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!
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday, March 12 said the cloud clusters observed in Luzon and Mindanao may bring rains to certain areas.
(Photo credit to MB Visual Content Group)
In PAGASA’s 4 a.m. live broadcast, weather specialist Rhea Torres said Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Metro Manila, and the eastern portion of Mindanao may expect rains due to the cloud clusters.
“Mayroong namamataang maninipis na mga kaulapan na umiiral na nakakaapekto sa bahagi ng Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Metro Manila area, so posible ngayong araw, may mga pag-ulang mararanasan mostly sa eastern sections ng Central and Southern Luzon area samantalang itong mga kaulapang namamataan natin ay most likely tatagal ngayong umaga and aaliwalas pagdating ng hapon (Thin cloud clusters were observed, which prevail and affect Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Metro Manila area, so it is possible today that rains may be felt in the eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon, while these cloud clusters will most likely persist in the morning and fair weather will prevail in the afternoon),” Torres said.
“Sa nalalabing bahagi ng bansa, may namamataan ding mga kaulapan na posibleng makaapekto sa silangang bahagi ng Mindanao area, so possible din iyong mga kalat-kalat na pag-ulan, pagkidlat, at pagkulog (In the rest of the country, cloud clusters were also observed, which may affect eastern portion of Mindanao area, so it is possible to have scattered rains and thunderstorms),” she added.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said the easterlies or the warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, and the northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan” remain the dominant system in the country.
PAGASA warned the public in Davao Region, Caraga, Aurora and Quezon of threats from flash floods or landslides in times of moderate to heavy rains, as cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will be felt due to the easterlies.
In Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will be expected due to amihan. In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will also be felt due to the easterlies or localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA still warned of flash floods or landslides in the affected areas during severe thunderstorms.
Not too long ago, the phrase "Filipino young farmer" was considered contradictory. There were no Filipino young farmers anymore. The government even had to sound the alarm that if nothing was done, ageing Filipino farmers would retire by 2026 with no successors in sight.
But Covid-19 changed all these.
Now, a resurgence of interest in farming among the youth is being observed from Luzon to Visayas, all the way to Mindanao. Twenty-four young farmers interviewed for this story claim they only went into serious farming at the onset of the pandemic. And all of them expressed optimism for the future of Philippine agriculture.
Dennis Ivan Chavez Baliguat
Dennis Ivan Chavez Baliguat, a 23-year-old computer engineer who just wanted to be a hacker, said the pandemic triggered in him the fear of a "zombie apocalypse." This led him and two friends to begin dabbling in hydroponics so they would have something to eat should the pandemic turn out to be their worst nightmare. Their hydroponic farm built on the rooftop soon became the Fresco-Greenovation agri-tech startup and won a grant in a Young Farmer Challenge competition.
Macor and Anne Martinez
Sisters Macor, 37, and Anne Martinez, 44, also had the same motivation, but minus the fear of zombies. Having grown up in a farming household in Porac, Pampanga, they thought of venturing into hydroponics in 2020 to grow lettuce and microgreens purely for personal consumption. "We just wanted to have healthy food that is readily available," Macor said. The sisters soon discovered that other people were looking for those things, too, leading them to turn their hobby into the Mizu Hydroponic and Microgreens Farm.
Christian Paulo R. Magsino
Christian Paulo R. Magsino, 29, meanwhile, grew up with his agricultural engineer grandfather in Santiago, Isabela. He was 22 when his grandfather died, and he overheard members of the family planning to sell his Lolo's 10-hectare farm to a subdivision developer. To stop this, he resigned and took over his Lolo's farm, turning it from a seedling grower into an integrated farm with greenhouses for lettuce and coops for free-range chickens.
Francis Christian Fornoles and Vinnie Vanarte
Francis Christian Fornoles and Vinnie Vanarte, both 23, from Bula, Camarines Sur, for their part, said they learned about free-range chicken while in college and during the pandemic, they did informal research on YouTube to learn more about it. From seven chicks, they now have a breeding farm in three-fourths of a hectare of land where they raise Rhode Island Red, Black Australorps, and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens for eight months before selling them. They have eventually produced their chicks on their farm.
Carlu Alfonso Acaylar Realiza
Carlu Alfonso Acaylar Realiza, 35, from Turno, Dipolog City, in Zamboanga del Norte, grew up in a farming household but he has taken up organic farming by learning a low-cost way of doing it at the height of the lockdowns. He now produces vegetables such as the Persian cucumber and even teaches others the JADAM method invented by a Korean expert which includes creating homemade fertilizers and organic pesticides.
Jepherson Mark Parcia
Jepherson Mark Parcia, 22, from Barangay Antipolo Tinambac, Camarines Sur, stumbled upon agarwood in high school after discovering agarwood seedlings in a forest near their home. He soon stopped going to school. Instead, he turned into a full-time grower of these expensive seedlings with the help of his father in their nursery.
Johnnel Tepora
Johnnel Tepora, 35, from Buna Cerca, Indang, Cavite, owns an integrated farm where he raises fancy chickens and pigs while cultivating exotic crops such as dragonfruit. He grew up with his farmer grandfather and now takes pride in being a farmer himself.
Rouen Dolot
Rouen B. Dolot, 31, from Barangay Cantiwiris, Tolosa, Leyte, turned a 1,000 sqm borrowed land into a thriving farm for small-scale vegetable production. He grows eggplants, sweet peppers, bitter gourd, and Japanese cucumbers which he sells online.
Glea D. Reyes
Glea D. Reyes, 26, from Barangay Ablan, Burgos, Ilocos Norte, is a teacher who was raised by a farming father. In 2021, while recuperating from surgery, she stumbled upon hydroponics. She did her online research and soon enough turned their backyard into a thriving hydroponics farm producing various kinds of lettuce which she sells in Korean restaurants.
Vash Desuyo Lillo
Vash Desuyo Lillo, 19, from Candelaria, Quezon, is a veterinary medicine student. He grew up in a household that raises poultry which made him love chickens. He now raises fancy chickens which he sells online. He regularly participates in conventions and conferences to further increase his know-how.
Chloei Capili and Christian Pabelico
Chloei Capili, 28, and Christian Pabelico, 31, from General Emilio Aguinaldo (Bailen), Cavite, were both corporate executives who sought the farming life at the height of the pandemic. They turned their land in Cavite into a farm to grow vegetables and raise quails, documenting their journey via YouTube. They believe that young people now are more interested in farming.
Tricia Bravante and Bella Manlulo
Tricia Bravante, 35, and Bella Manlulo, 31, were an LGBTQIA+ couple. They are both into advertising yet they chose to go full blast in managing Sayo Nora Bee Farm in Brgy. Suba, Majayjay, Laguna, where they also grow exotic fruits such as durian and pomelo. The farm was a tribute to Tricia's mother Nora who passed away from cancer in 2015.
"It was a wake-up call for me, telling me that life is short and we have to make it worthwhile," says Tricia.
Fraullyn Joy P. Brillo and Homer E. Deloso
Fraullyn Joy P. Brillo, 31, and Homer E. Deloso, 31, grew up in farming families. They now own a consultancy company that provides management insights to farms in Guimbal, Iloilo, and other areas. Their recent project is the development of the 25-hectare Almarosa Farm, which was once a denuded place but now planted with high-value fruit trees.
Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe
Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe, 32, from Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, initially "hated" farming after seeing how hard his parents' life was. But a visit to South Korea in 2015 opened his eyes to the potential of modern agriculture. He soon grew apples, and he has been recognized as one of the first to make his apple trees bear fruit successfully.
Angelyn Ablanque Mestiola
Angelyn Ablanque Mestiola, 28, of Abuyog, Leyte, fell in love with farming after discovering the Korean natural farming methods of using beneficial micro-organisms. She now grows organic chicken in an integrated farm planted with vegetables and flowers.
Marlo Molino Bibat
Marlo Molino Bibat, 29, from Natividad, Pangasinan, grew up working on farms. When he got married, he ventured into vegetable seedling production and now supplies to farmers in various towns of the province.
Julius C. Velasquez
Julius C. Velasquez, 30, from Norzagaray, Bulacan, initially raised goats as a side hustle. He soon discovered that it is a profitable venture especially if you do it for milk instead of meat. He and his wife raise goats for milk to be used for pastillas and cheese.
Sofia Erin Gancenia, 22, is a Fine Arts graduate who worked as her father's executive producer in an agribusiness channel on YouTube. She has seen numerous farmers already and has learned from their successes as well as failures. And she is convinced that there is a big space for young people in agriculture, no matter what interest young people may have.
"Whatever skill you have, you can apply it in agriculture," she said.
Yet, there are even younger Filipinos who are taking up farming at a much younger age.
The three children of Turo and Andrea Tolentino are growing up on what is shaping up to be a farmstead in Bay, Laguna where the family is trying to grow its food. The children, Ari (17), Uri (15), Ira (9), and Duda (7), take turns helping their parents water the crops or feed their farm animals.
Their parents believe that farming not only teaches the children to value nature but also to see the importance of hard work and working together. They emphasize appreciation, recognizing that the farm’s success wouldn’t be possible without the children’s efforts. This instills a sense of responsibility and purpose in the kids, knowing they are essential to the farm.
The government is recognizing this trend reversal of young Filipinos becoming interested in farming. And it is now catering to the growing demand from young farmers.
The Agricultural Training Institute, for instance, has been conducting training programs in various forms of farming, including agribusiness.
"In 2023, the ATI had over 2,500 training activities nationwide, benefiting more than 60,000 Filipinos, including farmer-leaders, extension workers, youth, and other sectors," said ATI National Director Remelyn Recoter.
The ATI also offers scholarships to young Filipinos wanting to pursue careers in agriculture and internship programs, both local and international, to give the youth hands-on experience in farming.
(With reports from Benjamin Sarondo and Cel Cadahing-Ocampo)
The former “Sexy Babe” contestant explores ‘situationships’ or relationships without any label in the song and conveys the restlessness in waiting similar to the tedious feels of being stuck in traffic.
Cianne Dominguez
“It’s Showtime” host Cianne Dominguez is taking on a new path as a recording artist with her first single “Traffic” released under StarPop.
The former “Sexy Babe” contestant explores ‘situationships’ or relationships without any label in the song and conveys the restlessness in waiting similar to the tedious feels of being stuck in traffic. It was written and produced by her “It’s Showtime” co-host and Rocksteddy lead vocalist Teddy Corpuz.
“Sa interpretation ko doon sa song nakikita ko yung situationship lalo na nauuso ito ngayon. Nasa isang situationship ka na walang usad, walang nangyayari. Naiinip na sa kakahintay ng label sa kung anong meron kayo,” Cianne said.
She also expressed her gratitude to Teddy who helped her in bringing out the emotions of the song.
“Sobrang smooth and chill ng jamming namin ni Kuya Teddy. Super happy rin ako kasi ako yung naisip niyang kumanta ng song niya and at the same time super thankful din kasi nabigyan ako ng ganitong opportunity,” Cianne shared.
As a kid, the up-and-coming artist dreamt of becoming a singer and even auditioned for “Tawag ng Tanghalan” and other singing competitions to hone her skills as an artist.
“Noong bata palang ako hilig ko na talaga sumali sa singing contests and lagi ako and yung family ko kumakanta sa church. Nag-try rin ako sumali sa ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ before kasi gusto ko talaga mag-pursue ng singing lalo na pangarap ko rin makasama sa mga play,” she said.
Aside from her singing talent, she has also showcased her dancing and comedy chops through other “It’s Showtime’s” popular segments “Girl On Fire” and “Isip Bata.” Some of her musical influences are Idina Menzel and Lea Salonga.
The singer during her Billboard interview with pre-event hosts Rania Aniftos and Lilly Singh.
Nathalie Tomada - The Philippine Star
March 12, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — This Women’s Month, Sarah Geronimo brought pride to the country after becoming one of Billboard’s 2024 Global Force honorees.
Chosen alongside Sarah G by Billboard outlets around the world as Global Forces were Sherine Abdel-Wahab (Egypt), Annalisa (Italy), Maria Becerra (Argentina), Nini Nutsubidze (Georgia), Tia Ray (China) and Luísa Sonza (Brazil).
Billboard described the awardees as “visionaries” who are making groundbreaking contributions to the music industry as singers, songwriters, instrumentalists and producers.
Sarah flew to the US to personally accept her award last March 7 (March 8, Philippine time) during the “Women in Music” ceremony, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross at the YouTube Theatre in Los Angeles.
In her acceptance speech, the OPM queen, also known as Popstar Royalty to fans, said, “Thank you, Billboard, for celebrating women in music and of course, for giving our country this meaningful recognition. Maraming, maraming salamat to Billboard Philippines for your commitment to bring our music, the Filipino music, and more Filipino artists to a global audience.
“I humbly accept this award for every amazing and excellent Filipina and Filipino artist back home and all over the world.
“Allow me to also take this moment to thank God, Lord Jesus, for the gift of music. Hindi ko po inisip na mararating ko po yung ganito, that I’ll be able to deliver a speech in front of an international audience.”
The 35-year-old, who started in the entertainment scene as a teen vocal champion, also profusely expressed her gratitude to her parents.
“Thank you to my parents, to my Nanay and Tatay, maraming maraming salamat for your unconditional love, and for believing in me and for supporting me.”
The singer went to give credit to her manager, Viva big boss Vic del Rosario, and her management team Viva Artists Agency, and of course, her fans also called Popsters. She then gave a shout out to her husband, actor-host Matteo Guidicelli, “for always pushing me to be a better version of myself every day.”
Sarah pointed out that the recognition symbolized courage and hope for her.
“Courage to accept and embrace oneself. Courage to break boundaries and defy standards. Courage to rise above all the setbacks and challenges that one artist or one person has to face. And I hope one day, this recognition will bridge the Philippines and other nations to create change and positivity in the world through the power of music.”
In a separate statement sent to The Philippine STAR, Anne Bernisca, COO of MMGI and publisher of Billboard Philippines, shared the process for selecting Sarah for the award.
“Billboard Philippines nominated Sarah Geronimo to be the first homegrown and full-blooded Filipina to be recognized on stage to receive the Billboard Women in Music Global Force Award due to her incomparable influence and impact in the Filipino music industry. She is an all-around performer with consistently sold-out shows. She has entered the Billboard global charts and her songs have reached 110 on-demand million streams in 2023 alone,” she stressed.
“Sarah is known for her electrifying stage performances and her wide range of vocal versatility. She is a multi-talented artist who is able to successfully cross both the music and movie industries having starred in top-grossing movies and popular television shows all the while maintaining a stellar music career.
“She also serves as an inspiration to many aspiring young artists and actively participates in helping shape the next generation of Filipino talents by being a coach at ‘The Voice.’ Sarah’s contributions to the music industry and unwavering commitment to effect positive change through her music make her an exemplary choice as Billboard Philippines’ Global Force Awardee.”
She also noted that Billboard Philippines’ participation in this year’s Women In Music Awards is in keeping with “our mission to bridge Filipino music and the world.”
The award, Bernisca further noted, was not only a recognition of Sarah’s achievements but also a celebration of Filipino music.
Meanwhile, in a brief exchange of online messages with Sarah G, through her team at G Productions, Sarah exclusively shared with The STAR some of her highlights from the event.
To be recognized on a global stage, what was your first reaction?
Sarah gets to interact with international artists such as (from left) Victoria Monet, Luisa Sonza and Thuy at the awards event.
“A pleasant surprise! The first time they told me about it, I could not believe it. I am thankful to Billboard Philippines for giving me the honor to represent our country and our music.
“I see it as an important milestone not just for my career, but most importantly for our music industry.
“May this recognition serve as fuel and give us OPM artists more motivation and inspiration to continue loving and creating original Filipino music.”
What does this latest award mean to you as an artist? How special is this?
“It has given me a brand-new perspective of hope and inspiration. It came at a time when I was feeling low and doubting myself as an artist. This has motivated me to just keep going and keep my passion for music burning (heart and fire emojis).”
Lastly, what were your highlights from the awards event and to whom do you dedicate this award?
“Some of my highlights that night were seeing some of my favorite female artists, actors and performers… I saw Katy Perry, Ellie Goulding… Kylie Minogue, Kat Graham from the TV series, ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ Bailee Madison from the ‘Good Witch,’ Victoria Monet!!! She is an amazing artist! I love and admire her artistry! And she was also very nice that we got to share a quick chat! (Smiley).”
“I also met Thuy from Vietnam and Annalisa from Italy!!! They were both beautiful and nice! And of course, I got to meet Tracee Ellis Ross. I wanted to tell her that I enjoyed watching her movie ‘The High Note’ but was not able to because I was so nervous and overwhelmed.
“The recognition is dedicated to all the dreamers out there, to all my loved ones, to everyone who has been part of my journey as an artist, and of course, to the whole Filipino music industry.”
Die Nase (gestrichen) voll haben (lit. to have a full nose) simply means that somebody is fed up with something or someone. This German saying is pretty popular and you will hear it often pretty often in everyday speech.
The saying is pretty informal obviously. To make the phrase “Die Nase voll haben” even more powerful, you can add a “gestrichen” in front of voll, and at that point everybody should be aware that you are extremely fed up with that something (or someone).
Example:
Ich habe die Nase von der Schule gestrichen voll! Ich werde dort morgen nicht mehr hingehen!
Translation:
I’m really sick and tired of school! I’m not going back there tomorrow!
I start with fish, since most (American) tourists eat German meat dishes.
Forelle Müllerin - trout with almond butter.
Scholle Finkenwerder Art - plaice Finkenwerder style - with bacon bits
Büsumer Krabbenbrot - Büsum-style shrimp sandwich: German black bread (Pumpernickel) with shrimps and fried or scrambled egg
Heringsmarinaden - marinated herring. Herring is abundant in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. We eat salted herring (Matjes), raw herring and fried herring, plain, with rolls or as salads. Just a few examples:
Matjesbrötchen - salted herring roll
Brathering - fried herring, marinated
Rollmops - marinated raw herring, rolled up
Heringssalat - herring salad (often with red beet)
Seezungenröllchen - Dover sole rolls
I stop here. Now, vegetable dishes (or dishes where vegetables play the dominant role).
Semmelknödel mit Pilzen - bread dumplings with mushrooms
Leipziger Allerlei - peas, carrots, asparagus, morel, cauliflower and crayfish
Grünkohl - cale, extremely popular when in season (in wintertime), usually served with bacon, smoked sausage and cured pork
Kohlrouladen - cabbage rolls, stuffed with minced meat
Now, the meat dishes.
Königsberger Klopse - meatballs, Königsberg style with anchovys and capers, in a creamy sauce. One of the most popular German dishes.
Rouladen - beef roulade
Hühnerfrikasse - chicken stew
Kaninchen - rabbit
Rehrücken - venison (rack of roe deer)
Himmel und Erde - Sky and Earth, blood pudding with mashed potatoes and caramelized apple
Mett - raw pork
Now, the one-pot-dishes, stews or rather: thick soups. Made from potatoes, peas, lentils, barley or just vegetables.
Graupensuppe - barley soup
Linsensuppe - lentil soup
Finally, a few desserts.
Kalte Hundeschnauze - cold dog’s snout. A classic for children birthday parties.
Bienenstich - bee’s sting
Frankfurter Kranz - Frankfurt wreath (?)
Maulwurfkuchen - mole pie with banana
Flockensahnetorte - whipped cream pie with lingonberries
I could continue forever…
EDIT:
Thank you all for your comments. Some mentioned that similar dishes occur in cuisines of other countries, like Scandinavia, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, even Ukraine, or France. This is right.
Many recipes are several hundreds of years old and were not invented by a certain chef, but gradually evolved from the products and ingredients which were available in a certain region. Some of these dishes developed before nation states came into existence in the middle of the 19th century. Also, people used to travel, especially between neighbouring countries. So, it is natural that neighbouring countries with a similar climate have the same dishes. Please refrain from claiming that a certain dish is the “national” dish of a certain nation. This would be an ahistoric, nationalist view.
I just listed dishes which are popular in Germany, being aware that they are popular in other countries, too.
