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!
Welcome, Linguaholics! Today we will take a deep dive into German sayings…and there is definitely a lot to be explored here! If your native language is English, some of these sayings might sound familiar while others most certainly won’t ring a bell.
So, without further ado, let’s get right to the point! We will start with German saying Nr. 1….and will end this rollercoaster ride when we arrived at German saying Nr. 34! Fasten your seatbelt and let’s goooo!
The Best German Sayings
brüllen wie am Spieß
dumm wie Bohnenstroh
in den sauren Apfel beißen
um den heißen Brei reden
die Nase (gestrichen) voll haben
aus dem Nähkästchen plaudern
ins Gras beißen
Schnne von gestern
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Lügen haben kurze Beine
Butter bei die Fische
mit der Tür ins Haus fallen
wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen
etwas im Schilde führen
auf großem Fuß leben
die Katze im Sack kaufen
den Braten riechen
kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen
in den Sand setzen
jemandem Löcher in den Bauch fragen
Krokodilstränen weine
übers Ohr hauen
auf Wolke 7 schweben
sich einen hinter die Binde kippen
Mein Name ist Hase, ich weiß von nichts
Mit jemandem ist nicht gut Kirschen essen
man muss die Kirche im Dorf lassen
sich auf die Socken machen
auf dem Holzweg sein
Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
wie Pilze aus dem Boden schießen
da scheiden sich die Geister
auf dem falschen Dampfer sein
1. brüllen (schreien) wie am Spieß
If what you are doing is “Brüllen wie am Spieß” you are most likely in pain, be it physical or mental. The German saying “Brüllen wie am Spieß” literally translates to ‘roar like on a roasting spit (pike)’. Now, in German, we got the noun “Spieß”. This “Spieß” could either be a roasting spit but it could also be a “Spieß” that was used in war times, something along the lines of a ‘war pike’.
In fact, the etymology of this German saying is pretty unclear. But we know for a fact that it has been around for quite a long time, since the 16th century, to be more exact. So, that also sort of increases the probability that this German saying is actually related to war (pikes used in war).
In German, there is also the verb “aufspießen,” in English ‘to impale’ which refers to the brutal act of spearing someone with a spear.
So how do you put “Brüllen wie am Spieß” to good use in German? You can use “Brüllen wie am Spieß” in a metaphorical way when someone is either in deep physical pain but also if someone, usually a child, is crying very heavily because of something (not necessarily related to physical pain).
Example:
Als ich ihm die Schokolade weggenommen habe, fing er an zu Brüllen wie am Spieß
Translation:
When I took away his chocolate, he started screaming like a banshee
Literary fiction is often a misunderstood term, with some equating it to thick books of turgid prose. Here are some recent titles that know how to be playful yet display considerable depth and creativity, with some even dabbling in the genre of Crime Fiction.
Here In the Dark by Alex Soloski
Vivian Parry, a published theatre critic and self-proclaimed workaholic, resorts to using sex and psychotropic drugs to numb herself and navigate through life. The plot thickens when she receives a call from David Adler, a purported graduate student working on a thesis about critics. He requests an interview with Vivian. Soon after, a woman named Irina contacts Vivian, claiming to be David's girlfriend/fiancée. Irina reveals that David has disappeared, and the police are dismissing the matter. Now perceived as the last person to have seen Adler alive, Vivian discovers through her inquiries that David also worked as a programmer for an online gaming site. Rumors circulate about his possible firing or accusations of skimming off the top.
But, of course, the real issue is whether Adler is still alive. Against her better judgment, Parry gets involved and decides to conduct her own investigation. She goes to the extent of adopting a separate identity and applying to the online gambling office where David worked, taking on the role of a receptionist to learn more about his disappearance. Even someone like you or me could have advised Vivian that this would lead to no good. And, sure enough, it isn’t long before she bites off more than she can chew. It doesn't help that she has a cavalier attitude about sex, becoming involved with a stage production designer, a police investigator, and practically seducing her boss at the gaming site. If it's twists, turns, and crazy revelations that would entice you to read this Manhattan noir novel, you're in good hands with Soloski..
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
Spufford, the author of Golden Hill, sets the stage for what kind of research and writing quality can be expected in this new novel. However, it's more than just that, as Spufford delves into alternative historical fiction. In his 1922 USA, Cahokia is an industrial metropolis where the indigenous American Indian population holds sway. The society is divided into takouma (persons native to the continent), taklousa (persons of African ancestry), and takata (persons of European extraction). On the surface, different races and creeds coexist harmoniously, with the takouma occupying most positions of ultimate power. Yet, everything is on the brink of change as we enter this alternative world. The discovery of an eviscerated body of a takata, investigated by two detectives, threatens to tarnish this Golden Age.
Phin Drummond and Joe Barrow serve as the two detectives, with Barrow being a transplanted takouma who doesn’t speak Anopa, the ancestral language. Barrow essentially acts as our moral compass throughout the unfolding narrative. The plot is intricate and captivating: a takata conspiracy seeks to use the Klan to undermine the Cahokia hierarchy. Simultaneously, within the takouma world, steps are taken to fortify their position, and readers will be surprised to discover at what cost they're willing to 'prune' their own branches. A complex web of morality and the accumulation of dubious, compromised values is woven within the various strands of the plot. Barrow serves as our guide through this intricate narrative, starting off as someone who goes with the flow, a perceived insider who is, in reality, an outsider. However, he transitions to becoming a fulcrum for the events that unfold, ultimately providing resolution. \
The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
Griffiths is a multi-awarded crime fiction writer, and what sets her books apart is the fullness and diversity of the characters she creates in her stories. We were introduced to Harbinder Kaur, a Sikh female detective, in The Stranger Diaries, and we avidly followed her in two succeeding novels. In The Last Word, a stand-alone installment, Harbinder is relegated to the sidelines as we follow the exploits of Natalka and Edwin, and the Shoreham detective agency they set up in the wake of assisting Kaur in her cases. If you recall, Natalka is a Ukrainian emigre, now girlfriend to Benedict, an ex-monk who’s a seashore barista. Edwin, is an 84-year old pensioner, and he runs the agency with Natalka, taking on divorce cases while hoping for something meatier to fall on their laps.
When local writer Melody Chambers is found dead, a string of dead writers who have in common that they all attended a writers retreat, sets in motion an investigation that beguiles and entrances us, the readers. Edwin and Benedict posing as writers at the retreat is a hilarious interlude, and there’s Kaur making a cameo, as she’s called upon to help offer sage advice to her friends. As is often the case with Griffiths, there are clues, red herrings, plot twist abs turns aplenty, and we enjoy every moment as we’ve invested in her protagonists. Added to the cast here are Natalka’s mother Valentyna who just arrived to escape from the war in the Ukraine. Dmytro, the brother flew back to his wartorn country to help, so there’s the added suspense of what’s happening to him. A strong mystery thriller!
The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer
If you want to talk about odd couples, read this first novel from veteran comedian Bob Mortimer, and you get to meet one of the oddest trios you can uncover in a mystery novel. It’s not exactly crime fiction; as you’ll soon discover there may or not be a crime committed as such. But if you want surreal, precious, and off the normal plane of things, this book is meant for you. Gary, Grace and Emily, along with the disappearing Brendan are the main characters you need to know. Gary is Mr. Non-Descript, Grace his best friend from next door, and Emily the woman Gary meets in a bar. Of course, he’s smitten, and everyone, including Gary, are of the opinion that Emily is a class of girl way above Gary’s league, we’re charmed as he bumbles his way into getting to know her better.
And of course, getting to know her better doesn’t really solve anything. She’s enmeshed with a boyfriend who’s part of a South London syndicate that includes corrupt police and shady investigators. So what’s a bumbling legal assistant like Gary going to do with all these shenanigans going on, and the girl of his dreams complicit in the matter? Grace is a character herself; the elderly neighbour who’s cranky, has a pet dog that loves to do his business in the children’s play area, and with a dark family secret of her own. It’s following these three on their surreal adventure that propels the charm quotient of this book. Admittedly, it’s not for everyone, as it’s more about character and personality, then it is about plot or mystery-solving. But do give it a try!
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
When we first encounter Cyrus Shams in 2015, he's a student at Keady University in the Midwest USA. A drunk, an addict, and a poet, Cyrus is consumed by an obsession with martyrs. Of Iranian origin, his father, Ali, works in the poultry business, while his mother tragically died in a bizarre plane accident in 1988. This incident occurred when a US ship in the Gulf mistakenly launched two missiles at a passenger jet, believing it was a military plane. This senseless accident prompted Ali to emigrate, taking his young son with him. Since the death of his father, Cyrus has spiraled into a vortex of depression, addiction, and alienation. By chance, he comes across the story of an artist in a Brooklyn gallery whose art involves dying in the gallery and helping people cope with her terminal cancer. For Cyrus, this represents martyrdom of a different order.
Akbar, primarily known as a poet, ventures into the realm of novels with this debut. Profane, funny, and adorned with incandescent prose, it won’t be long before Akbar gains as much fame as a novelist as he does as a poet. While the majority of the narrative focuses on Cyrus and his friend Zee, the novel's structure is intriguing. Independent chapters seem to exist, featuring late mother Roya as the narrator. Additionally, there are chapters portraying imaginary conversations that Cyrus creates to cope with his depression. One such conversation involves Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Beethoven Shams, Cyrus’ imaginary younger brother—named after Cyrus watched a dog movie and unrelated to the famous composer.
The Living and the Rest by José Eduardo Agualusa
Daniel and the pregnant Moira live on a Mozambique island. The couple have organized the island’s very first literary and arts festival, with artists coming from Angola, South Africa, and Nigeria. Moira is an artist by profession, and there’s much at stake in making this first iteration of the festival a success. But unfortunately, nature isn’t ready to cooperate, as the coast is hit by a cyclone, rendering impassable the one bridge that connects the island to the mainland. Internet and phones are down, and so in a real sense, the island is now cut off from civilization and the rest of the world. What are creative people, writers and poets, going to do while living in this "limbo," in a state when the distinction between fiction and reality can easily blur?
What Agualusa imaginatively accomplishes is the painting of portraits for the various poets and writers attending the Festival. These depictions are vivid and rich, capturing individual idiosyncrasies and personality traits. If there's a common thread in how these artists interact, it's the exploration (or lack thereof) of an African identity as they unleash their creative energies. They engage in passionate debates about the necessity for this identity, or the alternative desire to simply be recognized as a writer without qualification. As Agualusa subtly introduces, the days of being cut off from the rest of the world extend, and there's a softening of the membrane we refer to as Time. The present, the past, and the future start to merge in a dizzying facsimile of reality within the confines of this novel. It's a precarious juggling act that Agualusa manages with flying colors.
K-pop girl group TWICE achieved their first ever No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart with their new mini-album “With YOU-th.”
The album, released on Feb. 23, debuted at No. 1 on the March 9-dated Billboard 200 chart “with 95,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 29, according to Luminate, largely from traditional album sales. It’s the fifth top 10 for the Korean pop ensemble in total, all earned consecutively,” Billboard reported.
TWICE (JYP Entertainment)
“The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album,” it added.
Of the 95,000 units earned by “With YOU-th,” the “album sales comprise 90,000 (it’s the top-selling album of the week, as it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales; it’s also the largest sales week for an album in 2024), SEA units comprise 4,500 (equaling 6.33 million official on-demand streams of the set’s six songs) and TEA units comprise 500.”
“As With YOU-th is mostly in the Korean language, it is the 24th mostly non-English language album to hit No. 1, and the first of 2024,” according to Billboard. This is TWICE’s first No. 1 album on Billboard 200 in over eight years since their debut in 2015 and extends their own record for the most top 10 albums on the chart for a female K-Pop act with five.
Next month, TWICE will be heading to Las Vegas for a one-night-only encore performance of their fifth world tour "Ready To Be” in the US–“Ready To Be Once More”--at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on March 16. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE.
Women, health workers, MSMEs thank Senators Alan and Pia for timely assistance
A total of 1,000 beneficiaries from the province of Rizal received vital and timely assistance from the offices of Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano on March 4, 2024.
Celebrating Women’s month, the office of Senator Pia gave aid to women and bolstered the health sector in Antipolo City.
“As barangay health worker po na nakatanggap po ng pinansyal, malaking bagay po ito para sa amin. Salamat po sa patuloy na kalinga sa BSW [Barangay Health Worker],” said Analiza Cabahug, one of the 500 beneficiaries from the event in Antipolo City.
As a health worker, Analiza is responsible for ensuring that the children in their community receive vitamins on time and monitor their height and weight. The aid she received is vital and helpful to her work, she said.
Cedie Ampol, another barangay health worker in Antipolo City, said the assistance will help her start up a sari-sari store.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Pia at Senator Alan sa pagbigay sa amin, kahit papaano ay makatulong sa pamilya namin. Sa ganitong program, marami silang natutulungan, hindi lang sa amin, sa ibang tao rin,” he said.
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owners also benefited as the office of Senator Alan provided necessary assistance to a total of 500 beneficiaries in Rizal Province, enabling them to increase and improve their livelihood.
The recent disbursement activity was done in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
AICS aims to provide timely and vital support to people in a difficult situation, aiding their recovery during challenging times.
The recent disbursement activity in Antipolo City and Rizal province were made successful due to the extended efforts and participation of Rizal Province Governor Nina Ynares, Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares, Councilor Susan Say, and Former Mayor Andrea "Andeng" Ynares.
This is not the first time the sibling senators have reached Antipolo City and Rizal province. Last month, more than 2,000 residents in Rizal Province also received vital aid to boost their livelihood.###
Foreigners who like to get straight to the point at hand often wonder about the purpose of a visit at home or in the office when the visitor merely indulges in gentle small-talk banter - a nice conversation that doesn't add to the visit seems to justify. Of course, the visitor has been waiting the entire time for you to offer him an appropriate occasion. to talk about the purpose of his visit by simply asking (after a pleasant atmosphere for conversation has been established): "What can I do for you?" Often the visitor will not mention the reason for his visit at all, but will only blurt out when saying goodbye, as if it had just occurred to him again: Oh yes, something I almost forgot..."
The prolixity and the time-wasting pleasantries are part of a dynamic that revolves around preserving fragile self-respect. HIYA and AMOR-PROPIO depend on manners that protect valuable self-respect from possible harm, and harmonious, smooth interpersonal relationships can ensure this state.
The difference between interpersonal relationships in Western countries and in the Philippines comes from the fact that we resolve conflicts by consciously initiating them, whereas Filipinos resolve conflicts by avoiding confrontation.
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Ausländer, die gern unverzüglich auf den eigentlichen Punkt zu sprechen kommen, wundern sich oft über den Zweck eines Besuches daheim oder im Büro, wenn der Besucher sich lediglich in sanftem Small-Talk-Geplänkel ergeht - eine nette Unterhaltung, die den Besuch aber nicht zu rechtfertigen scheint. Dabei hat natürlich der Besucher während der gesamten Zeit darauf gewartet, daß Sie ihm einen angemessenen Anlaß bieten. über den Zweck seines Besuches zu sprechen, indem Sie etwa (nachdem ein angenehmes Gesprächsklima hergestellt ist) ganz einfach fragen:"Was kann ich für Sie tun?" Oft wird der Besucher den Anlaß seines Besuches überhaput nicht erwähnen, sondern erst beim Abschied, als fiele es ihm gerade wieder ein, herauszuplatzen: Ach ja, was ich fast vergessen hätte..."
Die Weitschweifigkeit und die zeitraubenden Höflichkeiten sind Teile einer Dynamik, die um die Wahrung der zerbrechlichen Selbstachtung kreis. HIYA und AMOR-PROPIO sind auf Umgangsformen angewiesen, die die wertvolle Selbstachtung vor möglichen schaden bewahren, und harmonische, glatte zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen vermögen diesen Zustand zu sichern.
Der Unterschied zwischen den zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen in westlichen Ländern und auf den Philippinen rührt daher, daß bei uns Konflikte durch das bewußte Herbeiführen, bei den Filipinos hingegen durch das Vermeiden einer Konfrontation gelöst werden.
The Philippines’ 1987 Constitution did better than the Constitutions of other countries in recognizing women.
“Our Constitution has done better because we have in Article 2, Section 14, the wording that the state shall ensure not only a passive act, the fundamental equality before the law of women and men,” said Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen in an inspiration speech at the start of the judiciary’s celebration of Women’s Month this March.
“The order of women and men rather than men and women is a conscious decision of the Constitutional Commission when it wrote the Constitution,” Leonen pointed out.
Section 14, Article 2 of the Constitution states: “The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.”
The judiciary, led by the SC, started its celebration of Women’s Month last Monday, March 4, during its flag-raising ceremony.
In his message, Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, co-chairperson of the SC’s Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ), said that “out of nearly 2,000 judges, 55 percent are women -- a testament to our commitment to inclusivity, meritocracy, and diversity.”
Lopez said that it would also give so much benefit to have more female magistrates in the SC. “I know that this would no longer be a distant reality because we have Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Maria Filomena D. Singh trailblazing a path towards an even more diverse court,” he said. Justices Javier and Singh are the only two female jurists in the 15-member SC.
Reacting to Lopez’s statement, Javier said the 13 other SC justices never once made them feel diminished. They are “all progressive men, [who] always heard, respected, and listened to our voices.”
Lopez said “the increasing trend to appoint more and more women to appellate court positions is also very promising.” However, he emphasized that “the participation of women in nation-building remains an area that needs stronger advocacy and support.”
Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, co-chair of the CGRJ, acknowledged the Court’s consistent efforts in supporting women's month and helping realize the lofty ambitions it aims to achieve.
He cited the five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 or the SPJI. “As a core principle in the SPJI, the Court intends to pursue efforts that would ultimately further its desire to foster a culture of inclusivity,” he pointed out.
He also cited the theme of the Women’s Month 2024: “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society.” He pointed out that the “’WE’ stands for women and everyone.”
“This means that all of us are called to contribute to nation-building and that it is only through our collective efforts that we can truly achieve an inclusive society,” he said.
Justice Javier emphasized that “Gender Equality and Inclusive Society is the Court delivering justice on behalf of women and children who are victims of violence as it is you encouraging your wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and the women in your lives to pursue their personal goals and dreams.”
“It is women and men enjoying equal rights and privileges under the law as it is all of us consciously using gender-fair language, observing gender-fair etiquette, and abandoning gender stereotypes in all our dealings, especially in the Court,” she added. Acting Chief Justice Leonen (Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo is on official leave of absence) congratulated the CGRJ’s efforts.
“Sooner or later, I hope that we can graduate from gender responsiveness to gender justice,” Leonen said.
Also, in line with the SC’s celebration of Women’s Month, officials and employees were encourage to wear purple office attire on all Mondays of the month of March.
Earlier, during the flag ceremony at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Justice Singh rallied the country’s women “to never give up and speak up for your rights and for what you believe that you deserve.”
“Needless to say, a woman does not have to be a particular advocate of feminism or women’s rights. By birth right, kailangan tinataguyod natin ang isa’t isa (we need to promote or endorse each other),” she said.
“It’s Showtime” won as the Best Noontime Variety Show, while Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda were hailed as Best Female TV Personality and Best Noontime Variety Show Host.
ABS-CBN continues to receive love and support from the academic community as it earned 11 awards including Best Media Company from the University of Perpetual Help JONELTA System’s 1st Perpetualites’ Choice Awards on Friday (Mar 1).
“It’s Showtime” won as the Best Noontime Variety Show, while Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda were hailed as Best Female TV Personality and Best Noontime Variety Show Host.
Vice also proved that she is still ‘Unkabogable’ and well-loved by the youth as she scooped up three other awards including Best TV Personality, Best Game Show Host, and Most Service Oriented Media Personality.
Star Magic artists, Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz, also emerged triumphant, winning Best Young Male and Female Media Personality, respectively. Meanwhile, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla took home the award for Best Love Team.
"ASAP Natin 'To's" very own Moira dela Torre was also named Best Female Solo Artist.
The winners of the 1st Perpetualites’ Choice Awards were voted by Perpetualites from the various campuses of the University of Perpetual Help JONELTA System in Isabela, Pangasinan, Manila, GMA, Pueblo de Panay, and Laguna.
THIS worldly entrapment is actually a clear and present danger. But the intriguing part is that hardly anyone is aware of it. Many of us allow ourselves to be caught in the widening web of the modern technologies which, while offering us a lot of conveniences, also hook us into the dynamic of self-indulgence, with love for God and the others practically thrown out of the window.
We are reminded somehow of this danger in the readings of the Mass for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent (Dt 4,1.5-9; Mt 5,17-19) where we are strongly told to give priority to following the commandments of God which actually give us the proper condition for us to be in this life.
In the first reading, a prophet told the people of Israel, “Give heed to the statutes and ordinances which I teach you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, gives you.”
And in the gospel of the day, we hear Christ telling the crowd who followed him, “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” These words clearly tell us where we can find the fulfillment of the law proper to us—it’s in following Christ.
We should train ourselves to have as our abiding and strongest passion, as our most precious treasure, the need and urge to be intimate with Christ. We actually cannot afford to be without Christ. The only thing to expect in that condition is to get into some form of disaster!
This will, of course, require us a lot of effort, a tremendous dose of faith, hope and charity, to contend with our usual feeling of doubt and awkwardness with respect to this need of ours. But, to be sure, it would all be worthwhile! We just have to humble ourselves and remind ourselves to always pray, to always do things with Christ and for Christ. We should not take this most basic need of ours for granted.
We cannot deny that especially nowadays, the lure and the hook of worldly entrapment that has as its bait the many wonderful technologies we are having these days, can be so overpowering that we can feel helpless before this phenomenon. We really need a lot of discipline to put ourselves always in God’s presence and to consciously follow his will and commandments.
In this we have to help one another. We cannot afford to be casual anymore to this need. All around us are many cases of people in certain types of addiction, obsessions and other forms of bondage.
Even those who appear to be good and saintly-looking can be in the grip of some of these forms of bondage, usually hidden and well covered by all sorts of justifications and rationalizations.
It has to be made clear to everyone that what is proper to us is to have God first and everything else would just follow in their proper order of importance. Let’s never forget that we are meant to be always with God. Our life, given the way we have been created, cannot but be a sharing in God’s life and nature. To stay away from him would be a fundamental anomaly that would have bad consequences for everything else in our life.
We should therefore give priority to our spiritual needs of prayer, recourse to the sacraments, development of virtues, the habit of having the presence of God always, doing everything with God and for God, etc.
Join us at RCBC Plaza on March 22nd, 2024 for an unforgettable evening of classical music. The renowned Manila Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Marlon Chen and featuring special guests, will perform a selection of chart hits, iconic soundtracks and classical favourites, from The Blue Danube to James Bond to Bohemian Rhapsody and many more..
If you want to join us as a company, or simply celebrate with a group of friends (8pax), take a VIP table for 8 which includes a Special Reception, a 6 course dinner for 8, and 8 VIP row viewing seating - BOOK MY VIP TABLE HERE
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