A German Expat in The Philippines - Ein deutscher Auswanderer auf den Philippinen

Aquino to Inaugurate Lufthansa Technik Facility

2012-02-11T15:17:00.001+08:00

President Benigno Aquino will lead the inauguration of the Lufthansa Technik, Philippines' new maintenance hangar for Airbus aircraft in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

The maintenance hangar, located at Macro Asia Special Economic Zone inside the Villamar Airbase, is intended for Airbus 380 aircraft.

Upon his arrival at the venue, the President will simulate operating an Airbus A 380 aircraft. He will then pull the throttle that will signal the opening of the new maintenance hangar.

After his speech, the President will tour the existing hangar servicing the Airbus A 380 aircraft. The inauguration of Lufthansa Technik Philippines is considered a milestone in the Philippine aviation industry, making it one of the world's nine locations capable of maintaining, repairing and overhauling the Airbus A 380, the biggest air craft in the world today.

For more than a decade, Lufthansa Technik Philippines, a German-Philippine joint venture, has placed the Philippines in the global aviation map by having German technology, precision, and innovation in addition to Filipino crafts-manship.

Lufthansa Technik Philippines' million new investment, as one could learn from a Philippine News Agency report, is expected to expand the company's capacity, create more local jobs and contribute to nation building.

Philhealth to Increase Members' Contribution from 1,200 to 2,400 Pesos

2012-02-11T14:49:00.000+08:00

I am an expat in the Philippines since 1999 and also a member of PhilHealth.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is looking at increasing contribution of its members from 1,200 to 2,400 Pesos (from 20 to 40 EUROS) per year. effective July 1, 2012. One could learn this from Dr. Eduardo Banzon, president and chief executive officer. Banzon said the increase on contribution is based on Circular 22 approved already last December. Under this circular, members can avail of the old rate by paying their contribution before June 30. They can also avail if they pay their 2012 contribution before the deadline.

By July 1, members, including those newly - registered will have to pay the annual contribution of 2,400 Pesos. Self-employed professionals earning an average monthly income of more than 25,000 Pesos will continue to pay their annual premium contribution of 3,600 Pesos.

PhilHealth also implemented already the "No Balance Billing Policy to provide financial protection to its members, including indigent families. This means the patient does not need to shell out money for other fees or expenses. All government hospitals are reminded not refuse admissions to PhilHealth members, Banzon said.

Earthquakes Occuring Everyday in The Philippines

2012-02-06T14:58:00.000+08:00

While writing this piece I received some messages from good friends in Cebu City telling me, that this area has been hit by another strong earthquake just an hour ago. Tsunami warning has been given out.

Saturday, another quake initially measuring 6.0 in magnitude struck Samar Island. The quake hit at 9 p.m. at a depth of 60 kilometres north of the city of Guiuan. The epicenter was around 600 km away east of Manila.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that low-magnitude earthquakes occur daily based on its intensity Scale. Honestly, I experienced this since living in the Philippines for good.

Looking back, last Wednesday two minor earthquakes have occurred. The latest was a magnitude 3.5 of tectonic origin hitting 25 kilometres north of San Julian, Eastern Samar with a 16 km depth of focus. The other hit 30 km south-east of Sta. Ana, Cagayan also of tectonic origin with a magnitude 3.2 having a 12 km depth of focus.

Imagine, last Tuesday six minor tremors occurred in Bolinao, Pangasinan; Borongan, Samar; Infanta; Pangasinan; Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Burgos, Surigao del Norte.

License Plates in The Philippines

2012-02-02T16:47:00.001+08:00

Sometimes Filipinos are strange people. Expat friend Jan tells you why he thinks so:

license plates in the Philippines, follow-up

Hungarian Classical Music by Zoltan Kodaly

2012-02-02T16:05:00.000+08:00

Zoltan Kodaly:

a classical composer, pedagogue, linguist and philosopher. An amazing person:

Here is more about him:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Or tune in to 104.3 FM "The Edge Radio Davao" every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. (Philippine standard time) to my radio show Classics with Klaus Doring or via live stream www.davao.theedge.ph.

Immigration Resumes Employment Generation Program

2012-02-02T10:45:00.000+08:00

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday resumed the implementation of an employment generation program that grants foreign businessmen employing at least 10 Filipino workers the privilege to stay indefinitely in the country.

Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. made the announcement after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima approved memorandum circular No. RADJR-11-007, dated December 14, 2011, prescribing the revised rules for implementing the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG), which was first introduced in 2009 pursuant to Executive Order No. 758.

However, the visa is still subject to restrictions imposed by the Constitution and existing laws on foreign investments, according to Associate Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

"The applicant must prove that his investment are substantial and that the business employs at least 10 Filipinos occupying managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions," Mison said in a statement.

He further said that the SVEG holders are considered special non-immigrants with multiply entry privileges and conditional extended stay, without need of prior departure from the Philippines.

Sayaw Pinoy 2012 Goes to Davao City

2012-01-31T15:05:00.000+08:00

"Sayaw Pinoy", the longest running national dance tour featured in this year's Philippine Arts Festival (PAF), will be staged in Davao City on February 3 - 4.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) brings in to Davao City the country's top dance companies to perform the dance tour that will showcase colorful tradition of dances and movements in the country.

NCCA's National Committee on Dance head Shirley Halili-Cruz said that the national dancer groups together with three local dance groups in the city will carry-out different dance forms, such as classical ballet, folk dance, contemporary, and modern dance like hip-hop.

The back-to-back performances will be staged at the Philippine Nikkei-Jin Kai International School and University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) on February 3, 2012 and at SM City Davao and Abreeza Mall on February 4, 2012.

The dance tour "aims to reach the grass roots level to discover new talents as well as to connect to more Filipino dance artists," said Halili-Cruz.

Joseph Joachim - Time to Remember Another Classical Composer

2012-01-30T15:38:00.000+08:00

Joseph Joachim

- another classical composer and friend during my life as expatriate and radio host in the Philippines!

Here is more:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Father and Son in Compostela Valley

2012-01-30T15:13:00.000+08:00

ComVal (Compostella Valley) Governor Arturo Uy and Sports Coordinator Tyrone Uy help in the distribution of 892 armchairs in ten national high schools and 400 kiddie chairs to day care centers in Compostela.

Energy Savings - A Dream?

2012-01-26T15:58:00.000+08:00

Since being connected with the DOST Regional Office XI as consultant, one project really caught my attention: the DREAM Team services.

People indeed get very much excited about their saving accounts earning interests. But, the Department of Science and Technology has seen a better idea to invest into something that earns three or five times that of bank interests. You know how?

An "energy audit" is a good first step toward realizing those money savings by making your place more energy efficient, as one could learn from the dost XI Public Service Announcement. Many industrial establishments nowadays are becoming more and more conscious of their energy usage due to increased energy costs. In response to these needs, the Davao Region Energy Audit and Management (DREAM) Team can help the industries in the region in setting energy conservation goals, identify areas where energy wastes can occur or recommend energy saving opportunities - just to mention two among many others.

An audit can show how to save electricity. Or, how about the air condition system or the many costly gaps around doors and windows?

By the way, the DREAM Team is a multi-agency group with members from the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the University of Southeastern Philippines (where I am also teaching!), the University of Mindanao and the DOST Regional Office XI.

I am pretty sure, that a big number of companies will be interested to avail the DREAM Team services. Engineer Benjamin V.D. Estrelladao, the DREAM Team Focal Person, is looking forward to your calls (Davao 082 - 221 5428): from companies, and, of course, also from private house holds.

The DOST XI Energy Audit Team is now ready to serve the region. Happy savings!

HAY NAKU... (?)

2012-01-24T15:53:00.000+08:00

"Hay naku?"

It's indeed avery special Philippine expression. I heard it million times, while living as an expat in the Philippines since 1999.

My Dutch friend and blogger Jan has to say more about it:

www.expatinthephilippines.com

ENJOY READING AND UNDERSTANDING MORE THE PHILIPPINE CULTURE!

Lovi Poe in MUZIKLABAN

2012-01-24T15:42:00.000+08:00

Beer fans will surely look forard to the upcoming Muziklaban grand finals on January 28 at he Aseana City in Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City, with the recent addition of actress lovi poe to San Miguel Beer's roster of celebrity endorsers.

The fast rising KAPUSO network star will jin rock legends Pepe Smith, Ely Buendia, Slapshock, Razorback, Greyhoundz, Kjwan, Wilabilaw, and past MUZIKLABAN champions in spicing up the culmination of the 2011 Red Horse Beer Muziklaban, the biggest, loudest, and most prestigious amatuer rock band competition in the Philippines.

Enjoy guys!

Classical Music and much more: HERE!

2012-01-24T15:19:00.001+08:00

Read more here:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Listen more here every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. (Philippine time):

www.davao.theedge.ph

Church Pushes Campaign to Declare "Tampakan Mountains" as Protected Area

2012-01-20T16:16:00.001+08:00

Keeping the environment. Here is another example. And, we need millions more:

MindaNews » Church pushes campaign to declare Tampakan mountains as protected area

Finally I Found Him: Alexander N. Skriabin

2012-01-17T14:43:00.000+08:00

Yes, finally I found him: one of my most loved Russian composers. Here is more about him:

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Noise Pollution in The Philippines

2012-01-17T13:43:00.000+08:00

This post is about my expat's friend Jan from The Netherlands and his observations about noice, sounds, and music in the Philippines - a very welcome addition to my foregoing post about dog barking.

Have you wondered (Jan asks), why Filipinos in general speak in loud voices? And why they all speak at the same time? Have you ever attended a real Philippine party where many Filipinos are? Did you notice that Philippine television and radio are mostly (?) loud?

Questions, questions, questions... and, a lot of answers are here:

http://www.expatinthephilippines.com

from a Dutch expat, who decided to spend the rest of his life in the Philippines.

And so I do!

Dog Owner in Davao City Told to Shut up Dogs or Move Them out!

2012-01-17T12:49:00.025+08:00

Living in the Philippines is really wonderful. Loving dogs, my family and I are having also some pets. The dogs in our neighborhood have been really disturbing since more a year. I wish to thank Vice Mayor Rudy Duterte for mentioning the problem in our neighborhood in Bajada, Davao City in this weekly TV program.

Dog owner in Davao City told to shut up dogs or move them out |Davao City News Feed

General Santos City - Unsolved Killings Here?

2012-01-14T16:16:00.000+08:00

Concerned with the rising unsolved cases of killings here and the neighboring areas, Mindanao Development Authority chair person Secretary Luwalhati Antonio has pushed for the assignment of additional policemen in the area.

Antonio, who hails from this city, said in a radio interview that the recent killings perpetrated by motorcycle-riding gunmen were considered alaring and showed the need for more intensified law enforcement and security operations.

She specifically cited the killing of local newspaper publisher Christopher Guarin and of city traffic enforcer Oliver Dayap.

God bless Mindanao and the Philippines!

A Dream in Davao...

2012-01-13T16:14:00.000+08:00

to materialize this New Year 2012....

To all his friends and benefactors of Davao City, Father Franco wishes a Blessed and Happy New Year. He hopes this is the year, that shall him fulfill his long-cherished dream in Buda on behalf of the Indigenous Youth.

Fr. Franco is a Salesian of Don Bosco and is about to start taking care of 45 "lumad" youths/children, starting this May 2012.

He has decided to start, trusting as usual, in Davao providence, the good hearted people in Davao City and its surroundings. One of the many concerns he has to face ia the preparation of the daily meals and other needs. The help promised by European donors for this project, is hard to come, because Europe has its economic and financial problems.

There's also another way for sponsoring the "cause" of Father Franco, as I was able to learn during my last visit in Buda. Try to buy the gourmet products he himself has designed and produced to be able to support this project, Just visit "Pasalubong Center, Palma Gil Street, People's Park, Davao City" or, find time to take fresh breath along with your family and friends and come up to Buda tp Father Franco's place.

I am also glad to give you more information. Kindly contact me.

God bless you all!

Arthur Honegger - a Swiss Classical Composer

2012-01-12T16:34:00.000+08:00

You wish to learn more about him (and many other composers?) and their music?

Go to:

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Valley of Death

2012-01-12T10:27:00.000+08:00

The old year ended with natural disasters (check my last post in 2011) - the new year 2012 started with natural disasters.

A team from the Compostela Valley Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was among the first to send rescue and retrieval groups when landeslides hit Sitio Diat Uno, Napuapan, Pantukan, where -by the way- also several good friends are living - and, THEY SURVIVED!

A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS HERE!

EIN FROHES UND GESUNDES NEUES JAHR 2012 AN ALLE MEINE LESERINNEN UND LESER HIER!

Year of Disasters

2011-12-31T11:18:00.000+08:00

Editorial (Friday 30, 2011) Mindanao Daily Mirror - with friendly permission by publisher and editor-in-chief "Tita" Marietta Siongco... .

"Year 2011 will exit to history tomorrow as the year of disasters for our country. Of the many typhoons that hit the Philippines this year. Ondoy and Sendong caused the heaviest damage in this supposed "tropical paradise" in terms of lives lost and number of families left homeless. Internationally, 2011 is considered "Record Year for Bad Weather".

Hopefully, Sendong which was not even considered a typhoon by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA) but only categorized as a "storm" spoiled the Christmas session as it devastated many areas with just a little over a week before Christmas Day. The Yuletide season is considered the joyous time of the year, especially by Filipinos who celebrate Christmas the longest in the world.

Hardest hit by Sendong was Northern Mindanao, particularly the neighboring cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The combined death toll of the two cities reached over a thousand with still hundreds of missing. And just at the year was about to end, several areas in Eastern and Southern Mindanao were hit by flash floods caused by heavy rains, incuding Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Compostela Valley in the Davao region and Bukidnon. Even nearby Tagum City was not spared by the storm wrath.

With just a few days before New Year, the town of Kapalong in Davao del Norte and Valencia City in Bukidnon were inundated by floodwaters. According to the MINDANEWS report which the MIRROR carried in its front page yesteray, 10 out of 11 barangays in Valencia City were flooded with floodwaters rising up to four meters high in many homes, displacing no less than 1,150 families.

A heartening development in the wake of tragedy that hit Northern Mindanao a week or so before Christmas Day is that many provinces and cities in the country donated food, clothing, blankets, thousands of bottles of water and other relief materials to the flood victims in CdO and Iligan worth 2 million pesos, plus 1 million in cash.

And just the other day, the Jesuits in Cagayan de Oro donated a five-hectare land as relocation site for the Sendong victims in the so-called "city of the golden friendship".

Richard Heuberger and Paul Hindemith - Two Classical Composers

2011-12-31T10:35:00.000+08:00

(Paul Hindemith)

(Richard Heuberger)

You can read more about them on my website:

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com .

Enjoy listening my radio show "Classics with Klaus Doring" every Sunday (also tomorrow January 1, 2012) from 2 to 4 p.m. (Philippine time) on "The Ede Radio Davao" 104.3 FM or via live stream http://www.davao.theedge.ph .

Philippine Style of Taking a Bath

2011-12-30T13:58:00.000+08:00

A red bucket placed upside down in tucked away in a corner of our bathtub. On top is a blue TAKO (or TABO), or a plastic bowl, the type that one usually receives as a complimentary gift for tupper ware orders. they both sit there inconspicuously, one on top of the other like two giants thimbles. On many mornings in my rush to get to the bathtub I have tripped over them, stubbing my toe and wailing to pierce the cold, silent air.

I would then remove the bucket and TABO or TAKO from the bathtub, place them gently on the floor and continue with my shower. I have often wondered why they were there. I knew their purpose and felt it was obsolete. I met them for the first time in 1982, when I stayed longer in the Philippines. I stayed in a boarding house. A continuous gush would mean someone was still using the bathroom and take a shower; just as I used the shower wastefully on many occasions and was scolded for it.

"At least turn the shower off when you lather", I was told many times by my landlord, "this way you don't waste as much water." I would become annoyed with his admonition, yet secretly I was pleased with the environmental concerns already during the early 1980s here in Davao City. My landlord was in the right and, in my guilt, I shut the water off.

I learned that most people in the Philippines bathe using the ubiquitous bucket and TAKO or TABO because of the lack of a proper drainage system. The bucket would be filled with cold water from a pump, and the bather would pour water over his head with TAKO or TABO. In Germany I almost forgot this practice. During my returns to the Philippines and during several stays in hotels all over the Philippines this kind of taking bath or a shower really made an impact on me.

I never thought that a bucket and a TAKO or TABO would ever become significant for me, but then the sword and the ploughshare have become the symbols of war and peace. Up to now in my house in the Philippines... .

As the water splatters onto the bathtub, I would think of the people who must bath daily this way as a ritual... .

Frohes Neues Jahr 2012 / Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-30T13:15:00.001+08:00

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY DEAR READERS OF THIS BLOG! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONTINUING PATRONAGE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

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EIN GLUECKLICHES NEUES JAHR FUER ALLE MEINE LIEBEN LESER. HERZLICHEN DANK FUER DIE JAHRELANGE TREUE. GOTT SEGNE SIE ALLE!