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Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!
Friday, December 6, 2024
THE STANDS: An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter
Real Italian pasta at home, any time
When the rain falls and the air grows chilly, few things bring more comfort and cheer than a warm, hearty plate of pasta
Our four adopted kids were pasta lovers from day one. The only problem was their definition of pasta was soggy spaghetti drowning in sweet banana ketchup. It took many months and dozens of meals before they learned to love pasta’s varied shapes and colorful, flavorful sauces.
These days, the biggest problems when making pasta at home are the availability of ingredients and the prohibitive prices of vegetables. Green pepper, onions, and garlic are priced at P300-P400 per kilo. Fortunately for us amateur and professional cooks, there is a product in the market that makes real Italian pasta using genuine Italian ingredients without paying astronomical prices for herbs and vegetables. We are actually greeting the holidays with real Italian pasta sauces that are cheaper than if we bought the ingredients at local supermarkets and veggie stores.
On rainy days, there’s nothing quite like a plate of pasta to warm your heart and soul. With Filippo Berio’s range of authentic Italian sauces and pestos, you can bring the flavors of Italy into your home with ease. Whether you crave a spicy Arrabbiata, the freshness of Basilico, or the luxury of Truffle Pesto, these recipes are perfect for turning any meal into a comforting, satisfying experience.
Pasta: Ultimate comfort food on rainy days
As the rain pours outside and the air turns cooler, nothing beats the comforting warmth of a hearty plate of pasta to brighten up your day. With a collection of versatile and authentic Italian pasta sauces, you can easily elevate your home-cooked meals, transforming even the gloomiest day into a cozy, satisfying experience. Let’s explore several exceptional products, each paired with a quick and easy recipe for a heartwarming meal.
Arrabbiata pasta sauce
For those who crave a spicy kick, this sauce is made from 100% Italian tomatoes, fiery red chili peppers, and extra virgin olive oil. It is the ideal choice to add a burst of bold, spicy flavor to their pasta.
Recipe to try: Penne arrabbiata
This quick and simple dish hails from the Lazio region of Italy. The spicy arrabbiata sauce paired with penne pasta creates a delicious, vegetarian meal in minutes
Serves: 2 | Prep time: 15 to 20 minutes
Ingredients:
160g penne pasta
Filippo Berio Arrabbiata Pasta Sauce
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Salt
Procedure:
Cook the penne in salted water according to the pack instructions.
In a pan, warm the arrabbiata pasta sauce.
Once the pasta is ready, drain and stir it into the sauce.
Serve in warm bowls, garnished with fresh basil.
Basilico pasta sauce
A taste of Italian tradition, this sauce captures the essence of Italy’s culinary heritage. Made with 100% Italian tomatoes, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil, it’s a delightful, vegan-friendly sauce that brings a refreshing touch to your meals.
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Recipe to try: Tomato basil soup with grilled cheese
Enjoy the ultimate comfort food combo with this rich and creamy tomato basil soup, paired with a perfectly golden grilled cheese. Using Basilico Pasta Sauce, this quick soup is packed with authentic Italian flavors and is ideal for cozying up on a rainy day.
Serves: 2 to 3 | Prep time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 jar Filippo Berio Basilico Pasta Sauce
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tbsp Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 slices thick bread
2 tbsp garlic butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Procedure:
In a large pot, sauté onions, garlic, and bell pepper in olive oil until softened.
Add the Basilico pasta sauce and water, stirring well. Let simmer, then add cream, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.
For the grilled cheese, spread garlic butter on bread slices, add shredded cheddar, and cook in a buttered pan until golden brown.
Serve the soup hot alongside the grilled cheese and enjoy this comforting duo warm.
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Truffle Pesto
For a Luxurious truffle indulgence and a unique and elevated twist on a classic pesto, the truffle pesto sauce combines summer truffles' rich, earthy flavor with other high-quality ingredients. Perfect for adding a touch of luxury to everyday meals, it beautifully pairs with everything from pasta to grilled sandwiches.
Recipe to try: Tagliolini with truffle pesto
This simple yet luxurious pasta dish from Piemonte brings together the creamy richness of truffle pesto with delicate tagliolini pasta for a meal that feels both hearty and indulgent.
Serves: 2 | Prep time: 10 to 15 minutes
Ingredients:
500g tagliolini pasta
2-3 heaping teaspoons of Filippo Berio Truffle Pesto
50g parmesan (grated or shaved)
Procedure:
Boil tagliolini in salted water until al dente, then drain.
Stir in the Filippo Berio Truffle Pesto and toss well.
Serve topped with shaved parmesan.
Classic Pesto
A traditional Ligurian delight made with fresh Italian basil following an authentic Ligurian recipe, This classic pesto recipe is a versatile and flavorful addition to any pasta dish. It offers the essence of Italy’s pesto in every jar.
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Recipe to try: Avocado and pesto grilled cheese—This decadent sandwich combines creamy avocado and mozzarella with the rich flavors of truffle pesto for a gourmet take on a beloved comfort food.
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 10 to 15 minutes
Ingredients:
8 slices Italian loaf bread
1/4 cup Filippo Berio Truffle Pesto
1 ripe avocado, sliced
6 oz mozzarella, sliced
1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper
2 tbsp Filippo Berio Olive Oil
Procedure:
Spread pesto on one side of each slice of bread. Layer avocado and mozzarella, then top with the remaining bread slices.
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the sandwiches for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden and melty.
K-pop girl group ITZY to grace New Year’s Eve Countdown in BGC
K-pop girl group ITZY will be welcoming the New Year in the Philippines.
ITZY will be gracing the “NYE at the 5th” celebration to be held on Dec. 31 in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.
“Shine so bright like dynamite, GOLD! This is not a drill: BGC meets K-Pop as ITZY's YEJI, LIA, RYUJIN, CHARYEONG and YUNA light up BGC ILoveTaguig's NYE Countdown!” promoter Wilbros Live announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 5.
It added, “Catch them, ALL five will be LIVE at the 5TH, Bonifacio High Street on December 31! Presented by BGC, Taguig and Coke Studio.” The celebration will be held along 5th Avenue in BGC.
General admission to the event is free.
'Musika Para Sa Bikol: Himig Ng Bayanihan' fundraising concert shines a light on Region V
A star-studded evening of music and solidarity featuring global talents for a night of powerful performances in support of the Bicol Region.
AT A GLANCE
Musika Para Sa Bikol: Himig ng Bayanihan is not just a concert; it is a call to action. Tickets are priced at PhP100.00, which will go directly toward donations for the cause.
Bicol - renowned for its fiery cuisine, historical sites, diverse marine life, and breathtaking natural wonders - takes center stage as it hosts the fundraising concert Musika Para Sa Bikol: Himig ng Bayanihan.
On Dec. 6, the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (ICR) in Legazpi City will be the setting for a night of music that brings together community and a shared love for one of the Philippines’ beloved regions.
From the sheer majesty of the world-renowned Mayon Volcano and the tranquil shores of its beaches to the thrill of swimming alongside whale sharks in Donsol and the bold flavors of iconic dishes like Laing and Bicol Express, Bicol is a region that’s easy to fall in love with.
However, Bicol’s many offerings are set against the harsh reality of its being one of the most typhoon-prone regions in the country. With an average of 20 typhoons hitting the region annually, Bicol faces widespread flooding, destruction of homes and infrastructure, devastation of agricultural lands, and disruptions to livelihoods, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas.
Music for a cause
The spirit of community and generosity has been evident throughout the ongoing relief efforts, with significant public and private support.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), in partnership with Live Nation Philippines (LNPH), has extended assistance through donations, demonstrating its commitment to the affected communities.
Their contributions highlight the vital role of collaboration in addressing urgent needs and fostering hope.
A concert with a purpose
More than just raising funds for families affected by the recent string of typhoons, the concert will celebrate Bicol's rich cultural heritage and reputation as a premiere tourist destination while showcasing the resilience of the Bicolanos and the region’s inherent beauty. Musika Para Sa Bikol: Himig ng Bayanihan, also serves as a reminder that Bicol is more than just a place—it’s an experience, a feeling, and a source of pride for all Filipinos.
This fundraising concert is a testament to the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, uniting people to support those in need. Net proceeds and donations will go toward immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery projects to help the region bounce back stronger than ever. An exciting and diverse lineup of musical acts will make for an unforgettable night of entertainment. The public can expect performances from Bicol’s homegrown talent Tothapi, South Korean sensation Kim Ji-Soo, British post-punk and glam metal band Gene Loves Jezebel, and Norwegian hitmakers Fra Lippo Lippi.
A call to action
Musika Para Sa Bikol: Himig ng Bayanihan is not just a concert; it is a call to action. Tickets are priced at PhP100.00, which will go directly toward donations for the cause. These ticket donations can be made online via the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) website http://redcross.org,ph or in person at the concert venue.
Every contribution counts. Your support will help families rebuild their lives and strengthen Bicol’s resilience against future natural disasters. Join us on Dec. 6 for a night that will celebrate the heart and soul of Bicol – its people, culture, and unyielding spirit.
The danger of getting used to the truths of our faith
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By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
THIS was what Christ once lamented about while preaching to the crowd. “To what shall I compare this generation?” he asked. “It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’” (Mt 11,16-17
It’s a lamentation that continues to hold true even up to now. We cannot deny that there are many people, even those who can be considered as active in the Church, starting with our own selves, who do not live in a way that is consistent to the Christian faith we profess.
Our usual problem is precisely that we get easily over-familiar with the truths of our faith and the sacred things. We tend to take for granted the many blessings we have. Not only do we not count our blessings, we often complain that we do not have enough. We can then elicit those reproaching words of Christ to his townmates: “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.”
This is a very common danger to all of us, and is at bottom a result of letting ourselves be simply guided by our senses, or feelings and our other ways of human estimation, without the guidance of our faith that should lead us to develop the appropriate piety.
We have to be more aware of this danger of familiarity and install the necessary defenses against it. More than that, we have to aggressively cultivate the art of always being amazed at God and at all his works. That should be the proper state for us to be in.
We have to understand, though, that this abiding state of amazement that we should try to develop is not simply a matter of sensations. Of course, it would be good if we can always feel amazed and in awe. But given the limitations of our bodily organisms, we cannot expect that to happen all the time.
The ideal abiding state of amazement is more a matter of conviction, of something spiritual, moral and supernatural. It should be the result of grace that is corresponded to generously and heroically by us.
It is a state of amazement that sooner or later, of course, will have some external manifestations like an aura of serenity and confidence even in the midst of great trials and suffering. It will most likely show itself in the lilt in one’s voice, optimism in his reactions to events, a smile, a warm word of praise and encouragement to others, etc.
To be sure, God will always give us this grace. The problematic area is our correspondence to that grace. In this regard, we should try to pray and meditate on God’s word. Let’s see to it that we get to relish the spirit behind the word of God as presented to us in Bible.
We have to be wary of our tendency to go through God’s word in a mechanical way. We can produce the sound, we can use the word in some sensible and intelligible way, but still miss the very spirit of the word. We can still miss God and ignore his will, because our heart is still not in God’s word.
Besides, we need to develop a deepening sense of total dependence on God. Let’s see to it that our talents, faculties and powers, our achievements do not blunt, but rather sharpen this sense of dependence.
How can I start to learn German?
Before anything else, I want to mention that choosing language-learning materials obviously depends on which languages you would consider your "base" languages, the languages you can learn a new language through. Of course it makes sense to learn through a native language. Since you're asking in English in an English-language forum, I'll assume that English is a native language for you. If it isn't, then you may have to adjust any advice you get to take this into account.
If English is available as a base language for you, then you're in luck. German has a lot in common with English. This will make the task much easier than it would be for someone learning German through, say, Mandarin or Arabic.
[Disclaimer: There are probably lots of people far more qualified than I am to answer this question. I am currently at about a B1/B2 level in German (CEFR). I learned through four years in high school, about a year in college, and then a year living in Germany. And now I am teaching beginner-level German in China. So, I didn't learn in a very straightforward way or use a lot of different materials.]
The first thing you should decide is what your goals are. Do you just need it for traveling, or do you need to be able to do business? Does "doing business" mean just being able to exchange pleasantries in German before switching into English, or do you need to be able to actually perform a job fully in the language (be "functional")? Do you need to be able to listen to the news, pop music, and watch TV? Do you need to be able to read the newspaper? (Note that I'm intentionally using the word "need" here rather than "want", because I think it's very important at the outset to establish what you want to achieve and then frame that as a need/requirement. "Wants" are often nebulous, shifty, and hard to pin down, so they can erode over time. And telling yourself that you need to reach certain goals will help to prepare your mind for the dedicated effort required to achieve them.)
Setting goals is actually a multi-stage process... In fact, I'm just going to direct you to Olle Linge's excellent article on goal-setting. Don't be distracted that it's on a site about learning Chinese. Every time you see the word "Chinese" just mentally substitute the word "German". The advice holds for anyone setting out to learn any substantial language. Here's the link: http://www.hackingchinese.com/goals-and-motivation-part-1-introduction/
Now that you've set your long-term, short-term, and come up with micro-goals you can use to populate your study schedule, it's time to choose learning materials. I would recommend having at least two or three materials going at any one time. It's important when you get bored with any one source to be able to switch to another one. You should also try to have materials that serve the various parts of the language that you have chosen to focus on at the moment (reading, writing, speaking, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar). Try to keep reinforcing every of your target skills at least every other day.
And now I'll throw out some concrete recommendations (bearing in mind the disclaimer I made above)...
I recently signed up at http://germanpod101.com to check out their podcast. (There was a deal when I signed up, so I got a premium account for one month for USD$1.) I've listened to about 20 podcasts (mostly at the Absolute Beginner level) and looked at some of the PDFs that come with them. I also downloaded the entire archive of podcasts using iTunes, which they encourage. It seems like a nice, straightforward gentle introduction to the language. It focuses on speaking from the beginning. And I like that it touches on cultural notes and observations in the lessons.
I've also recently been looking at the German learning resources available at Deutsche Welle's website: German Courses | DW.DE
And the Goethe Institute has some free online courses available for various levels. There are currently 26 items at the A1 level: Deutsch für dich
If you're a highly dedicated and studious person, then you can try using the Assimil series, optionally with Prof. Arguelles' "shadowing" method...
As Prof. Arguelles points out, it depends what kind of learner you are. In general, try to get your hands on as many quality materials and expose yourself to as much input as possible. As soon as you get bored with something, switch. Stay interested and motivated. Cultivate your own curiosity around the language. In two words: have fun!
And welcome to the German-speaking world! Herzlich willkommen!