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!
Clarita "Claire" Crisostomo dela Fuente-de Guzman (December 28, 1958 – March 30, 2021) was a Filipina singer. She achieved celebrity status in the late 1970s with the jukebox hit "Sayang" and was given the title "Asia's Sweetest Voice" because of her singing style. She was dubbed "the Karen Carpenter of the Philippines" because of her contralto's resemblance to that of Carpenter's. Her first album in 1978 was then the Philippines' biggest seller at the time of release. She went on to record seven more albums. Besides "Sayang", she was also known for hits like "Minsan-Minsan" and "Nakaw na Pag-ibig".
She was given the title "Queen of Tagalog Songs" alongside Rico J. Puno as her counterpart. She was also named "Jukebox Queen" together with her contemporaries Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio and Didith Reyes, and was also dubbed as "Asia's Sweetest Voice". She was a contralto.
She was also a successful businesswoman. She was the president of the Integrated Metropolitan Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), though her bus franchise was cancelled in 2011 for joining a nationwide transport strike.
In 1977, she teamed up with Eddie Rodriguez who wrote the song "Halik Sa Paa, Halik Sa Kamay" for an upcoming film starring Eddie Rodriguez and Vilma Santos.
Dela Fuente died on the morning of March 30, 2021, at the age of 62, due to cardiac arrest arising from complications of COVID-19. She was admitted to the Pope John Paul II Hospital and Medical Center in Las Piñas, where she had been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.
What does it taste like? I asked my Tito one sunny morning as I watched him sip from a small cup of steaming black liquid. He was sitting on the wooden bench in our kitchen, quietly enjoying the moment. I had no idea what it was called until he said, “Coffee.”
I remember him taking another sip before answering my question. “It tastes bitter,” he said, pausing for a moment. “Pero masarap.” His words lingered in the air as if the bitterness he described had a meaning far beyond the drink itself. “Matitikman mo rin ‘to pagtanda mo, ngayon gatas ka lang muna.”
When I was young, I wondered why grown-ups loved coffee so much. It seemed to be part of their lives in ways I couldn’t understand. In our home, coffee wasn’t just a drink; it was a ritual. Every morning, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee would fill the air, signaling the start of another day. Whether my dad was sipping it quietly at the dining table or my mom was preparing a cup for a visitor, coffee was always present.
MANILA, Philippines — Young artist Denise Julia is planning a defamation suit against celebrity photographer BJ Pascual and content creator Killa Kush following a viral issue involving all three parties.
The issue surfaced after Pascual referred to Julia as his "worst" work experience during Kush's podcast, citing her cancelation of a planned shoot.
Julia broke her initial social media detox to issue a response, sharing screenshots of conversations between her and Pascual's managers about a photoshoot that was expanded to include a music video, which ballooned the planned budget.
Pascual also posted screenshots feeling compelled to share additional information because what Julia had shown did not reflect the full context.
The two communicated following the podcast episode's release and the issue's eruption, expressing openness for a resolution after the holidays.
However, on Christmas Day, Julia appeared to reference comments made by Kush, with the singer posting on X (formerly Twitter) that she plans to meet her in court.
Among the comments addressed were alleged twisted narratives involving Kush, receipts Julia claimed were just Kush "trash-talking" behind her back, accusations of overusing Julia's name and photos for engagement at Kush’s events, and claims that Kush had asked to make out with her.
"Trash talks people in front of us but puts a smile on her face when she sees them, talking about love and light after milking my issue for a hate train, I could go on but I'll save that for court," Julia said.
Julia also shared an exchange with Kush, where she declared her intention to go to court: "Assuming you'd make a TikTok out of this too, I'll just add that to the lawsuit. So thanks in advance." Kush responded simply with gratitude and well wishes.
The singer also later reposted one of Pascual's screenshots post with a screen recording of their managers' conversations for full transparency.
"We went into this wanting to work with you — we're genuine fans and were so excited about the collaboration," she said. "From the very beginning, we were upfront about our budget and what we can afford to execute the music video, the Photoshoot, the album art, the trailer and press photos. I had moved my entire release date just to be able to work with you, out of respect for your time."
Julia said what hurt the most was seeing her character publicly attacked over something out of her control as it was a private business negotiation between their managers
"You targeted me to bring me down. I thought this was something we had agreed on to talk about in person. We are now in contact with our legal team about a defamation suit. I hate that this had to go this way when it didn't have to," Julia ended.
Berufstätige und Rentner müssen mehr ausgeben: Der Pflegebeitrag wird ab 2025 angehoben. Doch für Rentner besteht eine Besonderheit.
Berlin - Ab dem 1. Januar 2025 wird es eine erneute Erhöhung des Pflegebeitrags geben, das haben Bundestag und Bundesrat noch vor Weihnachten beschlossen. Vorangegangen waren Warnungen aus der Pflegekasse, die auf eine drohende Zahlungsunfähigkeit der Pflegeversicherung zu Beginn des Jahres hingewiesen hatten, sollten die Beiträge nicht steigen.
Die Erhöhung um 0,2 Prozentpunkte wurde von Bundesgesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) im November kurz nach dem Bruch der Ampel-Koalition angekündigt. Seinem Ministerium zufolge werden dadurch jährlich zusätzliche 3,7 Milliarden Euro generiert.
Regierungssprecher Steffen Hebestreit betonte bei der Bekanntgabe, es sei „notwendig, den Beitragssatz kurzfristig anzuheben, um die Zahlungsfähigkeit der Pflegeversicherung sicherzustellen“. Er fügte hinzu, dass die Finanzierung des Pflegesystems ein „drängendes Problem und eine immense Herausforderung“ darstelle und behauptete: „Eine große Pflegereform ist unumgänglich“. Das Ziel dieser Reform müsse es sein, die Pflegeversicherung „strukturell gut aufzustellen“.
Höhere Beiträge ab Januar für die Pflege: Tabelle zeigt die Erhöhung
Hier eine Übersicht über die Erhöhung des Pflegebeitrags:
Beitragssatz
Auswirkungen bei 2000 Euro Gehalt (brutto)
.... bei 2500 Euro
... bei 3000 Euro
... bei 4000 Euro
Pflegebeitrag Kinderlose 2025
4,2 %
- 84 Euro
- 105 Euro
- 126 Euro
- 168 Euro
Beitrag für Personen mit 1 Kind
3,6 %
- 72 Euro
- 90 Euro
- 108 Euro
- 144 Euro
Beitrag für Personen mit 2 Kindern
3,35 %
- 67 Euro
- 83,75 Euro
- 100,50 Euro
- 134 Euro
... mit 3 Kindern
3,1 %
- 62 Euro
- 77,50 Euro
- 93 Euro
- 124 Euro
... mit 4 Kindern
2,85 %
- 57 Euro
- 71,25 Euro
- 85,50 Euro
- 114 Euro
mit 5 oder mehr Kindern
2,6 %
- 52 Euro
- 65 Euro
- 78 Euro
- 104 Euro
Die Beiträge werden bei Erwerbstätigen zwischen Arbeitnehmer und Arbeitgeber aufgeteilt. Kinderlose zahlen einen zusätzlichen Beitrag von 0,6 Prozent alleine, also ohne Beteiligung des Arbeitgebers.
Für Rentner und Rentnerinnen gelten andere Regeln: Keine Erhöhung des Pflegebeitrags im Januar
Für Rentner und Rentnerinnen gelten andere Regelungen. Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) informiert, dass solche Beitragserhöhungen aus technischen Gründen immer nur zum 1. Januar oder zum 1. Juli berücksichtigt werden können. Dafür ist jedoch eine Vorlaufzeit von mindestens drei Monaten erforderlich – für den Jahresbeginn kam der Beschluss der Regierung dafür zu spät. Daher steht fest, dass Rentner und Rentnerinnen erst ab Juli die höheren Beiträge zahlen werden und nicht, wie alle anderen, schon ab Januar.
Rentner und Rentnerinnen müssen den Pflegebeitrag vollständig selbst tragen. Daher kommt auf sie eine höhere Belastung zu. Die DRV geht daher davon aus, dass die Rentenerhöhung um 0,1 Prozentpunkte höher ausfallen wird, um diese Belastung abzufedern und das Rentenniveau zu wahren. Die aktuelle Prognose sieht eine Rentenerhöhung von 3,6 Prozent vor.
Weniger Rente im Juli durch rückwirkende Zahlung der Pflegebeiträge
Wenn der höhere Pflegebeitrag im Juli 2025 erstmals auch von Rentnern und Rentnerinnen gefordert wird, wird er zeitgleich mit der Rentenerhöhung kommen. Die Pflegebeiträge werden dann rückwirkend für die Monate Januar bis Juli abgezogen. Das bedeutet, dass bei der Rentenerhöhung gleichzeitig 1,2 Prozent (6 x 0,2 Prozent) einbehalten werden, um die rückwirkenden Pflegebeiträge zu entrichten. Die erste Rentenerhöhung im Juli fällt daher 1,2 Prozent niedriger aus, bevor die Rentner und Rentnerinnen dann die Erhöhung wirklich spüren. Zur Veranschaulichung ein Beispiel:
Renate bezieht 2024 eine monatliche Brutto-Rente von 1100 Euro. Im netto zahlt ihr die DRV monatlich 895,40 Euro aus. Im Jahr 2025 gibt es eine Rentenerhöhung von 3,6 Prozent. Ihre Rente erhöht sich also um 39,60 Euro im Monat brutto. Allerdings spürt sie zum 1. Juli 2025 nicht die 39,60 Euro mehr, da ihr erstmal die Pflegebeiträge rückwirkend abgezogen werden. Bei 1100 Euro sind das 13,20 Euro, die die Rentenversicherung zusätzlich einbehält. Sie bekommt netto also im Juli 912,15 Euro ausgezahlt. Ab August sind es dann 925,35 Euro im Monat.
Rentner und Rentnerinnen zahlen in der Regel den Pflegebeitrag von Kinderlosen, da der niedrigere Beitrag für Personen mit Kindern nur solange gilt, bis diese 25 Jahre alt sind.
Ein Sprecher des GKV-Spitzenverbandes erklärte, die Erhöhung des Beitragssatzes verschaffe der Pflegeversicherung „nicht mehr als eine Atempause, die bestenfalls bis zum Ende des nächsten Jahres reicht“. Auch wenn derzeit „vieles politisch unklar ist, so ist heute schon sicher, dass die Reform der Pflegeversicherung im kommenden Jahr ganz oben auf die politische Agenda gehört.“
If you go by Facebook posts, coming both from ordinary netizens and informed film buffs, Isang Himala has created its own great little miracle.
Following the premiere of "Isang Himala" by Creazion Studio at SM North on Dec. 19, the industry is abuzz with stories about how beautiful, how wonderful, this re-imagination of the iconic 1982 film has turned around.
If you go by Facebook posts, coming both from ordinary netizens and informed film buffs, Isang Himala has created its own great little miracle. Those who have seen the film praise it for its soul, the stirring music, the deep emotions the characters and the story convey, and the lasting impact it leaves. Perhaps even the sense of nostalgia that it evokes. Three and more cheers go to its director, Pepe Diokno, who was named best director in last year’s MMFF for his work in Gomburza.
Based on the landmark film by Ishmael Bernal, Isang Himala is now seen through the eyes of Aicelle Santos as the new Elsa, the healer of barrio Cupang who becomes a national sensation after news about her capacity to heal people spreads like wildfire. Stepping into the highly challenging role originated by
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, Nora Aunor, the singer-actress, said she and the entire cast were energized when the superstar embraced them after watching the play in 2003 from which the film is based.
Nora Aunor is making a special cameo in"Isang Himala," which can be seen towards film’s end. Pepe Diokno said he didn't want to do the film without Aunor in it.
Pepe told ABS-CBN: “When she came in, couple of takes. Not just done, perfect. Watching her deliver, kung paano niya i-imbibe yung mga salita ni Sir Ricky (Lee), to see that process up close was just amazing.”
Pepe also said, his goal is not to get awards, but to give the audiences a new experience.
***
PASSERBY:
Equally getting good reviews are Green Bones, My Future You, and The Kingdom.
By far, it is said that all 10 entries in this year’s MMFF are quite good, a fine harvest of Filipino creativity.
Have you come across that story? The Philippines ranked third, following the United States and France, in a list of countries that loved to follow pornographic sites. Tailing us are Mexico and the United Kingdom.
In closing, let me greet our readers here at Manila Bulletin with a Happy New Year full of blessings and more opportunities!
At the end of her Instagram story, Denise mentioned that she would speak to BJ personally about what happened.
Denise Julia
Filipino R&B singer Denise Julia is finally addressing the controversy between her and celebrity photographer BJ Pascual.
The controversy began when BJ mentioned that Julia's team tried to cancel their scheduled shoot the night before it was set to take place. BJ decided to call off the shoot himself and paid the cancellation fees, according to the celebrity photographer during an appearance on Killa Kush podcast uploaded on YouTube.
Denise recalled on Instagram stories that her team had contacted BJ's team in May regarding a project. The "B.A.D." singer explained that BJ's team sometimes took a long time to respond, and ultimately, both sides could not reach an agreement on the budget.
"Despite us following up many times and not getting replies for weeks at a time, we were patient and pushed back our deadlines to accommodate BJ's schedule [because] we knew he was booked and busy," Denise explained. "I had to move my release date because I wanted to respect the fact that he was working and he had a lot of things to do."
Denise also shared screenshots of her conversation with BJ's manager.
"BJ's team did not get back to us about this budget despite my manager checking in and following up to make sure that the budget is doable to begin with because we can't really have a shoot date without us being sure if the budget is even feasible for them," she said.
"Because on our end, we understand if this is not something that they can work with. We would've pulled back immediately already from the start if they had only told us that this is not doable for them, that's not the price range that they can work with. We will respect that," Denise added.
The singer revealed that their initial budget of P650,000 was raised to P800,000 for the shoot, which included a music video. This was still less than the P1 million estimated by Pascual's team.
In the end, Denise explained that her manager was trying to "figure out ways to make [the shoot] work out for respect for BJ's team and their time and efforts" and said that her team didn't cancel the shoot.
"I know in the podcast they said I was the one who canceled the shoot, but in reality, my manager was still trying to make it work. He suggested pushing the shoot to a later date so that none of the team's efforts go to waste and also so that cancellation fees don't incur, but ultimately in the end, BJ's team, not us, canceled the shoot, citing the differences in our production processes," she said.
However, Denise took the blame for not reaching out to BJ after the incident happened.
"It was because I didn't know the extent of his frustrations until everything aired out on social media and it blew off of proportion. It is something that I will take with me as I move forward with work," she said.
At the end of her Instagram story, Denise mentioned that she would speak to BJ personally about what happened.
