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 group’s latest international release, “Blink Twice,” is a blend of excitement and confusion in waiting for a sign if one’s special feeling is reciprocated.
BINI has released its much-awaited single “Blink Twice,” which features playful lyrics, a catchy beat, and the group’s signature charm. The music video for “Blink Twice” is also now up on BINI Official YouTube channel.
The top-notch MV showcases BINI members Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena serving spirited moves and fresh looks in chic outfits and bold colors.
The group’s latest international release, “Blink Twice,” is a blend of excitement and confusion in waiting for a sign if one’s special feeling is reciprocated.
It was written by Amanda Ratchford, Pacific-Joshua Zagabe, Marqueze Parker, Darius Coleman, Pontus Kalm aka Oneye who has worked with BTS and Le Serrafim, and Steven Franks or Mr. Franks who has written songs for Ariana Grande and BLACKPINK. The single was produced by Oneye, Leather Jacket, Mr. Franks, and Glitch under ABS-CBN Music International.
BINI will be performing the song live for the first time at the “BINIverse World Tour: Philippines” to be held at the Philippine Arena this Saturday (Feb. 15).
Check out the newest single of the nation’s girl group, “Blink Twice” (https://orcd.co/bini_blinktwice), now available on music streaming platforms while its music video is available on BINI Official YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/PlySXiQDGsM).
Bridget Jones brings back her quirky mental monologues and entertains us with the same foul mouthed girlyness we all fell in love with.
A scene from 'Bridget Jones Diary: Mad About the Boy'
By Margaret Siytangco
She’s back and better than ever!
Bridget Jones brings back her quirky mental monologues and entertains us with the same foul mouthed girlyness we all fell in love with. The same cast is back, as in ALL OF THEM are back, and it’s a trip down memory lane. Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant, the three points that form everyone's favorite love triangle, are together again, and it’s such a warm feeling to see our old friends on screen.
I say old friends because they are. If you’ve watched the earlier Bridget movies, you’ll fall in love with each. To see them together on the same screen once again, in the same roles as they originated and inhabited for so long, it is like having a reunion of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., where we see them all just chilling and kicking back on that coffee shop couch.
They have some newcomers joining them. Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and these two add that little grin all women have when watching Bridget Jones.
From the moment she slid down the fireman’s pole to now, Bridget has been the most real woman you can find on screen. She’s messy, disorganized, witty, hopeful, awkward, and full of life. The theme, as always, is about love. Just perfect for Valentine's. I am celebrating this movie because it celebrates all kinds of love a woman goes through. Love felt as a daughter, as a friend, as lover, a wife, and as a mom. This movie brings it all and celebrates all of our ups and downs.
You’ll find yourself gasping, cringing, covering your mouth, feeling embarrassed for her. You’ll cheer and thrill as romance blooms, and you’ll cry as your heartstrings get tugged.
"Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" celebrates love. Just perfect for this year. If you’ve got a heart, you’ll love this one. Your heart needs this. Your inner me needs this movie.
NU is looking for another celebration-filled end to the UAAP volleyball season. (UAAP MEDIA)
Hey there sports fan,
Happy Valentine's Day!
How about we fill your volleyball-loving heart with even more excitement apart from the ongoing PVL All-Filipino Conference?
Before that, here's a trivia question: Jillian Santos, La Salle volleyball’s newest recruit, saw action in the US NCAA for what school? See the answer at the end of this email.
The UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament is set to deliver another thrilling season, and fans won’t have to wait much longer. With the league returning this February, excitement is already at an all-time high, with powerhouse teams preparing to battle for supremacy.
The NU Lady Bulldogs, the defending champions, are looking to extend their dominance, and head coach Sherwin Meneses is making sure his squad stays sharp and unfazed by the pressure. Meanwhile, last year’s runners-up, the La Salle Lady Spikers, are determined to reclaim the crown, with star Angel Canino promising to elevate her game even further.
The tournament is also shaping up to be a hope-filled one for the FEU Lady Tamaraws, as head coach Tina Salak is banking on an intact core to push her team into serious contention. Stability, after all, can be a big weapon if wielded right. And stability is something that USTcould be missing, however, asthe Golden Tigresses have suffered another tough blow with Xyza Gula ruled out for the season due to injury, a setback that will test the team’s depth early on.
Beyond individual team preparations, volleyball fans are in for a season packed with must-watch games and high-stakes matchups. The schedule is already out, with classic rivalries and exciting clashes lined up from the opening weekend.
From NU’s title defense to La Salle’s redemption bid, FEU’s steady climb, and UST’s resilience, Season 87 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet. Get ready for an action-packed ride—this year’s battle for the championship is about to begin!
Kathleen Dubberstein and Marc Pfister have been doing great in Harbin. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Meanwhile on Plus...
So, Petro Gazz is in a neat little run in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. They've got a firebrand scorer in Brooke Van Sickle, they work hard in practices and games and they have, well, boxes of donuts.
Also, Jema Galanza admits to struggling a bit with her game. And after catching fire in Creamline's recent win, she is determined to keep rolling.
What we're up to next:
The PBA Commissioner's Cup is heating up with the semifinals just around the corner so we'll be keeping tabs on that with features and game stories. We'll also track the PVL All-Filipino Conference and slowly ease up into the UAAP women's volleyball tournament. Gilas Pilipinas will also be seeing action in two upcoming windows so keep it here.
Number of the Week: 2
Referees suspended by the league on the heels of controversial calls during the Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I really like it whenever players truly want to play for a team, die for a team.”
—Alfrancis Chua, SMC Sports Director and Gilas Pilipinas team manager, on players eager to join the national program.
University of Illinois-Chicago. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports quiz? Head over to our Viber community and try the test out!
Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read.
See you next Friday!
Francis
Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).
BANANAS in all their different varieties (Photo from Unsplash)
Man has been eating bananas for thousands of years, consuming the first varieties, which were small and fully seeded. Over time, the fruits grew, developed various shapes and tastes, and became the most popular commercially grown tropical fruit.
Bananas have been a part of the Philippines' history since ancient times. The Philippines is one of the regions where bananas are thought to have originated and now is one of the exports supporting our economy. Various sources estimate our annual banana exports at between 3.5 million and 6 million tons of Cavendish bananas.
According to Philippine export data, the country shipped the most bananas to Japan, which recorded a share in value of 37%. The Philippines stood as the second-largest banana exporter in the world. For local consumption, Filipinos prefer Saba bananas, which are native to the country. Saba is the most popular type planted in home gardens and small farms because of its versatility as a main ingredient in many Pinoy dishes for breakfast, snacks and main courses.
Although there are dozens of banana varieties, only a handful are available in local markets; there are only two or three sold in supermarkets. Most Manileños are familiar only with señorita, lakatan, saba and Cavendish. Señorita is a must-buy for local and foreign tourists who visit Tagaytay. Visitors are attracted to the whole bunches of small yellow bananas neatly clinging in tight rows and selling for less than P100.
Cavendish bananas, developed for export and grown commercially in Mindanao, are like what Tagalogs of old called bungulan. The fruits are long and green and stay green even when ripe. Very aromatic, it is best used fully ripe, mashed for fritters, pancakes, muffins and banana bread.
Lakatan is the prettiest choice for fruit baskets and pasalubong. It is also the most expensive. It tastes best when slightly overripe, as indicated by tiny brown spots on the skin.
Lakatan has yellow skin and almost orange firm flesh. No wonder it is the most expensive fresh banana in the market.
Saba bananas are the most widely sold at all stages of ripeness. Some buyers prefer fully ripe saba; others prefer fruit that is almost ripe, while Visayans choose fruit that is really green to eat boiled instead of rice with salted fish called ginamos.
Saba fruit has high levels of nutrients, making it a good choice for consumption. It is rich in starch, with a carbohydrate content similar to a potato. It is also an excellent source of vitamins A, B and C and contains dietary fiber and iron. Saba fruit has its highest nutritional value when consumed raw.
Ripe bananas do not travel well; boiled bananas do. Throughout my long career as a journalist, I have depended on boiled bananas during stakeouts and long coverages. They do not need special packing, do not spoil, and are very filling and nutritious.
In my travels all over the Philippines, I still run into banana varieties I knew as a kid but that are now very rare: Gloria, morado and tindok. Gloria has yellow skin and white firm flesh that cuddles dozens of black seeds that resemble whole black pepper.
Morado has short, fat fruit protected by thick reddish skin.
Tindok fruits are large, more than a foot long and as fat as a baby's arm.
Perhaps it is time to focus our attention on our disappearing fruits, lest we find ourselves singing, "Yes, we have no bananas. We have no bananas today!"
