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!
“Be still and know that I am God,” the first half of Psalms 46:10, is a popular verse used to encourage believers to be still and silent before the Lord. This interpretation promotes a healthy rest in the presence of the Lord.
This command—“Be still…”—is written in a time of trouble and war; therefore, we should consider the verse with that context in mind. The phrase “Be still and know that I am God” calls us to pause and reflect. It reminds us that God is still in control no matter what happens in our lives.
Like many Bible verses, this one is often ripped from its context to declare something not intended in the passage itself. Well-meaning Christians may use this as a consolation in times of worry and frustration – as if God is saying, “relax, I got this.”
In other words: Be still and stop your running to and fro. Slow down. Slow down long enough!
We have been conditioned to feel guilty whenever we are not “productive.” Stillness, even for the purpose of rest or prayer, can feel like wasted time to someone who lives in a world that values wealth, competition, high productivity, full schedules, and general self-importance.
Why is it important to be still? Being still is like replenishing the stores. It allows us time and space. It gives us time and space to self-reflect and actually hear our thoughts.
Yes, we are living in a noisy and hectic world. We also become noisy and hectic, many times. No time for rewinding and turning off the daily din and racket. We all become noisy people and troublemakers. Have you noticed it already?
Making time for moments of stillness can have powerful mental health benefits.
Today, stillness can be hard to come by. There’s just so much going on. So much noise both inside and outside our brains, so many tasks on our to-do lists, and at least several screens within reach.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, stillness is “the quality of being quiet and not moving.”
Moments of stillness are possible even on the busiest of days. They are within our reach whenever we need them.
So many times, our relationships with partners, friends, relatives, work mates and neighbors get cracked.
Be still and know. Slow down long enough to hear God's voice too. There is indeed so much God if we only would slow down long enough to hear His voice. We are so overwhelmed with our earthly desires that all we think of is. Yes, God, I want You to do this for me, and I want it now!
What a fatal attraction! Learn to wait quietly on Him. When you begin to grasp something of our Lord's true greatness, you will be truly amazed.
Team Philippines represented by Joan at the Karate1 Youth League in A Coruña, Spain. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Joan Denise Lumbao proves you can master data and dominate a dojo before turning 21.
At 20, Joan juggles two degrees at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), one in data science and business administration, and the other in management information systems.
She’s also ranked 80th in the world in the under-21 category, and collects gold medals in karate like they’re extra credit.
The Philippine Sports Commission recognized Joan with a special citation at their 2025 All-Women Sports Awards. But behind the medals and modules is a young woman who’s constantly fine-tuning her craft.
Joan Denise Lumbao, at 18, the youngest member of the Philippine National Karate Team
At 4 years old, Joan’s first martial arts inspiration came not from a sensei, but from animation.
“I was 4 when I watched ‘Kung Fu Panda’ with my parents, and I loved it so much, it made me want to learn martial arts. Still my favorite film,” she said.
She finally got her wish at 7 and never looked back. “I stuck to it because I enjoyed it so much. It was fun. Simple as that.”
Unlike the usual parent-push scenario, Joan drove the decision herself. “I asked them to enroll me. I think it’s more common for parents to pick sports for their kids, but that wasn’t the case for me. I’m super thankful they supported me. None of this would’ve been possible without them.”
For her, karate wasn’t just kicks and forms, but a lifestyle philosophy. The mantra of her club, the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK), “Excellence is a habit,” shaped her work ethic. “That mindset trained me to give 100 percent in everything, even at 7.”
Team AAK before the awarding ceremony at the 2024 Southeast Asian Championships
She applies the same precision to schoolwork that she brings to a sparring match.
“In karate, how you pull your fist or how wide your stance is matters. That attention to detail bleeds into how I study. I don’t just memorize; I experiment. I’m a complete beginner in programming, so I write review files and try different ways to understand code that makes sense for me,” she said.
Lifestyle decisions
Her background in data science also shaped how she makes lifestyle decisions—literally. In her reply, she wrote the Python code for this (translating for newsprint): “If I have sugar at night, my internal code runs: Wake up to pee at 3 a.m. No sugar? Good sleep, good recovery. Simple logic. It’s funny, but coding helps me visualize choices.”
Joan calls BS on the romanticized version of student-athlete life. “Time management is a mindset marathon. If you don’t want to do something, you’re not going to find time for it.”
Her approach is grounded and refreshingly real. “Sometimes the best thing you can do is rest. If I have a test the next morning, I won’t stay up until 1 a.m. If I don’t get it at 11 p.m., I won’t get it two hours later either. So I sleep. Sleep is part of the plan.”
She’s clear about priorities, but she’s not rigid. “I try to be fully present in whatever I’m doing. If I’m in school, I need to absorb what I can; otherwise, I’ll just have to learn it again later. But even then, I can’t forget I’m an athlete. So yeah, no greasy cafeteria food before training.”
Gold medal at the 2024 Southeast Asian Championships held in Bangkok
PE classes
Added Joan, “The idea that we just wake up early, train, go to school, come home late, do homework until midnight, repeat … It’s only half true. What no one talks about is recovery.”
She stressed that recovery isn’t a reward; it’s part of the grind. Sleep and food fuel the wins just as much as training does.
“Also, people think student-athletes get excused from stuff. I’m on the national team. Still, I had to attend PE classes in Poveda like everyone else.”
She credits her academic environment for being part of her success. “I’m lucky. AIM is super supportive of my schedule. My classmates have been the kind who’ll send me notes or help me catch up. That kind of community? It makes a huge difference.”
Joan doesn’t pretend to be superhuman, but she knows where the real limits are. “People think the body gives up first. It doesn’t. Your mind does. As long as I’m still upright and questioning myself, I know I’ve got more reps in me. Doubt means you’ve still got gas in the tank. Because when your body’s really done, you’ll hit the floor. You’ll throw up. That’s your edge. If you’re not there yet, you can still push.”
Lasting friendships built from sports: Joan and Sakura Alforte, Southeast Asian Games 2023 Gold Medalist and Asian Games 2023 Bronze Medalist
And what fuels her in those moments? “I remind myself of the goal. I want to be on that podium, hear the national anthem, and bring home gold. That’s what keeps me going.”
Despite the surprise people express when they find out she’s managing all of this, Joan shrugs it off. “There aren’t really weird assumptions—just people surprised I can manage my time. The double degree shocks them.”
As for what defines success, for Joan, a gold medal isn’t just hardware; it’s proof of all the little right decisions she made. “But to get there, you need to win the small things: sleep early, skip fast food, get your reps in. The medal is just the end product.”
Ten years from now, Joan hopes her younger self has no regrets. “I want to be able to look back and say, that was fun. I hope I made Filipinos proud. Every time I compete with the flag on my chest, I feel that weight—and it’s an honor.”
Would she change anything? “Nothing. Karate is a journey. It’s physical, but it’s also art. You start with a bow. Then you learn to punch, to block, to kick. Eventually, you go deeper—you study the history, the lineage. It’s a beautiful process of discovery.”
And if you’re thinking of following in her footsteps? “There’s no such thing as ‘too young’ to start. Anyone can do karate. You just have to begin.”
Der Konzern Meta will mithilfe öffentlicher Facebook- und Instagram-Inhalte, seine KI trainieren. Wer das nicht will, sollte jetzt handeln.
Frankfurt – Ab dem 27. Mai 2025 will der Techkonzern Meta alle öffentlich sichtbaren Inhalte auf Facebook und Instagram für das Training seiner Künstlichen-Intelligenz-Systeme, wie etwa Meta AI, verwenden. Dazu zählen unter anderem öffentliche Posts, Kommentare, Fotos, Bildunterschriften, sowie Profilinformationen. Private Inhalte, wie etwa persönliche Nachrichten, sind davon ausgenommen. Darüber informiert Meta in seiner Erläuterung zur Verwendung von Informationen für
Widerspruch gegen Meta KI einlegen: So können Sie Ihre Daten schützen
Wer nicht möchte, dass seine Inhalte für das KI-Training verwendet werden, hat nur noch bis zum 26. Mai Zeit, Widerspruch einzulegen. Facebook und Instagram bieten dafür ein Formular im eingeloggten Bereich an. Nutzerinnen und Nutzer müssen eine E-Mail-Adresse angeben, an die Meta die Bestätigung des Widerspruchs senden kann. Zusätzlich besteht die Möglichkeit, einen Grund für den Widerspruch anzugeben – das ist jedoch freiwillig. Das Formular findet sich in den Einstellungen unter dem Punkt Datenschutzrichtlinie.
Nach dem 26. Mai ist ein Widerspruch zwar weiterhin möglich, gilt dann jedoch nur noch für Inhalte, die nach dem Zeitpunkt des Widerspruchs veröffentlicht werden. Inhalte, die bereits für das KI-Training genutzt wurden, können nicht mehr entfernt werden.
Verbraucherzentrale kritisiert Meta KI scharf: Warnung vor Verstoß gegen Datenschutzrecht
Die Verbraucherzentrale kritisiert Meta für diese Maßnahme und sieht darin einen Verstoß gegen europäisches Datenschutzrecht. In Nordrhein-Westfalen hat der Verein sogar einen Eilantrag auf einstweilige Verfügung gestellt, um das KI-Training mit Nutzerdaten zu stoppen. Das Oberlandesgericht Köln hat den Antrag zwar abgelehnt, doch die Verbraucherzentrale prüft derzeit weitere rechtliche Schritte.
„Mit dem Antrag auf einstweilige Verfügung wollen wir verhindern, dass Meta Fakten schafft, bevor die Rechtslage geklärt ist. Sind die Daten erst einmal für KI verwendet worden, ist ein Rückruf kaum noch möglich“, erklärte Christine Steffen, Datenschutzexpertin der Verbraucherzentrale NRW gegenüber der Tagesschau. Meta weist die Vorwürfe zurück. Meta AI seit März in der EU verfügbar.
Nicht nur Transportmittel oder öffentliche Einrichtungen müssen barrierefrei sein, bald auch Websites. Eine Untersuchung deckt erhebliche Mängel auf.
Kassel – Der 28. Juni ist für Tausende Unternehmen ein wichtiges Datum. Dann müssen ihre Websites vollständig barrierefrei sein. Ist das bis dahin nicht der Fall, drohen ernste Konsequenzen. Eine Untersuchung zeigt, dass noch enormer Nachholbedarf besteht. In Deutschland ist es mit der Barrierefreiheit ohnehin nicht weit her.
Der Telefon- und Bürodienstleister ebuero hat Websites quer durch alle Branchen analysiert: Ärzte, Apotheken, Universitäten, Onlineshops, Stadtverwaltungen, sogar Fußballvereine der Bundesliga, um nur einige zu nennen. Das Ergebnis ist ernüchternd. Nur 6,5 Prozent der untersuchten Seiten erreichten vollständige Barrierefreiheit, wie die ebuero- Studie zeigt.
Tausenden Websites droht Abschaltung – Richtlinie zu Barrierefreiheit nicht umgesetzt
„Eine barrierefreie Website ist kein Luxus, sondern eine Notwendigkeit – für Menschen mit und ohne Einschränkungen. (…) Gleichzeig erfüllt sie rechtliche Vorgaben und zeigt, dass ein Unternehmen Verantwortung übernimmt“, bewertete Laura Keddi, VP Markeng und Customer Success von ebuero AG, das Ergebnis gegenüber IPPEN.MEDIA.
Knapp 30 Prozent erreichten eine hohe, aber nicht vollständige Barrierefreiheit. Zwischen den Branchen sind die Unterschiede teils erheblich. So schnitten Online-Apotheken, E-Mail-Provider und Ärzte am schlechtesten ab. Weitaus besser da stehen Universitäten, Stadtverwaltungen, ÖPNV, Anwälte und Onlineshops.
Webseiten müssen ab Ende Juni 2025 vollständig barrierefrei sein
Betreiber, deren Websites nicht vollständig barrierefrei sind, stehen unter Druck. Ab 28. Juni 2025 gilt die gesetzliche Verpflichtung gemäß EU-Richtlinien und nationalen Vorgaben. So müssen etwa bei Bildern ausreichend beschreibende Alternativtexte angeboten oder die Bedienbarkeit der Webseite mit der Tastatur gewährleistet werden.
Ein Auge darauf haben Marktüberwachungsbehörden, die Nachbesserungen anordnen können. Wer Verstöße gegen die Barrierefreiheit wiederholt ignoriert, riskiert ein hohes Bußgeld. Im schlimmsten Fall droht die Abschaltung der Website. Eine Umstellung wegen einer neuen EU-Richtlinie bekamen zuletzt bereits Kunden von Mobilfunkanbietern zu spüren. (mt)
WHAT reassuring words Christ was addressing to his disciples, and now to us! While it is a given that we will have all kinds of sorrows in this life, we should avoid falling into a state of sadness that can only mean that we are not with Christ, that we do not believe him.
But if by our faith we stick to this promise of Christ, we know that our sorrows indeed will become joy that will also give us peace, a peace that is not of the worldly kind, but one that comes from Christ himself.
We need to know the real nature and character of this virtue of joy, now facing possible extinction amid the complicated air of modern times. It sadly has suffered many distortions lately such that its common understanding is now quite off the mark.
We also need to update our ability to develop and strengthen it, realistically factoring elements that now define our lives, as well as acquiring the relevant skills and art to effectively tackle our tricky times.
We cannot remain at the superficial level, restricting joy as a function only of biological, emotional, social causes, etc. Joy has deeper roots that go all the way to our Creator. We need to realize this truth more deeply, and do all, helping one another, to work out the proper mentality and culture of joy for one and all.
As such, joy has an eminently spiritual and supernatural nature. To develop it, we need faith, hope and charity, we need to pray and appreciate and live the value of sacrifice, and everything else that go with these elements.
It has to go all the way to the theological level as well as to the most cutting-edge practical skills we can get. The complexities and challenges of our times demand nothing less.
We have to wean ourselves from that childish notion that joy is just an emotional thing or some chemical or biological phenomenon that can be affected by certain drugs, potions and therapeutic exercises. Joy is neither just a matter of character or temperament.
Not that these things do not contribute anything. They do, and we need to give due consideration to their objective good effects as well as to the objective needs and conditions, both good and bad, of our body in all their aspects.
But we have to understand that they only play a secondary and instrumental role. They are useless if they are not attached to the real source of joy, and that’s nothing less than God himself.
Without God, these elements have no other way but to sooner or later succumb to our weaknesses, to the temptations around and eventually to death. With God, we can always find ways to go on and ultimately enter into eternal life.
Certainly, we need to be very discerning in knowing the actual state and conditions of our life insofar as the virtue of joy as a goal is concerned. We have to be very practical on how to go about developing it, doing the usual give-and-take that is unavoidable.
But we have to learn first how to be theological in developing and living our Christian joy. Thus, we need to see the example of Christ, trying to enter into his mind and heart, such that our thoughts and even our feelings can reflect the thoughts and feelings of Christ himself.
We have to convince ourselves that it is only in him that we find true joy and peace. It’s in his heart where we can find the way and strength to grapple with any trial and difficulty, and to derive some good from evil.
The Vatican launched the @Pontifex handle in 2012 during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. It now comes in a variety of nine languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic, and Latin -- and counts a combined 52 million followers.
Pope Leo XIV leaves the Augustinian General House in Rome after a visit, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has taken over the Vatican's official social media handles, with a first Instagram post on Tuesday repeating the first words he said to the world as pope: "Peace be with you all!"
The @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV post featured some of the photos that have documented the first days of history's first American pope.
The Vatican said it was archiving the posts from Pope Francis ' 12-year papacy. On X, the new account didn't appear to be active Tuesday.
Past popes didn't actually send the posts, which were curated by the Vatican.
The former Cardinal Robert Prevost occasionally posted on X in an account started in 2011. It had been dormant since July 2023 but came back to life earlier this year to share criticism of Trump administration migration policies and comments by Vice President JD Vance.
Pope Leo XIV leaves the Augustinian General House in Rome after a visit, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported a surge in scams flooding Instagram and Facebook. According to WSJ, an internal analysis by Meta revealed that 70 percent of newly active advertisers on its platforms were promoting scams or low-quality products. The culprits? Fraud rings operating from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The scale of fraud on Meta’s platforms is expanding, driven by advances in AI, cryptocurrency, and organized crime networks. While regulators and financial institutions are urging stricter enforcement, Meta appears hesitant to disrupt its advertising business. Despite recognizing the issue, Meta has deprioritized scam enforcement, allowing repeat offenders to accumulate multiple violations before facing a ban.
Scammers employ various deceptive strategies to target users. Here are some of the most prevalent methods:
Phishing scams: Fraudsters impersonate Instagram support, sending messages like, "Your account has been flagged for suspicious activity. Click this link to verify your identity." The link leads to a fake login page designed to steal credentials.
Fake giveaways and lotteries: A scam account mimics a popular brand and announces, "Congratulations! You’ve won our giveaway. Just pay a small shipping fee to claim your prize." Once the victim sends the money, the scammer vanishes.
Investment and crypto scams: Flashy posts promise, "Turn $500 into $5,000 in just a week! DM us to start investing." Victims send money, but the promised returns never materialize.
Romance scams: Scammers build relationships with victims over weeks or months before suddenly claiming, "I need money for an emergency medical procedure. Can you help?" Once funds are sent, the scammer disappears.
Fake job offers: Ads promote lucrative work-from-home opportunities like, "Earn $2,000 a week with no experience!" Applicants are asked to pay for training materials or provide personal details, only to realize the job doesn’t exist.
Blackmail and extortion: Known as “sextortion,” scammers manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information or images, then demand payment to prevent exposure. A scammer might pose as a potential romantic interest, gain the victim’s trust, and encourage them to share private content. Once they have compromising material, they issue threats: "Pay up, or I'll expose your personal content to friends, family, or the public."
These scams thrive on urgency, emotional manipulation, and impersonation to deceive users. Staying vigilant and verifying sources before engaging can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fraudulent schemes. (totingbunye2000@gmail.com)
Lover Boy (LB) and Alluring Woman (AW) were an unlikely pair, which made their partnership interesting. Both are smart, which probably was an added attraction.
Despite speculations, LB and AW never disclosed their relationship to the public. The non-disclosure puzzled many because neither of them have someone who would have hindered their union. In addition, AW hardly posted about LB.
It was only after some time that hints were dropped about LB and AW being in a relationship. LB would be seen in family gatherings of AW.
AW was radiant and kibitzers knew she was happy and inspired. AW completed her life goals with LB’s encouragement. Even her family members seemed to be in favor of LB for her. Thus, many wished they were each other’s forever.
Recently, the grapevine started to buzz that LB and AW were over. For undisclosed reasons, the two have allegedly called it quits, adding themselves to the list of showbiz couples who broke up this year.
But what caused the split? Did LB decode to focus on matters concerning his professional future? He is facing a controversy that could affect his reputation and what he had built. Or did the pronouncement of someone in AW’s past created ripples that damaged her relationship with LB?
‘If you face problems, face reality, even when it's hard, even when what you're saying is an ugly truth, sometimes you can wake up faster and do something to make things better.’ — Max Cavalera
Not so perfect
In the entertainment world, finding a relationship is easy but keeping it forever is not. Yet, fewer showbiz personalities do find love with non-showbiz individuals.
When Secretive Entertainer (SE) was building her reputation and growing into her career, reporters pried into her love life instead of her professional achievements.
At the time, SE showed a side that was uncommon – she stuck to an earlier decision to keep her mouth shut.
SE, unlike her contemporaries who were all-too willing to open about their love life, soon gained a reputation for being difficult. SE kept her stand and remained consistent. That is, until she introduced a Non-Showbiz man (NS) to her public.
NS won her heart, to the delight of the media. SE and NS tied the knot and raised a family. Given that NS was not part of the entertainment world, he was not as exposed to never-ending inquiries. Through the years, SE and NS were assumed to be living in domestic bliss.
Soon, SE and NS were hardly seen in society pages and seeing them together became infrequent. Consistently, SE kept quiet about her family life. No one dared to ask her about her relationship with NS. Given that NS was a private, non-showbiz personality, no one sought an update. Rumors have it that he has already moved on from SE.
Meanwhile, SE has also pursued professional endeavors and kept her private life away from her public persona. The setback has made her seemingly perfect world, imperfect, but SE has more than enough from her past to fill up the imperfection of her then relationship.
‘We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.’ — Walt Disney
Follow @FashionPulis on Twitter and @fashionpulis on Instagram. Please continue to send your comments and juicy stories to fashionpulis2023@gmail.com. Thank you very much for loving www.fashionpulis.com. Till next Sunday...
THIS is the unmistakable mark of true love, one that channels the very love of God of whom we are his image and likeness, meant to share in his very life and nature. Irrespective of how things go in our life, whether they are going up or down in human terms, as long as we have that true love, the taste of love will always be sweet.
And the basis for this assertion is the truth of our faith that defines true love not only in human terms but also and most especially in spiritual and supernatural terms. True love is not only natural, subject only to the laws of nature which cannot help, given our wounded condition due to our sin, to bear the baggage of the infranatural.
This spiritual and supernatural love can transcend whatever temporal condition we might be in. As St. Paul once said, this kind of love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor 13,7) And given the current conditions in the world, we truly need this love to survive all the trials and challenges in our life.
The challenge we have here is how to have this kind of love and how to keep it going all day and all the time. For this, we should always find ways of how to keep going our relationship with God who is the very essence, source and power of love.
Let’s remember that when God created man, he entered into a personal relationship with us precisely because we have been created by him to be his image and likeness, to be a person, and not just a thing, a plant or animal, with whom we can share his very life and nature.
As we often hear, we, among God’s creatures, are not just something. We are a someone, a person, with intelligence and will. It is with us, together with the angels, that God establishes a personal relationship. We have to learn how to do our part in corresponding to this God-initiated relationship.
For our part, we should just find ways of how we can keep that relationship alive and vibrant, able to feel the reassuring will and ways of God. Only then can we manage the sweetness of love despite the varying conditions and situations of our life here on earth.
We should come up with the appropriate strategy to deal with this condition of our life, some kind of structure or system that can guide us irrespective of the changing circumstances of our daily life. This structure or system should be made up of some practices of piety that would keep our spiritual and supernatural bearing intact as we navigate the seas and oceans of our life.
These practices of piety should be the basic ones like a time for prayer, recourse to the sacraments especially the holy eucharist and confession, some devotions like the praying of the holy rosary, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and other practices like regular examinations of conscience, presence of God all throughout the day making use of human devices, etc.,
Everyday, we have to tweak this system to adapt it to the peculiar conditions of the day. In this regard, it is also good to consider our concrete physical, emotional and mental conditions, so we would somehow know what to do when their strong and weak points would impact on the different events of the day. Not all days are the same. There are what we call ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days.
.jpg)
.jpg)