It's always a big IF ...

If I see or read this little word "if", my first thought is about the nice song by Bread. Nice lyrics. But, if Ifs and Ans were Pots and Pans ... there would be no need for tinkers! An old proverbs, which hits the nail on its head even much better.

Life doesn't only consists of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Life has ups and downs, and everyone tries to survive in his own clock-shell surrounded by a dangerous  ocean. Life is stuffed with plenty of excuses. Sometimes,  we are even unable to apologize and say a meaningful "sorry" at the right moment to the person we just treated wrong.

Excuses don't know the question of age. I still have two significant examples to share:

The church was crowded. Confirmation. A woman came too late. Traffic jam. In need of help, the woman looked to the left and then to the right. It looked like a young man planned to help her. He murmured, "Show up a bit, the LOLA likes to sit down". The situation looked problem-free at that moment. But after taking first a deep breath, the LOLA realized the young man's comment. She was just only 38 years "young"! With uneasiness she looked at the youngster, who started smiling at her. How old could he be? 14 or 15? A very big difference already to her age. Then suddenly, the young man realized his inappropriate remark and stuttered, "Sorry Ma-am, please excuse me!"

Choked with emotions, I also listened the story of my former editor colleague in Germany several decades ago. Her mother had expelled her from life. Only while laying on her deathbed, the mother did offer a plea in extenuation because of her lifelong fault.

Excuses, because one is embarrassed or with a simple alibi can be  found at every corner. Did you, my dear readers, count already, how many times you used the term "IF"?

Just to mention this example: If I could pass my German language exam with distinction, my partner in Germany  would be very proud of me!" Sure, not only he, also me, as your German language professor in USEP - University of Southeastern Philippines, Institute of Languages and Creative Arts. "If my fiancee and I get married, where will I live, one of my students asked me yesterday.

I let you know, IF and when I come to a decision. If only I had known ... .

"If there would be a God, there wouldn't be so much misery, poverty, and war on earth!"

"If there wouldn't be the little world IF, how could we still express our not necessary excuses?

Maybe, you still remember Elton John's song from 1976: "Sorry (in the right moments!) seems to be the hardest word" ... . That depends!

LTFRB approves Davao City LGU's request for intra-city bus special permits

By

 ANTONIO L. COLINA IV

 -

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 15 Feb) – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved the request of the City Government of Davao to open the applications for special permits for 20 units of public utility buses that will service the underserved routes during peak hours in Davao City.

Retired Supt. Dionisio C. Abude, Davao City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) head, speaks during a press briefing on public utility buses Thursday (15 Feb 2019). MindaNews photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV

A four-page memorandum circular signed by LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra was released on Friday, following the survey conducted by the Davao City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) identifying Catalunan Grande and Toril routes as underserved.

The regular fare rate starts at P10 for the first five kilometers and additional P2.20 for every succeeding kilometer.

It said a letter dated February 13, 2019 was submitted by Assistant City Administrator Tristan Dwight P. Domingo recommending for the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Services (PHABS) to address the growing need for public utility buses from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to and from Catalunan Grande and Toril.

Retired Supt. Dionisio C. Abude, the CTTMO head, said in an interview that a meeting was held with local bus companies on the plan of the city to pursue PHABS, among them Mindanao Star, Bachelor Express, LCI Buses, and Davao Metro Shuttle, amid the increasing demand for public transport services during peak hours.

He said the Mindanao Star, which offered free bus rides to Dabawenyos during Kadayawan sa Dabaw celebration in August 2018, has already committed at least eight units of the “low floor, low entry, or city type” buses to provide augmentation services. The rest will be provided by other local bus firms, he said.

Based on the LTFRB’s memorandum, the travel from Toril going to Roxas Avenue will have six bus stops: Toril District Hall, Corner Iwha MacArthur Highway, Gulf View (Gas station), Shell Station-Ulas, University of Mindanao (Matina footbridge), and Roxas Avenue. From Roxas Avenue going back to Toril, bus stops are Roxas Avenue, Layby Cor. Rizal-Quezon Boulevard (Merco), Sandawa Pias Café, Coke Warehouse in Ulas, Corner Iwha MacArthur Highway, and Toril.

For Catalunan Grande to Roxas Avenue, it will have nine bus stops: Elenita Heights, Santiago Villas, Sitio Awa, Barangay Hall of Catalunan Grande, Phoenix Gas Station, GSIS in Matina, SM Ecoland, Barangay Hall-Almendras, and Roxas Avenue. The travel from Roxas Avenue back to Catalunan Grande will have another nine bus stops: from Roxas Avenue, Mercury Drug in Bankerohan, Malayan College, Bangkal near Petron/Collado, San Isidro Labarador Church, Barangay Hall in Catalunan Grande, Sitio Awa, Santiago Villas, and Elenita Heights.

The City Government of Davao is also pushing for High Priority Bus System, which would replace the jeepney units in the city, to address the need for mass transit system and traffic congestion in the city. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Palace frowns at stricter House rules in obtaining SALNs

Panelo Manila Bulletin

The Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of government officials must be readily available to the public in line with the country’s laws, Malacañang said Monday as it frowned on the House of Representatives’ stricter rules on access to such document.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said while the Palace does not intrude into the internal rules of Congress, it noted that a House resolution requiring plenary approval for access to the SALN of lawmakers might hinder the constitutional right of people to information as well as it might be inconsistent with transparency and accountability of public officials.

“We note the passage of a resolution of the House of Representatives requiring plenary approval before it may release a copy of a member’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the public. Such a procedure may be perceived as a transgression of Article XI of the Constitution, requiring any public official to submit a SALN, in relation to Article II thereof which guarantees the right of the people to information on matters of public concern. Republic Act No. 6713 makes the said document readily available to the public,” Panelo said.

“Any stringent measure which burdens the people in obtaining public information may not be consistent with transparency and accountability of public officials,” he added.

While the House imposes stringent measure on SALN, Panelo highlighted that the Executive has promoted transparency when President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 2 on the Freedom of Information “making effective the people’s right to information within its branch.” 

The House of Representatives recently adopted Resolution 2467 that requires plenary approval before gaining access to a lawmaker’s SALN.

The resolution also seeks to establish the SALN Review and Compliance Committee that will screen public request for the documents stating the wealth of lawmakers. The requesting party must also shell out P300 for every copy of the SALN. (Manila Bulletin)

Facebook in Germany

I was glad and satisfied learning just an hour ago, that Germany's antitrust watchdog restricts Facebook's data collection via other sites.

Facebook faces restrictions in Germany on its collection of data from other sites that it owns like WhatsApp. The social media giant intends to appeal, claiming the watchdog underestimated the competition it faced. Sure, I didn't expect another reaction. But, is  the social media giant abusing its market?

Fact is: the company will only be able to use data from various non-Facebook programs and apps that it owns, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, with explicit user consent. Currently, Facebook bundles together much of the information it gleans from users across its various platforms.

Allow me quoting Mr. Andreas Mundt, president of the antitrust watchdog in Germany, who said yesterday (Thursday, February 8, 2019), "In future, Facebook will no longer be allowed to force its users to agree to the practically unrestricted collection and assigning of non-Facebook data to their Facebook accounts".

Of course, the ruling, which came after a one-year investigation, does not yet have legal force and Facebook has a month to appeal the ruling, which it says it intends to do.

"The Federal Cartel Office underestimates the fierce competition we face in Germany, misinterprets our compliance with the GDPR, and threatens the mechanism European law provides for ensuring consistent data protection standards across the EU," Facebook said.

Well, while living in the Philippines,  I am with Facebook since ten years now. Several friends of mine deleted already their Facebook accounts because they worried that the tech giants are getting more and more out of control. But, aren't all of us already sitting in a glass house?

And here the thing: WhatsApp and Instagram can still collect data from their respective users; however, pooling  this information with a user's Facebook data will only be allowed if that user provides their consent. Operating with double standard?

Facebook can only collect data from third-party websites, such as interfaces that have a "like" or "share" button, with the user's permission. If consent is not given, Facebook can only collect the data to a very limited extent.

The cartel office said that the extent to which Facebook collects data without the consent of a user is "abusive."

It said Facebook could face fines of up to 10 percent of its annual global revenue, which grew by 37 percent to $55.8 billion (€49.2 billion) in 2018, if it fails to comply. Wow.

The antitrust watchdog said Facebook dominates the German market for social networks with 23 million daily and 32 million monthly users, a market share of 95 percent. It pointed out that one of its competitors, Google+, plans to discontinue its social network by April 2019. How about the Philippine market?

However, in its calculations, the cartel office did not consider Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Xing as competitors to Facebook. It said those services "offer only a selection of social networking services." It claimed that even if they were included, Facebook, with Instagram and WhatsApp, would still dominate the market.

Anyway, you can still email at doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

COMVAL to host DAVRAA meet in 2020

Compostela Valley Province----“I am happy that soon, Davawenyo athletes will get to see and experience Compostela Valley. Kita ta ninyo sa Comval ug sa dili madugay Davao de Oro na sunod tuig.”  This was part of the message of Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy as he officially received the “Davao Regional Athletic Association” (DAVRAA) Key and banner together with Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Dr. Reynante A. Solitario of the Department of Education (DEpEd) Compostela Valley Division Office and the DepEd officials.

The ceremonial turnover was held during the closing program of the DAVRAA meet 2019 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao – Davao City Sports Complex, Mintal, Davao City on February 2, 2019.

The turnover ceremony of the key and banner was led by the City Government of Davao under Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte, DepEd XI Regional Director Atty. Alberto Escobarte and Former Congressman Isidro Ungab.

According to Solitario that the optimism of Governor Uy to host the 2020 DAVRAA meet in the province "is a good sign for us in the DepEd to jumpstart with our preparation for this big sports event in the Davao Region next year. Deped Comval profusely commits to support this golden opportunity to showcase the province’s best in terms of tourism, facilities and billeting centers for all the delegations across the region."

Solitario added that the commitment of stakeholders would surely make the big difference for the entire province and the region as well. For now, 3 Local Chief Executives are up to host this event, these are Mayor Eutropio Jayectin of Montevista, Mayor Maricel Colina-Vendiola of Maragusan and Mayor Roberto Yugo of Pantukan.

Solitario explained that the Quality Assurance Division of DepEd Region XI shall conduct ocular inspection and validation to these municipalities as to the requirements.

“Indeed, this is also a good opportunity for young athletes to complete in a whole new different playing field and this time in the home court. It will be an opportune moment to showcase our vibrant culture as well as reveal to the whole region how highly competitive the province of Comval, soon to be Davao de Oro in all aspects not only in sports-tourism,” said Solitario.

On the other hand, DepEd Comval received the following achievements during the recently concluded DAVRAA Meet 2019 in Davao City as the overall 6th Runner Up in Regular Sports with 10 gold, 31 silver and 55 bronze medals with a total of 52 qualified athletes for “Palarong Pambansa” with 9 coaches and chaperons.

Comval also receive a special award as the Champion for the Most Innovative and Attractive Design in the Main Entrance, First Runner-Up for the Most Eco-Friendly Delegation Quarter (Kitchen, mess hall); Overall 2nd Runner Up in Para Games; and 4th Runner-Up Cleanest Billeting Quarter. (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy officially received the “Davao Regional Athletic Association” (DAVRAA) Key and banner together with Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Dr. Reynante A. Solitario of the Department of Education (DEpEd) Compostela Valley Division Office as the next host for the DAVRAA meet 2020. The ceremonial turnover was held during the closing program of the DAVRAA meet 2019 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao – Davao City Sports Complex, Mintal, Davao City on February 2, 2019. (Provincial Photo, M. Lasaca)

Love and marriage

My column in Mindanao Daily and Businessweek Mindanao

I am old-fashioned. Since many decades, I love collecting old magazine and news paper clippings. Can you imagine how my two offices look like? 

Anyway, in a very old issue of PHILADELPHIA NEWS, columnist Larry Fields confessed: "I lead a life of wine, women and song (by the way, a wonderful waltz of the Austrian Johann Strauss!) - it's cheaper than petrol, food and rent!"

Is LOVE just an expression? Or love and marriage?

Some marriages are made in heaven. You know some? I do. The best of the rest is just simply down-to-earth. Maybe also yours? I am blessed and happy celebrating soon my 36th wedding anniversary this coming March 2019... .

Maybe, my dear readers, you remember this, "Then the prince swept the lovely young maiden into his arms and carried her home to his castle. And they live happily ever after!" Indeed, they did. Meanwhile, I met several couples, who would say: happily never after!

What I would like to see is an autonomous in home affairs study of all these title of nobility bearers seven years after their happily-ever-after marriages. Or even earlier, because the so-called darned and tricky seventh marriage year could be even the first one already.

The truth is that life isn't made up of the continual highs found in the initial stages of courtship. Of course, flirting is fun and a wide groove existing. But after a while our system needs a rest. Unanimously, we're in the second stage sooner or later and our marriage life needs badly a new outside coating.

All of a sudden, the partner prefers day and night watching all the sports channels, falls asleep while you're revealing your innermost secrets and even forgets the anniversary for the first or even second time . Just bear in mind: You've won each other's acceptance  and sometimes even feelings terrible gloomy. This acceptance shouldn't be undervalued.

Even we see a house that has to be cleaned, many other things have to be organized, and the partner, who looks as fatigued and bored as you feel. Logical question: "That's it? That WAS it?"

And suddenly, we experienced the third stage and learned, why it's worth the ups and downs. Maybe we men don't mention any more, how incredible she looks, but we enjoy bleating and grousing at her spending innumerable hours putting her together. But then, suddenly, we men are to unload the garbage without being asked for.

Although no marriage is continually blissful - it can be pretty good most of the time. When we lasted through arguments, money worries, and kid's problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationship is not always a big day celebration.

It's because the fundamental  reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day-to-day living: we love each other. That's MY idea of "Happily ever after, indeed!"

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. It should not be a reason or a sad excuse to bring flowers for our partner and invite her to an amazing lunch or hotel overnight stay. As I said, I am very much old fashioned. 

Bekanntmachung für Deutsche ...

... zur Wahl zum Europäischen Parlament

Am 26. Mai 2019 findet die Wahl der Abgeordneten des Europäischen Parlaments aus der Bundesrepublik Deutschland statt.

Deutsche, die außerhalb der Bundesrepublik Deutschland leben und im Bundesgebiet keine Wohnung mehr innehaben, können bei Vorliegen der sonstigen wahlrechtlichen Voraussetzungen an der Wahl teilnehmen.

Für ihre Wahlteilnahme ist u. a. Voraussetzung, dass sie

1.1 am Wahltag seit mindestens drei Monaten in den übrigen Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union_[1] eine Wohnung innehaben oder sich mindestens seit dieser Zeit dort gewöhnlich aufhalten (auf die Dreimonatsfrist wird ein unmittelbar vorausgehender Aufenthalt in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland angerechnet)
oder

1.2 entweder nach Vollendung ihres 14. Lebensjahres mindestens drei Monate ununterbrochen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland eine Wohnung innegehabt oder sich sonst gewöhnlich aufgehalten haben und dieser Aufenthalt nicht länger als 25 Jahre zurückliegt, oder aus anderen Gründen persönlich und unmittelbar Vertrautheit mit den politischen Verhältnissen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland erworben haben und von ihnen betroffen sind_[2];

2. in ein Wählerverzeichnis in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland eingetragen sind. Diese Eintragung erfolgt nur auf Antrag. Der Antrag ist auf einem Formblatt zu stellen; er soll bald nach dieser Bekanntmachung abgesandt werden.

Einem Antrag, der erst am 6. Mai 2019 oder später bei der zuständigen Gemeindebehörde eingeht, kann nicht mehr entsprochen werden (§ 17 Abs. 1 der Europawahlordnung).

Antragsvordrucke (Formblätter) sowie informierende Merkblätter sind online auf der Seite des Bundeswahlleiters (www.bundeswahlleiter.de) verfügbar. Sie können auch bei

• den diplomatischen und berufskonsularischen Vertretungen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland,
• dem Bundeswahlleiter, Statistisches Bundesamt, Zweigstelle Bonn, Postfach 170377, 53029 Bonn, Germany,
• den Kreis- und Stadtwahlleitern in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland angefordert werden.

_{[1] Nicht zu berücksichtigen ist ein Aufenthalt im Vereinigten Königreich Großbritannien und Nordirland nach dem Zeitpunkt, ab dem nach Artikel 50 Absatz 3 EUV die Verträge dort keine Anwendung mehr finden.}

_{[2] Zu berücksichtigen ist auch eine frühere Wohnung oder ein früherer Aufenthalt in dem in Artikel 3 des Einigungsvertrages genannten Gebiet (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen zuzüglich des Gebiets des früheren Berlin (Ost)).}

Weiterführende Links

Webseite des Bundeswahlleiters

Antrag auf Eintragung in das Wählerverzeichnis inklusive Merkblatt zum Download

Merkblatt zur Europawahl 2019

Police nationwode on 'heightened alert' after Jolo Bombing

(philstar.com) - January 28, 2019 - 12:28pm

MANILA, Philippines — Police across the country were placed on heightened alert on Monday in response the twin bombings at the Jolo cathedral in Sulu on Sunday, January 28.

In a press conference, Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac, acting chief of the PNP’s public information office, said that Director General Oscar Albyalde has placed the entire PNP under nationwide heightened alert.

Pope Francis asks for prayers for victims of Jolo twin blasts.

The heightened alert status “aims to ensure that no similar plans of terrorist groups will be carried out in other regions,” added Banac.

All regional directors were also directed to “initiate further security measures to preempt and prevent similar incidents.”

Police regional directors were also given discretion to raise alert conditions in their areas of responsibility, if necessary.

Law enforcement agencies have been on heightened alert since the start of the election period.

President Rodrigo Duterte has also yet to lift the state of national emergency he declared since the bombing in the Davao City night market in September 2016.

Banac stressed that this new directive of a heightened alert status is “to put more emphasis and remind once again all our units and offices to maintain alertness and intensify some more.”

“We should not remain complacent but instead we need to be very vigilant in cooperation with the community,” he added.

Albayalde flew to Jolo, Sulu on Monday morning to lead the post-blast investigation.

In an earlier televised interview, Albayalde said that they are working to “reconstruct” the improvised explosive device, which would help them identify the maker of the bomb.

Palace says no mercy for Jolo cathedral bombers.

He explained that the construction and type of explosive used in the bombs are like “signatures” of certain groups.

At least 20 were killed and more than 100 law enforcement agents and civilians were injured from the two bombings. — Kristine Joy Patag

A Chance of Religiousness?

One of the most important parts in my life is the belief in supernatural power which governs the universe. Maybe because I was born and raised up in a parish house in Germany.

It doesn't matter which religion we belong to or believe in: the recognition of God as object of worship, the form of worship should be our primacy need. Sad to say, more and more people get another opinion nowadays.

During my stay in several Western countries, I experienced icy and conceited comments such as religiousness isn't popular any more. Religiousness makes people unwilling and morose because of exaggeration and sometimes even hypocrisy. Increasing negative headlines about the "institutional church" in the past and now, and embarrassing comparisons lead only to discord.

How comes? We want to see the religiousness of our fellow creatures. We want to understand their ideology.

But we are also poking our nose into other people's business too much. Let's look behind the scenes and let's find out what religious behavior promotes: humility in actual life. Maybe. It's hard for us to do without affecting others.

We even forget the real meaning of religiousness. St. John Crysostom subscribed the topic "Pagans and Christians" very well: "There would be no pagans if we were good Christians. But the pagans see us manifesting the same desires, pursuing the same objects - power and honor - as themselves, how can they admire Christianity?"

They see our lives open to reproach and our souls worldly. We admire wealth equally with them and even more. How, then, can they believe? From miracles? But these are no longer wrought. From our conversion? It has become corrupt. From charity? Not a trace of it is anywhere seen. (Quotation "Winnowing Fan", Vol. XX, June 2003, S of G Foundation, Makati).

I am proud having people in my surroundings who taught me be how to be on the right track - unconcerned and unnoticed. Natural and uninhibited, they showed me how to put real religiousness into action besides praying and going regularly to church. I call such people religious. I mean it as praise because they don't like to blow their trumpets while a acting as Christians in our daily life. Having such people around us make it easier to practice forgiveness... .

Beans or beef?

I LOVE both. Veggies and any kind of meat. Yesterday I came across a new slogan: pass the beans, hold the beef to save yourself and the planet.

I suddenly felt guilty while really enjoying a wonderful steak. With salad of course. But here is the thing:

Humans need to eat more beans and lentils and less red meat to protect the planet and our own health, researchers said. Meat intake for adults would be limited to 14 grams per day, that’s about half a slice of bacon. Again: half a slice of bacon! How many slices did you take for your breakfast today?

Where did I get all this stuff? Food production and consumption must change drastically to avoid millions of deaths and “catastrophic” damage to the planet, according to a study published Wednesday (January 16, 2019) in the scientific journal The Lancet.

The key to both goals is a significant shift in the global diet and would mean eating about half as much sugar and red meat and twice as many vegetables, legumes, fruits and nuts, the study found.

Researchers from the EAT-Lancet Commission said, and allow me to quote, that if people followed the “Planetary Health” diet, more than 11 million premature deaths could be prevented each year, greenhouse gas emissions would be cut and more land, water and biodiversity would be preserved.

The diet would see adults limited to 14 grams of red meat a day (about 30 calories — a quarter-pound burger patty contains roughly 450 calories), no more than 29 grams of poultry (around one and a half chicken nuggets) and 13 grams of eggs, or just 1.5 eggs per week.

The diet is the result of a three-year project commissioned by The Lancet and involving 37 specialists from 16 countries.

I don’t know how you feel right now, my dear readers while getting to know this: “We are in a catastrophic situation,” said co-author Tim Lang, a professor at the University of London and policy lead for the EAT-Lancet Commission that compiled the study.

Lang said feeding a growing population of 10 billion people by 2050 with a healthy, sustainable diet will be impossible without transforming eating habits, improving food production and reducing food waste.

“We need a significant overhaul, changing the global food system on a scale not seen before,” Lang said.

“The food we eat and how we produce it determines the health of people and the planet, and we are currently getting this seriously wrong,” Lang added.

Life-threatening diseases including obesity, diabetes, malnutrition and several types of cancer are linked to poor diets.

Researchers said unhealthy diets currently cause more death and disease worldwide than unsafe sex, alcohol, drug and tobacco use combined. Honestly, it’s difficult for me to believe this.

The dietary changes would be felt more in some regions than others. For example, people in North America eat almost 6.5 times the recommended amount of red meat, while people in South Asia eat only half the amount suggested by the planetary diet.

Meanwhile, meeting the targets for starchy vegetables such as potatoes and cassava would require big changes in sub-Saharan Africa, where people on average eat 7.5 times the suggested amount.

“More than 800 million people have insufficient food, while many more consume an unhealthy diet that contributes to premature death and disease,” said Walter Willett of Harvard University. “If we can’t quite make it, it’s better to try and get as close as we can.”

Beans of beef? What’s your decision at the moment?

(My column in MINDANAO DAILY NEWS)