. Paul once said: “Where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly.” (Rom 5,20) And more, from the Book of Ezekiel: “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?” (18,23)


We have to reassure ourselves, based on what Christ has promised and has actually done for us, that there can be no crisis that is too big for the grace of God to handle.


We have to remember that nothing happens in this life without at least the knowledge and tolerance of God. And if God allows some really bad things to happen, it is because a greater good can always be derived from them. 


We just have to put ourselves in God’s side to tackle whatever crisis plagues us. That is the real challenge we have to face. And just like what Christ did and continues to do to redeem us, we have to follow the formula he once spelled out: deny ourselves, carry the cross and then follow him. (cfr. Mt 16,24)


If we are willing to do that, then we can even gain a lot more than what we appear to lose and to suffer. In other words, we can say that the bigger, the more serious the problem, the bigger, plentier and stronger also the grace God will give us. So, let us just be game and do our part of the bargain.


There’s always hope for us!


* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com


DOT bares 8 new tourism circuits in Western Visayas

by Tara Yap, MB

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has revealed eight new tourism circuits in the Western Visayas region. 

VISITORS enjoy the sunset at world-famous Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

“The new tourism circuits for 2023 will not only focus on sun and beach or cultural tourism. This will be different from before,” said newly installed DOT-Region 6 Director Crisanta “Krisma” Marlene P. Rodriguez.

Three are in world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan – the Boracay Biking Tours, the Boracay Wellness Workation (combining wellness and work retreat), and the Boracay Food Crawl.

These new offerings want to tap the other potentials of the country’s most famous beach destination.

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Another is the Western Visayas Dive Circuit, which will boost dive sites in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

The DOT-6 is also promoting the Fun Farm circuit for farm tourism, the Slow Food project for culinary tourism, and the Western Visayas Sugar Heritage Trail for the robust sugar industry.

There is also Inter-Regional products, which will create a tourism circuit for diving, pilgrimage, and motor tours across the Visayas in collaboration with the DOT regional offices in Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

Cyberattacks target websites of German airports, admin

by Agence-France-Presse

BERLIN, Germany — The websites of German airports, public administration bodies and financial sector organisations have been hit by cyberattacks instigated by a Russian “hacker group”, authorities said Thursday.

The Federal Cyber Security Authority (BSI) had “knowledge of DDoS attacks against targets in Germany”, a spokesman told AFP.

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is designed to overwhelm the target with a flood of internet traffic, preventing the system from functioning normally. 

The attacks were aimed “in particular at the websites of airports”, as well as some “targets in the financial sector” and “the websites of federal and state administrations”, the spokesman said.

The attack had been “announced by the Russian hacker group Killnet”, the BSI spokesman said.

The group’s call to arms was in response to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s announcement Wednesday that Germany would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help repel the Russian invasion, according to financial daily Handelsblatt.

Attributing Thursday’s attacks directly to the hacker group, however, was “particularly hard”, the BSI spokesman said.

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“They call for action and then a lot of people take part,” he said.

The attacks made “some websites unavailable”, the BSI said, without there being “any indication of direct impacts on (the organisations’) services”.

Attacks on public administrations were “largely repelled with no serious impacts”, the BSI said.

The interior ministry for southwestern Baden-Wuerttemberg state acknowledged “nationwide” DDoS attacks since Wednesday evening against websites, including those of public administration and the regional police.

Germany is on high alert for cyberattacks in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Federal Office for Information Security said in October that the threat level for hacking attacks and other cybercrime activities was higher “than ever”.

Respecting religious freedom starts with tolerance and understanding

by Manila Bulletin

Compared to other countries or nationalities, Filipinos generally enjoy a sense of freedom when it comes to their choice of religion. As a predominantly Catholic country (more than 80 percent of Filipinos are Catholics), there are other thriving religious sects such as Islam, Buddhism, Adventist, etc. Each Filipino, therefore, can exercise, announce, or propagate his or her faith without fear of discrimination or reproach.    

Even with this scenario, there are still reports of discrimination rooted in religion. An employee is bypassed for promotion because he or she may not share the same religion with the employer; a person is shamed online for demonstrating his religious rituals; or a school is forcing a policy that favors one religion over the other. Though isolated in some cases, these are sources of tension and disagreements that may disturb societal peace and harmony.    

To address this situation — and more importantly, to protect the right of people to freedom of religion — the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on the third and final reading House Bill 6492, or the proposed “Magna Carta on Religious Freedom Act” last Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. 

Generally, the proposed Magna Carta seeks to “prohibit the government or any person to burden, curtail, impinge, or encroach on a person’s right to exercise his or her religious belief, freedom, and liberty of conscience.” 

Congressman Bienvenido Abante Jr. of the sixth district of Manila, author of the measure, said that “right to freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in the Constitution, which states that free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.” The House bill strengthens this Constitutional provision, with the proposed Magna Carta also ensuring that “the government must also prohibit any act by a person, natural or juridical, or any group of persons that burdens or encroaches on the said right.” 

“The free exercise of religious freedom would only be denied, regulated, or curtailed if it results in violence or inflicts direct or indirect physical harm or danger on other people, or infringes on their own freedom of religion or conscience; and if it is necessary to protect public safety, public order, health, property and good morals,” the bill stated.  

Other notable features of this Magna Carta is how it also includes educational institutions and businesses. In fact, House Bill 6492 protects 12 rights, which includes “the right to freedom against discrimination in educational institutions, the right against discrimination in employment; the right to religious worship and ceremonies; the right of companies or businesses to be founded on religious belief; the right of parents or legal guardians to rear children; the right to tax exemption, etc.”  To put it simply, no one can be denied employment (or be terminated) solely on the basis of religion or adherence to religious beliefs. 

While we welcome this proposed bill, there are underlying issues when it comes to discrimination and persecution. Choice of religion may be one of them but there are also economic causes, as poverty breeds inequality, ignorance, and insensitivity. A nation must raise citizens that are tolerant and understanding since, after all, the Philippines is made up of a diverse group of people with different beliefs and values. Tolerance is key and to cultivate it starts with providing everyone access to universal human rights. 

Thursday, January 26, 2023

DAVAO CITY: 10 MUST VISIT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS | Davao Travel Guide 2023 ...



6 foreign envoys visit VP Duterte’s office, but why?

by Raymund Antonio

Foreign ambassadors trooped to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s main office in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, Jan. 25, to discuss various programs and projects that aim to help the country’s development in education, peace and security, labor force, renewable energy, and other shared interests.

Vice President Sara Duterte (left) shakes hands with Danish Ambassador Franz Michael Skjold Mellbin (right) during a meeting at her office in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (OVP photo)

The Vice President’s official Facebook page made several posts to show her meetings with Ambassadors Christian Halaas Lyster of Norway, Dr. Titanilla Tóth of Hungary, Franz Michael Skjold Mellbin of Denmark, Laure Beaufils of the United Kingdom, Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov of Russia, and Miguel Utray Delgado of Spain. 

Aside from thanking the foreign envoys for visiting her office, Duterte also shared the topics discussed during their meetings.

Lyster, she said, recognized the “quality” of the Filipino labor force.

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“Ipinaabot niya ang paghanga sa mga manggagawang Pinoy lalo na sa mga seafarers na bumubuo ng malaking bilang sa (He extended his recognition of the Filipino workers especially seafarers who make up a large part of the) maritime industry ng (of) Norway,” Duterte wrote.

Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster of Norway (right) during a courtesy call to Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

The official added that she and the envoy also discussed their countries’ development agenda, such as renewable energy, peace and security, and education.

The Philippines and Norway will celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this March. 

The Vice President also wrote about Tóth’s visit to her office as this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and the Philippines.

The envoy introduced her country’s The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program, which aims to provide free support for Filipino students.

“Dagdag pa niya, ang programang ito ay nakatutok sa (She added that this program is focused on) undergraduate, masters at (and) doctorate studies sa larangan ng agrikultura (in the fields of agriculture), sustainable development, water management engineering and hydrology, architecture and protection of cultural heritage, natural sciences, environmental studies, at iba pang larangan ng interes sa Pilipinas (and other interests of the Philippines),” Duterte, who sits as Education chief in a concurrent capacity, said in a post.

Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Titanilla Toth (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte (right) (OVP photo)

The Danish envoy also visited the official to talk about his government’s interest in investments, education, and peace-building.

Mellbin also plans to visit Davao City for their project in agriculture and other investment opportunities, Duterte said.

She also took the opportunity to invite the ambassador to attend the Basic Education Report 2023 by the Department of Education (DepEd) on Jan. 30.

Meanwhile, the British ambassador shared in a tweet her visit to the Vice President’s office.

Sharing two photos, Beaufils said in her post that she visited Duterte to discuss about education.

Vice President Sara Duterte (left) and British Ambassador Laure Beaufils (right) (Photo from Amb. Beaufils via Twitter)

“Great meeting with @indaysara @VPPilipinas. We spoke about @DepEd_PH’s determination to make quality, inclusive, and relevant education available to all Filipino learners and UK’s contribution to this vision. #EducationDay,” she wrote.

Pasinaya is back, better and bigger

by Manila Bulletin

CULTURAL RE-DEBUT The Pasinaya Open House Festival 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

Attracting more than 27,000 people with approximately 75,000 audience viewership pre-pandemic, Pasinaya is undoubtedly the biggest multi-arts festival in the country.

After three years of cancellation and online editions, the CCP Pasinaya Open House Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in the country organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, returns this year from Feb. 3 to 5 in various venues inside the CCP Complex, located along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

The festival highlights the different outdoor venues such as the CCP Front Lawn, Liwasang Kalikasan, Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez and its surroundings, and parade ground of Vicente Sotto Street, among others. 

“This year, Pasinaya follows the theme ‘Piglas Sining.’ We are breaking away from the notion that the CCP is just the building. We are emphasizing that CCP can be anywhere,” said CCP artistic director Dennis N. Marasigan.

Pasinaya continues its experience-all-you-can, pay-what-you-can scheme. For a suggested donation price of ₱50, participants may go in and out of the different CCP venues to attend the 30-minute workshops in various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons and teachers, or watch as many shows, screenings, and activities as they can.

Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., at the Bukaneg side of the Front Lawn and at Vicente Sotto Street.

On Feb. 3, there will be a Pagtitipon, an invitational gathering of the Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) regional partners. There are 59 regional partners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the KSS network, with three new partners joining. A program of the Cultural Exchange Department, the KSS aims to further strengthen the CCP linkages and cooperations with local organizations in the different regions of the country. 

Palihan and Palabas happen on Feb. 4 and 5, with the opening salvo kicking off at the CCP Front Lawn with a parade and special program. In Palihan, audiences can join the different workshops while they watching unlimited shows, featuring more than 3,000 artists from different art fields, in Palabas.

Festival programmers and art groups will meet in Palitan on Feb. 4 and 5, on-site at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater) and online via Zoom.

The open house festival partners with various galleries, museums, and art spaces around the metro to put the spotlight on communal artistic spirit and collaborations. For this segment, the Paseo Museo, there will be hop-on, hop-off shuttle vans that will go around the participating arts spaces for free on Feb. 4 and 5.

Through the Pasinaya, the CCP aims to provide a platform for the artists and cultural groups to showcase their talents while nurturing the broadest public and creating new audiences through interactions and performances. Attracting more than 27,000 people with approximately 75,000 audience viewership pre-pandemic, Pasinaya is undoubtedly the biggest multi-arts festival in the country, and still getting bigger and better on its 18th year.