Maxine on back-to-back win: We can do this!

By Nathalie Tomada (The Philippine Star)

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Photo by CELSO CAPARAS

MANILA, Philippines - Maxine Medina, the Philippine bet to Miss Universe, clearly has her eyes on the prize.

The 26-year-old model and interior designer appeared confident of a back-to-back win for the country come Jan. 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena when reigning Miss U Pia Wurtzbach passes on the crown to her successor.

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is reportedly attending the pageant finals.

“I’m very honored that our President will be there because he will be witnessing a back-to-back (victory),” Maxine said at a presscon hosted by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) last Tuesday.

“Since our president will be there, the whole government will be supporting me and the Miss Universe,” she added in reaction to a question about Duterte’s strict directive that the government will not be spending for the private sector-driven third staging of Miss U in the country.

From the time she won in Bb. Pilipinas up to the present, which is less than three weeks away from the Big Day, Maxine said there has been no let-up in her training. “After I won (in Bb. Pilipinas), I’ve been texting everyone for help ‘coz this is something new for me. The world of pageants is a big thing not just for myself but also for the whole country. I really need to work hard at it,” she shared.

Society’s social weaklings?

TUE, JANUARY 10, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Refusal and compassion characterize society’s attitude as regards social weaklings and handicapped people. It’s a topic which one gladly drives out, represses or tries to forget. I have written about this topic many times, although I have missed more about it.

Even in different groups, some segments of society are distant from them. The socially discriminated and handicapped people don’t correspond to performance, work, capacity, stress and competition in our daily surroundings. Opinions like these – well, that’s how people do it!

The anti-social slum inhabitant has not accepted his responsibility, and the antisocial confidence trickster, certainly not blind and without having difficulty in walking, doesn’t believe in us. That’s it! Finished!

The “bobo”, the alcoholic, the without means “gentleman of the road” – so what! Did everybody not choose his own living condition? In plain words: the ideals of success, ability, efficiency, and competitiveness in our performance-oriented society and its business life describe such fringe groups as “standard violators”, such as in failure, flop or slacker. But remember: a tax evasion or corruption is more costly than a social welfare client.

Do you have a social weakling or handicapped people in your surroundings – in your company? Mostly, these persons appear as a monotonous mass through the glasses of prejudices. How very painful!

Honestly, but true: hindrance and handicap drive into poverty many times. Prevailing opinion is that poverty is going for a fault. The affected people draw back themselves with a sensible sense of shame. And, have you given notice already: most handicapped people feel isolated in their surroundings. Meeting such people sometimes becomes even a bashful situation, while giving the appearance of normality. In my opinion: this must not be happened!

Sometimes we try to avoid any communication, because we might say something wrong. Then – just put a smile on your face, as I often did. I really plead for more integration. Let’s give “such people” autonomy and acceptance starting in school or kindergarten yet. Let’s increase more livable offers for organizations. Social weaklings and handicapped people don’t hinder, hamper or prevent us from living in a society with a much philanthropist face. We are all human beings.

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Email: doringklaus @gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanex patinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdorings classicalmusic.blogspot.com.

German Ambassador to the Philippines since December 2016

The Ambassador/Der Botschafter

Enlarge imageAmbassador Gordon Kricke(© German Embassy Manila)

Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Gordon Kricke Born 18.12.1962 in Kiel, married
1982	General qualification for university entrance
1982 - 1983	Military service
1984 - 1989	Law school
1989	First state law examination
1989 - 1993	Junior barrister
1991	Doctorare in law
1993	State bar examination
1993 - 1994	Foreign service traineeship
1994 - 1995	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, desk officer
1995 - 1998	Embassy Buenos Aires, desk officer
1998 - 2000	Embassy Maputo, Permanent Representative of the Ambassador
2000 - 2002	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, desk officer
2003 - 2005	Embassy Port-au-Prince, Ambassador
2005 - 2007	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Head of Division
2007 - 2008	Political Adviser to the EU Special Envoy to Sudan, Juba
2008 - 2009	Embassy Khartoum, Permanent Representative of the Ambassador
2009 - 2011	Embassy Mexico City, Head of the German Information Office for Latin America and Spain
2011 - 2013	Embassy Niamey, Ambassador
2013 - 2016	Head of the EU Delegation Luanda
December 2016	Embassy Manila, Ambassador

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(During Day of United Celebration in Manila October 2016)