This Valentine's Day, PCW advocates self-love, setting boundaries for flourishing partnerships.

BY LIZST TORRES ABELLO

Feb 14, 2024 10:23 AM

  

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How many times have you set aside things that may hurt or degrade you in the name of "love"?

(Photo by Lizst Torres Abello)

That love inside you may be so pure that you feel compelled to sacrifice not just many things but also a significant part of yourself.

However, if it is already altering your values and taking away your aspirations, can you honestly still call it "love"?

Perhaps there were times when you felt insecure or frustrated about the love you deserve, pushing you to unconditionally exert all you've got and leading you to give more and more from an almost empty cup.

However, as love beautifully abounds through the magic of fulfillment and satisfaction, it still should not overshadow the power of freedom, independence, and self-respect as suggested by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

On this special day dedicated to love and those who cherish it, PCW reminds women to empower themselves by fostering "self-love," a principle upon which the treatment of their partners should be based.

"By nurturing their self-love, self-worth, and self-esteem, women can navigate romantic relationships with confidence, resilience, and authenticity, ensuring that they can draw the line when they are disrespected, degraded, devalued, or abused," adds PCW. 

 Tips for single ladies

It is noted that women who have not yet found love prioritize their well-being.

PCW emphasizes the necessity of self-care and caution when choosing a partner, urging individuals to observe how their potential partner treats them and others.

"Never ignore red flags or tolerate behavior that undermines your self-worth," advises PCW.

'Controlling' partner

The Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children (IACVAWC) identifies 'controlling behavior' as a sign of a potentially unhealthy relationship.

'Green flags?'

Moreover, IACVAWC warns that initial positive qualities in a partner may eventually transform into negative traits or behaviors due to various influences.

'Abusive' relationships

In light of abuses in some relationships, PCW emphasizes that there is no excuse for such behavior, and assures women of their right to feel safe, respected, and unconditionally loved.

Under the Republic Act 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act, PCW outlines various forms of violence against women (VAW), including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse.

PCW acknowledges different reasons why some women may not recognize such 'red flags,' but reiterates that they are not defined by the abuse they endure.

PCW emphasizes the need for women to embrace their strength and resilience 'to break free from the chains of an unhealthy relationship.'

Lastly, the national commission notes that a healthy relationship should not define one's happiness but rather complement it.

Davao City-based farming group wins silver at Cacao of Excellence Award

Saloy Organic Farmers Association was recognized as one of the best cacao producers in the world

BY JOHN LEGASPI

Feb 13, 2024 09:30 AM

  

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Saloy Organic Farmers Association (SOFA), a small group of cacao farmers based in Davao City, brought pride to the Philippines by winning the 2023 Cacao of Excellence Silver Award at the prestigious Cacao of Excellence Award. The ceremony happened in Amsterdam during CHOCOA 2024, an annual marketplace celebrating quality cacao and chocolate and sustainable farming.

Saloy Organic Farmers Association 

With its mission to empower a new generation of cacao producers, the Cacao of Excellence Award collected over 222 entries from 52 cocoa-originating countries. Out of the roster, it selected its top 50 producers, which were awarded gold, silver, and bronze awards in various regions—Africa and the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Pacific, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America. SOFA, the only representative from the Philippines, was one of the recipients of the silver award in Asia and the Pacific region.

Led by Judith Gabasa, SOFA has been one of the seven farming partners of award-winning homegrown brand Auro Chocolate. Their partnership started in 2015, and since 2021, the Davao City farming association has been part of the brand’s Chocolate Organic Conversion program. The program aims to “provide assistance to the community in their efforts to convert to organic farming practices.” 

Receiving the award on behalf of SOFA were Auro Chocolate’s co-founders and managing directors Kelly Go and Mark Ocampo. “It’s the second time for our farming partners to be awarded this prestigious award,” the brand posted on Instagram. “A new Philippine origin no less! Saloy!”

Also present at the event was Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya, who praised SOFA and Auro Chocolate’s efforts in bringing Filipino cacao to the world stage. “We commend Auro and the Saloy Farmers’ passion and dedication in making the Filipino-made chocolate recognized around the globe,” he said. “Philippine chocolate has come of age and is now world-class.”

What is the most studied language in the world?

Elena Gold

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Writing a book about Russo-Ukrainian war.

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ABOUT ME: Born in the USSR; lived in 4 countries; have a degree in philosophy; media analyst; sailing skipper; yoga instructor; own an online business since 1999 (Elenasmodels•com)

According to the language learning app Duolingo, English remained the most popular choice among learners in 2023.

The top-10 most studied languages worldwide:

1. English
2. Spanish
3. French
4. German
5. Japanese
6. Korean
7. Italian
8. Hindi
9. Chinese
10. Portuguese

The map above shows the most studied language by country.

Duolingo provides learning apps to study over 40 languages, ranging from English, French, and Spanish to less commonly studied languages such as Welsh, Irish, and Swahili.

• All in all, in 2023 English remained No. 1 most studied language in 122 countries on the app.
• In 2023, Korean jumped past Italian for the No. 6 spot in the rankings. A large part of the increase is attributed to the fandom surrounding Korean music and movies. South America has seen a surge in learners taking on Korean, as has India.
• Russian, which previously held the No. 10 spot, was ousted from the top-10 by Portuguese in 2023.

After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the popularity of the Russian language in the world dropped, with courses of Russian closing in many European countries. The popularity of learning the Ukrainian language, vice versus, increased.

Almost 40% of those learning Ukranian list their top motivation as a way to connect with other people, said Duolingo’s content editor Cindy Blanco: “It is a way people may show solidarity during the war.”

Cindi Blanco.

The top countries that had the most users learning Ukrainian were the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Poland. Next on the list was, surprisingly, Russia — and, unexpectedly, Ukraine itself, where many former Russian speakers no longer wish to converse in Russian in their daily lives.

• One of the most prevalent trends among younger users was their interest in learning less common languages: much of the interest in Ukrainian was driven by ‘Gen Z’ users.
• Growing interest in Asian languages has been also strongly influenced by younger learners: 86% of the people learning Japanese and 76% of those learning Chinese were under 30.

In 2024, the company expects that Asian languages will continue growing in popularity.

After the onset of the Israeli-Hamas war, interest in Arabic and Hebrew is likely to change as well. It will be interesting to see whether this will affect the top-10 ranking in 2024.

Typical Filipino (XXXL) - Typisch Philippinisch (XXXL): Filipinos - Philippinische Männer

 

Philippinische Männer untereinander profilieren sich in erster Hinsicht durch das gepflegte Erscheinungsbild. Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Ländern, ist es auf den Philippinen unüblich, dass Menschen aus wirklich armen Verhältnissen dennoch stilsicher und gepflegt gekleidet sind.

Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Ländern, ist es auf den Philippinen unüblich, dass Menschen aus wirklich armen Verhältnissen dennoch stilsicher und gepflegt gekleidet sind. Auch auf den Philippinen wird mit dem großen Auto oder Haus, der erreichte Status zur Schau gestellt. In Zeiten von Facebook wird dieses Verhalten noch mehr verstärkt. Meist noch extremer als bei uns Deutsche. Manch armer Filipino und deren Familie leben dennoch glücklicher als viele der so perfekt abgesicherten Angeber-Filipinos.

Philippinische Männer verhalten sich oft wie große Kinder und sind oftmals nur wenig verantwortungsbewusst.

Letztendlich halte ich jeden Versuch, die philippinische Mentalität und das Verhalten bewerten zu wollen, für nicht umsetzbar. Geschichte, Kultur und eben die Traditionen unterscheiden sich gravierend und sind eben anders. Die philippinische Lebensart ist einmalig und nicht vergleichbar. Nehmen Sie deshalb Abstand vor unnötigen Vergleichen. Vielmehr seien Sie offen die Verhaltensweisen zu verstehen und von einer neuen Kultur zu lernen. Es steht jedem frei sich ein eigenes Bild zu machen. Lediglich wollte ich Ihnen meine eigene subjektive Sichtweise darstellen, welche ich in meiner langjährigen Erfahrung, auf den Philippinen, sammeln konnte.

So konnte ich hautnah miterleben, inwiefern philippinische Männer sich von den Frauen unterscheiden.

Es gibt generelle Benimmregeln für philippinische Männer und Frauen, wie die Begrüßung von älteren Mitmenschen durch einen speziellen Handgruß (Mano po). Durch die größere Lebenserfahrung, soll dem Gegenüber Respekt vermittelt werden. Im Laufe eines philippinischen Leben wachsen die Kinder mit dieser Tradition auf. Auch das Verhalten bei Kritik und Zurückweisung, weist bei beiden Geschlechtern das selbe Verhaltensmuster auf. Sie wirken beiderseits peinlich berührt und wollen unter keinen Umständen ihr Gesicht verlieren. Philippinische Männer sowie die Frauen versuchen deshalb, ihre eigene Kritik in freundlicher Verpackung vorzutragen. Ob das der Europäer versteht, ist eine andere Frage. Sollte sich versehentlich dennoch ein Streit anbahnen, kann dieser schnell mit einem einfachen Lächeln aus der Welt geschafft werden. Viele philippinische Männer werden sowieso versuchen, ihre Wut auf keinen Fall offen zu zeigen. Bei positiven Emotionen ist das jedoch ein Unterschied wie Tag und Nacht.

Status Symbole spielen gerade für philippinische Männer eine große Rolle. Nicht jeder philippinische Mann ist sonderlich begeistert wenn der reiche Europäer (so denken es die meisten Filipinos) mit einer Filipina flirtet.

(Fortsetzung folgt!)

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Filipino men distinguish themselves primarily through their well-groomed appearance. In contrast to many other countries, in the Philippines it is unusual for people from really poor backgrounds to still be stylish and well-dressed.

In contrast to many other countries, in the Philippines it is unusual for people from really poor backgrounds to still be stylish and well-dressed. In the Philippines, too, the status achieved is displayed with the big car or house. In the age of Facebook, this behavior is even more pronounced. Usually even more extreme than our Germans. Some poor Filipinos and their families still live happier lives than many of the perfectly secured show-off Filipinos.

Filipino men often behave like big children and are often not very responsible.

Ultimately, I think any attempt to evaluate the Filipino mentality and behavior is unworkable. History, culture and traditions differ significantly and are different. The Filipino way of life is unique and cannot be compared. Therefore, refrain from unnecessary comparisons. Rather, be open to understanding the behaviors and learning from a new culture. Everyone is free to form their own opinion. I just wanted to give you my own subjective perspective, which I was able to gather from my many years of experience in the Philippines.

So I was able to experience first hand how Filipino men differ from women.

There are general rules of etiquette for Filipino men and women, such as greeting older people with a special hand greeting (Mano po). Through greater life experience, respect should be conveyed to the other person. Throughout a Filipino life, children grow up with this tradition. The behavior when faced with criticism and rejection also shows the same behavioral pattern for both genders. They both seem embarrassed and don't want to lose face under any circumstances. Filipino men and women therefore try to present their own criticism in a friendly manner. Whether Europeans understand this is another question. If an argument does accidentally arise, it can be quickly resolved with a simple smile. Many Filipino men will try not to show their anger openly anyway. However, when it comes to positive emotions, the difference is like night and day.

Status symbols play a big role, especially for Filipino men. Not every Filipino man is particularly enthusiastic when the rich European (or so most Filipinos think) flirts with a Filipina.

(To be continued!)

(Fortsetzung folgt!)

Cayetano pushes for more sustained funding for PHILVOLCS modernization

PRESS RELEASE

February 12, 2024

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano wants to see to it that there is continuous funding for the modernization of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), saying merely approving a five-year plan does not guarantee its success.

"I don't want us to just pass a specific five-year plan and then not allocate the necessary funds," he said ahead of a public hearing on Monday, February 12, 2024, on the proposed PHIVOLCS Modernization Act by the Committee on Science and Technology, jointly with the Committees on Energy, Ways and Means, and Finance.

Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Science and Technology Senate Committee, emphasized the advantages of modernizing PHIVOLCS, saying it will assist the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its infrastructure program, among others.

"Hazard mapping will aid everyone in construction, including where to build and where not to build new roads," he said.

During the Senate hearing on the PHIVOLCS Modernization Act on December 1, 2023, PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said some local government units are already using the agency’s hazard mapping for their land use planning.

The modernization aims to install 300 earthquake monitoring stations, 82 sea level monitoring stations, complete monitoring systems, geologic hazard maps, a new building with cutting-edge amenities such as research facilities, and an information and communications technology server room.

On Monday’s hearing, Cayetano will also discuss the importance of being ready in case the feared “Big One” – an earthquake that could have a magnitude of 7.2 or even higher – hits Metro Manila.

As projected by PHIVOLCS in 2016, such a temblor could cause 48,000 fatalities and 24,000 severe injuries.

Additionally, infrastructure destruction could lead to widespread power and communication failures, alongside significant economic losses estimated by the World Bank at P2.5 trillion given that the National Capital Region accounts for a significant portion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Cayetano emphasized the need to strengthen PHIVOLCS as a proactive measure.

 Itong modernization bill… I think we should really give it all the effort… It will help us in the long-term,” he said.###

Non-Germans, what are things about German culture that you like or appreciate?

 

Dev Joshi

130 followers

69 following

Keep It Simple, Silly!

I have lived here for around 2 years now and here are three things I really appreciate..

1. German directness: hands down, this is one of the most special and well embedded German character. People tell things to your face. That doesn’t mean, they don’t bitch behind your back; but still the 99% of the things will be told to your face. This comes very handy in a professional environment. You exactly know what is expected from you and how good or bad you’re doing.
And this thing is very hard to get used to but once you get used to it and then you go to a different place, it becomes very easy to spot a lie (at least for me).

What does a German mean when he says...?

2. Respecting other’s time: before coming to Germany, I never really knew the “value” of my time and rarely used the phrase “you’re wasting my time”. 2 years now and I say straight to person’s face if he/she is late and doesn’t have a valid reason. I cannot say how much I appreciate this thing. They say, time is money- and Germans follow it to the core (deutsche bahn- hear that? :P).
P.S. I love DB but there’s always some fun to make fun of them :D

Zeit ist Geld-Symbol im Cartoon-Stil, die isoliert auf weißem Hintergrund. Geld und Finanzen Symbol Lager Vektor-illustration

3. Order/regulations and more order: I give it to a new person that its a pain in a** for first few weeks. But once you get used to it, this is one of the better aspects of German society. Sometimes though it comes with a drawback, where the person is so much used to orderly and regulated living; that in a strange situation its very hard to adapt.
Ordnung muss sein!!

KEEP CALM AND Ordnung Muss Sein