Expat-Thoughts (II)

I remember the movie "Cinema Paradise" directed by Guiseppe Tornatore: After 30 years absence a man returns to his childhood village. Actually he is terrible afraid, that all impressions might overcome him - but it doesn't happened. Well, of course, he is touched. He remembers himself as the small boy living in this place. But the man is through with the past. The presence is more important for him, even this presence couldn't have become like that without the past time in that small Sicilian village in South Italy.

A lot of expats might experienced in the same way. I did it too. 

To become a real grown up - as a German saying goes - we must learn to forget many things of our childhood. is that really so? I guess, it depends... .

If we have waited long enough, we might be able to return "to earlier places" but WITHOUT melancholy or wistfulness. Good advice. But speaking about myself: I haven't seen my home town in Germany since 11 years. I am pretty sure, that a certain melancholy will touch my heart. Sometimes we'd like to reply with Bob Dylan: "It's alright, Ma, I am only bleeding!"

Yes, I must confess, I mostly got a melancholy heart while visiting places of the past. Maybe that's the reason, why didn't visit my home country since 11 years. Nothing will remain as in yesterday. Nothing can be found again in its origin.

Mabuhay  Filipinas!

Expat Thoughts

Very often - sometimes too often! - the thought is back. If we wake up in the morning (or even many times in the middle of the night) - the thought is back. The "act of thinking", the "reflection", the "opinion" or the "serious consideration", no matter, how we describe it - our memory and conscience is always with us as a permanent companion.

We brood over unsettled problems. Sometimes we bear unfair treatments, arrogance, ignorance, incompetent know-it-all-betters, and unbearable oddballs, who inexorable love to make our life a hell, while living themselves a disorderly life.

We would not like to be distracted, but we're toying with some good ideas how we could throw overboard "all that garbage". What will come next is a matter of conjecture.

Of course, when I started my expat life here in the Philippines, I also got my ideas. But, too many trains of thought made me thoughtless and absent-minded especially in difficult or important daily life situations. Slowing down while experiencing another culture shock... .

Sometimes we feel that our thoughts and ideas can't be fulfilled with life. Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousands ways; but where the heart is weak, it will find a thousand excuses. I experienced this too during my first one or two years as an expat in the Philippines.

Every new day gives us new inexhaustible possibilities to survive - but many times we overlook and fail to notice many chances in life through our sluggishness and laziness while thinking and dreaming too much of unequaled and unfulfilled ideas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

Christmas Party in Institute of Languages/USEP Davao City

It was indeed a very wonderful and meaningful Christmas Party in the Institute of Languages of the University of Southeastern Philippines. It's really an honour for me being invited to teach German language in this university.

The VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Daniel T. Ugay, Jr., the VP for Administration Dr. Rodulfo C. Sumugat, my good friend the Executive Director of the Institute of Languages Dr. Patricia O. Elbanbuena, our Administrative Assistant Shella Lariosa, teacher colleagues such as Joan Jontilano and Jojean Retardo-Kwak, Professor Fernando Magdato, Jr. from the Lifelong Studycenter, and many visitors from different university departments joined us.

The inspirational talks of the two vice presidents and Ma-am "Pattie" said it: "It's really an honour and privilege to be part of the USEP-family"!

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Promotion on my own account: Start for new enrolments and for re-enrolments regarding the German Course will be on January 4, 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and GOD BLESS!

10th Christmas in the Philippines/10.Weihnachtsfest auf den Philippinen

This has been our 10th Christmas in the Philippines together with some family members - and, I must confess, it was wonderful.

Dies war das 10. Weihnachtsfest auf den Philippinen zusammen mit einigen Familienmitgliedern, und, ich muss sagen, es war wunderschoen.

Christmas in the Philippines - no more culture shock for me as before... .

Weihnachten auf den Philippinen - kein Kulturschock mehr fuer mich ... .

German, Philippine, and International Music in Davao City

ADI (Advanced Design & Innovation) Davao City presents the "Musikverein Kressbronn Brass Band" from Germany LIVE, featuring German, Philippine, and international music on January 9, 2010, at 7 pm at the People's Park, Davao City, and on January 10, 2010, at 11:00 am at the Paradise Park and Beach Resort on Samal Island. For further information you might call Luz at the Paradise Park and Beach Resort city office (082) - 234 2926.

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Der Musikverein Kressbronn Brass Band von Deutschland ist fuer zwei Tage live in Davao City - und zwar am 9. Januar 2010 um 19 Uhr im People's Park und am 10. Januar 2010 um 11 Uhr im Paradise Park and Beach Resort auf Samal Island. Viel Spass bei deutscher, philippinischer und internationaler Musik.

Are YOU a credit card holder?

It's really amazing: three Philippine financial institutions took home top honours in MasterCard Worldwide's Hall of Fame Marketing Awards, which had its inaugural launch in Singapore on the first of December 2009.

Banco de Oro, Allied Bank and RCBC Bankard won three out of the ten awards - Best Cardholder Promotion, Most Effective Card Marketing Program and Best Usage Campaign (cross-border), respectively - for their outstanding marketing efforts in launching or promoting MasterCard card programs in South- and Southeast Asia. Their wins inducted them,along with 23 other Asian banks, into MasterCard's Marketing Hall of Fame. Congratulations.

I am glad to know that. As an expat it's necessary to know which bank should be choosed for money transfers from abroad, i.e. for pension transfers.

NOCH EIN BUCH UEBER DIE PHILIPPINEN/BOOKREVIEW

Es gibt unzaehlige Buecher, die sich mit dem Thema "Philippinen" beschaeftigen. Darunter findet der Leser (immer noch) jede Menge Reisefuehrer, die, kaum veroeffentlicht, schon wieder ueberholt sind. Davon habe ich "tonnenweise" (aeltere und ganz alte!) Ausgaben in meiner Buecherei.

Vor einigen Monaten erhielt ich vom Verlag Shaker Media GmbH in Aachen "noch ein Buch ueber die Philippinen" - aber, ein ganz Besonderes. Es ist Wolfgang Bethge's "Die Philippinen" mit wirklich grandiosen Einblicken in Natur, Kultur, Geschichte und Gesellschaft der Philippinen. Der Autor hat dieses Werk seiner philippinischen Ehegattin Eva A. Torres gewidmet. Eine wunderbare Geste - dieses in Leinen gebundene Epos faellt aus dem Rahmen vieler Buecher ueber die Philippinen, die ich jemals in den Haenden hatte.

Autor Bethe erwaehnt (zu Recht) das Resultat "aus einer nun doch schon mehrjaehrigen Bechaeftigung mit dem faszinierenden Land Philippinen". Natuerlich versteht sich das Buch als Ergaenzung zu vielen auf dem Markt befindlichen Reisefuehrern. Und, es ist das wirklich. Ich habe manche Stunde fasziniert gelesen - und noch viel dazu gelernt, wenn es zu bestimmten Themen ueber die Philippinen kam.

Das Buch bietet wirklich jedem etwas. Auswanderer, die hier schon leben - so wie ich, oder solche, die es werden wollen. Bethge's Werk gleicht einem Gemischtwarenladen - aber, das ist gerade das, was es so faszinierend macht.

Wolfgang Bethe, Die Philippinen, 314 Seiten, gebunden, 27 EURO, www.shaker-media.de.

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Again another book about the Philippines - but, a very special one. It's unfortunately only in German. Really unfortunately, because an English translation would help many expats living in the Philippines to overcome the culture clash, which can't be avoid - where ever you live on this globe, or where ever you live in this beautful country named Philippines.

What's YOUR favourite Philippine Airline?

Honestly, it's very difficult for me to explain by mentioning several airlines. I got some very bad experiences with one! Let's talk about good things happened right now.

Just being back again from Manila in Davao, I really enjoyed Philippine Airlines: excellent service and very much being on time departure and arrival. The new slogan 'With us, you're ALWAYS NO. 1' let me really feel smiling.

By the way, if you plan to travel to Sydney you can avail the "777 only" (US$ 777) for round trip economy class, all-in-fare (excluding government taxes). Don't get me wrong, this is not a paid advertisement. I only got this information from  an Australian expat friend, who also kept on praising the nation's flagship Philippine Airlines.

Maybe you have some other experiences. Feel free to post your comment here on www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.

My (Philippine) Music/Meine (philippinische) Musik

I love music since I was four years young. I started playing piano and got my first "Hohner" accordion. I really love any kind of music: from Beethoven up to the Beatles.

Moving to the Philippines for good meant also to bring my whole music collection (and library with more then 2000 books). It helped very much to ease some "culture shocks" in the beginning of my expat life here in the Philippines.

I started being very much interested in Philippine music.

Meanwhile I could mention hundreds of favourite Philippine compositions: "Dahil Mahal Na Mahal" (Pinoy Biggie Hits), MINDANAO, or Kung Ako Na Lang (Sana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

Talking about movie themes: I was really lucky to find in SM City Davao finest music by the best artists - YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE 101. These are 101 digitally remastered recordings on 6 CD's. A really awesome collection for music lovers produced in 2009 by Universal Music International. Check out www.getmusic.com.ph.

Have you ever heard about "Manilac Lay Labi"? This is the second part of a Philippine suite for piano by Ryan Cayabyab "Pahilaga" which is Ilocano meaning in an easterly direction. Manilac Lay Labi means a quite night and this delicate piece transports us to just that - a calm, untroubled and peaceful night.

How about "Pandangguhan"? This is a popular and well-loved Filipino dance piece. One can imagine a Filipino couple dance skillfully and rhythmically to the familiar tune. The piano arrangement is really interesting and exciting.

And, I love Philippine Telenovelas' music. For avid followers of well-known Tagalog TV series such as "Pangako Sa Iyo" or "Sana'y Wala Ng Wakas" these melodies evoke the familiar and the intimate.

Merry Christmas to all of you my dear readers!Froehliche Weihnachten fuer alle meine Leser hier!