Damp more rain in the Philippines

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) — Rains still prevail over the Visayas and parts of Luzon on Friday as typhoon Paolo and a low pressure area (LPA) continue to hover over Philippine territory.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to occasionally heavy rains will prevail over the Visayas, Mimaropa, and Bicol in Luzon.

Residents in these areas are warned against possible flash floods and landslides.

Cebu and Bohol are experiencing light to moderate rains which may continue until the afternoon, PAGASA said at 11 a.m.

An orange rainfall warning is raised over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar and Biliran. This warns residents of flooding and landslides.

PAGASA also said sea travel will be risky off the coasts of Northern Luzon, Palawan, eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, western and eastern seaboards of the Visayas, and western, northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

The inclement weather is caused by two weather disturbances affecting the country: Typhoon Paolo, which was spotted 860 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, and an LPA 105 km south of Occidental Mindoro.

Paolo has slightly accelerated Thursday morning. It is now moving at 16 kph, and is expected to leave Philippine territory by Sunday morning

It has maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and a gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Rain has poured over parts of the Philippines the past week due to the two weather systems. On Thursday, Zamboanga City declared a state of calamity after heavy rains earlier this week left five dead, one missing, and forced the evacuation of thousands of families from their homes.

READ: Zamboanga City in state of calamity as thousands evacuate due to heavy rains

German Legacy in Davao City (III)

Berthold Stein

By: Antonio V. Figueroa


Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Berthold Stein (1847-1899) was a renowned German botanist (orchid specialist), lichen expert, and mycologist (a scientist who studies fungus and its genetic and biochemical properties) who contributions in the field of taxonomy are recognized in numerous international publications. He never visited the Philippines.

In Davao, where he is an unknown, his contribution lives on after a small tree, the Rhododendron apoanum Stein, was named after the Mount Apo.The specimen was discovered  at Todaya, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. A rhododendron is described as "a shrub or small tree of the health family, with large clusters of bell-shaped flowers and typically with large evergreen leaves, widely grown as an ornamental."

(In 1905, distinguished American botanist Elmer D. Merrill [1876-1956] named a new Mount Apo shrub as Rhododendron mindanaense, after the island of Mindanao, and in 1929, American botanist Herbert Copeland classified another tree species in the same genus as Rhododendron bagobonum, in honor of the Bagobo tribe.)

Other inheritances

It is uncommon knowledge that a German, who enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Philippine Constabulary, once governed Davao, serving the bureaucracy with dedication, expertise and excellence.

German legacy in Davao region dates back to over 100 years, and this included missionary activities, financial grants, commodities and foods that bear indisputable German trademarks.

In the field of technical assistance granted through financial cooperation signed by the German Filipino governments, these were spent for port development and building of medical institutions, to name just a few.

(To be continued!)

Come on, give me a smile!

WED, OCTOBER 18, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

I am writing columns for several papers from all over the world since the early 1980's. Sometimes, while writing, I am indeed not in a good mood. I rewrite and rewrite – and then the moment comes, I am asking myself: “Do the readers of this publication really like to read my columns?”

Anyway, I try my best. It’s actually a sweet day today, so sunny, so calm, so bright, it’s like the bridal of earth and heaven.  The grandeur  of  God flames out like shining from shook foil. I feel like as the waves make towards the pebbled  shore.

I observed again a multinational couple somewhere in my neighborhood fighting each other. Gosh. Stupid people have an uncanny way of hitting the right nail on the head with the wrong hammer!

Maybe, you are angry also right now, while reading this. You are angry for others even it’s a beautiful day. You are angry? It’s okay. We are all battling against one of the most powerful emotions known to man – anger! Anger. A day rarely goes by without us feeling angry. Or,  maybe seldom a days goes by without feeling anger….

Anger is the main part of our daily life. That’s why it’s really important to talk about this phenomenon. What is anger, what does it do and how does it affect our lives? Where does it come from and how can we learn to handle it in a constructive instead of destructive way? Only, if the roots of our anger exposed and explained, we can defuse its explosive and dangerous potentials.

As I said earlier, anger is one of the most basic emotions. Everyone can get angry. You and me? Now, later, tomorrow…! It’s a feeling of being against something or someone.

Anger is a hostile emotion that sets people against one another, or even themselves. By its nature, anger involves opposition, hostility, hatred and dislike. It happened between Filipinos, and between Filipinos and foreigners as well, living here in the Philippines. It even happened at political level right nowadays.

Anger, however, is simpler to define than to identify. Emotions of antagonism can take a wide variety of faces. Expressions of anger range from the overt, in-your-face brand of open hospitality to the cold indifference of a silent individual. At times, anger can be felt like an inner fire….

Millions of defense, not a damned penny for tribute, as Charles Pinkney stated…. Anger between people: the one side remains cold as ice while the opposite plays meek as a lamb. Sige, burn the midnight oil! And what the result at the end? A shadow of doubts remains after each fight getting its origin out of anger.

The silent withdrawal and lack of understanding  and innumerable shortcomings of one or both partners are often an indication that one is angrily punishing the other for not doing things his or her way.

We are all selfish! Yes, me too! That’s why we see the cause of anger as something outside of ourselves. Life is unfair! Life is hard!

German Film Week October 20-24 in Davao City

MON, OCTOBER 16, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR 

A carefully selected lineup of contemporary German Cinema, many of which are already receiving numerous awards in international film festivals, highlighted the 2017 German Film Week beginning September 27 at the SM Supermalls.

Organized by the Goethe-Institut Philippinen in partnership with SM Retail, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., SM Cinema and with support of Film Development Council of the Philippines, the German Film Week offered a diverse selection of films for audiences, with the goal of promoting German language and Culture.

“We are truly excited to unveil this year’s film and new voices to Philippine audiences,” said Goethe-Institut Philippinen Director and Head of Cultural Programs Dr. Ulrich Nowak. “Whether mainstream, romantic comedies, or micro-budget indies, we made sure our festival attendees will be entertained and pleased.”

The German Film Week opening night recently took place at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema 4 with German filmmaker Markus Goller as its special guest.  Goller, who is the director of My Brother Simple/Simpel, which opens this year’s festivities, had a Q and A session after the film’s screening.  The succeeding film screenings ran from September 28 to October 5 at cinemas at the SM Mall of Asia and SM City North EDSA for Metro Manila.

Aside from the Manila leg, the German Film Week will move on to other Philippine locations: at SM City Clark from October 8 to 12; SM City Cebu from October 14 to 18; and SM City Davao from October 20-24.

The festival will screen 12 films that tackles issues of family, romance, journey, society, terrorism, German history and more.

The opening film My Brother Simple/Simpel directed by Markus Goller, a film based on French bestseller about two brothers – one mentally handicapped – who try to find their long-lost father. Other family related films include Toni Erdmann directed by Maren Ade follows the story of Winfried and his career woman daughter Ines; and Daniel Levy’s The World of Wunderlichs about a single mother accompanied by her family on her casting journey.

There are also films about modern romance. Karoline Herfurth’s You’ve Got a Message/SMS für Dich is about love in the digital age; while The Bloom of Yesterday/Die Blumen von gestern by Director Chris Kraus is a love story set in the world of academic discipline. Return to Montauk directed by Volker Schlöndorff relives a great but failed love affair.

The German Film Week also brings us to the world of punk rocker Fussel as he struggles between therapy and real life in Happy Burnout; and Marija, a young woman who fights to live a freer, self-determined life. On the other hand, Mark Rothemond’s My Blind Date with Life, on the other hand shows how Saliya Kahawatte loses his  eyesight, yet succeeds in his career.

There are also films that we can say are ripped from the world headlines. Robert Thalheim’s Old Agent Men/Kundschafter des Friedens is about how Jochen Falk and two further former Stasi agents embark on a dangerous mission to rescue the kidnapped president of Katschekistan; while Welcome to Germany/ Willkommen bei den Hartmanns tells the story of Diallo, a Nigerian asylum seeker who is taken in by a family in a posh district of Munich.

German Film Week also presents the screening of Captive directed by acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza. Captive will be screened during the week-long festival in SM Mall of Asia and SM City North EDSA. Captive was screened in competition during the prestigious 62nd Berlin International Film festival, the prestigious Berlinale.  This will be followed by a film appreciation video.

“The Brillante Mendoza screening is an addition to this year’s program,” said Dr. Nowak. “Our goal at the institute has always been to promote cultural exchange between Germany and the countries we support. And this is one way to achieve that goal—to share German features and highlight Filipino creativity.”

Tickets to the 2017 German Film Week are priced at P100 for all German films and P200 for Director Brillante Mendoza’s film. The opening screening on September 27 was free and open to all on a first-come-first-served basis.

Tickets may be purchased at the cinema counters of participating SM malls. The German Film Week is made possible through the partnership with SM Retail, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. and SM Cinema with the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. For more information, visit www.goethe.de/Manila.

88 Percent of Filipinos ...

... support war on drugs —Pulse Asia

Published October 16, 2017 10:09am 
Updated October 16, 2017 12:40pm

By JOSEPH TRISTAN ROXAS, GMA News

More than eight in 10 Filipinos support the government's war on drugs, but a majority believe alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are taking place in the course of its implementation.

In the third quarter survey conducted on September 24 to 30, Pulse Asia said 88 percent of Filipinos support the war on drugs while only two percent oppose the campaign. Nine percent said they may or may not support it.

Ninety-four percent of respondents in Mindanao said they are backing President Rodrigo Duterte's key agenda, followed by Luzon (88 percent), Visayas (85 percent), and the National Capital Region (84 percent).

The campaign enjoys an 89 percent support among Class D, and 88 percent among Class E. With regard to Class ABC, 80 percent support the anti-illegal drugs campain.

However, 73 percent of Pulse's 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above said they believe EJKs are happening in the war on drugs, up by six percentage points compared to the survey results last June.

Most Filipinos who suspect the presence of EJKs were located in NCR (78 percent) and Luzon (75 percent). The awareness rate in Visayas and Mindanao were at 68 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

A majority of respondents in Classes ABC, or 77 percent, said EJKs are present in the war on drugs, followed by Class D at 72 percent, and Class E at 70 percent.

Twenty percent said they do not believe in EJKs while only seven percent refused to answer.

The war on drugs registered a 100 percent awareness nationwide.

Sought for comment, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II recalled telling some members of the European Union, the American press and some ambassadors when he met them in Washington D.C. last April that the “Filipinos overwhelmingly support the war on drugs.”

“That what they [EU, US representatives]  read in their newspapers are disinformation, misinformation and outright lies all calculated to destabilize the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.

Asked if the Filipinos’ continued support for the campaign against illegal drugs can be seen as a slap in the face to its critics, Aguirre said: “Definitely.”

Pulse Asia conducted the survey using face-to-face interviews with an error margin of ± 3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. For the geographic areas (Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao), subnational estimates have a ± 6% error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

Among the key developments that were in the headlines during the survey period were the filing of murder charges against policemen allegedly involved in the killing of Karl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman.

The statements of Duterte and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa denying that killing drug suspects were included in its national policy were also issued at the time the survey was taken. — with Virgil Lopez/KG/RSJ, GMA News

German Legacy in Davao City (II)

By Antonio V. Figueroa

Scaling Mount Apo

The Mount Apo expedition of Schadenberg and Koch is well documented by Otto Scherer in his 'Alexander Schadenberg, His Life and Work in the Philippines' (1923), published in Manila.

"By December [1881] ... the two fiends had established themselves beyond the pale of civilization, in the Bagobo village [of] Sibulan, south of Mount Apo, where, in exchange for some coils of brass wire, they had purchased the handsome bamboo cottage of one the headmen. During their stay here of about six months they mace the tribe among which they lived, and which was notorious for the practice of human sacrifice, the object of a close ethnographic study, drawing up also a vocabulary of the language."

The Rafflesia schadenbergiana, a parasitic plant, is endemic to Mindanao. It has a diameter of 51-80 centimeters and is the second largest flower in its genus. The flower was first collected in the vicinity of Mount Apo but was considered extinct until 1984 after another specimen was discovered in South Cotabato. (Rafflesia is named in honored of British Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the 'founding father of Singapore'.)

Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander

Born in Bremen, Germany, Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander (1847-1920) was a nurseryman who moved to Saint Albans, England and founded the monthly publication on orchids, Reichenbachia, named in honor of Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach of Hamburg. He never visited the Philippines but his studies of orchids have become the benchmark in global orchidology.

Dr. Otto Koch, a German naturalist residing in Cebu, on the other hand, stayed long enough in the country to find his niche, but was only known to a limited circle of savants engaged in linguistics, botany, and geography. His name appears in official colonial records in a deed dated October 31, 1897, after he leased the estate of the Convent of the Holy Infant of Cebu.

The estate, covering 7,454.6 hectares, was divided into two parts, one within the municipal jurisdiction of Talisay town and the other one within the municipality of Minglanilla, both in Cebu Province. The property was originally sold by an Augustinian company to Don Juan Castro y Martin but was redeemed under the one-year repurchase clause.

(To be continued!)

German Legacy in Davao City (I)

By: Antonio V. Figueroa

European legacy in Davao City history is an under explored subject, especially when discussions turn to the less-known contribution of Germans in the region historiography.

By Europeans, it always points to the Spaniards who colonized the Philippines and converted most of the archipelago into a Catholic enclave; the Portuguese, who predated Spain into the proselytizing of Davao; and the Dutch, who opened trade links with the fiefs around Davao Gulf in the 17th century.

But the Germans, too, have their unique contributions to the region's natural history. In fact, two German naturalists have immortalized their names after two of the most important flower finds in Davao area, the Rafflesia schadenbergiana, known to the Bagobo as the 'bo-o', and the Vanda sanderiana, or the waling-waling, are named after the Germans. 

The Rafflesia schadenbergiana, the largest flower among the species found in the Philippines, was discovered in 1882 by naturalists Alexander Schadenberg and Otto Koch, while the Vanda sanderiana , worshipped by the Bagobo as a goddess and one of the country's national flowers, got its appellation from Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander, a noted German orchidologist.

Berthold Stein, also a renowned German botanist, was honored in 1885 after a small tree, R. apoanum Stein, discovered at Todaya, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, was named after him.

Schadenberg, Rizal's pen pal

Born in Breslau, Germany, Alexander Schadenberg (1852-96) was a medical doctor trained in pharmaceutics and botany. in 1879, he visited the Philippines to study the Negritos but first worked in a German pharmacy in Manila before deciding to go home to marry his countryman and arrange a temporary separation from his spouse while finishing the researches. 

Upon his return, Schadenberg brought with him all the needed instruments and articles of exchange necessary in dealing with the natives. He then linked and worked as a team with Otto Koch, another German naturalist in the country. Their most famous work together, published in a book a year later, was in 1882, when they discovered the new species of the Rafflesia later named after him, and conquered Mount Apo.

Discovered in 1885, the burrowing skink, scientifically known as Brachymeles schadenbergi, found in Davao and some regions of Mindanao, was also named in his honor.

Dr. Schadenberg, in his personal life, was a pen pal of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero. In his correspondence to Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt dated December 19, 1893 and postmarked at Dapitan, Rizal mentioned Schadenberg's letter to him saying "the History I sent to [Adolf Bernhard] Meyer [a respected German anthropologist, ornithologist, entomologist, and herpetologist] has been sinking of the Normandy."

(To be continued!)

Safe and sound

MON, OCTOBER 9, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION

After several days staying in Manila with an amazing schedule, I am finally back in my beloved Davao City. Thank you Lord.  Right now, while writing this piece, I am  in “safe mode”.

Innumerable meetings in the German Embassy but also invitations from different diplomatic institu-tions made me really breathless. On the other hand, I also did enjoy every single minute. But now, I am in safe mode indeed!

From time to time I love silence. I love quietness.  Do you observe that we live in a real frightful loud world? At every corner of our daily life is innumerable chances of being covered up with sometimes unbearable din and noise. The loud outcry gives us the needle. We don’t have nerves of steel forever.

I am not really a fan of going out at night. My stay in Manila was packed full with night events. I was invited to as German Honorary Consul to the island of Mindanao. It’s indeed amazing how many countries and business people are getting more and more interested in Mindanao. Very good!

Right now, I am enjoying the nicest occurrence which is the silence, the intimate taciturnity, which can even “weld” people or partners together. It might sound just like an idiomatic expression, but believe me; not being forced to talk is great! No, I don’t mean that we have nothing to say to each other any more – or, he or she won’t listen to a special reason…. I am talking about a deep understanding between people, who are together and are able to share time in quiet and silent happiness.

After those long and strenuous days in Manila, it is a real big comfort to sit and lean back, read all the (old!) newspapers and magazines from the last days and weeks while enjoying a glass of wine and a handful peanuts while having a smooth radio program in the background, instead a “roars to hell” television show.

Try it. It’s indeed relaxing after traffic woes, the heat and dust of the day, telephones’ ringing, and machine rattlings….

Feeling safe and secure, inseparable, indestructible with peace in         our minds and our surroundings, this is what we really mean to each other, understanding without words. At home, maybe somewhere in the garden, at a beach – there are many wonderful places. And, suddenly out of the blue from the bottom of our heart and from the depth of comfort and ease, we might be able to speak about things, which couldn’t be discussed earlier. A good talk grows – but without compulsion or constraint or obligation, desperate or being forced.

Try it, and might feel like walking hand-in-hand on a lonely sand beach, such as “once upon a time” with our first partner. And, unexpectedly: we become silent again AND thankful for it.

We really seldom take a break. We spend too much time in this terrible and frightful loud world…

Casa Marcos brings Baguio craft beers to Manila for first time

By: Angelo G. Garcia

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Baguio Craft Brewery, one of the pioneer craft breweries in the country, has finally landed in Manila. The popular brewery and restobar in the City of Pines has been tapped by heritage restaurant Casa Marcos to bring in its best brews to town.

“Whenever I would go to Baguio, I make it a point to visit Baguio Craft Brewery because I truly enjoy their craft beer,” said Casa Marcos partner Kevin Khoe. “Chris Ordas once had dinner here and he can't stop raving about our callos. I love his beer and he loves my food so it's a perfect marriage.”

Ordas, the owner and brewer of Baguio Craft Brewery, started brewing beers in his garage in Canada 10 years ago. But it was in 2014 that he and some partners decided to open a brewery in Baguio City. It has been successful, to say the least, and their shop in the city has become a destination for locals and tourists alike.

“We're actually one of the first brewers here in the country, along with the brewers at Katipunan. But it is our first time in Manila and we're very excited,” Ordas said.

Ordas said that their brewery now has 67 types of craft beers but he is only bringing in 10 beers that are now available at Casa Marcos located at Il Terrazo commercial complex in Timog, Quezon City. He confessed these 10 are his favorites.

Baguio Craft's Kraken. Photo by author

In a recent launch, Casa Marcos introduced Baguio Craft Brewery with a special pairing menu. The heritage restaurant, which first opened in 1945, serves classic Spanish dishes and heirloom recipes. It ran for 55 years until it closed down in 2000. It reopened in 2011 and has since been reinventing itself. Its lone restaurant in Quezon City is very modern and now has local craft beers on the menu.

“Casa Marcos is actually a legacy brand but we want to reinvent it. There's no cerveceria here so I'm so happy he [Chris] agreed to partner with Casa Marcos,” Khoe said.

According to Ordas, craft beer is “the new wine” when it comes to food pairing. Beer in general is a good pair with any food but different craft beers have different tastes and characteristics. They paired the food based on contrasting or complementing flavors.

“There's basically two beers, ale and lager. The difference between them is the yeast that you use. Most lagers are popular in hotter climates because it's more refreshing and lighter. The ale is more bolder, in terms of taste. If you would compare it with wine, lager would be the white and ale would be the red,” he explained.

For example, gambas, a classic Spanish shrimp dish, is very simple yet bold in flavors because of the garlic and chili. They paired it with Kabunyan, a wheat brew that is bready and has high carbonation making it light and refreshing.

Two types of gambas paired with Kabunyan beer. Photo by author

Another garlicky dish, the almejas, is baked clams with cheese and lots of crispy garlic, is paired with Hop Attack, a brew with intense hop aroma and with hints of malty sweetness. The intense flavors of the dish and the beer complements each other.

On the other hand, Baguio Craft's popular beer, the Englishman in New York is an American pale ale that has a mild hop aroma with hints of malt and caramel. The refreshing beer is paired with the very rich and hearty dish that is callos.

Other food and beer pairing are available on the restaurant menu. Ordas said, however, that these pairings are only suggestions because the diners can pair the food with the beer they like. It still comes down with the matter of taste.

“Casa Marcos' food is heritage and very classic so you can't go wrong. Beer can be easily paired with these dishes. Taste is very subjective so the customers can still opt to pair it with what they like that's why we offer a taste of the beers first before they can choose,” he said.

Chorizo cheese platter paired with Philandering Pauper. Photo by author

German unification: Lessons from a people

 0

TERESITA TANHUECO-TUMAPON

(MANILA TIMES): TWENTY-SEVEN years ago, on October 3, 1990, divided Germany achieved its unification, celebrating at midnight with the pealing of bells, national hymns and the jubilant blare of good old German traditional songs. 

Before and after unification. Three years earlier, during a week’s break from my studies in London, a German couple from Hamburg, my friends of several decades, took me to see the Berlin Wall. “Crossing the inner German border remained possible throughout the Cold War; it was never entirely sealed in the fashion of the border between the two Koreas, though there were severe restrictions on the movement of East German citizens…Mostly respected by the Soviets and East Germans were the post-war agreements on the governance of Berlin.” These “specified that the Western Allies were to have access to the city via defined air, road, rail, and river links.” Foreigners, too, were allowed. Traveling by car with the couple, I recollect that we drove through Potsdam, three hours from Hamburg, later passed by Checkpoint Charlie. Proceeding on, we reached another checkpoint. The sentry asked for my passport and to take off my glasses. The guard checked the color of my eyes as indicated on my passport, the credible reference to my identity. Then he placed my passport on a conveyor. We drove on; the sentry at the other end handed my passport back to me. We reached a watchtower, helped myself up and looked down the other side of Berlin; the eastern side of the wall was quiet the day we came. That quiet seemed to hang over me for some time; it was so different from mere silence.

. Eleven years after unification, the same couple from Hamburg again took me to Berlin. We stopped by a tourist shop to buy souvenirs of the wall. What remained of the Berliner Mauer, seeing it again after a decade, was a declaration that the dividing years were indeed gone. Parts of the wall were meaningful splashes of color, silent witness of a people with a strong political will.

Peace in unity–the promise of unification. On the steps of the Reichstag (the parliament) that momentous midnight, President Weizacker proclaimed: ‘’In free self-determination, we want to achieve the unity in freedom of Germany. We are aware of our responsibility for these tasks before God and the people. We want to serve peace in the world in a united Europe.” “Hundreds of German flags waved and firecrackers snapped in the chilly autumn night…Once again, Berlin became the political and spiritual capital of Germany.”
“The moment marked the return of a nation severed along the front line between East and West to the center stage of Europe, this time as an economic powerhouse.” (In our world today—Las Vegas, Florida, Manchester, Marawi, etc.—we fervently pray to have genuine peace within our reach!)

Purpose of history. History as a subject in universities is not meant to clog the students’ minds with dates and events. History is meant to have students “understand why we live the way we are living and why we are where we are as …a country.” It also allows us to learn from other people how they rise before a dark past of their life as a nation, to make up for an unwanted past and build their nation into a better place to live in. History teaches us “valuable lessons about human nature…”.

Lessons learned. Having had study grants in German universities and study visits, and worked with teams on alumni matters and with the German diplomatic corps through nearly two decades, I have observed that, first, Germans carefully consider the implications when making decisions. A remark posed by the audience to a German lecturer on the topic of migrants—“why not place the migrants in the eastern part of Berlin since this is not as populous as that in the west,” received the lecturer’s reply—that Germany takes in migrants not to isolate them, not to create ghettos nor just to give them a place, but to have them integrated into German society, live a meaningful life. Second, their task perception is that a task be done wholly, very well and on time. No procrastination. (Can’t help but remember a British friend consultant in an LGU making this remark—that some staff in our public offices “play a little, work a little”.) Third, their obvious practicality is not hampered by false nationalism. A cultural grant from a country bound me to spend the funds only on goods and services from that country. With a Deutsch-funded grant for presentation equipment, these were accessed from the best available in the market, not necessarily German-made. A project with another country required a dedicated classroom 24/7. That room, even if vacant, could not be available for any other reasonable purpose. The Deutsch-funded Sprache Raum, if vacant, could be used for any academic conference/consultation. Regarding funded travel, there’s certainty that comfort, security and punctuality are thoughtfully attended to. Fourth, caring—during a summer session holiday at George Augustus U, my former mentor at Kassel Universitat sent a car for me to visit Kassel; lunch was ready at a Chinese restaurant—his gift to me on October 3, my birthday.
These are some facets of German character. We leave to experts the political lessons of German unification.