This might not be the typical expat blog, written by a German expat, living in the Philippines since 1999. It's different. In English and in German. Check it out! Enjoy reading!
Dies mag' nun wirklich nicht der typische Auswandererblog eines Deutschen auf den Philippinen sein. Er soll etwas anders sein. In Englisch und in Deutsch! Viel Spass beim Lesen!
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!
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advised the public to limit exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., especially during the Holy Week, when hot and humid conditions are expected across the country.
From Wednesday to Sunday, April 16 to 20, PAGASA said the whole archipelago will be affected by the easterlies, which may cause high temperatures in several areas.
PAGASA warned that midday heat, combined with humidity, increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially during the hottest hours of the day—from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Although brief rain showers or thunderstorms may occur in the afternoon or evening, they are not expected to provide substantial relief from the daytime heat.
To stay safe, PAGASA advised the public to stay hydrated, wear light-colored and breathable clothing, and take regular breaks in shaded or cool areas.
The body is a wonderful, complex machine. It is made up of trillions of cells with specialized functions. Much like any machine, it is important that it has enough fuel to run and gets maintenance regularly.
CLINICAL MATTERS
Whenever I see a sick patient in my clinic or in the hospital, I always make it a point to tell him or her to slow down, get some rest, and let their body heal. As an infectious diseases doctor, I give a lot of antibiotics for bacterial infections, some of which can be quite severe. In my experience, people get better faster if they allow their body some downtime rather than getting back to work the moment that they feel better. In fact, I see a lot of relapses among those who force themselves back to the daily grind before they are completely well. Does this have any kind of scientific basis, and how much rest should one get to prevent illness?
The body is a wonderful, complex machine. It is made up of trillions of cells with specialized functions. Much like any machine, it is important that it has enough fuel to run and gets maintenance regularly. When it breaks down, it needs to be repaired before it can resume its usual activities. In the realm of infectious diseases, an infection represents a breakdown of the body’s defenses against pathogens. The fact that the breakdown occurred may be due to a combination of factors, including the overall health of the host, as well as the kind of pathogen.
Host factors include age, co-existing illnesses, immune system status, and nutrition. Pathogen factors include the virulence of the organism, resistance to antibiotics, ability to evade the immune system, and the capacity to make toxins that destroy tissues. The interaction of these factors determines how sick a patient can become, their risk of dying, and how fast they can recover.
One lesson I always teach my infectious diseases trainees is that antibiotics alone will not cure an infection. In fact, most mild infections will get better without antibiotics as long as the immune system is intact. Some infections may get better faster with antibiotics, while more serious infections will need antibiotics to significantly reduce the risk of dying. If we liken fighting infections to a war, antibiotics are like the cavalry and the artillery. They pack a lot of firepower and destroy a lot of bacteria, but they aren’t very precise. They may destroy up to 99 percent of the target germs in the body, but you need an intact immune system to eliminate the remaining one percent. I think of that last one percent of bacteria like guerrilla fighters that hide out in houses and in the jungle, and your immune system, particularly your white blood cells, are the ones that hunt them down and eliminate them. Without an intact immune system to get rid of the last remaining bacteria, the infection will just rebound when the antibiotics are stopped. Patients with damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients who recently underwent chemotherapy or those with advanced HIV, can take a long time to recover, and we sometimes give longer than normal courses of antibiotics for these patients until their immune system can cope and recover.
When I was a fellow (trainee) in infectious diseases in the US, I had a long discussion about the effect of stress on the immune system with one of my mentors, a world-renowned immunologist and HIV expert. He understood the attraction behind thinking that lack of sleep and stress could make someone less able to defend against infection. He, however, wanted me to find hard evidence since he wasn’t content with just conjecture. The human immune system is notoriously complex, and he wanted to know the actual physiology in which immune cells are impacted by overwork and lack of rest.
First, we explored what was known about how the body responds to stress. One observation is that in times of anxiety and stress, the body makes a lot of stress hormones, specifically corticosteroids such as cortisol. Cortisol reduces the amount of inflammation and pain during a stressful event, which can be beneficial in the short term. However, it also affects key components of the immune system, such as T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes, which protect us from bacteria, fungi, and viruses. My mentor acknowledged that this indeed was plausible but he wanted actual examples of people under stress having less than ideal immune responses.
So I did a literature search on the effect of stress on the immune system. Doctors and medical students usually use an internet resource known as PubMed when looking up specific studies among millions of indexed, high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles. On inquiry, I noted several studies looking at vaccine seroconversion, which involves an adequate protective response to vaccination, in chronically stressed individuals such as medical students and caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients. The overall findings among these studies were that lower levels of stress resulted in higher antibody and T-cell responses to vaccination compared to individuals with higher stress levels. A recent study looking at people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) linked higher rates of inflammation and immune dysfunction compared to control subjects. There were other studies as well, but the findings weren’t as clear-cut. Overall, the consensus is that the physiological benefits of rest in order to reduce stress go beyond mental health benefits and actually affect physical wel lbeing.
With this in mind, this Holy Week, it may be a good idea to get some rest, especially if you have chronic health problems or are recovering from a recent illness. The usual out-of-town vacations can cause additional stress, and many people feel even more tired after the hectic activities that they engage in due to the long break. It is not unusual to hear some people say that they need a vacation from their vacation! Spiritual meditation, whether you participate in the religious activities or not, can also be a great stress reliever and can rejuvenate not just your mind but also your immune system. Rest can indeed heal the body and the mind, and that’s not just wishful thinking.
Easter is the oldest and most important festival of the Western Christian year, celebrating Jesus Christ's resurrection (rising from the grave) following his crucifixion on Good Friday. Easter Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week (but not part of it), and the first day of Eastertide. Easter marks the end of the 40 days of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday. Easter Sunday (or simply Easter Day) is the first day of the Easter Week which ends on Easter Saturday.
Christ's resurrection forms the basis of Christian faith as it demonstrates Jesus to be the Son of God, and symbolizes his conquest of death.
According to the Gospels it was at sunrise on the first Easter Day - the 3rd day following Jesus' death - that the women who followed Jesus found the great stone blocking his tomb had been rolled away, and the tomb empty. The Gospel of John (20.14-16) relates how Mary Magdalene meets Jesus by the tomb, but does not at first recognise him, taking him to be a gardener. Finally realising that he has indeed risen from the dead, as he had promised he would, she runs to tell the disciples the good news.
These events fulfil the prophecy that 'The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.' (Luke 24.7).
Easter is related to the Jewish festival of Pesach (Passover).
Easter lets us be reborn. May everyday bring you new hope and courage!
The Passion of the Christ will stream on Lionsgate Play PH via PLDT Home and Smart starting Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Holy Week is a time of deep spiritual reflection for many Filipinos. It’s an opportunity to pause and step back from the demands of our busy lives and contemplate the profound meaning of this sacred time. Beyond the traditions and rituals, Holy Week calls us to a personal introspection on the enduring themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the power of faith.
During this period, The Passion of the Christ emerges as a compelling reminder of the immense suffering and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Directed by Mel Gibson and based on Anne Catherine Emmerich’s book, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, this film is an intense portrayal of the final twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life, from his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion and resurrection. It’s a testament to the betrayal, pain, and ultimate offering Jesus bore for the very people he came to redeem.
Gibson recounted how his inspiration for creating the film arose from intense personal struggle, a “spiritual bankruptcy” that prompted him to turn to the Bible for guidance. Although already familiar with the foundations of Christian belief, meditating on the Gospel in his time of need renewed his faith.
Gibson’s experience might resonate deeply with the Filipino experience, as a society deeply rooted in religious belief and familiar with the story of Christ’s passion. We grew up surrounded by films, drawings, sculptures, and various art forms dedicated to narrating and understanding the man from Nazareth. However, reading historical accounts is often insufficient to understand the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice.
From Caleb Deschanel’s artistic cinematography and John Debney’s moving score to Jim Caviezel’s profoundly moving performance as Christ in The Passion of the Christ makes it difficult for viewers to take their eyes off the screen at any moment. No matter what you’re looking for this Holy Week, Gibson’s film delivers a visceral, theological, and artistic experience that resonates even today, 21 years after it premiered.
Speaking to Sight Magazine, director Mel Gibson shared what impact he hoped the film would have on its viewers: “I hope it spurs them on to investigate the life of Christ for themselves. And I don’t think you can’t be impacted by it. Some images are strong, and I’ve decided not to hold back. Jim Caviezel (the actor who plays Jesus) said it well.
He said there will be some people who will freak out…(b)ut there will be other people who can’t stop watching it, and even though they are horrified and terrified, they will sit through the whole thing…By speaking very loudly, image and sound-wise, it’s going to make people think very deeply.”
Gibson is also planning to film a sequel entitled Resurrection, hoping to release it shortly. This follow-up explores the events after Christ's crucifixion, delving further into the heart of Christian belief.
The Passion of the Christ will stream on Lionsgate Play PH via PLDT Home and Smart starting Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025.
With summer temperatures soaring and power consumption peaking, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent assurance of no brownouts this season comes as a welcome relief. However, behind this assurance lies a complex energy landscape that demands closer scrutiny. While the DOE acknowledges the possibility of ‘yellow alerts’—indicating a thinning power supply margin—it maintains that these will not lead to rotational blackouts. But how sustainable is this situation, and what does it reveal about the country’s overall energy security?
At the heart of the issue is the sufficiency of the country’s power generation capacity. The Philippine power grid remains vulnerable, with demand often outpacing the expansion of supply. Luzon, which accounts for the largest share of national electricity consumption, has historically borne the brunt of power shortages. While recent years have seen investments in new generating capacity, the growth remains slow, with regulatory bottlenecks and permitting delays hampering the construction of additional power plants.
Compounding the challenge is the reliability of existing power facilities. The country still relies heavily on aging coal-fired power plants, which are prone to unscheduled shutdowns. When several plants go offline simultaneously, the thin reserve margin quickly evaporates, leading to supply shortfalls and the dreaded brownouts. This underscores the urgency of diversifying energy sources and ensuring that maintenance protocols for existing facilities are strictly followed.
A key question is how much progress has been made in expanding the share of renewable energy (RE) in the country’s power mix. The Philippine Energy Plan envisions RE comprising 35 percent of the energy mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. While solar, wind, and hydro projects are being developed at a faster pace, their contribution remains below expectations. The government has implemented the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) to accelerate RE adoption, yet challenges such as high upfront costs, transmission constraints, and intermittency issues persist. Unless the country strengthens its energy storage capacity and modernizes its grid infrastructure, RE integration will remain suboptimal.
Beyond supply sufficiency and energy mix diversification, the lingering issue of high power costs continues to weigh heavily on consumers and businesses alike. The Philippines has some of the highest electricity rates in Southeast Asia, a deterrent to foreign investors considering long-term business operations in the country. While the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has taken steps to promote retail competition and open access, as well as rationalize pricing structures, significant hurdles remain. Market inefficiencies, dependence on imported fuel, and inadequate transmission capacity contribute to price volatility, making electricity a costly necessity rather than an accessible utility.
The path forward requires a holistic approach. The DOE must work closely with the private sector to expedite investments in new power plants, particularly RE projects with robust storage solutions. Strengthening interconnection between the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids will enhance supply stability, while streamlined permitting processes and regulatory incentives can encourage greater participation from investors. Additionally, the country must maximize indigenous energy resources, such as geothermal and hydroelectric power, to reduce reliance on expensive imported fuels.
The assurance of no brownouts this summer is a short-term victory, but the long-term battle for energy security, affordability, and sustainability is far from over. Without decisive action, the cycle of energy shortages and high costs will persist, hampering economic growth and investment competitiveness. Now is the time for the government, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to collaborate on a power sector roadmap that ensures not just stability but true energy independence.
Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group is dedicated to promoting indigenous cultures. —JAYPEE MARISTAZA
Building on its successful debut, the second International Dance Day Fest (IDDF) will be a more significant celebration of movement and range. British choreographer Wayne McGregor’s “Autobiography” will headline it. This abstract dance is rare for the country’s dance landscape. Inspired by his genetic code, this innovative work connects contemporary movement, science, and technology.
The festival’s expanded program, to be held from April 23 to 27 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, features 37 dance companies, promising diverse styles. Christopher Mohnani, managing director of Samsung Theater, says, “This is a real festival, and we envisioned a strong opening—separate from the nightly genre galas—where everyone could sit, enjoy, and celebrate dance, regardless of who they are.”
Wayne McGregor’s “Autobiography,” Company Wayne McGregor, Lublin Dance Theatre, Poland (2019) —MACIEJ RUKASZ
With support from the British Embassy and the British Council, Company Wayne McGregor launches the IDDF on April 23.
“The Philippines is far, so bringing a company of this caliber here is a feat,” says Mohnani.
DNA-based
McGregor collaborated with an IT expert and devised an algorithm based on his DNA, which then determined the dance’s structure. Viewing the body as a living archive, “Autobiography” layers choreographic imprints over personal memories, writings, art, and music from his life.
The piece does not unfold as a linear narrative. Instead, it comprises 23 distinct movement sections, mirroring the 23 pairs of human chromosomes. For each performance, the algorithm randomly selects the order of these sections. This means every rendition of “Autobiography” is singular, with dancers performing the same movement material in a different sequence each time, anchored only by a fixed beginning and end.
Wayne McGregor’s “Autobiography,” Company Wayne McGregor (Jasiah Marshall) —RAVI DEEPRES
“‘Autobiography’ introduces McGregor’s aesthetic and contemporary movement. ‘Autobiography’ originated from his doctor’s visit. Each time the company performs, the computer dictates the order of the sections for that day. The dance order never repeats; it might begin with Number Four, then Eight, and then Number One could be in the middle,” explains Mohnani. The Philippine show will be version 105.
Running 70 minutes without intermission, “Autobiography” offers a fresh perspective on the self, memory, and the human condition. It demands adaptability from its dancers and provides audiences a thought-provoking experience at each performance.
Guest artists
On April 24, the Folk and Traditional Dance Gala will present an expanded list of 10 dance companies that have performed abroad, led by Bayanihan and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.
The Street Dance Gala on April 25 features top companies that have both won international championships and are commercially successful, such as GForce, UNRVLD, and UPeepz.
UNRVLD is an award-winning dance crew in hip-hop. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
The Ballet Gala on April 26 highlights the country’s top dance companies. Ballet Manila will present an excerpt from its upcoming production of “Swan Lake,” the pas de deux from Act 2, including BM’s corps de ballet as the swans. Philippine Ballet Theatre will perform Gener Caringal’s “Bughaw.” Alice Reyes Dance Philippines will show its latest hit, “C’est la Cie” by Bam Damian. Ballet Philippines will likewise show excerpts from its recent production of “Ang Panaginip” by artistic director Misha Martynyuk.
Through the help of Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, a member of the American Ballet Theatre Global Council (an international group of advisors consisting of leaders in their fields who involve communities with dance), ABT dancer Vince Pelegrin and a partner from the junior group, ABT Studio Company, will perform a work by modern dance choreographer Gerald Arpino and a pas de deux from “Le Corsaire.” Pelegrin is an alumnus of Elizalde’s Steps Dance Studio who received a scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School before joining ABT.
Vince Pelegrin, former member of ABT Studio Company, is now an artist with the American Ballet Theater.
A guest pair from the Hong Kong Ballet will perform the pas de deux from “Giselle” and a piece by Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa. Schools such as Steps Dance Studio and the Association of Ballet Academies in the Philippines are also included.
The Contemporary Gala on April 27 introduces Paradance, international dancesport champions in the paraplegic category. Mohnani adds that there will be choreographic voices outside of Manila, with companies from the Visayas and Sultan Kudarat.
Global celebration
Founded in 1982, International Dance Day is a global dance celebration. The International Dance Council and the International Theatre Institute, UNESCO’s main partner in the performing arts, promote it. Mohnani organized this event based on experiences in the United States. International Dance Day is held every April 29, before Memorial Day. He notes that major dance festivals, Fall for Dance at the City Center in New York and Spring to Dance at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis, Missouri, aim to introduce dance to new viewers.
Mohnani was managing director of programs and community engagement for Dance St. Louis, one of America’s five dance presenters. During his 2017 to 2019 term, he organized Spring to Dance, which he described as a “buffet” of dance styles.
“Effective event creation requires considerable thought and planning. It is not immediate. Dance St. Louis has presented dance programming for over 50 years,” he says.
Stella Abrera, Fil-Am artistic director of ABT JKO School, and husband Sascha Radetsky, artistic director of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company
As the arts and culture manager of Circuit Makati, the location of Samsung theater, he observed that dance attracted fewer viewers than musicals and symphony orchestras. Dance does not draw the box-office numbers of a musical such as “Into the Woods,” which extended its run due to high demand, or the crowd at the recent Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert celebrating Lithuania’s independence.
Nonetheless, Mohnani is hopeful. He notes that the first IDDF had an average attendance of 1,000 per night in the 1,520-capacity Samsung Theater, with the ballet gala drawing over 1,200 attendees.
“Organizing Spring to Dance taught me that audience development requires a clear vision and a distinct, high-quality program. Technology exposes our audiences more. They understand value. Our job is to maintain this standard,” Mohnani explains.
Given the high cost of theater tickets, the International Dance Day Fest offers a more accessible way to experience dance with an average ticket price of P800.
“We want International Dance Day to become a signature festival for Makati, similar to the Art Fair. Ten years ago, the Art Fair began similarly. The goal is annual growth until it becomes sustainable. I appreciate the support of those underwriting this five-day event and the participating artists, who will receive a stipend. They believe in the mission and understand dance’s importance,” he concludes.
Tickets are available at Ticketworld. For more information, follow CPATOfficial on Facebook and Instagram.
The authors at the Leipziger Buchmesse: Paolo Herras, Darryl Delgado, Monica Frohlich, Ren Galeno, Jay Ignacio, Jessica Zafra, NBDB executive director Charisse Aquino Tugade, Annette Hug, and Stephanie Coo. Seated are the cochairs of the GoH Translation Committee, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Kristian Sendon Cordero. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
The day Ren Galeno’s German edition of “Sa Wala (Nothing to Lose)” was sold out, how the Philippine stand at the Leipziger Buchmesse in late March heartily applauded! This being our first time to participate, as a necessary step toward Guest of Honor (GoH) at Frankfurter Buchmesse on Oct. 15 to Oct. 19 later this year, we hardly knew what to expect.
The Leipzig clientele was characterized as young book lovers looking for cutting-edge material in German and English—so we came with graphic novels, romance, notable recent releases that might interest such an audience, as we had to supplement the 14 books already published and available in German editions, which their respective German publishers provided.
One of the books translated into German
Leipzig was a retail fair, unlike the Frankfurter Buchmesse which is a rights fair, open to the public only on the weekend. (But a recent update indicates that the Frankfurter Buchmesse will also be a retail fair from Day 1.) Both invite such crowds as Leipziger Buchmesse is considered the most important book event in the spring.
With the simultaneous Manga-Comic-Con, cosplayers were everywhere. It coincides with the Leipzig Liest (“Leipzig Reads”) citywide reading festival. Both fairs required its visitors to walk such long distances as there are many halls to visit. It was a herculean and physically taxing task to visit all the halls in both fairs.
10 authors, 10 sessions
A delegation of 10 authors who staged 10 sessions promoted the titles. Daryll Delgado with her climate fiction novel “Remains” and Jay Ignacio with his graphic novel “Alandal,” both of whom had just returned from successful author talks and book signings in Berlin, continued to draw much admiration. Delgado spoke on “Can Climate Fiction Save Our Planet?” while Ignacio’s topic was “Comics Reimagine the Nation.” Others were Jessica Zafra discussing the “Social Divide in City Fiction,” and Galeno on the horrors of reality. Paolo Herras discussed “Filipino Graphic Novels Travel the World” and “We are All Strangers in Our Own Native Lands.”
Jessica Zafra
Translation is especially critical for the Philippines with its more than a hundred languages including the two official tongues, English and Filipino. For noteworthy works in regional languages to be shared with the world, it is imperative that they be translated into English first. Thus, it was important that we also had two German translators on board.
Swiss writer Annette Hug figures prominently in the country’s translation program as she speaks fluent Filipino. She took up Women and Development Studies at the University of the Philippines. Her translation from Filipino to German of Luna Sicat Cleto’s poetry book “Bago Mo Ako Ipalaot” is a significant breakthrough. Hug is now at work on a novel—Allan Derain’s “Aswanglaut”—also translating it from the original Filipino to German.
Translators Annette Hug and Monica Frohlich
Monica Fröhlich, a university professor and head since 2021 of the German Academic Exchange Service in the Philippines, has a doctorate in German contemporary literature. She translated Anna Felicia Sanchez’s “Pics or it Didn’t Happen and Other Actual Stories” and, along with Hug, conducted a session in German on the whys and wherefores of translating Philippine literature.
Kristian Sendon Cordero, writer, poet, Ateneo de Naga University Press director, and cohead of the GoH Translation Committee, spoke on how he has brought Bikol literature all over the world, sparking interest in Bikol writings both old and new.
“Death be Damned”
Translation Subsidy Program
With the babel of languages in the country, it stood to reason for the National Book Development Board (NBDB) in 2023 to initiate a Translation Subsidy Program for foreign publishers who have bought translation rights of a published book from Philippine publishers as the country gears up to be GoH in 2025. The program is open to fiction and nonfiction works published in the Philippines, written in any Philippine language. The subsidy amounts range from $1,200 to $3,500, depending on the genre, complexity of the work, and the translation costs. There is an ongoing cycle for applications from April 1 to May 31, with another one from Aug. 1 to Dec. 30.
To date, the program has facilitated the translation of 129 Filipino books into various international languages, including 27 German books. Some are independently being translated, not availing of the subsidy program. Many more are in the process of translation and book production, including new German editions of “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” two novels that revolutionized our history. The older editions are now out of print and what better way to mark our being GoH than to launch these legacy commemorative editions?
“Josefina”
Portugal-based author/professor Stephanie Coo drew much curiosity and interest in her session on “Clothing the Colonials.” With her forthcoming book, “Seams of Sedition,” she invites the readers to a deeper reading of the “Noli” as she studied the clothing of the characters and the revelations and manifestations these revealed of the times and particular social status of the characters.
It must be remembered that Jose Rizal, national hero, writer, and polymath, was the country’s first link to Germany, where he studied ophthalmology in that lovely, fairy-tale-like city of Heidelberg and where, interestingly enough, he complained of the potatoes at every meal. It was in Berlin in 1887 where the novel “Noli Me Tangere” was printed by Berliner Buchdruckerei-Aktiengesellschaft.
The theme of our GoH participation is “The imagination peoples the air,” a line borrowed from Rizal’s “Noli,” the chapter on Sisa in the Charles Derbyshire translation. (“La imaginación puebla el aire/Pinupuno ang hangin ng hiwatig”). It is important to point out that “peoples” becomes a verb here, to imply how the atmosphere is permeated, suffused by the imagination.
“Strange Natives”
As Pavilion curator Patrick Flores explains, “The key words of imagination, people, and air allude to the elements of the writing and reading context: the producers and receivers of texts; the talent of the idiosyncratic individual who reads and writes; and the community gathered by the air emanating from and animating books. For Filipinos, at the heart of books is the promise of sharing, a collective aspiration to be present in the world of stories, ideas, myths, fantasies, and the future…”
And so after Rizal in Heidelberg, in Berlin, we return to Frankfurt still nurturing the spirit of Rizal.
Leipzig, steeped in music and culture, has its special charm and mystique. The Bach Museum is a definite tourist draw. It’s known as the birthplace of Richard Wagner and the place where Bach, Mendelssohn, the Schumanns, and Mahler worked. The city honors these musicians with its age-old tradition of the Leipziger Lerche that one has to enjoy before leaving. It dates back to years when pies were stuffed with the songbird larks until hunting them was banned. Now, the little crossbun pies are made with marzipan and jam and are named for Bach and Wagner and, presumably, the other musicians which I did not see or try.
It was noteworthy that the opening ceremony of the Leipziger Buchmesse was held in the grand and acoustically perfect Gewandhaus Hall where the internationally renowned Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, said to be the oldest in the world, is housed. “Gewandhaus” means “garment house,” as it was originally a building where merchants sold cloth.
“Die Strassenkatzen Von Manila”
The opening ceremony was impressive for the music, but especially for the awarding ceremony of the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding to Alhierd Bacharevič, a Belarusian writer in exile. Copies of his book “Dogs of Europe” have been confiscated, burnt, buried by tractors in Belarus. Citing two important words in the language he invented in the novel, Balbuta, he says, “Be free.”
A heavy thought to carry on the eve of the Leipziger Buchmesse. But the Leipziger Buchmesse had no trace of censorship, and so we proudly displayed 14 initial German titles, including a collection of fiction, graphic novels, poetry.
All these initiatives leading up to October 2025 are made possible through patroness of art and culture and project visionary Sen. Loren Legarda, who puts her money where her mouth is, with the special collaboration of government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the National Book Development Board.
The GoH participation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a much needed boost for the Philippine publishing industry, and as early as now, shows the interest, the curiosity, the admiration, and wonder for the richly diverse literature that our country is capable of producing. It also comes 10 years after the first Southeast Asian country, Indonesia, became GoH in 2015.
The Philippines will only be the second Southeast Asian country to be so honored. And we all know this will only be the beginning.
