This week on Taste Buddies, know what it takes to travel in style with IT girls Solenn Heussaff and Isabelle Daza share informative tips to make adventure fun and convenient. The girls unpack their bags to reveal every girl's travel must-have as they also teach us to review our travel rights plus try something new and exciting at the island rose farm. And finally, the girls don chambermaid outfits as they learn the basics of hotel housekeeping. These and more in the next Saturdate with the IT girls on Taste Buddies TODAY at 5.40 p.m. on GMA News TV. ENJOY!
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!
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!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Emigration Clearance Certifications
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
Magallanes Drive, Intramuros
1002 Manila
MEMORANDUM FROM THE COMMISSIONER
To: ALL ALIEN CONTROL OFFICERS (ACOs)
Subject: PROCESSING OF EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES (ECCs) IN SUB-PORT OFFICES
Date: 15 MAY 2013
Pending the completion of items 4 and 5 of Memorandum dated 26. April 2013 re" MEASURES AGAINST FAKE EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATIONNS (ECCs), the same is hereby SUSPENDED in terms of the exlusive processing of ECCS at the BI Main Office. Thus, sub-port offices previously processing ECCs are hereby authorized to resume accepting and processing ECCs applications in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
All processed ECCs by your office shall be submitted to the BI National Operation Center the following working day reckoning from the date of issuance of said Certicates.
For guidance and strict compliance.
Sgd. Ricardo A. David, Jr.
Immigration Commissioner
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Voting Closes in The Philippines
Filipinos have voted to choose thousands of local
leaders and national legislators in what was seen as a referendum on the
presidency of reformist Benigno Aquino. More than 52 million people were eligible to vote in Monday's elections. Results are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.Police and military were on heightened alert for poll-related violence that has claimed dozens of lives since campaigning began in February. More than 18,000 positions were at stake, ranging from town and city mayors to provincial governors and members of the legislature in an exercise traditionally dominated by political dynasties . Aquino won the presidency by a landslide in 2010 on a promise to crush corruption which he blames for widespread poverty in the nation of 100 million. He consistently scored high popularity ratings for nursing the Philippines back to fiscal health and prosecuting erring officials, including predecessor Gloria Arroyo, now in detention while being tried for alleged massive corruption. Aquino is also close to signing a final peace deal with the main Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), potentially ending a rebellion in the south that has killed more than 150,000 since the 1970s. The aim is to get both houses of parliament - the Senate and the House of Representatives - to pass a law creating a new autonomous region to be governed by the MILF in the south. All the seats in the lower house and half in the Senate are being contested in Monday's elections. Violence Reports said one army member was killed on Monday and one injured in the island of Negros following an encounter between the military and communist rebels, according to military spokesman Franciso Patrimonio. An improvised explosive device was found in the district of Sharif Aguak, in the province of Maguindanao, where a campaign-related massacre took place in 2009 and 34 journalists died. Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas, reporting from Manila, said that more than 30 people have been reported killed in the run-up to the elections. “But security forces are pointing out that this is a much smaller number than they have seen in previous elections,” she said. “In fact, the reported incidents of violence in the run-up to these particular elections compared to the previous ones have been a sign, some say, that the reforms Aquino has been instituting during his three years in power are so far working.” In 2009, 58 people, including 32 journalists, were massacred in the country's worst political violence that was blamed on rivalry between two powerful clans in southern Maguindanao province. Voting concerns Sixto Brillantes, head of the Philippines' election agency, reported that at least 200 polling stations reported malfunctioning ballot counting machines. He also said that voting was cancelled in one precinct in the northern Philippine city of Baguio, and one in Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, after election workers failed to deliver the ballots. He said that special voting, at a later date, would only be ordered if "it will adversely affect the final result". An election watchdog also reported power outages in some areas. Other problems, including politicians who jostle for power by bribing, intimidating or launching attacks against opponents, are expected to have marred the vote. Ana Maria Tabunda from the independent pollster Pulse Asia said such dynasties restrict democracy, but added that past surveys by her organisation had shown that most Filipinos were less concerned about the issue than with the benefits and patronage they could receive from particular candidates. Voters often pick candidates with the most familiar surnames instead of those with the best records, she said. "It's name recall, like a brand. They go by that," she said. Vote-buying has also been a problem. The Commission on Elections ordered a ban on bank withdrawals of more than 100,000 pesos ($2,440) and the transportation of more than 500,000 pesos ($12,200) from Wednesday through to Monday to curb vote-buying, but the Supreme Court stopped the move. |
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Tour Guides Recount Escape from Volcano
By CRIS LARANO and JOSEPHINE CUNETA
Five European tourists and their three
Filipino guides were a few hundred yards from the crater of Mount Mayon
in the Philippines when they decided to turn back because thick fog had
made it difficult to keep climbing. But their decision didn't come soon
enough.
Mount Mayon, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines,
spewed hot ash and rocks on Tuesday, killing four climbers—three Germans
and one Spaniard—and one of the tour guides.
Eighteen-year-old Nicanor Mabao was one of the three who survived
what scientists call a phreatic, or steam-driven, explosion. He told The
Wall Street Journal that the blast happened quickly and without
warning.
Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines' most active volcanoes, spewed huge rocks and ash after daybreak Tuesday.
"I heard a loud explosion, louder than
thunder," said Mr. Mabao as he prepared to leave the Bicol Regional
Training and Teaching Hospital, where he and fellow guide Kenneth
Jesalva were treated for burns and other injuries.
Mr. Mabao was 16 when he started guiding tourists up Mount Mayon and
is a member of the Panaway Mountaineer Group, which usually climbs the
2,440-metervolcano three to four times a week.
Mr. Jesalva, 21 years old, who sustained a broken shoulder due to falling rocks, also recalled a loud explosion.
"It sounded like thunder. It was very loud. Then, I heard the noise
of cascading rocks. But we couldn't see the rocks, the thick fog blinded
us from seeing the falling debris," Mr. Jesalva said.
Then the rocks started landing on them.
"We were moving very slowly due to the thick fog. Burning rocks as
big as our backpacks hit us. Because of my small frame, I was able to
hide from the rocks but was still hit on my back and left foot," he
said.
Despite being pelted by hot rocks, Mr. Mabao said he remembers
looking after Sabine Strohberger, who nearly fell after stepping on a
loose rock. He grabbed her backpack and lifted her to safety. Ms.
Strohberger, an Austrian, was the only climber in the group to survive.
The shock of the deadly episode will change their lives forever, the guides said.
"I curse Mayon. I won't set foot on it again," said Mr. Jesalva, who
is working part-time as a tour guide to support his studies. He is in
the third year of a criminology course and wants to become a
law-enforcement officer. He said he would still climb mountains, but not
Mount Mayon.
Mr. Mabao vowed not to climb again.
Meanwhile, Philippine Army Lt. Col. Raul Farnacio said the bodies of
the five who died have been retrieved and are awaiting autopsy.
Another Thai survivor stuck on the "critical side" of the volcano
awaits rescue, he said, because the steep slope and high elevation
prevents a helicopter landing.
Twenty-seven people, including tour guides, were hiking up to the
summit when the explosion occurred, according to Gov. Joey Salceda of
the Philippine province of Albay.
Write to Cris Larano at cris.larano@dowjones.com and Josephine Cuneta at josephine cuneta@wsj.com
Monday, May 6, 2013
Rare Animals Threatened by Poisons Chemicals
A team of wildlife researches from the Philippine WEagle Foundation Inc. (PEF) has found that the remnant of lowland dipterocarp forests in the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan Watersheds, the current source of Davao's drinking water, is the habitat of some 28 species that can be only found in the Philippines.
"We were able to document 171 vertebrate species, 28 of which are endemic to the Philippines," said lead researcher Director Jayson Ybanez, who presented the study at the Ateneo de Davao University.
Unsustainable agriculture, illegal logging and population pressure continue to threaten these fragile habitats and may force 28 of them into extinction.
Ybanez said: "One of the threats that we found out is that banana plantations and farms are slowly encroaching towards the forest, even in areas which are considered environmentally critical areas as defined in the Watershed Code!"
Adaptive management would be a good scheme, wherein interventions are considered experiments where you refine your way of doing conservation and through that, all of your partners learn through doing. Very well said, Sir Ybanez... .
Andrea Torres - Newest Kapuso Leading Lady
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GMA-7
is continuously developing new leading ladies. After Bianca King, Kylie
Padilla and Jackie Rice, a new set of Kapuso female artists are being
launched as the next important stars of the network. One of them is a
girl named Andrea Torres, the new Cecilia Fulgencio in the afternoon
series 'Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga' with Mikael Daez as Carlos Miguel
Altamonte.
Wait, but who is this girl named Andrea Torres? Is she new in the business?
Andrea Elizabeth Torres was born on the 4th of May, 1990. She first started her career in showbusiness as a print ad model. During her early teens, she became one of the female contestants in the reality-based loveteam search of ABS-CBN called 'QPids'. That time, she was paired with Dominic Roco. It's fun to think that they're both with GMA-7 now.
She moved to Kapuso network and appeared in the teen show Ka-Blog as one of its main hosts. While hosting the show, she is also busy with college. She took up Communication Arts in the University of Sto. Tomas.
Just in mid 2011, she appeared in the afternoon series 'Blusang Itim'. It seems like her stint in the primetime show 'My Beloved' with Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera became her stepping stone to be noticed by the network.
Some of her movie credits include Loving You, Shake Rattle and Roll 9 and 10 and You To Me Are Everything.
Wait, but who is this girl named Andrea Torres? Is she new in the business?
Andrea Elizabeth Torres was born on the 4th of May, 1990. She first started her career in showbusiness as a print ad model. During her early teens, she became one of the female contestants in the reality-based loveteam search of ABS-CBN called 'QPids'. That time, she was paired with Dominic Roco. It's fun to think that they're both with GMA-7 now.
She moved to Kapuso network and appeared in the teen show Ka-Blog as one of its main hosts. While hosting the show, she is also busy with college. She took up Communication Arts in the University of Sto. Tomas.
Just in mid 2011, she appeared in the afternoon series 'Blusang Itim'. It seems like her stint in the primetime show 'My Beloved' with Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera became her stepping stone to be noticed by the network.
Some of her movie credits include Loving You, Shake Rattle and Roll 9 and 10 and You To Me Are Everything.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Reds raking it in from election extortion
Reds raking it in from election extortion – Army
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MANILA,
Philippines - Candidates in the forthcoming midterm elections are
paying between P100,000 and P5 million to buy protection from the New
People’s Army (NPA), a senior military official said yesterday.
Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd
Division, said the candidates believe that giving in to the rebels’
demands would spare them from harassment.
“My estimate is that half of all political contenders in my area
(Western Visayas) are paying. That is also true in other areas,” he
said.
Mabanta said the fees demanded by the NPA depend on the post eyed by
the candidates. He did not identify the politicians who are giving money
to the insurgents.
Some 18,000 posts are up for grabs in the May 13 elections, including
town and city mayors, provincial governors and members of Congress.
“With the amounts involved, they (NPA) will be buying arms and
ammunition and these may be fired and used against them (politicians),”
Mabanta said, warning that those who will provide financial help to
insurgents may face criminal charges.
“We will not allow this and we will ensure that their decision to give in will have legal repercussions,” he added.
Mabanta said the protection money raised dwarfs the amounts regularly
extorted from mining, logging and other businesses based in the rural
areas where the 4,000-member guerrilla force operates. The military
claims the insurgents have extorted more than P25 million from
businesses and individuals last year.
“This is when really the NPAs make a killing out of their extortion,” he said.
The military claims the NPA has been issuing campaign permits in exchange for cash.
“Giving in to the demands is not a guarantee that the CPP (Communist
Party of the Philippines)-NPA will not harass the candidates anymore and
will be given access. There is evidence of politicians who give in to
extortion demands but are continuously being harassed,” Mabanta said.
Last week, NPA members ambushed the convoy of Ruth Guingona, the
78-year-old mayor of Gingoog City in Mindanao, killing two of her aides.
Officials have condemned the attack, calling it a violation of human
rights. Security forces believe the rebels behind the ambush were just
making their presence felt to pressure politicians to comply with their
extortion demands.
The CPP has expressed regret for the incident but claimed that the first shots came from Guingona’s aides.
Meanwhile, the Army yesterday said it will assess the strength of the
NPA in the wake of successive attacks staged by the rebels recently
against civilians and soldiers.
Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, officer-in-charge of the Army’s 4th
division, said the assessment would include the identification of the
rebels’ “centers of gravities.”
“Because of the election, we intend to do it successfully.
(Atrocities) like those that happened to Mayor Guingona should not
happen again,” he said.
Visaya said they would employ combat operations, civil-military
operations and intelligence gathering to curb insurgency in their
area.
2013. Philstar. All Right Reserved
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Bahr will Pflegekraefte die Zuwanderung erleichtern
Angesichts des dramatischen Pflegenotstands fordert Gesundheitsminister Daniel Bahr
eine deutliche Lockerung der Zuwanderungsregeln für ausländische
Pflegekräfte. "Wir brauchen Zuwanderung, auch wenn das allein die
Probleme in der Pflege nicht lösen wird", sagte Bahr im Gespräch mit der
"Welt". "Bei den Medizinern haben wir erreicht, dass die Zuwanderung
deutlich erleichtert wird", erklärt der FDP-Politiker. In der Pflege
habe die Union das abgelehnt. "Die Hürden sind immer noch zu hoch",
kritisiert Bahr.
Im Sommer 2011
hatte die Bundesregierung die Grenzen für Ärzte und Ingenieure aus
Staaten außerhalb der Europäischen Union (EU) geöffnet und die
sogenannte Vorrangprüfung abgeschafft. Die Arbeitsagenturen prüfen
dabei, ob die Stelle nicht mit einem Deutschen oder EU-Ausländer besetzt
werden kann, bevor sie ihre Zustimmung zur Arbeitsgenehmigung geben.
"Die Vorrangprüfung für Pflegekräfte muss fallen", fordert Bahr jetzt.
Zahl Pflegebedürftiger bis 2030 verdoppelt
Aktuell gibt es
rund 10.000 unbesetzte Stellen allein in der Altenpflege. Nach den
Worten von Arbeitsministerin Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) ist die
Nachfrage nach Fachkräften in der Pflege "riesengroß". Sie hatte im März
ein Abkommen mit den Philippinen unterzeichnet, um Pflegekräfte aus dem
ostasiatischen Land nach Deutschland holen zu können. Ähnliche Abkommen
gibt es mit Serbien und Kroatien.
Bahr sieht den
Vertrag mit den Philippinen als beispielhaft, aber das reiche nicht.
Nach einer Studie der Bertelsmann-Stiftung wird sich die Zahl der
Pflegebedürftigen in der Bundesrepublik bis zum Jahr 2030 auf 3,4
Millionen verdoppeln. Eine halbe Million Pflegekräfte könnten dann
fehlen, warnt die Stiftung. Nach Berechnungen der
Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft Ver.di fehlen schon jetzt 162.000
Vollzeitstellen in deutschen Krankenhäusern.
Minister Bahr
verweist auf das Notfallpaket von mehr als einer Milliarde Euro, das das
Kabinett in der vergangenen Woche für die Kliniken beschlossen hatte.
"Ich erwarte, dass die Krankenhäuser zusätzliche Pflegestellen
schaffen", sagte der Minister.
"Das bekommen Sie am Fließband nicht"
In der Union und
in der Opposition hatte es Forderungen gegeben, Pflegekräfte künftig
besser zu bezahlen, um die Attraktivität des Berufes zu steigern. Bahr
verweist darauf, dass für die Höhe der Löhne Arbeitgeber und
Arbeitnehmer verantwortlich seien. Das könne aber "noch besser werden",
fügte er hinzu. In einer alternden Bevölkerung werde es mehr Nachfrage
nach Pflege geben, umso attraktiver werde auch der Beruf dort, meinte
der liberale Politiker.
"Bei Opel in
Bochum macht man sich Sorgen, ob die Arbeitsplätze erhalten bleiben
können", sagte Bahr. "Wer sich entscheidet, Pfleger oder Arzt zu werden,
muss in den nächsten Jahrzehnten keine Angst haben, seinen Arbeitsplatz
zu verlieren." Viele Pfleger und Schwestern sagten ihm: "Das ist ein
toller Beruf, man hat mit Menschen zu tun und bekommt von den Patienten
eine Menge Dankbarkeit und Anerkennung zurück. Das bekommen Sie am
Fließband nicht."
Fehlanreize für Krankenhäuser
Bahr plant für
die nächste Legislaturperiode eine Reform der Krankenhäuser. "Wir wollen
nicht die Quantität fördern, sondern die Qualität", sagte Bahr. Schon
heute gebe es Informationsangebote, in welchen Krankenhäusern besonders
viele Komplikationen oder Infektionen auftreten. Bahr schlägt erneut
vor, Kassenpatienten von Zuzahlungen zu befreien, wenn sie in ein
Krankenhaus gehen, das von ihrer Kasse empfohlen wird. Bislang hat er
sich mit dieser Idee nicht gegen die Länder durchsetzen können.
Der
FDP-Politiker bekräftigt, dass er Fehlanreize beseitigen wolle, die
Krankenhäuser unter den Druck setzen, besonders oft zu operieren. Die
Zahl der Operationen ist in den letzten Jahren stark gestiegen. "Wir
können diesen Anstieg nicht allein mit der Demografie und dem
medizinischen Fortschritt erklären", sagte Bahr. "Wir wollen nicht, dass
etwas gemacht wird, das medizinisch gar nicht notwendig ist." Darauf
müssten sich die Patienten verlassen können. Kritiker monieren, viele
Kliniken drängten ihre Ärzte zwecks Umsatzsteigerung zu unnötigen
Eingriffen.
Die Kassen
führen den Anstieg der Operationen auch auf die große Zahl von Kliniken
zurück. Jüngst gab es Vorschläge aus der CDU/CSU, die Zahl der Kliniken
um eine Fünftel zu verringern. Dagegen erklärt Bahr: "Wir haben eine
hohe Krankenhausdichte. Aber das wünscht die Bevölkerung auch." Er wolle
keine Wartelisten-Medizin wie in anderen Ländern. "Dort gibt es weniger
Krankenhäuser und Operationen, aber eben lange Wartelisten." Jeder
müsse das bekommen, was notwendig sei.
"Aber das kann
wirtschaftlicher und effizienter gehen, etwa durch Spezialisierung." Es
müsse nicht in jedem Krankenhaus alles gemacht werden. In Deutschland
gibt es mehr als 2000 Kliniken. Für Investitionskosten und
Bedarfsplanung sind die Länder zuständig, der Betrieb wird von
Krankenkassen über Fallpauschalen finanziert. Da die Länder bei den
Investitionen sparen, müssen diese zunehmend aus dem Betrieb
erwirtschaftet werden. Auch damit erklären Kritiker den bemerkenswerten
Anstieg der Operationszahlen. Im vergangenen Jahr bekamen die Kliniken
von den Krankenkassen 62,5 Milliarden Euro.
© Axel Springer AG 2013. Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Philippines' Internet at 19!
When Philippines was connected to the internet on March 19 nineteen yars ago, the Internet was seen as a high-tech thing only computer nerds would understand and enjoy. It was also very expensive - it costs 10,000 US$ a month to lease a 64K line connecting to the united States.
Now an ordinary Filipino can share photos with tons of friends on Facebook, watch videos on You Tube, and get the largest news online for low as 10 Pesos under the Smart Network. Efforts of companies like a Smart Communications, Inc. to bring down the cost of internet use have contributed tremendously to its pervasiveness and dynamism in the country today.
About half of Filipinos already have access to the Internet, with 30 millions of them having a Facebook account and 10 millions present on Twitter. And sure, also me, living as an expat in the Philippines: yes, you can count me in... .
Now, that the Internet is being used to transmit bigger and bigger volumes of information, improving speed is essential. Indeed, the Internet has come a long way from being the turf or nerds and academics to being an indispensable tool in the daily life of Filipinos.
In a report titled "The State of Broadband 2012: Achieving Digital Inclusion for All", the UN agency Broadband Commission for Digital Development said mobile broadband usage accounted for 6.9 percent of the growth in Philippine gross domestic product in the past decade.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Solar Day Philippines 2013
By Claire Bear
The Philippine Solar Power Allance (PSPA) together with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) will be conducting the first ever Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 on April 26, 2013,5pm-12 midnight at Arts in the City, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
As a tropical country, the Philippines has untapped vast potential of solar energy. Solara pplications have long been used as off-grid solutions in rural, remote areas in the country. Energy being a critical enabler, solar systems have provided for basic needs such as lighting, water pumping, communications and a variety of livelihood activities that immediately improve the lives of of Filipinos in areas where electricity is not readily available.
Today, with the help of government policies, private and non-government institutions as well as multilateral agencies, solar energy is being made accessible to urban homeowners. Rooftops can now be installed with PVsystems and families can expect as much as 30 percent savings in their electricity bills. Urban homes can now be empowered to become clean energy producers, help the environment and at the same time reduce their electricity costs.
Taking inspiration from Germany’s Woche der Sonne (Week of the Sun),Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 is a celebration of the benefits of Solar Energy in the Philippines. We would like to invite you to join us in this first ever event as a partner in promoting clean, safe, inexpensive and renewable energy.
Sponsors:
As a tropical country, the Philippines has untapped vast potential of solar energy. Solara pplications have long been used as off-grid solutions in rural, remote areas in the country. Energy being a critical enabler, solar systems have provided for basic needs such as lighting, water pumping, communications and a variety of livelihood activities that immediately improve the lives of of Filipinos in areas where electricity is not readily available.
Today, with the help of government policies, private and non-government institutions as well as multilateral agencies, solar energy is being made accessible to urban homeowners. Rooftops can now be installed with PVsystems and families can expect as much as 30 percent savings in their electricity bills. Urban homes can now be empowered to become clean energy producers, help the environment and at the same time reduce their electricity costs.
Taking inspiration from Germany’s Woche der Sonne (Week of the Sun),Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 is a celebration of the benefits of Solar Energy in the Philippines. We would like to invite you to join us in this first ever event as a partner in promoting clean, safe, inexpensive and renewable energy.
Sponsors:
SolarDay Pilipinas 2013 is presented to you by the Philippine Solar Power Alliance and Worldwide Fund for Nature.
Broughtto you by: MERALCO; Philippine Society for Youth Science Clubs; Chef's Arch's Lime; Tritec Integrated Philippines Inc.
Booth Sponsors include: Sasonbi, Inc;CEPALCO; Transnational Uyeno Solar Corporation; Machinen & Technik Inc(MATEC); Renewables Made in Germany; One Renewable Enterprise Inc.; GNB Exide, Alveo Land Corporation
Booth Sponsors include: Sasonbi, Inc;CEPALCO; Transnational Uyeno Solar Corporation; Machinen & Technik Inc(MATEC); Renewables Made in Germany; One Renewable Enterprise Inc.; GNB Exide, Alveo Land Corporation
Additional Photo Exhibitors: SunPower Corporation; CEnAG; Propmech and Greenheat
Venue powered by Solar lights by Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc. (SURE)
Marketing Partners: Ateneo School of Government; Wave89.1; Climate Change Commission; One Million Lights Philippines, California Garden Square; PricewaterhouseCoopers Philippines
Flash Mob Dance with Pashu (moves to be posted here soon); Anino Shadowplay on Solar Power to the People; Kinaiya and other Solar Jammers; Laya Ritmo; Spinning by DJ Mael!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Troops 'kill terrorists' who kidnapped Australian
Freed kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell is escorted by U.S. soldiers. Photo: Philippine military
Philippine troops have attacked a jungle hideout of Islamic
terrorists who kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell, killing
at least six people.
Army Colonel Rolando Gregorio, a spokesman for the Western
Mindanao Command, said security forces stormed a Basilan island hideout
of Abu Sayyaf leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Puruji Idama and captured
their encampment after a fierce firefight.
He said three soldiers were wounded but it was not
immediately known whether Hapilon or Idama were killed or wounded in the
fighting.
Idama received the equivalent of $94,600 to free Mr Rodwell
on March 2 after the Sydney man had spent almost 15 months in captivity.
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Frail and emaciated when he was freed, Mr Rodwell is
recuperating in Queensland, where he is believed to be considering
television requests to sell the story of his horrific ordeal.
Idama is a ruthless criminal known for beheading victims.
He had threatened to execute Mr Rodwell only days before the ransom was paid by the family of his Filipino wife Miraflor Gutang.
However claims by Ms Gutang that she sold the family home to
raise the ransom have been found to be incorrect, raising speculation
the money came from an Australian source.
The Australian and Philippine governments have policies of not paying ransoms, so to deter other kidnappings.
Colonel Gregorio told journalists the operation was directed
at the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and not fighters of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim group in the southern
Philippines. That group had claimed its men had been targeted.
"We would like to emphasise that the operation was conducted
and directed only against the Abu Sayaaf terrorists with utmost
consideration on the safety of MILF communities in the operational
area," Colonel Gregorio said, adding that operations were continuing in
the area.
The MILF, which is negotiating peace with Manila, said
security forces raided a rebel stronghold in a violation of the
ceasefire accord.
"The Philippine Army raided the forces of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front early morning today at Sitio Badja Maluha in Barangay
Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo and MILF suffered scores of casualties," the
rebel group said.
Abbas Salung, a senior member of the MILF ceasefire
committee, has strongly denied the military's claim, saying the
operation targeted their forces.
"The MILF-CCCH [Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities]
and [the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group] were never co-ordinated by the
government of the movements or any activity of the government forces in
Baguindan, which is a known MILF community."
Mr Salung blamed the military for the violence in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
"Clearly there is a deliberate act to undermine the ceasefire
and the peace talks between the Aquino government and the MILF, which
only compounds the increasing doubts of the public over the sincerity of
the government in the peace process," he quoted Sapanton as saying
after the fighting stopped.
He said the MILF would file a protest with the government ceasefire committee against the military for violating the truce.
"The encounter had already ceased, but actions must be
undertaken by the government to avoid recurrence of the firefight
between the government and MILF forces and to prove that the government
forces are indeed upholding the policy of the Aquino government for the
primacy of the peace process," Mr Salung said.
The military offensive came just as the MILF expressed concerns over so-called "spoilers" of the peace process.
"The sad part of this is the fact that spoilers do not only
thrive outside the process. There are those who lurk within organisation
or government. They pretend to be on board the process, but truth is
that they have their own agenda, contrary to the desired end state for
the process, or more insensibly, undermining their principal's official
instruction," the MILF said, adding peace negotiators must be vigilant
in not allowing "moles" in their ranks.
Peace negotiators in October signed the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, which shall replace the Muslim autonomous region plan.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
One of my favourite doings as expatriate
I have a lot of favourite things I really enjoy doing as an expatriate living in the Philippines for good: writing, teaching, travelling - and hosting radio shows, i.e. on The Edge Radio Davao 104.3 FM: Sundays from 9 to 11 am and 7 to 9 pm (Philippine Standard Time).
Live on air with United Christian Broadcasters Philippines General Manager Mike Medlin...
Saturday, April 6, 2013
POWER SHORTAGES IN MINDANAO
This is a re-published editorial from MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR from April 6, 2013 with friendly permission of Publisher Ms. Marietta Siongco:
REASSURING
It's very reassuring to hear that Davao Light and Power Corp. is more than ready for power shortages particularly in Davao City. While other cities and provinces in Mindanao are suffering from 8 to 16 hours power blackouts due to depletion of hydropower sources in Mindanao, Davao City and parts of Davao del Norte will likely continue to enjoy blackout-free days and nights.
We cannot imagine how horrible and terrible it is to live even one day of 16 hours at the most sans electricity. Just think of the devastating consequences to the economy an the sizzling summer heat so unbearable it zaps one's energy and leaves one wilting.
How will Davao Light do it? According to the DLPC spokesman Ross Luga at a presscon, the company has set up contingency plans to cushion the impact of power shortages. Also the DLPC will try its best not to resort to rotating brownouts.
...
Well and good for the ever efficient Davao Light and its highly competent people. Let's hope, however, al measures will not translate into sky-high cost of electricity or if ever only at minimal cost. With the spiralling prices of everything, another added enormous burden to the public would be unconscionable if not downright cruel.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Marion Aunor Inks Star Deal
After winning second runner-up in the song writing competition "Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song" for her composition "If you ever changed your mind," Marion Aunor is now an official recording artist as she recently inked a deal with Star Recording, Inc. Marion's debut album will be released by the end of this month.
"My album will include some songs that I composed and the other songs were composed by my mentor, Mr. Vehnee Saturno," she said. She will also be part of the world tour of ABS-CBN's top-rating daytime drama series "Be careful with my heart". Marion Aunor is a nice of great star Nora Aunor, which I was able to meet already personally during the 1980s, when she visited Berlin during the International Movie Fest.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Rating Upgrade on Philippine Shares...
HONG
KONG: The Philippines could attract more capital inflows after winning
its first-ever investment grade rating, but any boost to local bonds,
stocks or the peso currency is likely to be mild for now, investors and
analysts say.
Fitch Ratings raised the Philippines' sovereign rating by one notch to BBB,
noting that a persistent current account surplus underpinned by
remittance inflows has helped the country become a net external
creditor.
But while the upgrade is widely seen as positive for
Philippine assets, expectations for a ratings upgrade have already been
built into markets, limiting the scope for further gains.
Moreover, either Moody's or Standard & Poor's
will likely have to upgrade their ratings on the Philippines as well to
spur major inflows from overseas investors who are only allowed to hold
investment grade assets.
The influential JPMorgan Asia credit
index (JACI) requires that for a bond to be classified as investment
grade, it should be rated investment grade by either Moody's or S&P.
JPMorgan does not take Fitch into account when categorising bonds.
“There
is no big impact at the moment since most index providers require
upgrades to investment grade from two agencies for inclusion in their
investment grade indices,” said Joep Huntjens, a fund manager for ING in
Singapore.
“There could be some technical support if another
agency upgrades Philippines, but looking at the valuation of the bonds,
much of that has been priced in already,” Huntjens said, adding that at
least one more rating agency was likely to upgrade the Philippines this
year.
“We think there is some room for spread compression in the
sovereign linked entities and banks in Philippines, less so in the
sovereign,” he added.
Philippine sovereign bond prices rose 25 to
75 cents after the Fitch move on Wednesday while stocks briefly hit a
record high. Local markets were closed yesterday for the long Easter
holiday and trading will not resume until Monday.
Reflecting how
strongly the upgrade expectations have been priced into markets already,
long dated Philippine sovereign bonds are trading with a yield spread
of just 92 basis points over 30-year US Treasuries, compared to 185
basis points for Indonesian bonds.
The impact on equities could
be limited as well, as some market watchers think valuations are already
stretched after the benchmark index rallied 18% in the first quarter.
“The
Philippines is overrated and overextended and overowned like Indonesia
and Thailand... there is serious potential for correction,” said David
O'Neil, chief investment office at Asean Investment Management in Hong
Kong.
At 16.9 times forward 12 months earnings, it is the
priciest market in the Asia-Pacific region. Versus its own past, the
MSCI Philippines index is trading at a 42% premium to its 10 years
forward median PE.
“All the ducks are in line. You can't expect anything to happen there now,” said Homiyar Vasania, former MD of Morgan Stanley
Investment management and founder of River Valley Asset management. “In
Philippines, everything looks very good... The actual numbers look very
good for the last five years. But whenever they look very good,
whenever all the ducks are exactly aligned, you normally have a
problem,” Vasania added.
Judging from past episodes of credit
rating upgrades to investment grades in the past decade, the impact on
Philippine shares could prove short-lived, Michael Wan, an analyst for
Credit Suisse in Singapore, said in a research note. Reuters
(Resource: The Star ONLINE)
Friday, March 29, 2013
Happy Easter! Frohe Ostern!
A Blessed and Happy Easter to all of you my dear readers!
Ein gesegnetes und frohes Osterfest fuer Sie alle, meine lieben Leserinnen und Leser.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
I love The Philippines/Ich liebe die Philippinen
I never regretted to come here and to stay for good as an expatriate ...
Ich habe es niemals bereut, hierher zu kommen und fuer immer als Auswanderer zu leben...
Ich habe es niemals bereut, hierher zu kommen und fuer immer als Auswanderer zu leben...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
German Language a Must for Pinoy Nurses
Filipino nurses who plan to seek work in Germany must learn the German language first.
In an interview on Friday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said
Filipino nurses should familiarize themselves with the German language
and German culture first if they plan to work there.
"They (German officials) are the ones who came to us, and the EU knows our concern about brain drain and based on our official statements, we have an oversupply of nurses here and the EU is now preparing for more demand [for health care workers] so Germany now wants to recruit Filipino nurses," she said.
However, a Filipino nurse must have German "language proficiency and cultural [awareness]" as these are among the requirements for employment.
Japan has also imposed the same requirement in hiring Filipino nurses.
Baldoz added that the DOLE and its German counterpart are still finalizing the text of the agreement regarding the hiring of Filipino nurses in Germany and that the agreement is expected to be signed Tuesday, March 19.
"They (German officials) are the ones who came to us, and the EU knows our concern about brain drain and based on our official statements, we have an oversupply of nurses here and the EU is now preparing for more demand [for health care workers] so Germany now wants to recruit Filipino nurses," she said.
However, a Filipino nurse must have German "language proficiency and cultural [awareness]" as these are among the requirements for employment.
Japan has also imposed the same requirement in hiring Filipino nurses.
Baldoz added that the DOLE and its German counterpart are still finalizing the text of the agreement regarding the hiring of Filipino nurses in Germany and that the agreement is expected to be signed Tuesday, March 19.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Philippine Opera Company
MANILA,
Philippines - After a successful first season, The Philippine Opera
Company presents the Young Artists Series Black Box event on March 20,
6:30 p.m., at the Opera Haus with Elite.
In the theater the term Black Box refers to a devoted space where
daring experiments and new visions are tested through performance.
Performers who choose to go and perform in a black box are usually the
ones with most open hearts and sincere desires to hone their talent.
Last January, the Philippine Opera Company hosted a “Black Box”
affair for its Young Artists Series (YAS). The YAS started in October
2012, as a soiree every third Wednesday of the month featuring the Young
Artists of the Opera Company. After the success of the first two
events, artistic director Karla Gutierrez and artist-in-residence, mezzo
soprano Clarissa Ocampo, decided to enhance the program by engaging the
artists in more creative work and perform scenes from various operas,
as well as, musical theater pieces that have crossed over into the
classical arena. What makes this event different from the rest is the
challenge given to the young artists to hone and develop their artistry
by giving them the opportunity to stage their own scenes. To assist and
mentor these artists, POC invited several established and well-known
directors in the theater industry.
The Philippine Opera Company closes the series by putting the
spotlight on their best and strongest Young Artists. An “Elite” YASer is
a Young Artist who exemplifies attributes of a world-class artist and
musician. They possess exceptional vocal prowess and unmatchable
performances throughout the YAS season. These artists will perform Opera
scenes from Bellini’s I Capuletti ed I Montecchi, Leoncavallo’s
Pagliacci, Gounod’s Faust, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Poulenc’s La
Voix Humaine, Delibe’s Lakme and Verdi’s La Traviata.
The show features Gabriel Panlilio, Marian Santiago, Twinkle Prietos,
Lara Maigue, Ellrica Laguardia, Lena McKenzie, Cris Go, Al Gatmaitan,
Lawrence Jatayna, Janine Santos, Joseleo Logdat and Clarissa Ocampo with
surprise guests.
For inquiries, call the Philippine Opera Company at 822-9609 or 0917-5272880.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Diving in The Philippines (II)
The Philippines are one of my favorite places to go for diving. You
will find everything a diver wants. From steep coral walls in Balicasag
and Cabilao to underwater mounds with sharks at Malapascua,
muck diving of the best in Negros and a bay
full of wrecks in Busuanga. Current swept islands
like Apo, Apo
Reef and Tubbataha
with large fish or gentle slopes around Siquijor
- the Philippines has everything to your hearts content!
I have been there seven times for extensive diving. I have compiled many pages of information, tips about dive areas, descriptions and maps of dive sites and liveaboards, photos of the underwater animals you will find there, and much more.- Teresa Zubi.
www.starfish.ch
Valerie Taylor, passionate diver and book author wrote 1982:
I have been there seven times for extensive diving. I have compiled many pages of information, tips about dive areas, descriptions and maps of dive sites and liveaboards, photos of the underwater animals you will find there, and much more.- Teresa Zubi.
www.starfish.ch
Valerie Taylor, passionate diver and book author wrote 1982:
"The Philippines is today one of the richest marine areas I have ever seen. I remember clearly my first trip there. Many marine creatures I have seen only once. Some specimens new to science, others uncommon in our waters... . The mother of all living things, nature's ultimate gift, yet we destroy its treasures, pollute its purity, rape its abundance, ignoring the warnings of approaching disasters, for already it is dying and the life it supports it with."
Remember, she wrote this 1982. How looks marine life today? Divers can tell you...
Angelica Panganiban Named Top Comedy Actress
Angelica Pangaiban won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress award in a Gag or Comedian Program for the show "Banana Split" in the Entertainment Press Society Golden Screen TV Awards. She first received this award in 2011 for thr same show. Angelica also appears in the newly launched "Banana Nite", the nightly serving of the gag show where they feature new gags and talents. "Banana Nite" airs Monday to Thursday after "Bandila" on ABS-CBN.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Compostela Valley Celebrates its 15th Year
by
Grace Almedilla
COMPOSTELA VALLEY
PROVINCE-----Opened with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Bishop Wilfredo D.
Manlapaz, the Comvalenyos are thankful that the province stands still despite
of the experienced trials.
In
her remarks during the Foundation Day Program, Congresswoman Maria Carmen
Zamora pointed out that the significant event is a realization that indeed
Comvalenyos draw strength from each other and moving on is not impossible having
each other.
Governor
Arturo T. Uy with a grateful heart expressed his deep appreciation to everybody,
for through thick and thin, they are there in the province’s journey supporting
each other.
An
USWAG Gawad Kalinga Raffle Draw followed with exciting prizes for the lucky
winners (a brand new 4x2 Pick-Up, Yamaha YBRs, Honda Scooters, Samsung Galaxy
III Cellular Phones, and Samsung Tab units).
Announcing
that the world is also celebrating today the Women’s Day, Governor Uy,
Congresswoman Zamora, Congressman Rommel Amatong, and the Province Sports
Consultant Tyrone Uy entertained the crowd with their talents in singing and
dancing.
A
game variety show was also conducted in the afternoon dubbed as “Gov Time, Big
Time” actively participated by the Municipal and Barangay Officials of ComVal’s
eleven municipalities.
Another
highlight of the day’s celebration was the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Signing of rehabilitation projects and turn-over of checks as agriculture
interventions of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in support to the Tindog ComVal Movement.
These
interventions include: assistance to Cacao Rehabilitation Program in
partnership with Kennemer Foods, Inc. amounting to P13,125,000 in the form of
seedlings, fertilizers, and cash for work training; assistance to Coffee Rehabilitation Program
worth P3,200,000 also in the form of seedlings, fertilizers, and cash for work
training in partnership with Nestle Philippines; P21,850,000 intervention for Banana
Rehabilitation; P3,000,000 worth of
rubber seedlings for Laak; P4,466,535 farm machineries & equipment
for sustainable Rice Recovery Program;
P1.2 Million Farm Tractor for Corn Program; P1.4 Million for the rehabilitation of Deep
Well & Spring Development at Pasian, Monkayo and; P1,518,307.09 Mini-Warehouse for Rice Program
in Mawab.
These
interventions from DA under the High Value Commercial Crops Development Program
through the Office of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Director
Remelyn R. Recoter of DA-XI Field Unit totalled to P49,709,842. (grace
almedilla, ids-comval)
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Bakla, the Third Sex in The Philippines
1
www.expatinthephilippines.com
What could be the reason for the presence of so many Bakla in the Philippines?
To me it looks if there are more than ever before. I visited the Philippines for the first time 25 years ago and I live here now almost 5 years. To me it seems that the number of Bakla is growing by the year. In this article from my Dutch friend Dan can you get some answers:
To me it looks if there are more than ever before. I visited the Philippines for the first time 25 years ago and I live here now almost 5 years. To me it seems that the number of Bakla is growing by the year. In this article from my Dutch friend Dan can you get some answers:
www.expatinthephilippines.com
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Philippine Politics
On May 13, 2013, Filipino voters will troop to the polls to elect
their candidate of choice and fill a total of 18,022 government
positions. In Philippine politics the upcoming mid-term elections is a
democratic process designed to fill soon to be vacated local and
national positions including 12 seats in the Philippine Senate and 229
seats in the House of Representatives.
On the provincial level, 80 governors and vice-governors will be
elected and with them 766 members of the Provincial Board. A total of
1,634 mayors and vice-mayors are needed by local government units (LGUs)
nationwide, and a total of 13,504 councilors. The ARMM requires a
governor and a vice-governor and two dozen assemblymen.
Familiar names
It is perhaps not surprising that candidates, especially in the
municipality and city levels bear familiar names. Many of the hopefuls
are relatives or descendants of known or incumbent politicians. Grace
Poe-Llamanzares is an independent candidate running for the Senate. She
is the daughter of Fernando Poe, Jr. (better known as FPJ), a revered
actor who ran against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA).
There are still claims that FPJ won the election against GMA in 2004 and
Grace Poe is counting on fans and supporters of her father for her own
bid, no doubt.
The senatorial race is characterized by other familiar names in the
political scene of the past two decades, most notable of which are
Angara, Aquino, Binay, Cayetano, Cojuangco, Ejercito, Magsaysay,
Pimentel, Villar and Enrile. Jack Enrile, the son of current Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is running for the Senate.
They call it clan politics or traditional politics. Some use the term
political dynasties. No matter what the preferred terminology is, the
fact is that powerful families continue to dominate not just the
national political scene but the local scene as well.
A published study in the Philippine Political Science Journal states
that the 15th Philippine Congress is 70% dynastic. About 80% of the
members of the Congress aged 26-40 come from political families.
Similarly, political parties are dominated by political clans with
ancestors and a progeny of prominent families dominating the roll call.
The same study positively correlates political dynasties in areas with
severe poverty and poor development. The study does not claim to be
absolutely valid, but the results still reflect the current situation.
And there seems to be no respite from clan politics since the newly rich
and newly elected are already planting the seeds of their own
dynasties.
Those who doubt the validity of the dominance of clan politics should
look at the incumbent officials occupying provincial and municipal
seats in Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, and Cavite (in Luzon), Cebu and Siquijor
(in the Visayas), Zamboanga, and Maguindanao (in Mindanao).
Familiar faces
There were a few surprises when celebrities rumored to launch their
political careers did not actually file for candidacy. Some of the best
examples are TV show host Vic Sotto, actor-director Cesar Montano and
actor-turned 2010 Vice-Presidentialial Candidate Edu Manzano. But there
are enough familiar faces running for office that even showbiz talk
shows and variety shows have more than the usual tinge of political
color since the campaign period started.
Most of the personalities from show business have been in politics
for so long that people remember them more for their political
activities than the movies or television shows that they used to star
in. There’s former President and Philippine cinema legend Joseph Estrada
(popularly known as Erap), Laguna Governor “George Estregan, Jr.
(award-winning character actor),” Bulacan Vice-Governor Daniel Fernando
(former sexy star), incumbent Vice-Mayor of Manila Isko Moreno (dramatic
actor), incumbent Mayor of Quezon City Herbert Bautista (comedian), and
Paranaque City Councilor Alma Moreno (TV show host and dance diva), and
Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez (dramatic actress), to name a few.
All these familiar faces are running for office this year.
Estrada is bidding for the Mayoralty of Manila against incumbent
Mayor Alfredo Lim who is in real trouble if Erap’s mass appeal has not
waned. Estrada was elected the 13th President of the Republic of the
Philippines. He also served as Mayor (City of San Juan), Senator, and
Vice-President. He was found guilty of plunder charges and sentenced to reclusion perpetua
in 2007. After the former President GMA (who is now under hospital
arrest for election sabotage) granted Estrada executive clemency, he ran
in the 2010 presidential race and lost. Now, he’s back on center stage,
but he chose a smaller arena—the City of Manila (from President to
Mayor at that).
Vilma Santos (another Philippine cinema legend and wife of Senator
Ralph Recto) is hoping for another majority vote as Batangas Governor,
and rumor has it that the opposition backed out of the game. Congressman
and world boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is back in the
political ring vying for the same post. And his wife, Jinkee is now
running as Vice-Governor of Sarangani.
With clan politics dominating the local and national scene and actors
and actresses delving deeper and deeper into politics, we can only
surmise that this is going to be a colorful, intriguing, and
controversial election year.
(Taken from PHILIPPINE DAY NEWS).
(Taken from PHILIPPINE DAY NEWS).
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