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!

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Saturday, May 6, 2023

Do you want to be mentored in writing for the stage?

Here’s your chance to learn from the best.


AT A GLANCE

  • This year, the VLF Writing Fellowship Program will be held from June 13 to 25, onsite at the CCP and other alternative venues, and will culminate with a staged reading of the fellows’ works on June 25 at the CCP.


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The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through the Artist Training Division is now accepting applications for the Virgin Labfest (VLF) 18 Writing Fellowship Program. Deadline for application is on or before May 16, 2023.

The VLF 18 Writing Fellowship Program is a two-week mentorship program on the study and practice of dramatic writing for the stage. The fellows will take part in lectures, discussions, and workshops on playwriting and script critiquing. They will also be given tickets to this year’s festival plays, as well as the opportunity to participate in the talkback and interaction with known playwrights and directors.

This year, the VLF Writing Fellowship Program will be held from June 13 to 25, onsite at the CCP and other alternative venues, and will culminate with a staged reading of the fellows’ works on June 25 at the CCP.

Interested applicants should be a college student or a young professional, 29 years old or below. The applicant should not have any play produced by a professional theater company nor any play published in a literary journal. S/he must not have won in any national or international playwriting/screenwriting competition.

Applications should include duly accomplished and signed application form (download here: https://tinyurl.com/VLF18WFPAppForm), and a sample of their stage plays, full or excerpts. The real name/identity of the applicant must not be written on any part of the sample work(s).

Sample work/s should be written in Filipino or English, submitted in pdf format (12 points, double-spaced, 8” x 11” paper). The maximum total number of pages of the submitted sample stage play/s is 10 (whether one or two plays).

Applications must be submitted via email to the artist.training@culturalcenter.gov.ph with the subject “VLF18WFP Application - Surname.” Only complete application requirements will be considered.

Announcement of accepted applicants is on May 30, 2023. A minimal registration fee of ₱2,500 will be required of all accepted fellows. Fellows must be present for the entire duration of the program, rehearsals, and performance for the Culminating Showcase.

The Virgin Labfest, an annual festival of unpublished, unstaged, untried, and untested works of playwrights, directors, and actors. Co-produced by the CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino, and the Writer’s Bloc, the country’s biggest theater festival has gained a reputation of producing provocative and outstanding “virgin” plays, most of which have been recognized by the Palanca Awards for Literature.

Call the CCP Artist Training Division at +632 8832-1125 local 1605 (look for Kris Reyno) or email artist.training@culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Alyssa Valdez leads all-female PH cast in Cambodia SEAG opening rites

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR


AT A GLANCE

  • The ceremony will have the traditional parade of athletes, general oath-taking, the lighting of the Games torch, cultural presentations and a fireworks display.


PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Organizers promised to mount a spectacular opening ceremony that is up to Olympic standards with Chinese flavor as Cambodia becomes the regional sporting hub for the next two weeks with the staging of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.

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Alyssa Valdez was chosen as the country's flag-bearer in the opening ceremony. (Photo from Alyssa Valdez's Instagram)

The formal inaugurals will be held Friday, May 5, at the Morodok Techo Stadium – a new structure built and paid for by China that could accommodate 60,000 fans as Cambodia promises a festive atmosphere when they host the biennial meet for the first time in history.

As of Thursday, May 4, organizers have yet to release the program but it is expected that host’s top officials are going to be present.

Presentations are also expected to revolve on this edition’s slogan, “Sports: Live in Peace.”

The ceremony will have the traditional parade of athletes, general oath-taking, the lighting of the Games torch, cultural presentations and a fireworks display.

Cambodia was so eager and delighted to host the Games that its government announced last month that it would cover the expenses for all 11 participating nations. This includes transportation, accommodation and meals.

Organizers also offered free tickets to all sports, even the broadcasting rights, making it the first host country to cover all expenses for participating countries.

Seven locations in the capital city of Phnom Penh will also broadcast the opening ceremony on giant LED screens, with hopes of not only promoting sports but also boosting the country’s tourism in the post-Covid pandemic era.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino and Team PH chief of mission Chito Loyzaga will head the PH delegation during the parade of athletes, which will feature an all-female group that include swimmer Chloe Isleta, sprinter Kristina Knott, basketball dribblers Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos, billiards cue artists Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit, to name a few – another first in SEAG history.

PH women’s volleyball team captain Alyssa Valdez will be the country’s flag-bearer.

Cambodia formally acknowledged the members of Team Philippines during the Team Welcome Ceremony Wednesday, May 3, with Deputy Chief of Mission Paolo Tancontian representing the delegation in the flag-raising rites also at the Morodok Techo Stadium.

Action already unfolded in various events for the past few days with Filipinos already assured of medals in chess ouk chaktrang and obstacle race.

Friday, May 5, 2023

PH bags 2 golds in SEA Games


Early victory Kaila Napolis (in red belt) pins Cambodia’s Jessa Khan in the jiu-jitsu -52 kg during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at Chroy Changvar Hall B in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO

By Niel Victor C. Masoy

May 5, 2023 210


(UPDATE) THE Philippines bagged two gold medals on Thursday in events that were already under way a day before the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, officially open.

Jiu-jitsu athlete Kaila Napolis had the distinction of being the Philippines' first gold medallist in this year's Games.

The 25-year-old Napolis dominated Jessa Khan of host Cambodia 2-0 in the women's 49kg final held at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center.

It was sweet revenge for Napolis who lost to Khan in the 2019 World Martial Arts Mastership Games in Chungju, South Korea.

Napolis started her quest for the gold with a triangle armbar submission victory against Singaporean May Yong in the first round.

She scored a 3-0 win over Thai Nuchanat Singchalad in the second round before scoring a kimura submission victory against Vietnamese Thi Huyen in the third round.

Huyen suffered an elbow injury after refusing to immediately tap out amid the Filipino's intense submission attack. Huyen eventually tapped out at the 2:31 mark.

In the final, Napolis found herself in a losing position as Khan pinned her down for the most of the 5-minute bout.

But the Filipina recovered in time to pull off the win.

Intermittent rain floods parts of Western Visayas

BY TARA YAP



ILOILO CITY – Several areas in Western Visayas have been flooded due to intermittent rainfall in the past two days amid the searing heat.

As of May 4, the Western Visayas-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recorded flooding in parts of Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo.

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A HIGHWAY in Dumalag town, Capiz province is flooded due to intermittent rain.  (Dumalag MDRRMO)

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The RDRRMC-6 said this was due to the low-pressure area and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

In Capiz, the towns of Dumalag, Dumarao, Sigma, Cuartero, Dao, Panay, Mambusao, Maayon, and Tapaz were flooded.

In Iloilo, some areas in the towns of Pavia, Calinog, Bingawan, Lambunao, Duenas, Zarraga, and the component city of Passi were flooded.

The RDRRMC-6 recorded soil erosion in seven barangays Dumalag and Dumarao. The Mait Bridge in Dumalag was impassable.

The road and bridge in Barangays Agba-o, Ngingi-an, Bulabog, and Tapacon in Bingawan town, Iloilo was also impassable.

A landslide incident was recorded in Barangays Toyungan, Cahigon, and Binolosan Pequeno in Calinog.

The RDRRMC-6 is still collating data on the number of displaced people.

Many classes were suspended on Thursday in most areas of Panay Island due to the intermittent heavy rainfall.

Judy Ann takes the spotlight in Cinema One's Monday drama this May

Feel the love with Mother’s Day movie marathon coming this month


AT A GLANCE

  • Witness Judy Ann’s remarkable acting prowess as the bride’s best friend and groom’s sister Abby in "Don't Give Up on Us" (May 8), empowered woman named Sabel in "Sabel" (May 15), loving wife Angie in "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" (May 22), and kindhearted daughter Mara in "Mara Clara: The Movie" (May 29) on Monday Drama airing Mondays at 9pm.

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Judy Ann Santos

Get ready to feel all the emotions as Kapamilya actress Judy Ann Santos stars in Cinema One's drama block while motherly love in all its forms will pour out during the Mother’s Day weekend marathon happening this month.

Witness Judy Ann’s remarkable acting prowess as the bride’s best friend and groom’s sister Abby in "Don't Give Up on Us" (May 8), empowered woman named Sabel in "Sabel" (May 15), loving wife Angie in "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" (May 22), and kindhearted daughter Mara in "Mara Clara: The Movie" (May 29) on Monday Drama airing Mondays at 9pm.

Cinema One also brings a special treat this Mother’s Day with films that showcase motherly love. Catch Nora Aunor’s “Mama Dito Sa Aking Puso,” Maricel Soriano’s “Ama, Ina, Anak” and “Bahay Kubo,”  Pokwang’s “A Mother’s Story” and “Call Center Girl,”  Eugene Domingo’s “Mamarazzi,” Zsa Zsa Padilla’s “Batang PX,” Agot Isidro’s “Way Back Home,” Ai-Ai delas Alas’ “Ang Tanging Ina” and “Ang Cute ng Ina Mo,” Vilma Santos’ “In My Life,” Angel Locsin’s “One More Try,” Sharon Cuneta’s “BFF: Best Friends Forever” and “Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love,” Cherry Pie Picache’s “Foster Child,” and Sylvia Sanchez’s “Mama’s Girl,” airing from May 13 to 14.

Meanwhile, enjoy your weekend night with Blockbuster Sundays featuring Sharon Cuneta's "Three Words to Forever" (May 7), Coney Reyes' "Four Sisters and a Wedding" (May 14), Vilma Santos' "Everything About Her" (May 21), and Judy Ann and Angelica Panganiban's "Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes" (May 28), airing on Sundays at 7pm.

Cinema One, the home of Filipino blockbuster movies, is available on Cignal ch. 45, SKYcable ch. 56, GSat Direct TV ch. 14, and other local cable service providers. For more details, follow Cinema One on FacebookTwitterInstagramTikTok, and YouTube.

Inflation slows down further in April


Consumer prices ease to 6.6%


Inflation slowed down further to 6.6 percent in April from 7.6 percent in the previous month, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Friday, May 5.

Last month's inflation settled within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' forecast of 6.3 percent to 7.1 percent, but still higher than the 4.6 percent in April 2022.

April inflation rate brought the coutry's four-month average to 7.9 percent, still above the government's revised full-year outlook of 5.0 percent to 7.0 percent.

The end-April average is also well above 

BSP’s polymer bill wins ‘Banknote of the Year’ award


BY LEE C. CHIPONGIAN



For the first time, the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) has picked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to win the “Banknote of the Year” award for its P1,000 polymer bill.

The BSP circulated the dirt-free, water-resistant polymer bill last April 2022. It was printed by Note Printing Australia, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

According to its website, IBNS chose the Philippine Eagle-featured banknote among 100 other new banknotes for the 2022 award.

“From the onset of voting, the Philippines’ 1000 Piso note was the overwhelming favorite,” said IBNS, adding that polymer “represents a dramatic shift from the cotton and abaca material previously used.”

Highlighting the “critically endangered” Philippine Eagle which is sometimes called the monkey-eating eagle, and the holographic national flower, the Sampaguita, in the polymer front design, IBNS said the “Philippines successful design in eye-pleasing blue combines an endangered species with an environmental motif.”

The back design, meanwhile, is similar to its paper-based counterpart which also featured the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the South Sea pearl and the T'nalak weave design of the T’boli people of the Philippines.

The IBNS said the 100 new banknotes design that competed was further trimmed to just 19 nominations. The close runners-up to the BSP’s P1,000 polymer were Northern Ireland’s Ulster Bank’s 50 pound note and Bank of Scotland’s 100 pound bill. Other finalists were banknotes from Algeria, Barbados and Egypt.

IBNS is a global non-profit organization that recognizes exceptional banknotes issued each year on the basis of artistic merits, such as design and use of colors, as well as high-quality security features, said the BSP in its own statement.

“The BSP hopes that the design of the polymer banknote will remind Filipinos of the importance of environmental preservation and the need to ensure a sustainable future for all,” the central bank said on Thursday, May 4.

Last January, the BSP said about 92 percent of all automated teller machines or about 17,304 ATMs across the country, are now dispensing polymer banknotes as of end-December 2022.

The polymer banknotes, which are only available in P1,000 denomination, will have a circulation of 500 million pieces this year, of which around 39 million was released last year.

The BSP is gradually releasing the polymer banknotes to allow banks and the public time to get used to plastic-based bills. It will also allow the BSP time to assess the benefits and costs associated w

Ever strengthening our faith in Christ




By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com


“DO not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (Jn 14,1) These words tell us clearly that Christ and God are one. Christ, we may argue, is just the Son in the Trinitarian God. He is just one person in three.


But we have to realize that the 3 persons in the Blessed Trinity are one God. The Father is God, The Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Not three Gods but one God, as our Nicene Creed proclaims. Obviously, this is a mystery to us, since it is a supernatural truth. But Christ precisely took pains to prove that he and the Father and the Holy Spirit are just one God!


His many miracles and sublime teachings could already prove that. And as if these were not enough, it was his passion, death and resurrection that would definitely tell us that he is truly God even as he is also truly man.


The distinctive character of Christ is that as God who became man, he offers us “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14,6) meant for us, since we too have been made in God’s image and likeness.


We need to look for him and know him, so we can love and serve him, and ultimately become like him. In fact, we are meant to be one with him—“alter Christus,” another Christ, if not “ipse Christus,” Christ himself.


We should therefore develop the proper attitude and practices to enable us to keep an interest in looking for Christ, in knowing, loving and serving him, and ultimately in becoming one with him.


In this regard we cannot emphasize enough the need for a strong and abiding faith so that in whatever we do in our life, this urge to look, know, love, serve and become one with Christ is always pursued.


That is why we need a plan of ongoing formation and an overall plan of life, consisting of certain practices of piety that would keep this ideal of a life of faith alive and working.


We need to develop a theological mind, that is, a mind that is not only fed by what our senses show us, what our observations, experimentations, our studies can tell us. We should have a mind that is always guided by faith first and last and all throughout.


In whatever we think, say or do, let’s always try to look for Christ so that we can find him, and in finding him we can start to love and serve him, and in the end become one with him.


To be sure, Christ is in everything and is precisely showing and sharing with us “the way, the truth and the life” in any situation and condition we may find ourselves in. This, of course, means that we have to have a deeply contemplative spirit which does not mean that we should stay away from the world. 


We can always be contemplative even as we immerse ourselves in the world, as we should, if we would just bother to learn to be contemplative. The world and the temporal affairs we get involved in need not be an obstacle to becoming a contemplative soul. Precisely, these things can and should be the occasion, the material and the means to engage us with Christ, and thus, for us to be contemplative!


Thursday, May 4, 2023

LPA in Mindanao could become a tropical depression — PAGASA

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ



The low pressure area (LPA) over Misamis Oriental may become a tropical depression within 48 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday, May 3.

Around 10 a.m., the LPA was over the coast of Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and is expected to bring light to occasional heavy rains to Bicol Region, Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region in the next 24 hours.

“This weather disturbance has a chance to develop into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours,” PAGASA said in an advisory issued at 11:30 a.m.

PAGASA warned against potential flooding or landslides caused by moderate to heavy rains, particularly in areas that had recently received a significant amount of precipitation.

The public and concerned disaster risk reduction and management offices were advised to take all necessary precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the rest of the country will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy weather with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms

The public is advised to exercise caution as severe thunderstorms may cause landslides or flash floods, especially in areas that are vulnerable to these hazards.

Lunar eclipse, meteor shower to illuminate PH skies this weekend

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ



AT A GLANCE

  • The penumbral lunar eclipse will last for four hours, 21 minutes, and 36 seconds, and will be visible in the Philippines between 11:12 p.m. on May 5, and 3:34 a.m. on May 6.
  • The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:23 a.m. on Saturday.
  • The η-Aquariid meteor shower can be observed from April 19 to May 28. It will reach its peak activity on May 6.

A lunar eclipse and meteor shower will both be visible in the Philippines this weekend, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

A lunar eclipse will take place from the evening of May 5 to the early morning of May 6, according to PAGASA’s astronomical diary for May.

“The moon will pass through 95 percent of the penumbral shadow and cause a minor darkening of the lunar surface, thus creating a penumbral lunar eclipse,” PAGASA said.

Anywhere where the moon is above the horizon will be able to see the penumbral lunar eclipse, including Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Antarctica.

PAGASA said the astronomical event, which will last for four hours, 21 minutes, and 36 seconds, will be visible in the country between 11:12 p.m. on Friday and 3:34 a.m. on Saturday.

The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:23 a.m. on Saturday.

“Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch and do not require the use of any kind of protective filter for the eyes. A pair of binoculars may also be used to help magnify the view,” PAGASA said.

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Predicted comparison of the Moon’s image before the eclipse and the maximum eclipse on May 5-6, 2023. (Earthsky/PAGASA)

Sky-dazzling meteor shower

Another noteworthy celestial occurrence is the η-Aquariid meteor shower, which can be observed from April 19 to May 28.

PAGASA said it is a significant meteor shower produced by Comet Halley’s debris and will reach its peak on May 6.

“This meteor shower may produce about 40 meteors per hour in a very dark and cloudless condition,” PAGASA said.

“η-Aquariids is best observed shortly before dawn when their radiant is at its highest point in the sky. [However], the presence of a waning gibbous Moon, in the constellation Libra at the shower’s peak, will cause significant interference with the shower observation,” it added.

Another meteor shower that can be seen in May is called the η-Lyrids, which is active from May 3 to 14.

Its peak activity will happen on May 9, producing up to three meteors per hour.

“The finest shower display for observing η-Lyrids occurs around 4 a.m., when the radiant is at its highest point in the sky. This can be observed just before daybreak,” PAGASA said.

“[However], the waning gibbous moon in Sagittarius presents significant interference with the observation,” it pointed out.