Getting expensive!

As I watch the value of the dollar sliding down against any currency I thought that the prices of the goods here would be lower a bit. I was wrong, as I go to the grocery store and shop for our groceries I find it that the prices of all the products are even getting higher. I also thought that the imported stuff that comes from the USA should be lower but it’s not. Every time I go shopping now I usually spend a lot of money. We buy our grocery that’s usually good for a week or two. The bread at the bakery the prices are higher too and the sizes are getting smaller. Some of the restaurants the prices of their food are higher and the serving is getting smaller and the tastes sometimes not so good. The quality of the food was down too.
I was also noticing that my nieces would shop on our vegetables and some fruits at the wet market (palengke) the prices there too are getting higher. Just like the onions when we first came here per kilo would be 20-25pesos now it’s 60pesos. Fruits are also expensive. I know that everywhere in the world now the prices went up. I just felt sorry for the majority of the masses here. They are poor. Not much job available here. It’s really a heartache sometimes seeing the people that suffer.

Clothing and school supplies are also catching up. Sometimes I can’t imagine how some of my family can afford to send their kids and just being able to eat 3 times a day nowadays. With that in mind I heard on the news like last month that a girl here in Davao killed herself. The report said that its because of poverty. It was really sad, I guess she left a note or something saying that she was just tired of her parents and siblings fighting just because they have nothing. I think that case still under investigation, they said their is more to it than what she was saying in her notes. I just hope that it was an eye opener for some of the family here.

Men don’t cry?!

When have you seen latest a man cry? A boy, a teenager, an adult? Do Filipinos cry? When?

Since I was a small boy my parents and even friends and neighbours liked to hammer into my mind and heart the slogan “Boys (Men) don’t cry!” Many incidents happened in my life as young boy, but also later and up to now after reaching the second half of my life. Incidents with oppressed and held back tears and emotions because of only one reason: “Men don’t cry!”

I made a complete fool, when I tried to satisfy my unquotable thirst and insatiable hunger as a young boy by penetrating the closed kitchen of our neighbour. A terrible good hiding followed together with the comment, “Don’t cry or you’ll never become a real man.” Bursting into tears I didn’t understand, why a boy should bear the pain of trashing but knowing during the same time that he might never become a real man. What an untenable mug’s game!

I never became a whipping boy or fan of brawl and fight because I always tried to find ways not to cry.

“You’ll never become a real man, because a real man knows how to fight!” Here we are… .Longing did I watch the girls in our neighbourhood, who had been allowed to cry because of any non-important thing or trifling matter.

My thirst of knowledge let me start travelling around the world, when I became 18. I learned that this silly custom (Men don’t cry) seemed to exist more or less worldwide. After my stay in Japan in 1976, the father of one of my “home stay families” in Kyoto couldn’t hold his tears anymore, when it was time to say Goodbye (Sayonara). Of course, why shouldn’t he cry? Sure, I learned before Japanese men don’t cry.

In South Africa in 1980 I became a sudden witness of a burial, because an original inhabitant family lost a child because of starving to death. Both parents, in other words, also the father cried. Sure, why not…

Step by step I experienced myself many examples and incidents where I didn’t care anymore fortunately about my tears and emotions. A special place with a good or even a bad remembrance can make me cry. Salt dissolves in water like emotions in tears: an unjustified treatment, arrogance and ignorance from people around me, a heartfelt condolence, a very special song, a very touching situation or speech, being choked with emotions – but ALSO crying because of being happy or a never expected gratitude… Are all these privileges only allowed for females? Are males only robots with stones? Objection my dear fellow creatures.

Let me cry today, even the reason is just because I help cutting onions and garlic in the kitchen for lunch :roll:  :lol: …!

What kind of content are you looking for?

As most people who read this column daily would know, yesterday a little bit of a flame war broke out in the comments of my last column. No biggie, it seems all resolved now.  Anybody who has been on the Internet for any appreciable amount of time knows that these things happen from time to time.  The flamer himself, though, left at least one comment that was constructive, though. Here is one thing that he said:

Perhaps try when possible to tackle some more meaty issues (at least to me) regarding an expat moving here to Davao Things that might be construed as more constructive to a person actually moving living and building a lfe here. Believe it not most of this sort of information stuff is not readily accessible to people as you might think and can only come from those with direct experience such as yourself.

OK, I want to provide content here that is interesting and relevant. Honestly, though, I am not certain of what this person is seeking. What exactly are these “meaty issues?” I mean, it would be nice if everybody could point out issues to me that they would like me to write about. I thought that I had covered meaty issues, so I am kind of at a loss to know what it is that this guy is asking for.

Right now, what I write about is what it is like to live here. What is my day to day life like, what do I do, what kinds of activities do I find to keep myself busy and happy with my life in the Philippines. These are the topics that I generally write about. If something “meaty” comes up, like a new type of visa that you can get, or something like that, I write about it too.

I do get requests from people, usually via e-mail asking me to write about a certain subject. When I get such requests, I generally write an article on the subject. From time to time, though, people ask me to write about something that I know nothing about. For example, a get a fair number of requests to write about building a house here. Well, since I’ve never built a house here (yet), if I wrote about that it would not be so accurate, because I don’t have experience in that particular endeavor. When the day comes that I build a house, I’ll most certainly be writing many columns about the experience.

Is there some topic that you’ve been wanting to get my scoop on? If so, leave a comment and tell me! If I have experience or knowledge on it, I’ll most certainly write about it. Let me know!!

The Real John Grant

One of the columnists here on the Live in the Philippine Web Magazine is John Grant. From what John displays on the site, you would think that he is quite a nice guy, but is he really? I have known John for about 6 months now, and I’m sorry to say, he seems to have some kind of thing for my wife! He is constantly after Feyma! One time, not long after I met John, he got down on his knee and proposed marriage to Feyma (and this was done in public, at a restaurant)! Last week, during our Thanksgiving celebration, Feyma was shooting a video. Another friend, Steve told everybody how much he loves Davao, and then John piped in and…. well, just watch the video and see what John said to Feyma! I am starting to get a little angry and worried about all of this!

German-English and vice versa

I am doing German-English translations (and English-German as well) since a couple of years. I was also invited as interpretor in court. Last week I had to translate the whole wedding ceremony in court, because the German groom was not so fluently in English. Actually this is one of the requirements, if a foreigner wants to marry in the Philippines. Good thing, if your mother language IS ENGLISH.

Yesterday I was really happy and proud after receiving a certification from the Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region, Davao City, signed by the Executive Judge Isaac G. Robillo Jr.

The certification states:

“To whom it may concern: I hereby certify that KLAUS DORING had on several occasions assisted this court in interpreting proceedings from English to German. The undersigned is very satisfied with his proficiency of both the English and German language, especially in the interpretation of written documents… Davao City, November 27, 2007.”

It’s really a great help for me, especially, because I am working together with some Philippine authorities, i.e. City Government, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, and as mentioned, from time to time with the court.

If you are in need of a translator (German-English, English-German) please don’t hesitate to contact my office or me through this blog.

Striking up a conversation

A few months ago, John Grant wrote a column on this site about a journey that he took in a taxi here in Davao.  It was an interesting article, and mostly talked about communication between taxi drivers and foreigners.

Mostly, I don’t ride taxis, I have my own car, so I generally drive myself wherever I need to go.  From time to time, though, I do take a taxi, especially if I am going somewhere that lacks adequate parking or something of that nature.  The last few days, I’ve been rather sick with a bad cold.  I needed to go do a few things around town, but didn’t feel like driving, so I took a taxi instead.  Given my recent progress in learning to speak Bisaya, I decided that for the entire day, whenever I rode a taxi, I would only speak in Bisaya to the driver.

Generally, when I take a taxi, the trip is much as John described – I get in the taxi, tell the driver where I want to go, and it’s silent for the rest of the journey until I pay the driver and thank him for his service.  Sometimes it’s nice to have a peaceful ride where you can reflect or just relax.  Other times, though, it actually feels lonely, or actually feels like you are an outsider.  Being an outsider is not a nice feeling.  There are lots of other times when, as a foreigner, you are sort of an outsider.  Remember last time you went to a party?  For the most part, you had a bunch of Filipinos all speaking in their local tongue, and you were left sitting on the sofa drinking some coke.  Not too fun.  Same thing if you go to the mall, or a restaurant, too many times, as foreigners, we are left out, not included in conversations, because we are outsiders.

Well, yesterday, when I decided to speak only Bisaya to the taxi drivers, it really opened up a new world for me.  I was quite surprised at just how friendly the drivers were.  I wasn’t just a passenger anymore, I was more a friend or a compatriot.  I had to struggle a little bit to keep up with the conversation, but when these guys would notice that I was having a hard time keeping up with the language, they adjusted, spoke more slowly, even helped me by giving me the English equivalent so that I could understand better.  I have to say, an outsider was the last thing that I was feeling in this situation.

If you are living here in the Philippines, I really encourage you to learn the language that is most commonly used in your location.  Not only will it give you the ability to speak with a wide range of people, it will make you part of society, not just an outsider who is noticed on the periphery.

POLLILIO ISLAND

AN UNUSUAL NEW YEAR

My friends and I had a very unusual New Year in 2006. It was our first time to be in the Philippines at that time of year and we were looking forward to some celebrating and a real good time. We planned a trip to Cagayan de Oro and we were going to meet up with some friends there and according, to our Filipino friend, there would be some real good fun parties to attend, its really lively he said!!

So we were quite excited about this. We have not really been out and celebrated New Year’s eve for quite some time. Mostly because back in England, where things are very expensive, on New Year’s Eve, everything becomes even more expensive. The price of drinks can be doubled, you have to pay a fee just to walk in the door of a bar whereas any other night of the year its free to walk in, the bars and pubs and clubs are packed full and its impossible to sit anywhere or order a drink within one hour of waiting – so having spent previous New Year Eve’s either working, or celebrating quietly at home, we decided that a good night out in CDO would be just what we wanted.

We asked our friend who was accompanying us, there will be places to go wont there? and, it will be fun wont it? All replied with an adamant and excited YES.

So – 31st December arrived, we were settled into our accommodation and we knew we would hit the town about 10pm.

We spent time getting ready, anticipating a good time ahead, lots of laughing and partying and maybe dancing and drinking. After all, that’s what New Year’s eve is about isn’t it?

Once we were ready, myself and my friends jumped into a taxi and we rode downtown. We thought, well we might as well head towards Park cafe area because there is always something going on there and we can wander around and find somewhere to hang out and have some fun a little after that, maybe get a few drinks and soak up the atmosphere of celebration.

Well, we arrived, the taxi dropped us off – I hardly recognised where we were – we were in a ghost town!!

Where were the people? Where were the celebrations? Where were the lights and the music bringing the people together to wish for a Happy New Year? There was absolutely nothing. At first, we were in shock, we couldn’t quite take it in. I turned to my English friend and said, “What’s happened? Has someone died?”

We started walking, wondering if perhaps just that area was closed and there would be bars and clubs and cafes open somewhere else to drink and party in. After all, that’s what happens around the rest of the world. On New Year’s Eve the world come alive, every town, city, village, people are out celebrating, dancing, eating, drinking, being merry, in the bars, restaurants and streets.

But as we carried on walking, it became painfully clear that there was nothing happening anywhere.

We turned to our filipino friend and asked, “What’s happening here? Where is everybody? Why is there no one around? Where are the people celebrating?

The reply astounded us and we went into shock. “Oh no one goes out on New Year’s eve” he answered us, “Everyone stays at home. Either party at home or family gathering.”

While we could understand the importance of family, because of course, many people around the world get together with their families at New Year, we could not understand why our friend had not told us this before. Why had he come along with us? Why had he got dressed up with us and come downtown to find absolutely nothing?

To this day, I still have not got an answer to those questions. It is very funny when we look back on that evening, yes our expectations were all wrong, but we were completely misled by our companion too.

I swear, we stood in shock for about 15 minutes, trying to process the fact that NO ONE was out anywhere in public to celebrate one of the most poignant nights of the year and also the fact that our friend had come along with us, saying nothing up to this point.

Then, suddenly desperation set in!! It was rapidly coming up to 12 midnight and even though this had happened, we still wanted to have a drink in hand and to wish each other a Happy New Year when the clock turned past midnight.

So we found a tricycle rider and said to him, PLEASE find us a shop that sells beer quickly. We tore around the streets searching, and finally found a tiny little store that was open.The shop keeper looked astounded as we rushed in, raided the fridge of most of the beer and the shelves of chips and snacks. We paid our money and found a taxi and raced back to our accommodation.

We just got back in time. We had our drinks with us, we sat right on the water’s edge, looking out to sea and we could watch some fireworks going off into the sky from some of the villages in the distance. We wished each other a Happy New Year and laughed. What a crazy night.

We learnt our lesson not to take things for granted and to expect the unexpected. We also learnt to check and double check anything that our friends tell us, just to make sure we get the facts.

It certainly was a different experience to what I used to on New Year’s eve. I think this year we will get it right. We are holding a New Year’s eve party at a beach resort in Matina Aplaya so thank goodness we will be able to celebrate properly this time.

Happy New Year everyone !!

Philippine-German Relations (VI)

July 4, 1946 is a very remarkable day: The Third Philippine Republic was proclaimed, after the United States granted independence to the Filipinos. Three years later the “Federal Republic of Germany” (former West Germany, because the “GDR” German Democratic Republic came into being 1949 as “East Germany”). Konrad Adenauer was the first chancellor of West Germany.

1954 the famous “Laurel-Langley Agreement” was signed and stated the end of State of War between the Philippines and Germany.

1955 followed the signing of the Philippine-German Trade Protocol, the basis of future trade agreements.

In 1956 real diplomatic relations between the Philippines and (the Federal Republic of) Germany have been established with Friedrich von Fuerstenberg as first German Ambassador to the Philippines and Jose Ingles as Philippine Ambassador to (West) Germany.

A very remarkable year also has been 1958, when 21 Filipino students started studying in different German universities for the first time.

(To be continued!)

Remembering Ida

A while back, I posted a story about helping a poor man that I saw at a gas station in Calinan, Davao. Phil left a comment, and asked me if I would have considered picking the man up and giving him a ride somewhere. I’m not sure where you came up with that question, Phil, but it reminded me of something that happened last year, and it was quite humorous.

A friend and I went out on a journey one morning. We decided to go to Bislig, Surigao del Sur. I had never been to Bislig at the time, but there had been a big fire there that burned down the Palengke (Public Market), and I wanted to go have a look, shoot some photos, etc. So, my friend wanted to come with me, he is also American.

We headed north from Davao, and we overlooked the turnoff that we should have taken to go to Bislig. We completely passed by it without noticing. So, we decided that we would take a little different route to Bislig – we went north to San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, then turned and headed east to the coast, where we turned and headed back south toward Bislig. Surprisingly, the roads were pretty good on this route. I had always heard about how bad the road to Bislig was, and was surprised that this particular route was fairly good.

After spending some time in Bislig, we were ready to head home. We decided to take the more direct route home. We had not traveled this road before, and when we got on the road there were a lot of places where the road split into two different directions and such. We would always need to stop and ask somebody which direction to take to get to Davao, because there were no signs. Also, the road was hell. It was one of the worst roads that I’ve ever traveled on.

After an hour or two of heading up this road, we came to another split in the road and were not sure which way to go. We stopped and contemplated it for a few minutes. As we sat there, a lady approached. I would guess her to be in her mid 40’s or so, and she was quite attractive, although she had clearly seen her better days. It was clear that maybe 10 or 15 years ago she was quite a stunner. We asked her which direction we should take to go to Davao and she told us. As we got ready to head off, she asked if we could give her a ride to her house in Trento. My friend and I looked at each other, and we agreed to take her. We figured – hey, two big guys….. one relatively small lady…. should be safe! Plus, she knew the route home, and we didn’t!

The lady got into our car, and we talked with her a bit. She told us that her name was Ida. She was actually quite friendly. My friend was single, and Ida took out a photo of her 20 year old daughter and showed it to him, encouraging him to meet the daughter, and possibly marry her. Well, my friend just kind of played along and smiled. Although he was single, he was involved in a serious relationship, and wasn’t really interested in Ida’s daughter.

After a while, it got quiet, and Ida said that she was going to take a nap. She was in the back seat, my friend and I were in the front. In a few moments, we heard Ida start singing a tune. It took me a few minutes before I realized what she was singing, but I almost laughed when I realized. “It’s raining men, hallelujah, it’s raining men.” Hmm… this ride home was getting interesting. My friend and I kept looking at each other and snickering a little bit. It was clear to both of us that Ida was basically there for the asking….. either of us could have had our way with her, she was quite willing. We ignored that, and just remained friendly with her, though.

After about 2 hours of riding with Ida, we were on the side of a mountain, overlooking a coconut plantation. The sun was setting, and it was beautiful. I wanted to shoot a photo, so I stopped the car and got out to take a few shots. To my surprise, when I turned around to get back in the car, there was Ida! She was asking if I could take her photo, so I said “sure”. She proceeded to take off part of her clothing (a sort of “jacket”), and when she did it revealed much of her body, with only something covering her breasts. I shot a photo. I am quite sure that had I asked her to take off anything else, she would have been happy to do so!

It was only about 15 more minutes of riding when we reached Ida’s place. She asked for our phone numbers and addresses so she could stay in touch. Neither of us obliged on that request. We said our goodbyes and headed back to Davao. I haven’t seen Ida since, or heard from her. Whenever I pass through that part of Agusan and Surigao, though, I always remember Ida.

What a ride that was!

So, in answer to your question, Phil…. I have picked up a few riders in the past!