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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Monday, September 11, 2017

Loosing Faith?


Loosing faith?

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Döring
A friend of mine started talking with me and mentioned the good old days. Yes, those were the days my friend! Well, we all know: times have changed. More natural disasters, more wars, more people all over the world who are loosing their faith.
To be or not to be. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: without faith, we’re really nothing.
Faith is belief; believe in us, in our works, talents and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents – or much better, in our whole family including the black sheep, which can be found every where.
We should believe in our friends, even it seems to become very difficult many times.
Please remember, my dear readers: without faith will we reach the rock bottom. Don’t say, it’s a likely story.
The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) has mentioned in his drama “Maria Stuart”: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!” Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians, who were undergoing persecution for or because of their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody’s thing, or “not everyone has faith”.
“If I have faith, that can move mountains” (First Corinthians 13,2).
Faith is a tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813-1883) found the following lyric: “Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith.”
So, let’s even continue believing in our governments or the institution church. Faith means also a belief specially in a revealed religion. Faith is trust or reliance. Faith is indeed a pledged word. Yes, I know.
Faithful love is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable love. Faithful love means even to love your enemy.
Allow me to close this column with a Chinese proverb: “People without faith in themselves cannot or will never survive!” – Worth to think about it!

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Red charity Gala to showcase Filipino designs

By Analou De Vera

The Red Charity Gala, one of the most awaited charity fashion events in the country, will once again showcase another creative talent of a Filipino designer, while at the same time raising funds for worthwhile causes.
Now on its ninth year, The Red Charity Gala 2017 will bring to the runway the creations of designer Joey Samson.
FASHION SHOW FOR A CAUSE – Kaye Tinga (third from left), designer Joey Samson (fourth from left) and Tessa Prieto-Valdez pose beside models during the press conference Wednesday for the Red Charity Gala at the Manila Hotel. The event will be held on October 14. (Jay Ganzon | Manila Bulletin)
FASHION SHOW FOR A CAUSE – Kaye Tinga (third from left), designer Joey Samson (fourth from left) and Tessa Prieto-Valdez pose beside models during the press conference Wednesday for the Red Charity Gala at the Manila Hotel. The event will be held on October 14. (Jay Ganzon | Manila Bulletin)
The event will be held on October 14 at The Shangri-La at the Fort, Taguig City, with the support of Bench, as part of the clothing brand’s 30th anniversary.
During the event’s press conference at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, Samson gave a glimpse of some of his creations.
With the theme ‘PilgrimAge,’ this year’s gala “pertains to a journey, a religious devotion, and a voyage to a sacred place.”
“This collection will be a balancing act. It will run the gamut from tradition to something a bit outre, remixing looks and reshuffling garment elements,” said Samson.
“I want the clothes to be a revival of old wardrobe favorites, as if relics of a long passage, at the same time, something with a sense of familiarity, with a contemporary feel transitioning from conventional, street, to ceremonial,” he added.
Samson, being the Red Charity Gala honoree for this year, joins the league of world renowned Filipino designers who previously graced the event such as Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren, Lesley Mobo, and Chito Vijandre.
“Joey is coming from a different design philosophy which I think is a good breather and a different change. It’s about time that his creation comes on stage,” said society figure Tessa Prieto- Valdes, one of the key persons behind The Red Charity Gala along with Ms. Kaye Tinga.
Also present during the press conference were The Manila Hotel President Atty. Joey Lina, and The Manila Bulletin Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III.
Talents for a cause
Valdes said that for nine-long years, they have been supporting the Philippine fashion industry for a good cause.
“We are so proud that we have already built so many homes, like 300 homes already in Mercedes, Samar, and also helped with so many daycare centers. We’ve also built their library and a multi-purpose center,” Valdes told The Manila Bulletin.
“We’ve done multiple daycare centers in Taguig as well and also helping with the Makati and Taguig Red Cross,” she added.
Aside from supporting the Philippine Red Cross and the Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation, “we are also adding this year the foundation of Jewelmer which help farmers and their families,” she said.
According to Valdes, their main target is to help the underprivileged children.
“We really aim to primarily make our charities for children because we feel that those underprivileged children have really no chance of bettering their life. And even if we feel that we can’t really help as much, somehow, slowly we can create a dent in helping them,” Valdes explained.
This year’s Red Charity Gala event is presented by Bench in cooperation with the following sponsors: Globe Platinum, Megaworld, SunLife Financial, Fuentes Manila, Jewelmer, Omega, Philippine Airlines, Remy Martin, Robert Blancaflor, Abitare Internazionale, The Manila Hotel, Adworks, Bluewaters Sumilon Resort Beach, Emperor Watch and Jewelry, Royal Gem, Viking Range, W/17, World Travellers, Auro Chocolates, Gardenia, Goldilocks, and The Botanist.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Andanar: Mocha asked permission to continue performing

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson was given permission to honor her entertainment contracts when she entered public service.
(Credit: MOCHA USON BLOG / MANILA BULLETIN)
(Credit: MOCHA USON BLOG / MANILA BULLETIN)
This as the former sexy performer and one of President Duterte’s most prominent supporters went under fire after it was reported that she was performing at Resorts World (RW) Manila despite the ban on government officials to enter casinos.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in a text message, explained that Uson actually asked for permission to continue performing but said they will continue looking into the matter.
“Mocha asked permission to honor her entertainment contracts when she joined government. Anyhow, we are still looking into the matter of Mocha performing inside RW,” Andanar said.
However, he said he would discourage the social media personality from performing in such establishments.
“Mocha can still perform if she wishes pero (but) I would discourage her from performing in places like casinos,” Andanar said.
The Palace official also said that they would “look into the matter” in line with President Duterte’s Memorandum Circular No. 6 which prohibits government officials from entering gambling places.

House Overwhelmingly approves universal health for all Filipinos


Updated 
By Ben Rosario
Voting 222-7, the House of Representatives last night approved on third and final reading the bill providing universal health care for all Filipinos.
EPA / MANILA BULLETIN
(EPA / MANILA BULLETIN)
A consolidation of three different legislative proposals, House Bill 5784 or the Unviersal Health Coverage Act will amend Republic Act No. 7875, otherwise known as the National Health Insurance Act of 1995.
Principal authors of the consolidated bills are Reps. Harry Roque (Kabayan Partylist); Vilma Santos Recto (LP, Batangas); Angelina D.L. Tan (NPC, Quezon); Victoria Isabel Noel (An Waray Partylist); Rose Marie J. Arenas (PDP-Laban, Pangasinan) and Cheryl P. Deloso Montalla (NUP, Zambales).
HB 5784 underscores the right of every Filipino to have access to a comprehensive set of health services that will not “cause financial hardship”.
Under the bill, in-patient health services will be made available at zero- co-payment for the non contributory group and for those who opt for basic accomomdation, and a fixed co-insurance rates for all who opt for higher types of accommodation.
For outpatient service, zero co-payment in public facilities and fixed co-insurance in private facilities will be guaranteed.
HB 5784 mandates that within three years from its effectivity as a law, every Filipino shall have a guaranteed primary care provider. Within two years, the Philippine Health Security Corporation will implement a comprehensive outpatient benefit, including outpatient drug benefit, in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Technology Assessment Council.
In the bill, the current National Health Insurance Program will be renamed National Health Security Program which will provide health insurance coverage for all Filipino citizens, thus, guaranteeing access to medical care with the least financial risk.
“The program shall serve as a means for the healthy to help pay for the care of the sick and for those who can afford medical care to subsidize those who cannot,” the bill provides.
Members of the program will be categorized as contributory or those who are gainfully employed and non-contributory, referring to indigents, senior citizens and others to be identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
HB 5784 also proposes to create the National Health Security Fund that will get funding from contributions from the program, national government allocation and health assistance funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and local government units.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Filipinos in America

10,000 Filipinos face deportation as US changes immigration policy


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Standing on the step to the County Administration building, several groups address the crowd during a rally to show support for DACA in San Diego on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. Almost 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children or overstayed their visas could see their lives upended after the Trump administration announced Tuesday it is ending the Obama-era program that protected them from deportation. Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP
MANILA, Philippines — An estimated 10,000 Filipinos may be deported as the United States rescinds a program allowing undocumented immigrant children to stay legally in their country.

US President Donald Trump announced the formal dismantling of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which has given nearly 800,000 young immigrants a reprieve from deportation.
Trump gave the US Congress six months to come up with a law that would prevent the deportations of many as the people covered by the program.

DFA on standby to assist Filipinos facing deportation

The Philippine government will assist Filipinos who will be affected by the revocation of the DACA program, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
"We will authorize, with certain limitations, the use of the Assistance to Nationals Fund and the Legal Assistance Fund to assist immigration-related cases such as those arising from the decision of President Trump to revoke the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals or DACA," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
The Philippines' top diplomat urged members of the Filipino community in the US to remain hopeful and to actively support the passage of new laws that would assist those who will be affected by the policy change.
"In any event, we are ready to welcome and assist our kababayans in whatever way we can if they are returned to the Philippines," Cayetano said.
According to Chargé d'Affaires Patrick Chuasoto of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., the DACA program provides temporary legal status, allowing qualified immigrant children from the Philippines and other countries to stay, study and work in the US.
The DACA program was part of an executive order that former US President Barack Obama issued in 2012 to protect undocumented immigrant children from deportation.
About 310,000 out of the 3.4 million Filipinos in the US are undocumented, Chuasoto said.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Blue Jeans for a Blue Planet

How fashion addresses textile waste, one jeans at a time


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Left: American apparel brand Gap introduces Recycle Your Blues, a denim drive campaign that invites everyone to donate any old pair of denim jeans. Right:
TV hosts Kelly Misa-Fernandez (center) and Patty Laurel-Filart (right) at the launch of M&S' “In(JEAN)ius” campaign. 
MANILA, Philippines — Ever since American Vogue released the documentary “The September Issue,” September has become the biggest month in the fashion calendar, with all major fashion weeks from New York to Paris showing their trend forecasts for the following year.
But in recent years, one fashion trend stands out and is here to stay for years to come: sustainability. Indeed, sustainability has become fashion's biggest issue after "The September Issue."
From two seasons, spring/summer and fall/winter, ready-to-wear companies have expanded the fashion season from bi-annual to weekly. New collections are docked in stores every week, making customers feel that what they bought last week is already out of fashion, so therefore, their clothes are disposable and should be replaced every week.
As a result, the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that textile wastes account to 3.8 billion pounds annually in the US alone. Of all the clothes bought in the US, only 15 percent are reportedly recycled, while about 85 percent end up in landfills.
Not only is fast fashion filling dumpsites. Harmful chemicals from clothes, such as plastics and synthetic dyes, add toxins and pollution to the environment.
Due to its flexibility and timelessness, jeans have become a staple in many people’s wardrobes all over the world, and as such, many textile wastes come from denim.
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To help alleviate the world’s problems in sustainability and eco wastes, some major fashion and clothing retailers have been introducing measures that aim to encourage customers to be part of the movement to love and preserve Mother Earth, starting with their favorite fashion staple, jeans.
From Europe, to North America and Europe, here are some of the best practices in fashion sustainability that hopefully, would rid the world of textile wastes and would create positive impact in generations to come.
Model and TV host Phoemela Baranda joins M&S as it marks its 20th anniversary in the Philippines. Photo release

Great Britain

British brand Marks & Spencer (M&S) marks its 20th anniversary in the Philippines with the “In(JEAN)ius” campaign, which, apart from the brand’s signature power stretch fabric for a smoother silhouette, focuses on eco-friendly fabrics like Ozone Wash Denim that allegedly uses less water and improves textile quality and finish.
“We decided to go with this fun, jeans-inspired event, because what is more enduring and basic than denim? It is in every closet, it is a staple in every wardrobe, and it finds itself loved no matter what generation,” Lucille Tolentino, M&S Philippines Head of Merchandising and Marketing, explains in a statement.
In an exclusive e-mail interview with Philstar.com, a brand representative narrated how the brand’s road to sustainability began decades ago, moving from philanthropy to community investment and subsequently corporate social responsibility.
“For example, in 1999, we were one of the first companies to publish global sourcing principles, outlining standards in ethical issues from protecting workers’ unions to working hours, wages and safety,” the rep said.
“Ten years ago, we launched Plan A, called (as such) because we think there is no Plan B for our one planet. Plan A is our ground-breaking eco/ethical plan with the aim to tackle five big issues – climate change, waste, resources, fair partnerships and health. Plan A has since helped redefine the role of business in society. It has delivered 296 stretching eco and ethical commitments, won 240 awards and saved over £750 million in costs through efficiencies such as using less energy, fewer transport miles and reducing packaging.”
According to the rep, among their achievements over the last decade include over 27million items of clothing recycled; one billion coat hangers saved; and 890,000 people in the supply chain benefitted from training on subjects such as employee rights, health care, numeracy and literacy.
 “We recently updated our plan (Plan A 2025) with 100 new commitments to tackle the big issues facing retailers, consumer businesses and society today. It spans customer and colleague wellbeing, transforming lives and communities and caring for the planet.”
According to the rep, sustainability is not only good for people and the environment; it is also profitable for businesses.
“Firstly, as one of our key raw materials, our aim is to ensure that 70 percent of the cotton we obtain globally is from sustainable sources by 2020. To help us deliver this, we have an innovative partnership with WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) in India. Working together with over 20,000 farmers, we’ve been successful in reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides up to 37 percent and 15 percent reduction in the use of water. The farmers have also benefited by earning almost 114 percent higher net income, 44 pecent higher profits and have reaped 18 percent higher yield.”
The rep added: “Secondly, it makes sense to be a fair partner by ensuring good working conditions for everyone.  All our suppliers, wherever they are in the world and whatever size they are, must adhere to our strict ethical standards as a condition of working with us. These include providing good working conditions, freedom of association, treading workers with respect, limits on overtime and paying fair rates of pay. We’ve found that when we have a very good factory on ethics, they also deliver outstanding quality and they have less returns.”
Likewise, the company urges fashion lovers to also be involved in “sustainable style.”
“When talking about sustainable fashion, its more than just a one-off capsule collection or single product. You need to take into account the many social and environmental issues associated with clothing such as raw material sourcing, ethical and eco-model factories and the use of dyes and finishes,” the rep reminded.
Uniqlo established its Jeans Innovation Center in Los Angeles and partners with Philippine NGOs to recycle denim. Photo release

Japan

Evolving from its utilitarian workwear origins, denim has embedded itself into the cultural landscape, including the fields of music, art, and film.
Since jeans have become an important element of its LifeWear collection, Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo established its Jeans Innovation Center in Los Angeles in 2016, where the company aims to create the best jeans for everyone, everywhere.
Katsumi Kubota, Uniqlo Philippines Chief Operating Officer, told Philstar.com in an interview that through their Reycle program, they have made sure that their company has churned out no “unnecessary” wastes.
According to him, the campaign works by setting up chutes in their stores, where customers can dock their scraps and old clothes to be recycled by the brand.
He said the company works with Bayan ni Juan partner communities to recycle the denim scraps and turn these into reusable tote bags.
The brand claims to be the first clothing retailer in the Philippines, and the first in Uniqlo all over the world, to employ senior citizens and persons with disabilities “to make Filipino lives better,” said Kubota.
The brand continues to pursue new potentials for clothing by collaborating with fashion designers, top models, and other notable personalities that complement the LifeWear concept of “simple made better.”
British heritage meets LifeWear through the newest collaboration with designer JW Anderson. The new collection includes men's and women's items for the Fall/Winter 2017 season. The range will bring together the British heritage of JW Anderson and the everyday comfort and perfection that the Japanese brand pursues in terms of fit, fabric, and functionality through its LifeWear concept.
Also this season, the brand debuts the long-anticipated men’s line and releases the eighth edition of its collaboration with French fashion icon Inès de la Fressange. The men’s pieces feature design elements like classic stand-up collars, tweed jackets, and cashmere knits. The women’s line, on the other hand, is a celebration of the enduring elegance of a monochrome palette. New to the range are sports knits in vintage styles and classic Nordic sweaters. Other items include military style mod coats, duffle coats, and fleece blousons. 
The new Inès de la Fressange x Uniqlo collection now includes men's wear.

USA

American apparel brand Gap believes that one pair of denim jeans can do a world of good to someone in need, thus it recently introduced Recycle Your Blues, a denim drive campaign that invites everyone to donate any old pair of denim jeans at their nearest store. Upon donation, participants receive a discount for their next denim purchase.
All donations will benefit Hands On Manila, a volunteering organization committed to empowering individuals to act as citizens and realize their ability to contribute to the community. Hands On Manila will not only be using the denim for donations, but also in creating a livelihood program, which aims to teach the urban poor to recycle old jeans.
Hands On Manila, introduced and developed by the Hands On Network, was established in August 2001 as the pioneering Hands On Network affiliate in the Asia Pacific Region. Founded in 1992, the Hands on Network is an innovative alliance of volunteer organizations and has successfully implemented their method in various American cities. Their flexibility model for volunteer service allows its members to incorporate volunteering into their day-to-day schedules. 
Beneficiaries of Hands On Manila include Pangarap Foundation, which provides an all-boys’ shelter for former street children and works to address their mental development, physiological, emotional, psycho-social and spiritual needs. It provides three major intervention services: Caring Services (shelter, food, clothing, advocacy, legal, medical and dental); Healing Services (social, psychological, psychiatric and spiritual); and Teach Services (formal and non-formal education). Pangarap Foundation also has an outreach community in Paliparan, Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Another beneficiary is FCED (Families & Children for Empowerment & Development) Foundation that provides assistance to poor urban families through livelihood projects, micro-finance training, education, and values reorientation in the communities where they live. 
Gap partners with NGOs to encourage consumers to recycle their blues. Photo release

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US pledges to return Philippine Church Bells ...

...but unsure when

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President Duterte holds a a photograph of the First Battle of Bud Dajo massacre showing American soldiers with the bodies of Filipino Muslims killed in Bud Dajo, a volcanic crater on the island of Jolo in 1906. KRIZJOHN ROSALES, File
MANILA, Philippines — The United States is committed to returning three church bells seized by American forces as war spoils from the Philippines more than a century ago, the U.S. ambassador said Tuesday, raising the prospects of a resolution of a thorny issue between the allies.

Ambassador Sung Kim said the two governments have discussed the return of the Balangiga bells, named for the Philippine village from which they were taken in the early 1900s. He said in response to questions from reporters that the U.S. is "deeply committed that the bells are returned to the Filipino people," but that he could not specify when that would happen.

Filipinos revere the Balangiga bells as symbols of their long struggle for independence. The bells gave the signal for insurgents to attack American soldiers who were occupying Balangiga after the U.S. took possession of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.

Talks about returning the bells have been a perennial issue in U.S.-Philippine relations.

Kim said there was "an ongoing discussion within the U.S. government and the Philippine government to try and facilitate the return of these bells as quickly as possible," but added there were some issues that needed to be solved in the U.S.

"We want to return them," he said. "I believe it's the right thing to do."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked the U.S. to return the bells in his state of the nation address in July, saying "they are part of our national heritage ...  return it to us, this is painful for us."

Duterte has had an antagonistic attitude toward U.S. security policies while building closer ties with China and Russia.

Two of the three bells are displayed at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They are part of a memorial to 46 U.S. troops killed by Filipino insurgents in 1901. A third bell is with a U.S. Army regiment in South Korea.

Marcos camp: We have evidence of 2016 polls anomaly

By Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com) | 

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In his poll protest, former Sen. Bongbong Marcos questioned the integrity of the 2016 elections. The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has dispensed Marcos' first cause of action in his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. AP/Bullit Marquez, file
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of defeated vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos remains confident that they will secure victory in an election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), earlier upheld the integrity of the 2016 elections.
The tribunal dispensed the Marcos camp's first cause of action calling to nullify the results of the vice presidential race due to a "flawed" automated election system.
Lawyer George Garcia, head of Marcos' legal team, admitted that the first cause of action will not result to the proclamation of the former senator as vice president.
The protest of Marcos against Robredo, however, is still not over, according to Garcia.
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"That may not be true at all when we say that the Supreme Court dismissed, that Supreme Court merely dismissed the first cause of action. We have three causes of action and it is also wrong to say that the Presidential Electoral Tribunal practically set aside the so-called nullification of the 2016 election," Garcia said in ANC's Headstart.
The second cause of action is for the revision and recount of all voters' receipts, elections returns and other documents in 27 provinces and highly urbanized cities used in the May 2016 elections.
Meanwhile, the third cause of action seeks to annul the election results in Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao on the grounds of cheating like vote buying, pre-shading, intimidation, among others.
Garcia claimed that more than 51 percent of the voters in the three provinces were not the ones who actually voted on election day.
"If we are able to prove that based on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Abayon vs HRET, that may result in the nullification of the results of the election at least for the position of vice president," Garcia said.
The Marcos counsel said that their camp has evidence to prove the anomalies in the three provinces during the 2016 polls, justifying their request to retrieve election materials.
The PET also ordered the "retrieval of ballot boxes and other election documents, revision of ballots and reception of evidence can already begin with, but shall first be confined to, only the provinces that have been designated by protestant, namely Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.”
The nullification of election results from the three provinces may result in the victory of Marcos in the vice presidential race. Robredo won by more than 265,000 votes against Marcos.
"And in case the tribunal will annul the election in these three provinces, it may result to Bongbong Marcos winning by a 45,000-vote margin," Garcia said.