Four families in Barangay Matina Pangi, Davao City were forced to evacuate early Monday morning, May 18, 2026 due to flooding caused by rising water levels.
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?
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!
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Monday, May 18, 2026
Four families in Barangay Matina Pangi, Davao City were forced to evacuate
My Psalm(s) of Life

A PSALM OF LIFE: This poem is known for its optimism and the theme-right attitude of life. The poet gives out the message that pleasure or sorrow is not the goal of life. The purpose of life is to carry out all duties and responsibilities for the progress and good of all.
“A psalm of life” is an inspirational poem written by H. W. Longfellow as it gives the message to the coming generation. It gives the encouragement to find the purpose of life and achieve our goal. It describes all the difficulties that we’ll find while achieving our goal.
Longfellow was thirty-one when he wrote “A Psalm of Life,” likely writing it to fight back the inertia of depression overtaking him after the death of his wife from the complications of a miscarriage in the latter part of 1835.
This poem is known for its optimism and the theme-right attitude of life. The poet gives out the message that pleasure or sorrow is not the goal of life. The purpose of life is to carry out all duties and responsibilities for the progress and good of all. We should realize life is shorter and quicker.
We are always in God’s limelight.
Through the ages, people have experienced challenges that show God’s hands – mothers and fathers, the young and the old, simple shepherds and popular scholars, soldiers and actors.
God watches over me – no matter how I feel right now: safe and secure in a wholly and warm hearted community or alone and feeling abandoned. God knows my doubts, worries, troubles and challenges in my daily life.
The Psalms became a very important part in my life. It happened purely by accident. Long time ago, I stayed in a hotel in a foreign country in Europe. I felt really uncomfortable. I’ll not be boring you with details. I remember asking myself what the psalm writers also frequently did: “Where are you God? Why don’t you help me?”
Yes, the presence of real enemies is also part of our daily life here and everywhere. Anyway, suddenly I found a bible in the bottom drawer of my hotel’s night table. I started reading the Psalms.
At the very center of the bible are these songs, the Psalms, rising up like a tune from the heart. They capture the innermost thoughts and prayers, and they still speak directly to our needs. For every emotion and mood, you can find a Psalm to match. The Psalms wrestle with the deepest sorrow and ask God the hardest questions about suffering and injustice. They do not tip flowery compliments to God: they cry out to Him, or shout for joy before Him.
In almost every Psalm you find the presence of God, not as a philosophical principle, but as someone, who can change your life, if you allow Him to do so.
Already during 1980’s, I learned from my Philippine mentor, the late Monsignore Professor Dr. Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, chaplain of the Philippine community in Berlin, who said that the best way to read the Psalms is simple: to make these ancient prayers your own and speak directly to God. So many of the poems catch deep human feelings that you can’t help but be moved by them.
It will take time to understand all Psalms; some might be boring or even self-congratulatory. Read them again and again. Psalms cries from the heart and songs of sorrow as well as joy – reflections for moods and experiences.
Since reading the Psalms, I learned and understood that for God, we’re always in the limelight.
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Email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X-Twitter or LinkedIn or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .
Sue Ramirez reveals desire to have children, calls BF Dominic Roque 'perfect father material'
By Neil Ramos
At A Glance
- Kapamilya actress Sue Ramirez reveals she is open to having a baby with boyfriend Dominic Roque, saying she is ready to become a mother and believes he will be a "very good father," sparking buzz about their relationship and future plans.
- Actress Sue Ramirez has openly expressed her desire to become a mother, revealing in a recent interview that she is very much open to the idea of having a baby with her boyfriend, actor Dominic Roque.
During the grand media conference for her upcoming film under Regal Entertainment, ironically titled, "Project Baby," Sue was asked whether she is open to having a child at this point in her life, similar to her character in the movie.
Her answer was direct and candid.
“Why not? Sana. Kung maibibigay, di ba?” she said. “I think Dominic will be a very, very good father in the future, if he does want to have kids.”
Sue went on to express deep admiration for Dominic, Bea Alonzo's ex, describing him as kind, family-oriented, and someone she feels extremely blessed to have in her life.

“Grabe kung kilala niyo lang talaga si Dom, napakabuti, napakabait, napaka-family-oriented, god-fearing,” she shared. “Sobrang swerte ko talaga. Nag-thank you ako kay Lord.”
The actress admitted that she often feels grateful whenever she thinks about her relationship, especially as she approaches a new chapter in her life.
“Minsan pag tinitingnan ko siya, napapa-thank you Lord ako,” she said. “Hindi ko in-expect na almost 30, makakahanap pa ako ng sobrang bait.”
Sue, who is set to turn 30, also revealed that she has long dreamed of becoming a mother and feels emotionally and mentally ready for it.
“Matagal ko na siyang gustong mangyari for me. Gusto kong maging nanay. Gusto kong maging nanay na katulad ng nanay ko,” she said.
She also acknowledged the pressure that comes with age and family planning, but said she remains open and willing if the opportunity comes.
“Kung ibibigay sa akin, why not?” she added.
When asked whether she is open to having a child even without marriage, Sue responded, “Oo naman,” but clarified that her perspective has evolved over time.
She explained that while she once considered the idea of raising a child independently, she now believes it depends on having the right partner, someone she can trust as a father even if circumstances change along the way.
For Sue, what matters most is choosing someone with a good heart and strong values, especially when it comes to family.
She also praised Dominic’s way with his family and loved ones, saying she sees how caring he is toward his nieces, nephews, and even her pets.
Always be prepared for the worst scenario
By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
WE can somehow draw this conclusion after reading that gospel episode where Christ asked Peter three times whether he, Peter, truly loved Christ. (cfr. Jn 21,15-19) After Peter assured Christ that he indeed loved Christ, Christ proceeded to describe the manner of death that Peter would have later on.
Indeed, if we truly would identify ourselves with Christ as we should, we should also expect this kind of tragic death for us. It’s not a condemnation but rather an invitation to share the kind of love that God in Christ has for all of us.
We have to understand that suffering and death would be the greatest manifestation of love we can have for God and for everybody else as articulated earlier when Christ said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15,13)
The concrete way of dying may not be like that of Christ nor of Peter, tragic and very bloody. But we should try to develop that kind of attitude towards our death and be prepared for it.
We know that there will be a lot of suffering, trials, challenges, and all kinds of negativities which are an effect not of God’s will and designs but rather of man’s weakness, limitations and even malice. We should learn how to handle these situations by following the example of Christ, if not by identifying and uniting ourselves as intimately as possible with Christ.
If we are truly with Christ, we would know how to take maximum advantage even of our difficulties, problems and all the other negative things that can take place in our life here on earth. These negative things are unavoidable, in fact. We should know how to handle them properly. But it would be a pity if we fail to see the great potentials they have in generating more and greater good.
We should always remember that God takes care of everything. And even from evil, he would know how to derive some good. With him, everything, including our failures and sins, would always work for the good. His wisdom, his omnipotence, his mercy, etc. would take care of all that.
The crucial thing to do is to be with God, which definitely will require some discipline from us. And so, even if especially at the beginning, we would find it hard, if not almost impossible to be with God, we just have to do what we can to achieve that ideal condition for us. In time, and with faith and our unrelenting effort, to be with God is not only achievable, but something that can become a stable state of life for us. Again, let’s remember that we are actually meant for that state of life.
We can be sure that on the part of God, everything is made available, so that whatever difficulty and problem we can have in this life, we would know how to leverage them to our real and lasting advantage, and not just some false and passing advantage.
So, we just have to be ready for the worst scenario in our life and know not only how to deal with our predicaments but also how to derive something good from them. In these instances of the hard predicaments, for example, when we seem to be at a loss as to what to do, we should just see what God does, after we have done all things possible to solve our problems.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Reasons why Davao City is the top PH destination
The best way to love this southern city is to experience it
At A Glance
- Davao City's offerings for leisure, high-adrenaline adventures, foodie escapades, M.I.C.E., and even business opportunities are vast.










Continuing Jesus' mission

When a house is a home





Despite the heavy drama of our life
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
WE should stick firmly to what Christ assured his disciples, and now us. Considering that our life here on earth is often referred to as a “vale of tears,” let’s avoid over-reacting to the heavy drama that we can expect in this life.
Let’s relish these words of our Lord: “In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) Yes, our life here on earth is actually just transitory. It is a difficult journey toward our definitive destination. But there is always hope of reaching a better place, that is heaven, in the end.
We have to learn to have confidence in God’s loving providence over us by always strengthening our faith and referring everything in our life to him who knows how to derive good from evil.
Our sense of confidence should spring from a faith that gives us the ultimate meaning and proper direction to all our human knowledge and endeavors. It is what gives the original perspective to all events, good or bad, in our life. Otherwise, we would end up confused and lost.
We also need to make our faith grow to cope with the multiplying infranatural consequences of our human condition that is weakened by sin. There’s no other way to manage and survive the consequences of sin, ours and those of others, personal as well as the collective and structural, than by relying first of all on our faith. Without faith, we will find no exit, no relief from this wounded status of ours.
That’s why St. Paul said: “Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Eph 6,16) Faith holds pride of place in our armory to wage that lifelong battle with our wounded flesh, the temptations of the world, and the tricks of the devil.
Without faith, we would be easy prey to these enemies of our soul. Without it, we most likely would be filled with fear and anxiety, if not sadness and desperation. Faith unites us to the tremendous power of God over any kind of evil, self-inflicted or caused by others.
There’s no way we can achieve our ultimate goal without faith. With God, we have everything. As St. Teresa de Avila would put it: “Solo Dios basta!” (God alone is enough!)
And so, there’s really no reason to be too worried and anxious when we encounter some difficulty in our life. In fact, we have every reason to be confident and at peace, focused on what we are supposed to do. And that’s because we are always in God’s hands.
Whatever situation we may be in, we can be sure that God will always provide for what is truly needed by us, and it may not be what we want. We just have to trust him completely for he knows better than we do, and what we want may not be what we need. It may not even be what is good for us.
Yes, there will always be challenges, problems, difficulties that humanly speaking may be impossible for us to tackle. But as long as we have trust in God, we can sincerely echo St. Paul’s words: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4,13) These words have been verified to be true in the lives of all the saints, especially the martyrs.
It’s important that we be confident and at peace always, because that would put us in the proper condition to do the things we are supposed to do. It will make us bold and courageous, fruitful and productive.
OUR BREAKING POINT IN LIFE
A breaking point is the critical threshold where prolonged stress, emotional strain, or exhaustion outpaces your ability to cope. It is not a failure, but rather a warning sign from your mind and body that your current situation or way of carrying the load is no longer sustainable.
A breaking point is a moment of greatest strain. Interestingly enough, the breaking points are the moments in which we need to stay calmer. Research shows that trying to control every event increases our stress.
A breaking point is a moment of stress in which we break down — it feels like you are never going to get back up again. We are more than under pressure — the situation becomes critical for our survival. Everyone faces a breaking point — we all get there in distinct ways.
A breakeven point is when total costs and total revenue are equal. It’s the sales level you need to reach to cover all of your costs. Your business cannot be profitable until it has reached this point.
When I hear the word breaking point I usually think that it’s like a bomb that could explode. For me, to be in my breaking point is the state of being exhausted in everything. Thinking that it’s time to end something… Most people think that when we say we are in our breaking point it’s easy to come up with a negative idea yet sometimes breaking point is not only to end something because you are exhausted, we can revise it in a positive thinking like breaking point can be a new beginning for us to be able to begin a new life with a weapon and that is our learning from our breaking point.
In human psychology, the breaking point is a moment of stress at which a person breaks down and is unable to cope with it. This obviously varies from individual to individual.
I got my first breaking point as a German expatriate in the Philippines as a result of culture shocks. This was a long time ago and very much different from today’s situation. Meanwhile I have been living here smooth and sound for several years.
Nowadays, many people are experiencing mood changes. Indeed, the emotional effects of stress can have a serious impact on your day-to-day mood and mental health. Firstly, you may find that you’re feeling more irritated or pessimistic than usual. This mood change can then begin to affect your motivation to work, socialise with your loved ones or complete the things on your to-do list. If left unchecked, these feelings can threaten to completely overwhelm you, leaving you feeling apathetic, depressed, frustrated, panicky or trapped.
If you’ve been asking yourself, “How do I fix my relationship?,” you may already be at a breaking point. A breaking point is when an argument or disagreement starts to become invasive in your life. Is it impacting your other relationships? Is it impacting your work? Is it impacting your health?
A lot of people around me can’t seem to focus or concentrate properly. If you’re battling to concentrate, keep focused or remember certain things, this is a good indication that you’re feeling the effects of anxiety. These changes in thinking and memory (also known as “brain fog”) can occur when you’re trying to manage several stressful situations at once, which can make you confused and forgetful. These situations may include demanding jobs or emotionally-taxing tasks. Unregulated emotional exhaustion can really impact your attention, executive functioning (organizing and planning), and memory.
A lot of people are expressing difficulty with personal relationships. You’ll often notice emotional exhaustion from prolonged stress manifesting in your relationship and your capacity to connect with your family on a meaningful emotional level. You may find yourself picking fights over small things, feeling angry at or unsatisfied with your partner or being overly judgemental. Tension in your close relationships can cause you to feel anxious, detached, and withdrawn which can make it difficult to ask for emotional support when you need it or be there for those you love.
Low self-esteem is being reported a lot these days. If lately you’ve found your mind overwhelmed with negative thoughts, you’ve probably also noticed their impact on how you view yourself. Perhaps you’re feeling more cynical and hopeless than usual? Or maybe you’ve lacked confidence in situations where you would normally speak up. At times, you may even have found yourself wondering if what you’re doing even matters anymore. It is important to recognise these changes. If left unchecked, these feelings may progress into symptoms of depression.
To stay in balance you need to turn these behaviors around. The smallest changes make a difference, but pay attention to changes that aren’t so small, like getting enough sleep (without drugs), dealing with your anger and anxiety before they erupt, moving around during the day, making time to play, eating sensibly and simply being with yourself.
I learned that prevention is the best medicine. Reaching your breaking point means that you’ve crossed into the red zone, from which it’s hard to return. You won’t get to your red zone if you apply the habits of self-care I’ve just listed. The choice is really yours. Medical research has abundantly validated that being in balance is the healthiest way to live. Spend the next two weeks getting back into balance. You’ll be amazed and pleased with the results. I adopted a certain “Bahala-na”-emotion especially when it comes to “bad news”. I enjoy playing my piano and listening to wonderful relaxing music. I enjoy staying together with my family. I talked to God… .
Saturday, May 16, 2026
FILIPINOS LOVE FIESTAS
By Klaus Döring
The word "fiesta" will bring a smile to the face of almost any Filipino. To my face too, because I lived here for good for more than 25 years.
After all, a fiesta is a special time with friends, a time for fellowship, food, and lots of activities. Each year brings numerous fiestas. Sometimes people are busy for weeks preparing for them. It is surprising how even those facing many problems in their day-to-day life set them aside and participate in the festivities.
What actually are fiestas and why do these celebrations occur? The fiesta is of Spanish origin (the reason for the Spanish term). Spain, being a Roman Catholic country, set aside certain days to remember particular saints with processions and celebrations. When Spanish missionaries entered the Philippines during the mid-1500s, they found that the fiesta was a convenient tool to help teach Filipinos the Roman Catholic faith.
Did you know the culturally rich Philippines has over 100 Fiestas (Festivals) annually? Each city or province has a local fiesta. Being a very religious centered country, a fiesta is usually about the celebration of that city or province’s patron saint. While “fiesta season” spans throughout the year, it’s safe to say that there is at least one major festival happening throughout the country at any given week. With the majority of those festivals originating from pre-colonial traditions in local cities and communities or rooted in Christianity from the Spanish Colonial Era.
The Philippine fiesta is a lot more than it seems on the service. It is the tie that binds Filipinos from a region or an area together, a time to reunite with your extended family and you kababayans (countrymen/women.) No matter where you are, you are expected to attend.
Sense of Identity: Festivals provide an opportunity for Filipinos to celebrate their cultural identity and heritage, contributing to a strong sense of pride in their cultural heritage. This sense of identity is an important factor in shaping the Filipino workforce and promoting a positive work culture.
Traditionally, the fiesta is a time of joyful celebration for Filipinos, who cook heaps of hearty food, throw open their doors to visitors, and parade in the streets. Some Filipino fiestas have evolved into elaborate, multi-day festivals, while others have kept their community roots.
In my own words, a Philippine festival is a vibrant celebration that brings communities together to showcase their cultural identity through colorful parades, music, dance, and food, highlighting the creativity and talents of Filipinos.




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