What are some German foods that might surprise foreigners, and why aren't they more widely known outside Germany?

Volker Eichener

Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf

I start with venison. According to French chef Jean-Claude Bourgueil (2 Michelin stars) Germany has the world’s best venison, due to strong qualification requirements for hunters who also care for the animals in wintertime. In historic times, venison was reserved for nobility, today it is still a food for special occasions and holidays. The finest (and most expensive) venison comes from the roe deer.

Roe deer with juniper sauce

Then, fish. Somehow, foreign tourists overlook how much fish is eaten in Germany - partly because they are gravitating to Bavaria which is pretty far from the North Sea and the Baltic sea. Here a few German fish dishes:

Büsum-style shrimp bread

Matjes Hausfrauenart (marinated raw herring with cream, onions and apples), here served with fried potatoes

Brathering (fried herring), pickled

Hamburger Aalsuppe (eel soup), tastes like liquid smoke

Pike-perch

Dover-sole rolls

Plaice, Finkenwerder style (with bacon):

Some more dishes:

Leipziger Allerlei: mixed vegetables with crayfish, a very traditional dish

Königsberger Klopse (meatballs with capers), hugely popular in Germany

Or stews? Germans love stews, but I doubt that many tourists try them.

Barley stew

Lentil stew

Grünkohl (kale), missed by most tourists because it is a winter dish

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The search for the next Miss Grand Philippines concludes tonight

 

Miss Grand Filipino Community in Canada Jasmine Garner, Miss Grand Nueva Ecija Alyssa Marie Geronimo and Miss Grand Pampanga Emma Mary Tiglao.

Photo from the Miss Grand Philippines Facebook page

Jerry Donato - The Philippine Star 

August 25, 2025 | 12:00am

The preliminary round of Miss Grand Philippines 2025 showcases the candidates in their creative cultural costumes. These ladies have made an impressive performance in this segment. The prelim segments, such as swimwear and evening gown, determine a select few who will compete in the succeeding round come the finale.

Twenty-nine ladies, who are all equally confident and stunning, will vie for the title of Miss Grand Philippines 2025 tonight at 7, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza as the reigning Miss Grand Philippines and Miss Grand International. If Lady Luck is on her side from the national level to the international scene, the eventual winner is going to make a historic back-to-back win for the country.

However, what’s certain to happen is only one will be named the Philippine representative at the Thailand-based beauty pageant.

Aside from aiming for the Miss Grand Philippines title, select women may take home the following titles: Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas, Face of Beauty Philippines and Miss Asia-Pacific International.

The venue is the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Last week, the same number of contestants showed up and participated in the Miss Grand Philippines’ charity gala and preliminary competition, which determined the semi-finalists or the few from the many who will proceed to the next round of competition come the finale, whicth is tonight.

The prelims saw this year’s official contestants in their awe-inspiring, pop culture-and-historically rooted and visual narrative creative costumes.

Each successfully piqued one’s interest instantly and engaged in giving it a second and closer look.

From that fun and energetic segment, the ladies displayed how fit and healthy they were in the swimwear part. They strutted the stage with a distinct way of presentation that displayed their confidence.

Miss Grand Quezon City Nikki Buenafe Cheveh, Miss Taguig City Michelle Arceo and Miss Grand Zambales Anita Rose Gomez.

Photos from the Miss Grand Philippines Facebook page

And then, the evening gown bit came, and it showcased the contestants’ elegance and also personality.

Speaking of the latter, the venue crowd also had a sense of it during the introduction part, the Miss Grand International way.

The dancing and performing of Run the World (Girls) by the candidates were superb.

If the Miss Grand Philippines preliminary competition was any indication of what’s in store for the public in the finale, the latter promises to be an enjoyable and well-put-together showcase.

At this point of the pageant, each contestant is excited to know if she will make it to the first round and will do her best to secure a spot in the next level.

Among the 29 bets, these ladies may be considered the ones that have a chance to win it: Miss Grand Bicolandia Margarette Briton, Davao Region Angeleyh Pasco, Filipino Community in Canada Jasmine Garner, Nueva Ecija Alyssa Marie Geronimo, Pampanga Emma Mary Tiglao, Poblacion, Muntinlupa Anne Maureen Pasco, Quezon City Nikki Buenafe Cheveh, Taguig City Michelle Arceo, Tarlac Province Mary Rose Grande, Valenzuela City Dianne Cabatulan and Zambales Anita Rose Gomez.

But a candidate — or candidates — could spring a surprise tonight and win the panel of judges’ nod. One thinks it all boils down to this: the lady should do her homework well and deliver an impressive presentation and performance. She has to embody beauty, brains and (good) behavior, plus business, which pertains to her potential or growth as an entrepreneur or an artist, to name a few, encompassing innovativeness and creativity, as one may put it.

Good luck, girls. Win or lose, they will carry on to pursue their pageant aspirations.

Eala guaranteed P8.7 million for US Open first round win

 

Ralph Edwin Villanueva - Philstar.com

August 25, 2025 | 3:34pm

Eala guaranteed P8.7 million for US Open first round win

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 24: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates match point against Clara Tauson of Denmark during their Women's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from the wealth of experience at the US Open, Alex Eala also has, well, wealth to bring home after her historic Grand Slam win.

Eala barged into the next round of the 2025 US Open after outlasting World No. 14 Clara Tauson in their round of 128 matchup early Monday morning (Manila time), 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11).

The Filipina won the first set, 6-3, before succumbing in the second set against her opponent from Denmark, 6-2.

In the third set, she trailed 1-5 and was about to have an early exit from the final Grand Slam tournament of the year. But she dug out of the hole and outlasted Tauson to punch a ticket to the round of 64.

With her first round win, Eala is assured of at least $154,000, or P8.7 million.

This, thanks to the largest prize pot in tennis history.

This year’s US open total prize pot rose to a whopping $90 million, or about P5.1 billion.

Those who bow out of the competition in the singles’ first round, such as Tauson, will not go home empty-handed. They will bring home $110,000, or about P6.2 million.

If Eala wins in the next round, she will be assured of at least $237,000, or P13.4 million.

Those who reach the round of 16 will be assured of at least $400,000 (P22.6 million); quarterfinals, $660,000 (37.3 million); semifinalists, $1.26 million (P71.3 million); and the runner-up, $2.5 million (P141.6 million).

The grand champion of the singles’ tournament will take home $5 million, or P283.2 million.

After her two-hour 36 minute marathon against Tauson, the Filipina will be back in action on Wednesday, as she awaits the winner between Cristina Bucsa and Claire Liu.

PH tourism at gunpoint

BY INQUIRER EDITORIAL

AUGUST 26, 2025

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Tourism thrives on image, and regrettably, the image of the Philippines now projected abroad is not of white sand beaches and warm, friendly people but of tourists mugged in broad daylight or gunned down in cold blood in the streets of Metro Manila.

The lesson for the Department of Tourism (DOT) is that advertising can only do so much. Warranted or not, no amount of marketing can trump the fear of falling victim to crooks or hired guns carrying out their mission with chilling ease in the nation’s capital.

Based on police accounts, a masked man fatally shot two unnamed Japanese nationals on Malvar Street in Manila’s red-light district of Malate at about 10:40 p.m. in Aug. 15. The victims, aged 41 and 53, were alighting from a taxi when they were approached by the assailant, who was accompanied by another man on a motorcycle nearby. Two suspects were arrested three days later and charged with murder, while a third was still being pursued, the Manila Police District (MPD) said in a statement.

Japanese mastermind

Investigators learned that a Japanese national who went by “Boss” had offered the Filipino suspects P9 million to kill his two compatriots, according to MPD spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines. Conveniently, the identities of the third assailant and the suspected Japanese mastermind weren’t disclosed or remain unknown.

One might be skeptical of the police’s claim, but even if true, the foreigner’s alleged involvement is beside the point. It doesn’t erase the fact that it happened here. Nor does it erase how brazenly the perpetrators committed the crime, as though swaggering with the confidence that they could escape justice at any time.

Meanwhile, the pair of Japanese tourists weren’t the only victims. In May, two South Koreans were held at gunpoint and robbed of their luxury bags in Taguig’s polished, cosmopolitan enclave of BGC, or Bonifacio Global City.

The South Korean government expressed alarm, noting that such attacks were happening “frequently in Metro Manila… without regard for time or place,” according to a post on the website of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Travel Safety.

If even BGC, long regarded as one of Metro Manila’s few crime-free bubbles, is no longer safe, then where can tourists stay there?

Dramatic rebound

Such erosion of public safety in the National Capital Region—or even the appearance of it—could not have come at a worse time. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has trumpeted the travel industry’s dramatic rebound, reporting that in January alone, revenues hit P65.3 billion, a figure that surpassed pre-pandemic levels and signaled how tourism had become a crucial pillar of economic stability and growth.

The Philippines welcomed more than 2.9 million international visitors in the first half of the year. Over the years, South Korea, the United States, and Japan have accounted for the top arrivals, with each tourist representing food on the table for families dependent on jobs in hotels, restaurants, transport, and local crafts.

But the country lags far behind its neighbors like Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The DOT has itself admitted it is fighting a regional battle for tourist attention with “nothing but a plastic bullet,” its branding budget slashed to a fraction of what its rivals spend. What meager resources remain for marketing are now undermined by the very thing no ad campaign can fix: the perception that visitors can never feel truly safe in the Philippines.

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The authorities, however, will try to tell a different story. In May, the National Capital Region Police Office congratulated itself for a 23-percent drop in focus crimes, or serious offenses like murder, rape and robbery, over the past six months.

Third-rate law enforcement

The NCRPO said it recorded 779 fewer incidents of focus crimes from Nov. 23, 2024 to May 23, 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Yet such gains are bound to be overshadowed by reports of tourists being preyed on by criminals in the capital, where police presence is supposedly highest. How will travelers take notice of the country’s world-class destinations when the first thing they hear about it is its third-rate law enforcement?

Last Saturday was the 15th anniversary of the 2010 Manila hostage crisis, which claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists and the policeman hostage-taker. The memory of that incident may have faded but the lawlessness that gave rise to it has not. In this environment, no branding campaign or tourism slogan will work. For tourism to remain a robust driver of economic growth, the Marcos administration must grasp the obvious: Safety is the first and most indispensable form of advertising.

Unless the government can guarantee that visitors will be able to roam the streets without fear of being mugged or ending up in the morgue, the catchphrase “Love the Philippines” will always sound like sarcasm to local and foreign ears.

All rivers, streams in Metro Manila may be affected by flooding — PAGASA

 

(MB FILE PHOTO)

By Jel Santos

Published Aug 26, 2025 12:12 am

All rivers and streams in Metro Manila may be affected by flooding as light to moderate rains and thunderstorms are expected in the region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned Monday night, August 25.

In its General Flood Advisory No. 1 issued at 9:45 p.m., PAGASA said that “all rivers and streams in Metro Manila” are likely to be affected.

The state weather bureau explained that as of 3 p.m., the low-pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was located 290 kilometers northeast of Maasin City, Southern Leyte, or 130 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

It added that the LPA, together with the southwest monsoon, is affecting the western section of Southern Luzon.

With this, the agency reminded residents near mountain slopes and low-lying areas, as well as disaster officials, to be on alert. 

“People living near the mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned river systems and the local disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are advised to take necessary precautionary measures,” it said.

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that classes at all levels and government work in Metro Manila and several provinces would be suspended on Tuesday, August 26, due to the expected heavy rains.

LPA inside PAR has 'medium' potential to develop into tropical depression, says PAGASA

 (PHOTO: DOST-PAGASA FACEBOOK PAGE)

By Jel Santos

Published Aug 25, 2025 11:51 pm

A low-pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a “medium” potential of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said Monday night, August 25. 

Should the system strengthens into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it will assign it the name “Jacinto.”

“As of 8 p.m. today, 25 August 2025, the Low Pressure Area (LPA 08f) still being monitored inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It has a ‘MEDIUM’ potential of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours,” PAGASA reported.

The LPA, along with the southwest monsoon, is expected to bring heavy rains in several provinces in Luzon and Visayas. 

In its Weather Advisory No. 7 issued at 11 p.m., PAGASA said “heavy rainfall outlook due to Low Pressure Area (LPA)” from tonight until Tuesday evening may reach 50 to 100 millimeters in Aurora, Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.

By Tuesday evening until Wednesday evening, August 27, PAGASA said the same rainfall range will affect Aurora, Bulacan, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.

Meanwhile, the agency said the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will bring 50–100 millimeters of rain over Palawan and Antique tonight until Tuesday evening, expanding to Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, and Negros Occidental from Tuesday evening until Wednesday evening. 

By Wednesday evening until Thursday evening, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro will continue to see heavy rains, it added.

The agency warned that “forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas."

"Moreover, impacts in some areas may be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall," it added.

PAGASA urged residents and local disaster officials to prepare for possible floods and landslides. 

“The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property,” it said.

Emma Mary Tiglao of Pampanga crowned Miss Grand International Philippines 2025

 

Newscaster and seasoned beauty queen Emma Mary Tiglao of Pampanga was crowned Miss Grand International Philippines 2025 at the finals night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday, Aug. 24.

By Annalyn S. Jusay

Published Aug 25, 2025 08:08 am

The 30-year-old stunner bested 28 other aspirants for the title and will represent the Philippines in the 13th Miss Grand International pageant set for October in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Outgoing queen Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza, the first Filipina to receive the Miss Grand International crown, passed on her title to Tiglao in a moving turnover witnessed by pageant fans. With her extensive experience, Emma is now being looked at as a strong contender who could secure a back-to-back win for the Philippines.

In her post-coronation interview, Tiglao shared her confidence and determination. “Ngayon, masasabi ko with all the experiences, wisdom, ang tagal na natin sa pageantry, sana naman kakayanin natin itong back to back para naman another history for the Philippines. Sabi ko nga, if someone asks me, are you ready? I'm born ready!” (Now, with all the experiences and wisdom I’ve gained, after being in pageantry for so long, I hope we can achieve this back-to-back to make another history for the Philippines. If someone asks me, am I ready? I’m born ready.)

Emma is no stranger to the pageant stage. Her career began in Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012, where she finished first runner-up. She later joined Miss World Philippines 2015, placing Fourth Princess, before winning the Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 title. That same year, she represented the country at the Miss Intercontinental competition in Egypt, where she landed in the Top 20 semifinals.

Emma also proved her stage dominance at Sunday’s finals by sweeping the major special awards: Best in Evening Gown, Best in Swimsuit, and Miss Photogenic.

She sealed her win with her eloquent answer during the Question & Answer portion, where she was asked: “If peace could be packaged like a product, how would you convince world leaders to buy it?” 

Tiglao responded: “I would convince world leaders to see it as a quality, not as a quantity. What I mean is that quality of us having constant dialogue with eachother. It's not about the quantity or the time we need to prepare or we need to talk with each other, but it's the constant dialogue. Because if we will do that, we will eradicate disparities between the opportunities that we can get. And also, we cannotgrow the division between people in terms of politics, in terms of power, and in terms of properties. So I hope that they will look at it in quality instead of quantity of time. Thank you."

The Miss Grand Philippines 2025 coronation, organized by Arnold Vegafria's ALV Pageant Circle, also saw the crowning of four additional queens, who will represent the country in international pageants:

Beatriz Abalajon McLelland of Aklan was named Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2025, succeeding reigning queen Dia Mate. She now carries the challenge of securing a back-to-back victory for the Philippines at the Bolivia-based competition.

Nikki Buenafe of Quezon City won the Face of Beauty International Philippines 2025 crown from Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano, the reigning Face of Beauty International. Like McLelland, she also holds the task of delivering a second straight win for the country.

Anita Rose Gomez of Zambales was crowned Miss Asia Pacific International Philippines 2025 by reigning Miss Asia Pacific International Janelis Leyba of the United States. Meanwhile, Michelle Arceo of Taguig City was named Miss Tourism World Philippines 2025.

Completing the roster of winners were the runners-up: Margarette Briton, of Bicol Region, as first runner-up, and Beatriz Angela Ocampo of Rizal as second runner-up.

Taking care of our senior citizens: Gesture of gratitude, not a handout

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Aug 24, 2025 12:05 am

A proposal to grant all Filipino senior citizens a ₱1,500 monthly social pension through Senate Bill No. 215, or the Lingap Para Kay Lolo at Lola Act, filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, is a long-overdue gesture of compassion and assistance. At its core, this measure is not just about economic assistance — it is a recognition of the nation’s debt to the men and women who helped build this country.

Currently, under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, only indigent seniors — those who are frail, sickly, or without a regular income or family support — are entitled to a ₱1,000 monthly pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This amount, unchanged for years, is hardly enough to cover even a week’s worth of maintenance medicine, let alone monthly living costs. That this amount is still limited to a small subset of seniors makes it even more inequitable.

Senator Hontiveros’ bill addresses both the inadequacy and exclusivity of the current system by raising the pension to ₱1,500 and making it universal. All seniors, whether they are indigent or are funded by a job or a generous child, will welcome any additional income to augment their daily living expenses – and boost dignity.

“Our grandparents’ needs increase as they age, especially when it comes to their health,” Senator Hontiveros noted, emphasizing that most seniors are forced to choose between essentials like food, water, and electricity — often at the expense of their health. As inflation pushes prices upward, this modest increase can be the difference between resilience and suffering.

But financial support isn’t the only concern. Another bill, refiled by Senator Panfilo Lacson, underscores a deeper issue: the erosion of familial responsibility. Lacson’s Parents Welfare Act of 2025, filed in July, seeks to criminalize the abandonment of aging parents by adult children who have the capacity to provide care or support. While many Filipinos still hold firm to traditional values of filial duty, the law confronts a growing reality — not all families remain intact, and not all parents are supported in their final years.

Lacson’s bill, though controversial, proposes penalties for deliberate neglect while still protecting children who were abused or are financially incapable. The bill also allows for the dismissal or reduction of support obligations if the parent had a history of abandoning, abusing, or neglecting the child. It even mandates the creation of “Old Age Homes” in each province — a solution that complements, rather than contradicts, Hontiveros’ universal pension approach.

Taken together, these two bills reveal the need for a multi-pronged strategy to protect Filipino seniors — from financial support to legal safeguards. Currently, seniors are entitled to additional benefits, including 20 percent discounts on basic goods and services, VAT exemptions, priority lanes, and free medical services in government hospitals. But for many, these are not enough.

Why must the government take care of its elderly? Because they once took care of us. Their decades of labor, caregiving, and sacrifice laid the foundation for today’s society. To ignore their needs now is not just unjust — it is shameful.

The Lingap Para Kay Lolo at Lola Act is a statement of national conscience — a promise that we will not turn our backs on those who once gave us everything. The bill, if passed into law, can alleviate financial needs, but more important is, it will serve to honor lives well lived.

House bill seeks creation of National Museum of Filipino Women

Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz (Photo from Facebook)

Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas wants to honor Filipino women by putting up a National Museum of Filipino Women. Vargas says that the measure is not only about honoring the past but also inspiring future generations. Read more

Overwhelming joy and gratitude

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THIS is how we should feel every time we celebrate or attend a Holy Mass. If we only know what a Holy Mass really is, we cannot help but be filled with extreme joy and ineffable thanksgiving. If we do not feel it that way yet, then it’s time we do something about it.

What we have in the Holy Mass is what we may regard, if we are to be guided by our faith, as God’s supreme gift to us. He did not only create us, making us his image and likeness and given the charge to have dominion together with him over the whole world.

He continues to take care and to love us all the way even if we have been unfaithful to him. And this he has shown by sending his Son to us. His Son is Jesus Christ, the second person of the Blessed Trinity who became man. 

Christ assumed all our wounded condition, becoming like sin himself without committing sin if only to show and give us the way of how we can convert our wounded condition into “the way, the truth and life” meant for us. 

For this, what he did was not only to preach and give us good examples of how we should live. He offered his life, assuming all our sins and conquering them through his passion, death and resurrection.

And that is not enough. He perpetuated this supreme sacrifice and gift of his to us by making his very passion, death and resurrection continually present up to the end of time through the celebration of the Holy Mass where he himself gives his whole own self to us as the Bread of Life.

For sure, if we can only capture this reality about the Holy Mass, we cannot help but be overwhelmingly happy and thankful. Thus, the challenge for us now is how to train ourselves, involving our mind and heart, our senses and feelings, etc., to enter into this most wonderful reality of Christ’s gift to us.

Yes, we have to learn how to step into this wonderful spiritual and supernatural reality and teach ourselves to be truly amazed at what happens in the celebration of the Holy Mass. We should not forget that at every celebration of the Holy Mass, we are made contemporaries of Christ in his supreme sacrifice and gift for us on the cross.

It is this sacrifice of Christ on the cross that conquers all sins and evils in this world. We have every reason, despite our weaknesses and sinfulness, to feel ever confident, hopeful and focused on doing what we are supposed to do, that is, to do a lot of good in this world.

In the Holy Mass, we are invited to also join, in vivo, in that sacrifice of Christ. Yes, there is suffering and death involved, but let’s not forget that all this would lead us to that victory of Christ’s resurrection that takes care of everything in our life.

Indeed, we need to prepare ourselves properly before celebrating or attending a Holy Mass. We should know what is actually taking place every time the Holy Mass is celebrated. For this, we need time and effort to condition our mind, heart and our whole being to capture this reality.

It cannot be denied that despite our weaknesses, mistakes and all that, we would be filled with overwhelming joy and gratitude after each Mass that we celebrate or attend.