OUTSIDE THE BUSIEST BUS TERMINAL IN MINDANAO | Davao City Ecoland Terminal

12 Golden things you learned with age

 

1. Your friends no matter how close, will disappear with time.
2. The most important relationship in this entire world is the one you have with yourself.
3. Nobody cares about your hard work, they just look at the result.
4. Heart break and failures are part of life.
5. There's no place like home.
6. Family and money matters the most.
7. Book is indeed a person’s best friend.
8. Physical activity reduces stress.
9. Wasting time in regretting and crying won't fetch you results.
10. Whatever you want today won't matter to you tomorrow.
11. Your decisions define your life, not fate.
12. Childhood is the golden time.

Edit: Try to appreciate other's work. So up-vote.

Fil-Am Hoffman breaks 600m PH record

BY MARK REY MONTEJO

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Fil-American Lauren Hoffman opened her competition season with a bang after breaking the Philippine record in the women’s 600 meters at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Virginia over the weekend.

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Fil-American Lauren Hoffman opened her competition season with a bang after breaking the Philippine record in the women’s 600 meters at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Virginia over the weekend.

Lauren Hoffman (Lauren Hoffman's Facebook post)

The 24-year-old Hoffman clocked 1 minute and 30.33 seconds for the silver medal, but eclipsed the old mark of 1:36.93 set by Daniel Quintero last 2020 at a race in Santa Barbara, United States.

“Season opener! Definitely could have executed my races better but had so much fun competing again,” Hoffman wrote on social media hours after the race.

Hoffman was just a hairline behind fellow Duke Lauren Tolbert, who eventually copped the gold medal with 1:30.29.

Madison Mulder of the Netherlands bagged the bronze in 1:30.36.

Hoffman, a native of Virginia, competed at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year where she finished fifth in the 400m hurdles.

She also teamed up with Robyn Brown, Angel Frank and Maureen Schrijvers in finishing fifth in the women’s 4x400m relay in the Asiad.

The need to unite our will with God’s will

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT need is clearly seen when Christ himself said: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mk 3,35) If we always abide by our Christian faith that we have been created in God’s image and likeness, meant to share in his divine life and nature, then the only conclusion we can make is to unite our will with God’s will.

Our will, which is where we find our true selves, should not just be floating around on its own, thinking that it is how it enjoys its freedom. We need to acknowledge that our will is a creation of God and is meant to be united with God’s will. We need to acknowledge the truth that our real freedom is when our will is united with the will of God.

This, definitely, is not an easy task to do, given the fact that it is precisely in our will where we choose whether we would like to be with God, to be part of his family, or to be simply on our own. And given how we handle this issue, starting with our first parents all the way to the present, we always have the strong tendency to think that our will is simply our own.

We therefore have to be strongly wary of this danger and do everything we can to avoid it. I suppose it goes without saying that we need to be frequently reminded that our will needs to be anchored on the will of God. That’s how our will acquires its proper status.

Especially nowadays when there are just so many things that can grab our will to be on its own, we really need to train ourselves to develop a strong regimen of self-discipline and constant rectification.

It would be good if we frequently make pauses during the day to see where our will is anchored. That’s because even in those areas where we can exercise a certain autonomy or where we are encouraged to make initiatives, etc., we should be clear that all these things should be done in accord with God’s will. Everything should be referred to God’s will.

We need to always remember that our true humanity or the perfection of our humanity can only be properly pursued if our will is united with God’s will. Christ, the pattern of our humanity, shows us the way when he himself said, “Truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (Jn 5,19)

This constant need to refer everything to God’s will will obviously require tremendous humility on our part, given our strong tendency to do our own will alone. That’s why Christ himself said that if we have to follow him, we need to deny ourselves and carry the cross. (cfr. Mt 16,24) There is no other formula for us to discipline our will to be united with God’s will. 

We need to convince ourselves strongly and frequently that it is when our will is united with God’s will that we can achieve the condition proper to us. Yes, it may involve a lot of sacrifice, but the joy and fulfillment such sacrifice would yield us is so much greater, infinitely greater than any sacrifice we may have to go through.

It’s important that we be always aware that our will is always united with God’s will! That’s where we can be in our best condition in life.

NOTHING COMES FROM ANYTHING

The concept of "strangeness" in particle physics was introduced to explain the unusually long lifetimes of certain particles. The strange quark was named "strange" because it was associated with this property. When a particle contains a strange quark, it is assigned a strangeness value of -1.

The strangeness of an interaction comes from the number of strange quarks and strange antiquarks involved. The rule for determining strangeness is, for every strange quark involved, a strangeness of negative one is contributed. And then every strange antiquark has a strangeness of positive one.

Our globe and its population bear innumerable strange facts. Following many people's opinion, this world shows mostly worried characteristics and symptoms nowadays. No wonder. Just try to consume and digest today's

headlines and news from all around the globe.

It is a world with quickly bridged distances -  our Mother earth is becoming smaller and smaller. Any tourist, even with little time and with only a small budget, can travel to other faraway cultures. But joining them as well as different races and religious communities requires first of all, great care, tact, instinctive feelings, empathy, and logical ideas.

The stranger whom we meet for the first time during a business meeting, for example, maybe an uncommon, odd and extraordinary guy. He may be someone from a foreign country, who speaks another language and whose skin is of another color. He may be a migrant, a restless hiker or the expatriate in our neighbourhood.

The foreigner beside you and me can become a provocation or a challenge. Strangeness can become exoticism. Maybe that's why my family and I decided to move to the Philippines. On the other hand - going abroad can open other and even better horizons. We must not feel as "a stranger in paradise". By the way, I never did!

However, a migrant bears a juxtaposition of optimism (even calculated optimism!), confused feelings, nostalgia, and homesickness. Yes guys, during the first two years of my life as an expat's life, the round trip ticket was always in my mind, because no one among us can escape his native roots.

But, I am really a lucky guy. I experienced an amazing tolerance in the Philippines. A real practicing tolerance. Already, during my first business meetings, I met supportive, forbearing and  broad minded people. A wonderful mix of different cultures without giving up on their own identities... . "I have nothing to offer but blood, sweat and tears!" - The British statesman and former Prime Minister Sir Winston L. Churchill (1874-1965) said in 1940 - certainly, in a sad interrelation during World War II. Anyway, I like that remark. Blood, sweat and tears.Because of new

challenges AND changes - also as an expatriate in the Philippines doing business here.

Every new challenge in a strange country means a change. Changes in life are necessary and important. Let's alter or make a difference; let's put one thing for another; let's shift; let's quit one state for another; let's take fresh clothing. Let's burn the "lock fat" away. Blood, sweat and tears - and remember: nothing comes from anything.

PRC sets in-person oathtaking of new nurses on Feb. 13

BY SONNY DAANOY

Jan 22, 2024 12:19 PM

  

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The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Monday, Jan. 22, the date and venue for the in-person mass oathtaking ceremony for new nurses.

PRC

The commission said that the oathtaking ceremony will take place on Feb. 13 at noon in Camarines Sur.

Participants are required to complete the pre-registration process on its website at http://online.prc.gov.ph before noon on the oathtaking day. 

Those who are unable to attend the in-person ceremony can either make arrangements for a special appointment or opt for an online ceremony. 

What are some traditional German desserts? Are they similar to American desserts or different?

Volker Eichener

We have several types of desserts.

First, we love to eat cakes and pies, but usually not as desserts, but rather as a seperate meal in the afternoon (comparable to British Afternoon Tea, however mostly served together with coffee). Often, cakes and pies are homemade, but we also buy them at bakeries, cafés or even frozen.

Second, we have traditional desserts which are considered as simple. Most typical are simple puddings, including rice and semolina pudding.

This would be a rice pudding with cinnamon:

Even simpler a desserts based on yoghurt or curd (Quark), beaten, sweetened and flavoured with fruit.

This is what we call “Rote Grütze” (actually red grout), cooked berries, served with vanilla sauce:

Children like to eat Wackelpudding, here with woodruff flavour. American friends, does it look familiar?

Fruit salad is also a popular, simple dessert:

Sometimes, we eat desserts which are more filling, often after a smallish lunch or dinner (like a soup), e.g. pancakes, which are made with eggs in Germany, so they are richer than American breakfast pancakes.

Or, we eat just ice cream.

The third type of desserts are the more fancy ones, reserved for festive meals. Here, we eat everything you would find on international menus, like

• Bavarian cream
• Italian panna cotta
• French mousse aux chocolat
• French crème brulée
• Charlotte russe
• Salzburger Nockerln
• etc.

Breaking down the cold surge for Monday and Tuesday in the Philippines, ...

Davao logs 170 flu-like illnesses

By Ruth Palo

January 21, 2024 

DAVAO CITY: The City Health Office (CHO) has recorded 170 influenza-like illnesses (ILI) since New Year's Day.

Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon, officer in charge of the CHO, said that the symptoms of ILIs include coughs and colds, which are very common during the rainy season.

Ababon said that the CHO and the Department of Health recommend that Davaoeños, especially those with comorbidity, observe the minimum health requirements to avoid getting ill.

"If you are not feeling well, stay at home, and in case you go out, wear a well-fitted mask, observe proper distancing; these are the minimum health standards imposed in the city," he said in a weekly media forum.

Most people recover from the illness within a week without requiring medical attention. However, ILIs can cause severe illness or death, especially in people at high risk.

Ababon also said the CHO has administered close to 10,000 vials of flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine in the past year.

Ababon, however, admitted that the supply of these vaccines is running low, and the remaining vials are intended for senior citizens.

He said the vaccines for senior citizens are available in all district health centers and barangay health centers.

Philippine-German Relations (VIII) - Deutsch-philippinische Beziehungen (VIII): Embassies and Consulates in the Philippines

 

Of Consuls and Consulats

By Antonio V. Figueroa

The importance of Davao region just seven-two years after its conquest by a Spanish-led expedition in 1848 was highlighted with the opening of a Japanese consular office in March 1920. Though it was originally an annex of the Manila Consulate, the growing economic influence of Japanese investment and labor in the region promoted it to an embassy on February 6, 1932.

At the time the consulate was opened, Davao was already home to a huge Japanese population, roughly a sixth of region’s inhabitants. Most Okinawans, the migrant workers and the expanding Japanese control of the hemp economy contributed greatly to the progress of the area.

The confluence of growth and demographic expansion eventually inspired the national government to promote Davao into a city, the second the Mindanao after Zamboanga, which was the administrative center of the Americans in the south.

Years after the Japanese consular annex opened in Davao, the Republic of China (Taiwan) under Dr. Sun Yat-sen and by now had established a consulate in Manila. To attend to the sizable Chinese population in Davao, Te Chiu Im, a local Chinese resident who was into beer distribution and involved in the founding of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Davao, was appointed as its first honorary consul of Davao (1923-28). 

Sun’s death in 1925 led to the rise of Chiang Kai-shek, a former commandant of the Koumintang’s Whampoa Military Academy, and the coup of Canton in 1928. Taiwan’s post-war consul in Davao was S.T. Mih when the office reopened in November 1947. He was assisted in the post by M.C. Chen, as deputy consul, and Johnny Huang, as secretary.

With the rise of the People’s Republic of China as member of the United Nations on November 25, 1971, Taiwan, an original UN member, was forced to close its consulate in the city. During the UN’s founding, the Philippines was still a commonwealth of the United States.

Extant historical records, on the other hand, show that even Britain, during the prewar period, had also appointed a foreign affairs liaison in honorary capacity. War accounts identify the honorary British consul in Davao City as Alex Brown, who was among those rounded up by the Imperial Army in December 1941.

In August 1945, eight years after getting independence from the Dutch, Republic of Indonesia opened its consular mission in Davao City on December 17, 1953. Given its impact in trade and economy decades later, the office became a consulate general on September 23, 1974 by virtue of an edict signed by Indonesian envoy to the Philippines Marsekal Sri bima Ariotedjo.

On December 11, 1995, Malaysia became the second member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations to open a chancery in Davao City. The opening was part of the growing role Malaysia would play in two key historical events involving Muslims of Southern Philippines: (a) the signing on September 2, 1996 of a peace accord between the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front and (b) a similar event on October 15, 2012, between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. 

Although the US established its embassy in Manila on July 4, 1946 after Washington “granted” the Philippines its independence, it was not until July 2007 when the Americans opened a virtual consulate, known as the “American Presence Post” (APP), in the city. Initially, it catered to the issuance of visas through the internet, which was manned by a Digital Outreach Team.

Over the next seven decades (1945-2015) other friendly countries opened their own diplomatic missions in the city, managed by honorary consuls, all prominent socio-civic Davao icons. 

The first honorary consul of the Czech Republic was Gilbert C. Go, a well-known trader. Republic of Palau appointed Miguel Iñigo, a businessman, as its honorary consul for life in Davao. Antonio Brias, spouse of Maricris Floirendo, daughter of late banana king Don Antonio, became the first honorary consul of Spain in Davao; he was succeeded by Genaro Lon y Ozami.

Ma. Lourdes G. Monteverde was appointed honorary consul of Mexico while Rowena Vida-Lisbona, the Davao-based assistant general manager of Maersk Filipinas, a shipping firm, was anointed as honorary consul of Denmark. 

Dennis Uy, founder of the Davao-based oil firm Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. (PPPI) and 2013 Datu Bago awardee, was installed honorary consul of Kazakhstan to the Philippines. His Udenna Holdings recently bought Enderun Colleges and FamilyMart.

Meanwhile, Joaquin C. Rodriguez, a Davao resident who was past president of Benguet Mines and wife of Sonja Habana (daughter of former city councilor Antonio Habana) is Republic of Serbia consul ad honorem to the country. Two new consulates under an honorary officer were also opened later in Davao City. 

On June 17, 2017, Davao resident Austrian Dr. Peter Faistauer was officially designated honorary consul of Austria. Five months thereafter, business man Edgar N. Ang, a Davao native, was invested the honorary consul position by the Republic of Korea on November 24, 2016.

On June 20, 2017, German Klaus Doring, a long-time Davao resident, journalist, and educator, was installed as honorary consul of Germany of Mindanao. He is best known for introducing German language.

In 1852 the Bremen Senate established a Consulate in Manila with Peter Jenny as its first Consul. It lasted until 1868. The establishment of this Consulate improved the trade relations between the Philippines and the Bremen state. 

The German state of Hamburg also established its own Consulate in Manila with a German known only as Peters as its First Consul. Peters had been in Manila since 1835. At the time of the establishment of the Hamburg consulate in 1849, there were only 17 Germans in Manila.

In 1849, there two others consulates in Iloilo and Cebu, founded in 1886. 

 Antonio V. Figueroa, my first Journalism friend in Davao wrote in October 2022: 

"Although the Europeans, particularly the Spaniards, first set foot in Davao in 1521, German imprints did not find space in local historical accounts until the 1880s, chiefly in scientific explorations that placed the region in world map. The legacy the Germans have left behind has only been sparingly mentioned in Davao’s study of historical writings.

In the region’s floral past, several German names stand out as indelible milestones given their names have been immortalized in two significant flower discoveries in Davao.

The Rafflesia schadenbergiana, called by the Bagobo as ‘bo-o,’ is named after naturalist Alexander Schadenberg, a native of Breslau, Germany, who braved the forest fastnesses of Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. The burrowing skink (Brachymeles schadenbergi Fischer), discovered in 1885 in Davao, was also named in his memory. He was, in personal life, a pen pal of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Filipino national hero.

On the other hand, Vanda sanderiana, the waling-waling discovered in 1882 in Mount Apo, was named after Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander, a German orchidologist, while Rafflesia apoanum Stein was in honor of Stuttgart, Germany-born Berthold Stein, a German botanist (orchid specialist), lichenologist (lichen expert), and mycologist (a scientist who studies fungus and its genetic and biochemical properties) known for his contributions in the field of taxonomy.

Dr. Otto Koch, a German naturalist then living in Cebu, collaborated with Schadenberg in the discovery of the rafflesia, the world’s largest parasitic flowering plant. Together, they made two successful ascensions of Mount Apo.

German legacy was further magnified during American occupation, this time in public governance with the appointment of Henry Gilsheuser who, during and after war, also went to serve the Philippine government in different capacities.

Born in Hessen, Germany, in 1881, he became the penultimate American governor of Davao before a Filipino administrator governor was appointed in 1915. He took up public education in Germany but continued his studies in New York when his parents migrated to the U.S.

Gilsheuser fought in the Spanish-American War, appointed third lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary in 1903 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served as district secretary of Cotabato, governor of the Lanao province, and later appointed by Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the Military Department for Mindanao and Sulu, as Davao governor in 1910.

Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, when war broke out, appointed him fuel and transportation administrator of the Civilian Emergency Administration and was in-charge of the Emergency Control Commission during President Sergio Osmeña’s watch. During the presidency of Manuel A. Roxas, he was a member of the US-Philippines War Damage Commission.

For his efforts, he was awarded by the Philippine government the Philippine Legion of Honor. A dyed-in-the-wool Mason, he died in Manila at the Lourdes Hospital in Manila on Feb. 27, 1964 at age 83.

Germany, a country with a third of its population affiliated with Roman Catholicism, shares religious affinity with Davao. In fact, three of the religious orders founded by St. Arnold Jannsen, born in Goch, Germany, have provinces (branches) in Davao City, namely the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD, 1875) the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSps, 1889), and the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP, Sept. 8, 1896).

The SVD priests took over the management of the Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary at Catalunan Grande, Davao City, in the 1980’s from the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec (PME Fathers), while the SSpSAp, also known as the Pink Sisters, holds court at the Holy Spirit Adoration Convent, along Seminary Road, Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

To underpin Germany-Davao alliance, the University of Southeastern Philippines, a state learning institution, introduced years ago under its Institute of Language and Creative Acts the study of German language, which was initially headed by journalist-professor Klaus Döring, a native of Spenge, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and Davao resident since 1999.

Adding another feather to the partnership was the opening of the consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Davao with Döring, a long-time German court interpreter, language teacher and married to a Davaoeña, was installed as honorary consul in southern Mindanao.

(To be continued!)