Worlding Filipino imagination

By Philip Cu Unjieng     

The Philippine stand

With the rally cry of ‘Imagination Peoples the Air’, the Philippines opened the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Bookfair) on the evening of October 14, as this year’s Buchmesse’s Guest of Honor. As the world’s leading venue for printed and digital content, the annual event is where publishing experts and representatives of the creative industries, authors, journalists, and culture enthusiasts from around the globe gather to network, to exchange ideas, to negotiate and make decisions, and to discover and celebrate. There’s a little bit of everything during the Buchmesse, and this year was the fruition of a decade-old desire to see the Philippines take on the mantle of Guest of Honor.

Taking full advantage of this window to the international book community, the National Book Development Board of the Philippines worked hand in hand with Senator Loren Legarda to turn this year’s Buchmesse into a thrilling showcase of our literary diversity, of our creative voices, and our vibrant culture - across different forms and interpretations of what constitutes the Arts. To make all of what is cerebrally creative come to life in a physical manifestation of what is truly and uniquely Filipino, a colorful jeepney was even positioned on RoBmarkt plaza and transformed into a stage for encounters, cultural exchange, and workshops.

Sen. Loren Legarda

And at the massive Frankfurt Messe, where the Buchmesse is held, it would be fair to say that with the number of notable representatives of our creative industries who had flown in for the event; from Fiction and Non-Fiction authors, to publishers, to graphic artists and children’s books and Komiks writers, it became more a question of who had not showed up! It seems that no stone was left unturned in making this a glittering showcase of Filipino creativity and imagination, peopling the Frankfurt air.

Upon the invitation of the NBDB, I was fortunate to be among the handful of media representatives flown in for the Buchmesse, attending the Opening Night and the first day of the official Bookfair. Needless to say, the Philippines was making the most of the Guest of Honor status with a Philippine Pavilion where cultural performances and dialogues were scheduled throughout the day, with talks and lectures in the International Hall where the Philippine Stand was located, and with off-location activities - including a city tour that connected to Jose Rizal during his time in Germany, as led by Ambeth Ocampo.

The Manila Bulletin’s Yvette Tan, author and resource speaker at the Frankfurter Buchmesse

Manila Bulletin’s Yvette Tan was one of the authors flown in for the occasion, and she, along with Charlson Ong, led a discussion on The Chinese in Our Stories at the Philippine Pavilion, Forum 1. To make this both relevant and political, it was about integrating their Chinese ancestry in their writing, and how that has changed dramatically in the context of the ongoing West Philippine Sea dispute. I liked this connecting to geopolitical themes, as this territorial dispute is portrayed in Chinese media to the world as the Chinese ‘saving’ natural resources in the face of dynamite-fishing by Filipino fishermen.

Yvette would also be joining Dean Francis Alfar in a discussion on the very relevant topic of Speculative Fiction and AI Narratives. Known for writing about a technological future, these Filipino SciFi/Fantasy authors would be touching on the responsible use of AI in their creative output and the role it could play.

The world of Philippine Komiks

Over at Hall 5 and the Philippine Stand, one could not resist the symposium that was entitled "Philippine Comics at the Fair: A Tale of Many Pages," as it promised to unleash the raw, unbridled energy of Philippine Komiks, in all its forms and permutations. From satire, to superheroes, to love stories and heartbreak, to urban legends and monsters, to artistic depictions of the urban underbelly, and on to alternative universes - it seemed this was one rich avenue of possibility. The fervent hope is that our Komiks writers break into the mainstream to rival countries like Japan, which have made global industries out of their manga and anime. There was even to be a live drawing session by Ian Sta. Maria centered on the ‘Tikbalang in Frankfurt’.

‘What Moves Us’ Film and Literature: Tension and Translation was an engrossing presentation, with Angelo ‘Sarge’ Lacuesta and Tanya Yuson as resource speakers. Sarge talked about his short story "The Errand," its transition to a Cinemalaya film, and how it was shown at the Rotterdam Film Festival earlier in the year. Tanya Yuson is an international film producer whose anime series "Trese" is on constant rotation globally on Netflix. While Sarge was direct and honest about being protective of his short story, and ending up as producer of the film to ensure it’s proper ‘rite of passage’ to feature film, it was endearing to hear a German media person pipe up and enthusiastically ask Tanya if there was a Season 2 for "Trese" in the works.

NBDB’s Charisse Aquino-Tugade

Consul General in Frankfurt Ivy B. Abalos and Ani Risa Almario of Adarna House

NCCA’s Ino Manalo, National Museum’s Jeremy Barnes, and NCCA’s Eric Zerrudo

Xandra Ramos-Padilla, National Bookstore

What was particularly revealing was a tour we were given to one of the top floors of the Frankfurt Messe. As our guide explained, this was the real nerve center of the Bookfair. It was row after row of small tables where agents and publishers would meet to negotiate on global translation rights and representation. This was far from all the cultural presentations, author appearances, and symposiums going on downstairs. This is where the money is being made, and where deals are struck. In fact, the guide was frank enough to say that the Frankfurt Buchmesse is not so much a book fair for authors, as it is known for being one for agents and author representatives striking agreements on rights and multiple deals.

National Artist Virgilio Almario (center), with fellow poets Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta and Paul Acoseba Castillo

This Frankfurter Buchmesse is truly about ‘worlding’ Filipino creativity and imagination, in the supreme hope of monetizing this, and making our creatives be recognized, and earning for their talent and gifts. We often wonder why there are waves of interest globally for authors coming from a particular country or region - like how there’s been acclaim and popularity for writers from India, stretching from the time of Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, and Vikram Seth, to today, and the likes of Kiran Desai, Arundhati Roy, and Aravind Adiga.

From Claude Tayag’s post, Lexi Schulze, and the author

And really, why not a similar wave for Filipino writers and creatives? And why can’t it be led by our Komiks writers and artists? It’s whatever gets us on the map, and if this Buchmesse participation as Guest of Honor was one step to making that dream a reality, then I’m all for it and throw my full support to the endeavor. I’m just praying no stone is left unturned in making this happen, and the serious business of making deals is also happening!

The NBDB has played its part in making the Philippine participation this year a noteworthy and memorable one. The creatives did their part in showing up and turning the Bookfair into a Filipino ‘fiesta.’ So we can only hope that their representatives and publishers have also done their homework, and will give our Guest of Honor status the ROI (Return On Investment) it deserves.

Road Temporarily closed

 Road Temporarily closed

Bukidnon-Davao City Road - Overview

Location : Kipolot, Palacapao Quezon Bukidnon

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐘: 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

Possible diversion routes:

1. From CDO City to Tagum City: Jct Sayre Highway Poblacion Valencia City, Bukidnon via Kapalong - Talaingod - Valencia Road

2. From: Camp 1 Maramag, Bukidnon to Davao City: Via Jct. Bukidnon- Davao City Road to Cotabato Boundary - Carmen-Kabacan-Matalam-Kidapawan, Cotabato-Digos City, Davao

3. (LEAST ADVISED ) Jct. Bukidnon Davao City Road to Brgy. Puntian Quezon Bukidnon to Arakan via Katipunan to Davao City or Arakan via Kidapawan City

Kindly share kay daghan ga byahe. Amping tanan

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Jeder fünfte Rentner lebt mit weniger als 1.400 Euro im Monat

Stand:13.10.2025, 06:30 Uhr

Von: Lea Creutzfeldt  

Viele Rentner haben nur wenig Geld zum Leben. (Symbolbild) © Sven Simon/Imago

Rund 20 Prozent der Rentner in Deutschland müssen mit höchstens 1.400 Euro im Monat auskommen – und immer mehr sind auf Unterstützung angewiesen.

In Deutschland hat rund jeder fünfte Rentner im Alter von mindestens 65 Jahren monatlich netto höchstens 1.400 Euro zur Verfügung. Das geht aus aktuellen Daten des Statistischen Bundesamts hervor. Weitere 20 Prozent der Ruheständler liegen mit ihrem Einkommen zwischen 1.400 und rund 1.790 Euro. Dem gegenüber steht die einkommensstärkste Gruppe: Die obersten 20 Prozent der Rentnerinnen und Rentner verfügen über mehr als 2.870 Euro monatlich. Die Zahlen zeigen eine deutliche Spreizung der Einkommen im Alter – und verdeutlichen, wie ungleich die finanzielle Lage vieler Senioren ist.   

Unser ausführlicher Renten-Ratgeber liefert Ihnen alle wichtigen Informationen und Fakten rund um das Thema Rente. Sie können ihn kostenlos als PDF aus unserer Bibliothek herunterladen und bequem ausdrucken. Darüber hinaus enthält der Ratgeber viele praktische Tipps und hilfreiche Hinweise für Ihre finanzielle Planung im Alter.

Der große Renten-Ratgeber

Laden Sie sich HIER den großen Renten-Ratgeber kostenlos herunter und drucken Sie ihn einfach zu Hause aus.

Laden Sie sich den Renten-Ratgeber kostenlos als PDF herunter. © IPPEN.MEDIA    

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Insgesamt ist die Zahl der Menschen im Ruhestand ab 65 Jahren in den vergangenen Jahren gewachsen. 2021 waren es 15,9 Millionen, zuletzt bereits 16,3 Millionen. Gleichzeitig stiegen auch die durchschnittlichen Einkommen. Das mittlere monatliche Einkommen der Ruheständler lag 2021 bei 1.820 Euro und wuchs bis 2024 um rund neun Prozent. Doch die Entwicklung bleibt hinter der allgemeinen Einkommenssteigerung in Deutschland zurück: In der Gesamtbevölkerung nahmen die Einkommen im selben Zeitraum um elf Prozent zu.

Das bedeutet, dass viele Rentner trotz leichter Zuwächse kaum mit der allgemeinen Preisentwicklung und Inflation Schritt halten können. Gerade Menschen mit niedrigen Renten spüren die Belastung durch gestiegene Lebenshaltungskosten besonders stark.

Mehr Senioren auf staatliche Unterstützung angewiesen

Besorgniserregend ist auch der Anstieg der Grundsicherung im Alter. Ende 2024 bezogen rund 739.000 Menschen diese Leistung – ein Plus von sieben Prozent gegenüber dem Vorjahr und sogar 31 Prozent mehr als noch 2020. Damit wächst der Anteil derjenigen, die mit ihrer Rente nicht mehr über die Runden kommen. Ein Grund für den Anstieg liegt laut Statistikern auch in der höheren Zahl von geflüchteten und leistungsberechtigten Menschen aus der Ukraine.

Unser kostenloser Renten-Ratgeber bietet Ihnen zahlreiche Tipps und Infos. HIER können Sie ihn kostenlos herunterladen.

Die Zahlen verdeutlichen: Trotz steigender Renten geraten immer mehr ältere Menschen in finanzielle Not. Ohne gezielte Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der Altersvorsorge und zur Stabilisierung der Renten droht die Kluft zwischen wohlhabenden und armen Senioren weiter zu wachsen.