
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!

DAGUPAN CITY—Transport protests opposing rising fuel prices and calling for government aid and fare adjustments disrupted operations in parts of Luzon and the Visayas on Monday, while some areas reported normal transport activity.
In Pangasinan, some drivers joined the strike despite no official transport holiday declaration from Auto Pro Pangasinan.
At least 50 percent of public utility vehicles (PUVs) did not ply their routes, with only about 20 percent of jeepneys operating along the Calasiao-Dagupan route, according to Auto Pro president Bernard Tuliao.
Dating in the Philippines can take foreign men by surprise with how “familiar” it can feel. A lot of our dating practices can be very modern and “Westernized.”
For example:
A lot of Filipinas are on dating apps.
Modern Filipinas are no strangers to casual relationships.
Physical intimacy isn’t always tied to emotions.
Some Filipinas will demand to be treated the way they believe Western women are being treated (but this one can be unclear, since not everyone is on the same page about what kind of treatment this refers to).
Despite all these similarities, there are still things that are specific to dating in the Philippines.
If you’re a foreign man dating a Filipina, you need to be prepared for some of these things:
Family members and even distant relatives will usually comment or give unsolicited advice about your relationship.
Some Filipinas will expect that because you’re dating them, it means you will marry them someday (which is why communication really IS key).
Being a man and a foreigner will also give you the reputation of being a generous lover (which can translate to you being expected to pay for everything).
A lot of Filipinas really WILL save physical intimacy for marriage (yes, even kissing).
Going out in public places with your Filipina girlfriend will usually get you stared at.
Dating in the Philippines isn’t always “rustic” or all about going to the beach. We have a lot of modern dating spots and fancy restaurants. In fact, our shopping malls are considered small palaces with a lot of high-end amenities for couples to enjoy.
Yes, there are romance scammers in the Philippines. You need to be careful about who you meet and how you meet them. There is risk in both online dating and in-person connections, so you have to do your research.

Philippine stocks might remain under pressure this week as investors stay cautious over geopolitical tensions and their spillover on inflation. The main index is expected to retest key support levels.
For this week, support is seen at the 6,000 level, which may be tested anew. Resistance is pegged at 6,150.
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) slipped to 6,018.62 last week, down 0.67 percent. This, as risk aversion intensified due to escalating Middle East conflict and a hawkish pause by the US Federal Reserve, according to 2TradeAsia.
In celebration of Women's Month, inspiring women share the solo journeys that can empower, heal, and transform every woman's life





“IT IS never too late to be what you might have been” is a famous, encouraging quote often attributed to novelist George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), emphasizing that personal growth, reinvention, and achieving dreams are possible at any age, regardless of past setbacks. It acts as a reminder that the future is yours to shape, urging you to overcome fears, challenge self-imposed limits, and start pursuing your aspirations now.
t suggests that no matter what stage of life one is at, there is always the opportunity to evolve, change direction, and pursue one’s true potential. Often, societal expectations or personal setbacks may cause individuals to feel as if their dreams or aspirations are unattainable, particularly as they age.
“Never Too Late” is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on May 7, 2007, as the third single from the band’s second album One-X. “Never Too Late” is about not giving up. Adam Gontier stated, “I guess it’s like feeling like you’re at the end of your rope and deciding whether or not to completely give up or whether or not to try and sort of keep making it through another day.”
I know a lot of pensioner expatriates living in the Philippines for good. Many of them have a big problem – after staying here for only a couple of months, they get bored.
I believe it’s important, as we grow older, to stay active instead of just lying around. I realize that some older individuals have health issues and cannot do what they would like to do, but many are in decent shape, but just choose to do nothing. It seems the more a person gives in to their excuses of how they are tired from paying their dues, the worse they feel. Inactivity is alright when we are resting, but the more we get up and get going, the better we feel. I encourage everyone to find something really important to you and see how you can get involved.
We’ve heard it said that we must not live to work but work to live. Your goals are achieved the moment you commit yourself to them, so no matter how old you feel, or how many times you’ve officially retired, it’s never too late to give the world a little more of what God has given to you. We should pray and ask for God’s inspiration, strength, and wisdom, but hopefully, a person will eventually discover that he or she is the master-gardener of their soul and the decision-maker of their destiny.
Published Mar 22, 2026 10:13 pm
For Sparkle artist and Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab 2.0 Kapuso Big Winner Caprice Cayetano, winning was never just about herself. True to her generous spirit, Caprice channeled her victory into something greater—spending her morning with the young patients of her chosen charity, Little Ark Foundation in Quezon City, last March 19.
Caprice's visit was far more than a charitable drop-off. She immersed herself in the children's world—crafting bracelets together, dancing to TikTok trends, and filling the room with laughter and energy. She also treated everyone to a warm, hearty lunch, sharing the fruits of her recent Wendy's endorsement with the kids and their families.
In her recent interviews, Caprice has been very vocal about her desire to share the love she has been receiving. “Little Ark po yung napili ko dahil minsan lang po maging bata, and I want these kids to feel what it’s like to be normal, to experience joy, and to receive the treatment that they need, dahil gusto ko din po na maexperience po nila yung normal na childhood,” Caprice shared.

Caprice started her career at a very young age and has worked with many celebrities in the industry. From her journey and her co-star, she learned the importance of always looking back to where you came from. “Ang pinaka dadalhin ko po talaga ay huwag kakalimutan kung saan nanggagaling at piliin na laging maging mabuti sa lahat, sa mga staff, sa mga co-actors, at laging ibigay ang best.”
Furthermore, Little Ark Foundation Founder and President Mr. Butch Bustamante expressed his gratitude, saying the organization felt heard and seen through Caprice’s visit. “Today is a reminder that we are not alone in our fight. Ms. Caprice, you made us feel that we have someone with us in our journey. You are a reminder to all of us that there is hope, goodness, and a God who continues to move in our lives. From all the families, the children, and the whole Little Ark Foundation—maraming maraming salamat sa puso mo, sa faith mo, at sa pagmamahal na pinili mong ibigay.”
Caprice Cayetano has made one thing clear: a true winner lifts others up. By turning her spotlight into a source of hope, she has proven that the biggest prize isn’t a title—it’s the joy she brought to the children who needed it most.
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US Indopacom) carried out joint maritime drills in Manila Bay and waters off Mariveles, Bataan over the weekend to improve their interoperability. Read more | ||
Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is imploring President Marcos to reject proposals for the construction of a United States (US)-backed ammunition factory in the Philippines. Read more |
The Pussycat Dolls are back — but not everyone made the guest list. Original member Carmit Bachar has dropped a bombshell, claiming she was left out in the cold from the group’s highly anticipated reunion concert, sending shockwaves through the pop world.

The stage is set for three. Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, and Ashley Roberts are stepping back into the limelight as the newly minted Dolls — and they're not holding back on the tea, dishing out their takes on why Carmit didn't make the cut.
“Well, I mean, listen — we are just, so, as women today …,” Scherzinger started, struggling momentarily to find the words, during an appearance on the Today show aired on March 20, according to an article on billboard.com.
Kimberly continued, “I mean, it has been an ever-changing lineup, and this is what it looks like now in 2026. “You never know what comes next. Ultimately, we’ve got to protect our peace, and when something like The Pussycat Dolls has so much history … we have ruptured in the past, and right now we are repairing, and we’re sort of on the same page with that.”
Nicole then completed her earlier thought. “But what I wanted to say is, we have so much love and respect for all of the women who have been part of the PCD legacy. Once a Doll, always a Doll.”
On March 12, the Pussycat Dolls released a new single, “Club Song,” alongside an announcement of a 53-date reunion tour scheduled to begin in June.
Shortly after the announcement, Carmit shared a detailed statement: “In light of recent developments, I feel it is important to speak honestly and respectfully. I was not contacted regarding the group’s decision to move forward, and I learned of these plans at the same time as the public.”
“Given my history with the brand, having been part of its foundation long before its commercial debut and instrumental in the connections that led to the record deal … I would have appreciated direct communication,” she wrote. “While this is disappointing on a personal level, I remain proud of the role I played in helping shape what The Pussycat Dolls became.”
The Pussycat Dolls formed in 1995 as a six-member group that also included Melody Thornton and Jessica Sutta. Throughout their career, they have placed 11 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and landed two albums on the Billboard 200.
Carmit participated in the group’s 2019 reunion, during which they performed as a five-member lineup — without Thornton — on The X Factor: Celebrity and released “React” in February 2020.
The comeback proved brief, as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of a planned tour that year. The tour was ultimately canceled in 2022, and both Carmit and Jessica stated on Instagram that they had not been informed of the decision before it was made public.
Among the hits of The Pussycat Dolls are Don't Xha, Stickwitu, Buttons, Jai Ho!, When I Grow Up, I Hate This Part, and Sway.

March 20th was the United Nations’ annual International Day of Happiness, which stemmed from a 2012 UN Resolution initiated by Bhutan, the famed originator of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) concept. It explains the timing of the release of: (a) the Social Weather Stations (SWS) report, “Fourth Quarter 2025 Social Weather Survey: 33% of Pinoys are ‘very happy’ with life; 23% are ‘very satisfied’ with life” (www.sws.org.ph, 3/19/26), and (b) the 2026 World Happiness Report (WHR), published by the Wellbeing Research Group of the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the WHR’s editorial board.
Happiness of Filipinos according to SWS. The SWS report discloses its two survey questions for monitoring happiness, one with the adjective “happy” (masaya) and another with the adjective “satisfied” (nasisiyahan), and both describing the respondent’s present life as a whole. Each option has a four-point scale: Very Happy/Fairly Happy/Not Very Happy/Not At All Happy and Very Satisfied/Fairly Satisfied/Not Very Satisfied/Not At All Satisfied. SWS has asked the “happy-life” question 49 times since 1991, and the satisfied-life question 57 times since 2002; see the report’s charts and tables.
Personally, I think the happy-life option goes straight to the point; I also like to focus more on downside rather than the upside. In 2025, SWS used both options in two surveys, with these average results (in percentages): 32 Very Happy, 52 Fairly Happy, 14 Not Very Happy, and 2 Not At All Happy; and 29 Very Satisfied, 51 Fairly Satisfied, 14 Not Very Satisfied, and 6 Not At All Satisfied. For me, these may be simplified into 16 percent “unhappy” and 20 percent “dissatisfied.”