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!

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Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Rente mit 63 fällt weg, Kapitalrente kommt: Das plant die Rentenkommission – „Kein Rosinenpicken“

Rentenkommission legt 33 Empfehlungen vor: Kapitalrente, höheres Rentenalter, Ende der Rente mit 63. Merz und Bas wollen alles umsetzen – Kritik kommt.

Berlin – Die Rentenkommission der Bundesregierung hat ihre 33 Empfehlungen für eine umfassende Reform der gesetzlichen Altersversorgung vorgelegt. Sowohl Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU) als auch Bundesarbeitsministerin Bärbel Bas (SPD) haben eine vollständige Umsetzung des Pakets angekündigt. Die Vorschläge sehen unter anderem eine neue Kapitalrente, ein schrittweise steigendes Rentenalter und die Abschaffung der abschlagsfreien Frührente vor. Während die Koalition Geschlossenheit demonstriert, kommt aus Wohlfahrtsverbänden und Teilen der Politik auch Kritik.   

Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (l, CDU) und Bärbel Bas (SPD), Bundesministerin für Arbeit und Soziales und SPD-Parteivorsitzende kommen zur Pressekonferenz zur Rente nach der Übergabe des Berichts der Altersicherungskommission zur Rentenreform mit den Kommissionsvorsitzenden Constanze Janda und Frank-Jürgen Weise teil.
Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (l, CDU) und Bärbel Bas (SPD), Bundesministerin für Arbeit und Soziales und SPD-Parteivorsitzende kommen zur Pressekonferenz zur Rente nach der Übergabe des Berichts der Altersicherungskommission zur Rentenreform mit den Kommissionsvorsitzenden Constanze Janda und Frank-Jürgen Weise teil. © Michael Kappeler/dpa

Merz betonte nach der Übergabe des Berichts in Berlin, das Reformpaket dürfe nicht auseinandergenommen werden: „Alle Elemente dieses Reformpakets, ich betone, alle Elemente dieses Reformpakets müssen jetzt zügig umgesetzt werden.“ Man könne es sich nicht erlauben, einzelne Maßnahmen herauszunehmen oder abzulehnen.  

Pläne der Rentenkommission: Merz und Bas äußern sich zur Reform

Die Maßnahmen zur Sicherung der Rente greifen ineinander und balancieren sich laut Merz aus: „Sie bilden ein Gesamtkonzept, das nur in seiner Gesamtheit funktioniert.“ Auch in der Koalition gebe es Einigkeit darüber, das Paket vollständig umzusetzen. Kürzungen von Rentenleistungen werde es nicht geben, versprach der Kanzler. „Es ist allerhöchste Zeit. Nichtstun ist keine Option.“

Bundesarbeitsministerin Bas schloss sich dieser Linie an und warnte ebenfalls vor einem selektiven Umgang mit den Vorschlägen der Rentenkommission: „Es gibt jetzt kein Rosinenpicken, es ist ein Gesamtkunstwerk.“ In dem Paket greife alles ineinander, sodass man nicht das eine oder andere weglassen könne.   

Das Reformprojekt soll in seiner Gesamtheit am Ende allen Deutschen zugutekommen. „Die Lasten werden gleich verteilt – und zwar über alle Generationen hinweg“, betonte Merz. Man benötige einen langen Atem, um alle Elemente des Projekts umzusetzen. Aber dann könnten sowohl die Jüngeren als auch die Älteren profitieren, fügte der Kanzler hinzu. „Es wird für alle besser“, versprach auch Bas.   

Für die Umsetzung müssten die Koalitionsfraktionen mitgenommen werden. Sie sei aber „sehr zuversichtlich“, dass dies gelingen könne. Mit Blick auf die junge Generation hob Bas hervor, durch den empfohlenen paritätisch finanzierten Kapitalstock werde das Rentenniveau steigen: Die junge Generation werde später eine höhere Rente haben als die Rentner heute.

Pläne der Rentenkommission: Die wichtigsten Vorschläge im Überblick

Zu den zentralen Empfehlungen der 13-köpfigen Kommission, die vor einem halben Jahr eingesetzt worden war, gehört die Einführung einer sogenannten Kapitalrente. Sie soll das Rentenniveau stabilisieren: Dafür würde der von Arbeitnehmern und Arbeitgebern hälftig gezahlte Rentenbeitrag um bis zu zwei Prozentpunkte erhöht – zusätzlich zu einer ohnehin erwarteten Steigerung des Beitragssatzes von heute 18,6 Prozent. 

Pläne der Rentenkommission: Das sind die Vorschläge für die Merz-Regierung

Nettoersatzquote als Zielgröße: Als politische Zielgröße für eine lebensstandardsichernde Altersversorgung sollte eine Nettoersatzquote von mindestens 70 Prozent nach Steuern angesetzt werden.

Ausweisung der Nettoersatzquote: Neben dem Sicherungsniveau vor Steuern soll künftig regelmäßig die Nettoersatzquote anhand typisierter Modellfälle (z. B. Durchschnitts- und Geringverdienende) dargestellt werden.

Verbesserung der Datenbasis: Die Indikatorik und die administrative Datenbasis für das Monitoring der Altersvorsorge in der Bevölkerung sollen weiterentwickelt werden.

Digitale Rentenübersicht und Finanzbildung: Die Digitale Rentenübersicht soll als Planungs- und Informationstool weiterentwickelt werden, ergänzt durch eine lebensbegleitende Finanzbildungsstrategie.

Kopplung der Regelaltersgrenze an die Lebenserwartung: Nach 2031 soll die Regelaltersgrenze so an die steigende Lebenserwartung gekoppelt werden, dass sich die gewonnene Lebenszeit im Verhältnis 2:1 auf die Erwerbs- und Rentenphase aufteilt.

Abschaffung des abschlagsfreien Renteneintritts: Der abschlagsfreie Renteneintritt für besonders langjährig Versicherte soll abgeschafft werden.

Kein Renteneintritt allein nach Beitragsjahren: Eine Regelung, die den Renteneintritt ausschließlich von Beitragsjahren abhängig macht, soll nicht eingeführt werden.

Erhöhung der Altersgrenze für langjährig Versicherte: Die Altersgrenze für langjährig Versicherte soll zeitnah von 63 auf 64 Jahre erhöht werden und das Renteneintrittsfenster auch künftig bei drei Jahren bleiben.

Versicherungsmathematische Abschläge und Zuschläge: Die Umrechnungsfaktoren (Abschläge und Zuschläge) bei vorgezogenem oder aufgeschobenem Renteneintritt sollen weiterhin nach versicherungsmathematischen Grundsätzen berechnet werden, um für die Versichertengemeinschaft finanziell neutral zu sein.

Gesundheitsvorsorge und Erwerbsminderung: Das Fallmanagement und die berufsbezogene Gesundheitsvorsorge ab 45 Jahren sollen wissenschaftlich begleitet werden. Für Erwerbsminderungsrentner soll die Erprobung einer Wiedereingliederung auf ein Jahr verlängert werden, und rentennahe Jahrgänge, die ihren Beruf nicht mehr ausüben können, sollen einen vereinfachten Rentenzugang erhalten.

Anpassung der Hinterbliebenenversorgung: Reformoptionen sollen geprüft werden, um die Hinterbliebenenversorgung an heutige gesellschaftliche Normen anzupassen.

Stärkung der Rehabilitation: Die Rehabilitation soll gestärkt werden, unter anderem durch ein am Bedarf orientiertes Reha-Budget in der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung (GRV).

Anpassung der Altersteilzeit: Die Altersgrenze für die Altersteilzeit soll von 55 auf 58 Jahre angehoben und an die Regelaltersgrenze gekoppelt werden, wobei das Blockmodell abgeschafft werden soll.

Regelbasierte jährliche Rentenanpassungen: Die Rente soll weiterhin an die Lohnentwicklung gekoppelt bleiben. Zudem soll der aktuell ausgesetzte Nachhaltigkeitsfaktor wieder greifen und dessen Parameter „alpha“ auf 0,33 erhöht werden.

Einführung eines Übergangsfaktors: Für Rentenneuzugänge ab 2032 soll ein steuerfinanzierter Übergangsfaktor (Niveauzuschlag) eingeführt werden, der schrittweise abgeschmolzen wird, sobald die neue gesetzliche Kapitalrente das Rentenniveau erhöht.

Einheitlicher Beitragssatz und Beitragsbemessung: Es soll beim einheitlichen Beitragssatz auf Löhne und Gehälter bleiben, ohne Einbezug weiterer Einkunftsarten oder zusätzlicher Faktoren. Auch die Berechnung der Beitragsbemessungsgrenze soll unverändert bleiben.

Transparenz bei nicht beitragsgedeckten Leistungen: Nicht beitragsgedeckte Leistungen mit gesamtgesellschaftlicher Aufgabe sollen künftig transparent dargestellt und vollständig als „Bundesanteil“ (statt Bundeszuschuss) aus Bundesmitteln erstattet werden.

Bekämpfung verdeckter Armut: Bund, Länder und Kommunen sollen verdeckte Armut bekämpfen und allen bedürftigen Bürgern Zugang zum Existenzminimum garantieren, unterstützt durch ein einfacheres Sozialleistungsrecht.

Bessere Anrechnungsregeln in der Grundsicherung: Personen mit eingezahlten Sozialversicherungsbeiträgen sollen im Alter finanziell besser gestellt werden als Personen ohne Beiträge, beispielsweise durch einen Freibetrag für gesetzliche Renten.

Abschaffung der Zwangsverrentung: Die Möglichkeit der Jobcenter, langzeitarbeitslose Menschen vorzeitig und mit Abschlägen in Rente zu schicken, soll dauerhaft abgeschafft werden.

Zielbild Erwerbstätigenversicherung: Eine Erwerbstätigenversicherung, die abhängig Beschäftigte, Selbständige, Beamte, Abgeordnete und Vorstände einschließt, wird als Idealbild angesehen.

Einbeziehung von Selbständigen: Bisher nicht obligatorisch abgesicherte Selbständige, die neu starten, sollen ohne Ausnahmemöglichkeit (Opt-out) in die GRV einbezogen werden.

Übertragung von Reformen auf Beamte: Rentenreformen sollen wirkungsgleich auf die Beamtenversorgung übertragen werden. Die Zahl der Verbeamtungen sollte reduziert und ausreichende Rücklagen für Pensionen geschaffen werden.

Einbeziehung von Abgeordneten: Abgeordnete der Landesparlamente und des Bundestages sollen pflichtversichert in die GRV einbezogen werden.

Einbeziehung von AG-Vorständen: Vorstände von Aktiengesellschaften sollen in den Kreis der Pflichtversicherten der GRV aufgenommen werden.

Einbeziehung von Minijobs: Geringfügige Beschäftigungsverhältnisse (Minijobs) sollen ihren steuer- und sozialversicherungsrechtlichen Sonderstatus verlieren und ohne Opt-out-Möglichkeit voll in die GRV einbezogen werden (Ausnahme: Schüler).

Stärkung kapitalgedeckter Elemente: Um das Rentenniveau zu erhöhen, sollen kapitalgedeckte Elemente nach internationalem Vorbild gestärkt werden.

Einführung einer gesetzlichen Kapitalrente: Im Rahmen der GRV soll eine obligatorische, kapitalgedeckte Renten-Komponente eingeführt werden. Dies beinhaltet einen zentral am Kapitalmarkt verwalteten, paritätisch finanzierten Zusatzbeitrag von zwei Prozent.

Ausbau der betrieblichen Altersversorgung (bAV): In einem Sozialpartnerdialog sollen bis 2026 Maßnahmen erarbeitet werden, um die Verbreitung der betrieblichen Altersversorgung deutlich, perspektivisch sogar annähernd flächendeckend, zu erhöhen.

Attraktivitätssteigerung der bAV: Die Attraktivität der betrieblichen Altersversorgung soll durch Bürokratieabbau, Portabilität, Rechtssicherheit sowie Geringverdienerförderung gesteigert werden.

Verzahnung der Frühstart-Rente: Die sogenannte Frühstart-Rente soll mit der gesetzlichen Kapitalrente verzahnt werden, um Doppelstrukturen zu vermeiden und lange Ansparzeiten zu nutzen.

Monitoring privater Altersvorsorge: Die Auswirkungen und Entwicklungen der bereits reformierten privaten, steuerlich geförderten Altersvorsorge sollen fortlaufend eng überwacht werden.

Weiterentwicklung der Deutschen Rentenversicherung: Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) soll organisatorisch weiterentwickelt werden, um effizienter, schneller und bürgernäher arbeiten zu können

Für 2028 wird der Beitragssatz Prognosen zufolge bereits bei 19,9 Prozent liegen. Ab 2031 soll zudem der sogenannte Nachhaltigkeitsfaktor wieder greifen, der die jährliche Rentensteigerung dämpft. Für Versicherte nahe am Rentenalter ist ein Übergangsfaktor vorgesehen, der das Rentenniveau nahe 48 Prozent hält. Das gesetzliche Rentenalter soll über die bisherige Grenze von 67 Jahren hinaus in kleinen Schritten, gekoppelt an die Lebenserwartung, weiter steigen. Die abschlagsfreie Frührente nach 45 Beitragsjahren soll entfallen, und auch mit Abschlägen soll ein Renteneintritt vor dem 64. Lebensjahr nicht mehr möglich sein. Darüber hinaus sollen künftig Selbstständige sowie Politikerinnen und Politiker in die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung einbezogen werden.   

Aus für Rente mit 63, Pläne für Kapitalrente: Vorsicht in den Fraktionen, Lob aus dem Unionslager

In den Koalitionsfraktionen gibt es zwar grundsätzliche Zustimmung für die Pläne der Rentenkommission, aber auch Vorbehalte. SPD-Fraktionsvize Dagmar Schmidt bezeichnete im Vorfeld der Präsentation den Gesamtentwurf gegenüber dem Deutschlandfunk als „eine sehr gute Grundlage“ für die folgende Koalitionsdiskussion. Sie glaubt aber nicht, dass die Vorschläge „so eins zu eins in der Gesetzesvorlage stehen würden“.

Dass man das große Ganze infrage stellen werde, glaube die SPD-Politiker jedoch nicht. Es sei „schon einmal ein Wert an sich“, dass über unterschiedliche Sichtweisen hinweg ein gemeinsamer Vorschlag gemacht worden sei. CDU/CSU-Parlamentsgeschäftsführer Hendrik Hoppenstedt hatte bereits im Vorfeld dafür geworben, die Vorschläge ohne größere Änderungen umzusetzen. Auch SPD-Arbeitnehmerflügel-Chefin Cansel Kiziltepe mahnte an, die Vorschläge nicht zu zerpflücken. Aus dem CDU-Sozialflügel kam Lob: „Das ist ein starkes Gesamtpaket, was die Kommission da vorgelegt hat“, sagte dessen Vorsitzender Dennis Radtke den Zeitungen der Funke-Mediengruppe.   

Angesichts der Reformpläne der Rentenkommission zeigte sich die Ostbeauftragte der Bundesregierung, Elisabeth Kaiser (SPD), besorgt: „Für Menschen in Ostdeutschland darf es keine Absenkung des aktuellen Rentenniveaus ab 2031 geben.“ Andernfalls drohe vielen Menschen die Altersarmut. „Die gesetzliche Rente ist für die meisten Ostdeutschen die einzige Lebensgrundlage im Alter“, sagte sie der Leipziger Volkszeitung und der Sächsischen Zeitung. Auch Sachsens Ministerpräsident Michael Kretschmer (CDU) dringt darauf, die speziellen Bedürfnisse der Ostdeutschen zu berücksichtigen: „Wer über die Zukunft unserer Renten spricht, muss die Lebensleistung der Menschen in Ostdeutschland ernst nehmen.“

IF EVERYTHING GOES WRONG

 

By
 Klaus Döring
 -

TAKE a deep breath. When everything collapses, pause to stop the spiral. Anchor yourself by focusing on what you can control right now, triage only the immediate next steps, and let go of the long-term for a moment. Don’t look too far ahead into the future. Break down the big stuff into smaller tasks.

Sometimes, it seems that everything goes wrong despite our best efforts to make things right. We can do everything in our power to make something work, but life might have different plans.

Many of us feel as though we have no control over our lives, and while that might hold some truth to some extent, we do have the power to control how we react to situations.

So are all of us. You wake up in the morning and open your eyes. One mishap follows the other. And then the radio plays Jason Collett too: “When everything goes wrong.”

Accept it, stay calm, and most important, stay motivated during these tough times. Maybe easier said than done. I also had to learn it first and to pull myself up on it every time.

Of course, sometimes life’s rough patches feel like they’re going to last forever. Keep in mind: whether you’re dealing with work-related issues, family problems, or stressful situations, very few problems last for a lifetime. So remind yourself that things won’t be this bad forever.

When things are going wrong, it’s hard to recognize what is going right. It’s easy to screen out the good things and only focus on the bad things. Remind yourself that some things are going right. Purposely look for the positive even if it is something very small.

One of the most important things to remember is that you have some control of the situation. Even if you aren’t in complete control of the situation, one thing you can always control is your attitude and reaction. Focus on managing what is within your control.

Asking for help can be hard sometimes. I tried to avoid it as long as I could. Big mistake.

Asking for help is one of the best ways to deal with tough situations. Tell people what you need specifically if they offer to help. Don’t be afraid to call on friends and family and ask them for help, whether you need emotional support or practical help. The present flood victims in Germany and its surroundings are so very thankful for this.

A lack of confidence in handling tough times can add to stress. It happened to me when COVID-19 changed my life and my business. One of the best things to remember is that you can handle tough situations. Even though you might feel angry, hurt, disappointed, or sad, it won’t kill you. You can get through it.

No matter how bad a situation is, it’s almost certain that something good will come out of it. At the very least, it’s likely that you will learn a life lesson. Perhaps you learn not to repeat the same mistake in the future or maybe you move on from a bad situation and find something better. Look for the one good thing that can result when bad things happen.

Many cannot get used to the idea that there are many things that aren’t within your control. You can’t change the past, another person’s behavior, or a loved one’s health issues. Don’t waste time trying to force others to change or trying to make things be different if it isn’t within your control. Investing time and energy into trying to do things you can’t will cause you to feel helpless and exhausted. Acceptance is one of the best ways to establish resilience.

Remember this: one of the things to remember when you’re facing difficulties is that you’ve handled problems in the past. Don’t overlook past difficulties that you’ve dealt with successfully. Remind yourself of all the past problems you’ve overcome and you’ll gain confidence in dealing with the current issues.

Besides everything: think about yourself too. When everything seems to be going wrong, take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, get some exercise, eat healthy, and spend some time doing leisure activities. When you’re taking better care of yourself you’ll be better equipped to deal with your problems.

Everything is temporary, even everything which goes wrong. Happiness is a result of your approach to life, not what happens to you.

Sometimes we need to take one step, then another. Even if they’re just baby steps, keep moving. Rather than focusing on the worst case, think instead of what else is possible.

Look for the lesson. Challenging situations can often teach us what we have left to learn. Keep a positive attitude by remaining focused on solutions, skills, and strengths.Start small. Spend time with the people who support you.

Maybe, together with the light at the end of the tunnel: choose one big goal to work on in order to make a lasting change.

“If anything can go wrong, it will…” This tongue-in-cheek principle, known as Murphy’s Law, is cited by economists, sports teams, and big politicians. Human nature somehow guarantees that nothing turns out quite the way it’s supposed to.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

PH braces for severe El Niño seen to last until 2027


Dexter Cabalza

The Marcos administration is ramping up measures to protect the country’s food, water and energy supplies amid warnings that a potentially severe El Niño phenomenon could persist until 2027, threatening agricultural production and economic activity nationwide.

President Marcos on Monday said government agencies were intensifying preparations as forecasts pointed to prolonged dry conditions that could affect large parts of the country.

“According to our data, there is a high possibility that the country will experience severe El Niño that may last until next year, 2027,” the President said during the inauguration of the Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) in Bohol province.

He said the government was accelerating investments in irrigation and water-management projects to help farmers cope with drought and strengthen resilience against climate-related disasters.

Farmers on the front line

Among the measures being implemented is the promotion of drought-resistant and less water-intensive crops such as watermelon, ginger, purple yam, peanuts and eggplant in vulnerable farming communities.

The government is also encouraging the use of climate-adaptive technologies, including solar-powered irrigation pumps and water recycling systems in drought-prone areas.

Mr. Marcos highlighted the newly completed P833.37-million Mabini-Cayacay SRIP, a project of the National Irrigation Administration, as part of the administration’s broader strategy to sustain agricultural productivity despite worsening climate conditions.

The facility is expected to provide a year-round water supply to 530 hectares of farmland in eastern Bohol, benefiting 717 farmers in Mabini and Alicia towns.

The project includes a 32.20-meter-high dam, an ungated spillway and an 11.31-kilometer main canal that will distribute water from the Baujanan and Cawasan creeks to agricultural areas.

Officials said the irrigation system would allow farmers to increase cropping frequency from two to three planting cycles annually, boosting yields and incomes.

El Niño alert

The government’s preparations come after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) confirmed earlier this month that El Niño conditions had developed in the tropical Pacific.

Sea surface temperatures in key regions of the Pacific were about 0.5 degree Celsius above normal, meeting the threshold for the onset of El Niño, Pagasa said.

The state weather bureau recently projected a 92-percent probability that a moderate to strong El Niño event would develop in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue into early 2027.

El Niño is associated with below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells and drought conditions in the Philippines, although Pagasa said above-normal rainfall may still occur in western parts of the country during the southwest monsoon season until October.

Costly reminder

The Department of Agriculture (DA) warned that a strong El Niño could slash national rice production by as much as 700,000 metric tons, raising concerns over food security and farmers’ livelihoods.

Officials are drawing lessons from the 2023-2024 El Niño episode, which caused P57.78 billion in agricultural losses, the highest in recent years.

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Corn suffered the heaviest damage, followed by rice, high-value crops, cassava, coconut and fisheries.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed agricultural output fell by 2.2 percent in 2024 to P483.58 billion, reflecting the impact of drought and extreme weather.

To mitigate similar losses, Malacañang said Mr. Marcos recently convened a Cabinet meeting to review the government’s El Niño action plan covering food security, water supply, energy reliability, public health and disaster preparedness.

The DA, National Food Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have been directed to reactivate the DA National El Niño Team, identify drought-prone areas, rehabilitate irrigation facilities and promote water-saving farming practices.

Water-management agencies have been tasked to desilt reservoirs, repair facilities, enforce conservation measures and prioritize domestic water supply.

Health authorities are preparing for a possible rise in heat-related and waterborne illnesses, while energy agencies have been instructed to secure fuel reserves, strengthen transmission systems and ensure adequate electricity supply. —WITH A REPORT FROM ANDRE ESGUERRA

Livelihood struggles and successes

 

Cielito F. Habito

Among the package of government-wide social protection (SP, aka anti-poverty) interventions, livelihood programs (LPs) seem to be the most favored mode of helping the poor, next to outright cash dole-outs or “ayuda.” Yet government-assisted livelihood enterprises that survive beyond one to two years turn out to be the exception rather than the norm, making the assistance little more than “ayudas” themselves. But LPs are what national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and nongovernment groups like to provide the poor they serve, because “that is what they want.” This was validated in consultations around the country by a Brain Trust Inc. study team I led, tasked by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assess the government’s prominent SP programs.

DSWD itself has its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which traces back to an early 2000s program called Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) spearheaded by the late former Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman. SEA-K was described as “a microcredit initiative to provide small, non-collateral loans to help the poor start basic entrepreneurial activities.” But DSWD realized that providing financing was not enough unless it was supported by adequate entrepreneurial capability building. By 2011, it phased out SEA-K and launched SLP, primarily targeting households served by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps (see last week’s “Has 4Ps worked for the poor?”). A major change was a shift in focus from microcredit to capacity building, to “provide participants with essential assets to engage in microenterprises or secure formal employment.”

Recognizing that not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, SLP provided assistance in the form of microenterprise development (MD) and employment facilitation (EF). While the MD track took off from the phased-out SEA-K, the EF track drew from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) strategy of skills training and job matching. Either way, SLP shifted the focus from financing via microcredit to capability building. In a 2022 assessment, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) observed low profitability and substantial business closures in SLP enterprises, along with management issues and lack of participation in and earning opportunities for members in group enterprises that SLP assisted. PIDS assessed SLP’s cost to have exceeded its benefits, putting its very usefulness into question, and belying the key adjective in its name.

DSWD’s SLP is but one of numerous LPs offered by various government entities like DOLE, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and more—not counting LGUs, parishes and churches, and civic organizations. With such a plethora of LPs of various kinds targeting various beneficiary groups, our study team found it useful to make a distinction between initiatives best characterized as “livelihood assistance,” and those with “enterprise development” as an end goal.

“Livelihood assistance” would better characterize programs from DSWD, DOLE, OWWA, and most LGUs, with no necessary aim for sustainability beyond economic relief and capability-building. Experience shows that these often result in minimal income increases in beneficiaries over time. “Enterprise development” would be the more appropriate term for programs from DTI, DOST, and TESDA that aim to build profitable, job-creating and sustainable businesses via capacity-building and technology support, and business development services. While both livelihood assistance and enterprise development programs ultimately aim to provide sustained income for beneficiaries, the latter generally yield superior outcomes, but entail larger investments and more complex assistance. In contrast, the former are cheaper and easier to implement, and thus commonly favored even as they often fail the test of sustainability.

Some exceptional DSWD regional field offices actually claimed high success rates for their own SLP beneficiaries. Asked what their secret of success was, the one word that kept emerging was “tutok,” or close follow-up support, especially sustained business mentoring. DSWD has since adopted a new SLP Sustainability Plan to address this and other adverse findings in the 2022 PIDS assessment.

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It is worth recalling former DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez’s seven Ms for fostering small business: mindset (change), mastery, mentoring, money (financing), machines (technology tools), market (access/linkage), and models (business setups). If all LPs ensure inclusion of these key success factors, the line between “livelihood assistance” and “enterprise development” would fade out, and the better we would be able to help our poor.

—————————————

cielito.habito@gmail.com

Unwetter wüten in Bayern: Baum stürzt auf Wohnmobil

 

Unwetter wüten in Bayern: Baum stürzt auf Wohnmobil – Bilder zeigen das ganze Ausmaß der Schäden

Unwetter wüten in Bayern: Baum stürzt auf Wohnmobil – Bilder zeigen das ganze Ausmaß der Schäden

Laughter is the Best Medicine


Laughter acts as natural medicine, triggering healthy physical and emotional changes. It relaxes your body, boosts your immune system, and triggers the release of endorphins—the body's natural "feel-good" chemicals—to elevate your mood and diminish pain.A hearty laugh delivers science-backed benefits for both the mind and body:



Laughter is a pleasant physical reaction and emotion consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli.


The aphorism “laughter is the best medicine” has been attributed to the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”. This ancient wisdom might also hold true for some medical conditions.



It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.


With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.


As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.


Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.


Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.


Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.


Laughter burns calories. Okay, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.


Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.


Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.


More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.


Laughter shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict.


Laughter draws you closer to others, which can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional health.


Laughter releases endorphins, known as 'feel-good hormones'. It increases the oxygen-rich air you take in and reduces stress hormones, bringing down your heart rate and blood pressure, and causing your muscles to relax.


Well, even if we think we don't have reasons to laugh during times today,we should try to express mirth spontaneously, and we should try to be merry or gay. We still have reasons to start with the softest form of audible laughter - the vocalized smile. This is what I learned and experienced from the first moment on while travelling in Asia since 1978, and being an expat living in the Philippines since 1999 for good. Keep smiling - even you are overloaded with huge problems.


Experts also say good humor works because it helps people feel easier in mind. The French psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum stressed that, in her patients, laughter often signals the dawning of a wholesome awakening to reality. Gallow humor might be dubious in the eyes of others. But try to sing out loud, try to cry, but try to laugh!


As a devout Christian I love reading the bible. Ecclessiastes 3:1-4 say: "There is a time for everything ... a time to be born and a time to die ,,, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh!"

Olivia Rodrigo on extreme concert culture

 

By Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Published Jun 23, 2026 06:12 pm

     

"I have been to certain concerts and certain festivals where people wear diapers so that they can be front row of the show," Rodrigo said, prompting immediate disbelief from the radio hosts.

She then shared a detail that took the story from surprising to downright unsettling.

"And that's been an experience as a performer that I have smelled," she added.

The revelation may sound shocking, but it also highlights how intense modern concert culture has become. For some fans, securing a prime spot near the stage has turned into an endurance challenge, with hours-long waits and the fear of missing even a moment of the show.

Some concertgoers have long shared stories online about attendees refusing to leave their spots for food, water, or bathroom breaks. In that context, Rodrigo's story feels both unbelievable and strangely plausible.

The singer appeared more amused than disturbed by the experience, though it is easy to sympathize with any performer who suddenly realizes the source of an unpleasant odor drifting toward the stage. At the same time, it speaks to the extraordinary lengths some fans are willing to go to for a front-row view.

Fortunately, Rodrigo has plenty of reasons to celebrate beyond becoming an accidental commentator on concert etiquette.

Her latest album, "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love," has enjoyed a strong global debut, topping multiple album charts. The record's songs have also made a significant impact on streaming platforms and music rankings worldwide, further cementing Rodrigo's status as one of pop music's biggest stars.

Since the breakout success of "Drivers License," Rodrigo has become known for turning heartbreak, insecurity, and the challenges of growing up into chart-topping hits that resonate with millions of listeners.

She probably never expected to weigh in on diaper-related concert behavior. Yet somehow, in 2026, that has become part of the conversation surrounding live music.

In Germany, Legarda prods Filipinos to finish Rizal's vision for Philippines


 


By Hannah L. Torregoza
Published Jun 23, 2026 09:05 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Loren Legarda reminded Filipinos that Dr. Jose Rizal's vision for Philippines remains unfinished, and it is the duty of Filipinos to carry out the national hero's aspiration of freedom and dignity.
  • The senator thanked the people of Wilhelmsfeld and Heidelberg, the Ullmer family, and the Knights of Rizal for keeping Rizal's memory alive in Germany through the Rizal Historic Trail, commemorative programs, and generations of care for the places that shaped his life and work.


Senator Loren Legarda reminded Filipinos that Dr. Jose Rizal’s vision for Philippines remains unfinished, and it is the duty of Filipinos to carry out the national hero’s aspiration of freedom and dignity.  Speaking at Wilhelmsfeld, Germany, where Rizal once longed for home and completed the novel that awakened a nation’s thirst for independence and self-determination, Legarda called on Filipinos to accomplish what Rizal had originally set out to do.  

Legarda noted that Wilhelmsfeld holds a unique place in Philippine history, saying it was here, in 1886, that Rizal lived as a guest of Pastor Karl Ullmer, studied in nearby Heidelberg, and completed Noli Me Tangere, the novel that would awaken the Filipino national consciousness.

Rizal, the senator said, is a living force whose ideals of freedom, dignity continue to guide the Filipino people.

“So why mark his birthday in Wilhelmsfeld? Because this is where he found shelter,” Legarda said.

“We did not come to Wilhelmsfeld just to speak about Dr. Jose Rizal from a distance. We came to stand on the ground that opened its doors to a young Filipino far from home and gave him a place to belong,” she said.

Legarda thanked the people of Wilhelmsfeld and Heidelberg, the Ullmer family, and the Knights of Rizal for keeping Rizal’s memory alive in Germany through the Rizal Historic Trail, commemorative programs, and generations of care for the places that shaped his life and work.

The lawmaker further emphasized that the story of Rizal's stay in Wilhelmsfeld demonstrates how a simple act of kindness and welcome of a German family can leave a lasting mark on a nation’s history.

“A small German town that welcomed a young Filipino far from home became part of the story of a nation,” Legarda noted.

Moreover, she said Rizal’s life in Germany underscored that nation-building is never accomplished in isolation.

While Rizal's aspirations were firmly rooted in his love for the Philippines, his life also showed the importance of dialogue among peoples, cultural exchange, and international friendship.

 “For more than a decade, I have tried to bring Rizal home to his own people, by way of Germany,” Legarda said as she recounted efforts to retrace Rizal's footsteps and give honor to his legacy.  

“When I first visited Wilhelmsfeld and met Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, I left with a wish that the house where Rizal wrote his novel would one day be preserved for the people he loved,” she said.

“To this town and to the Ullmer family, who have kept Rizal's story alive across generations, the Filipino people are very grateful,” she also said.

The veteran legislator also emphasized that Rizal's significance lies not only in what he accomplished during his lifetime but in the continuing responsibility of succeeding generations to carry forward the ideals he championed.

“Dr. Jose Rizal, 165 years from the day you were born, we are here to remember you not as a man we mourn. You are a man whose vision is still ours to build,” she said.

“As the Knights of Rizal say, Non Omnis Moriar. Not all of you have died, and in our homeland, in Wilhelmsfeld, and in every mind still awakened by your words, you live on,” she reiterated.