Thursday, July 3, 2008
My First Year in Liveinthephilippines.com
Time flies by so very quickly. Even having some heavy problems with some neighbours nowadays ending in court fightings, I didn’t forget, that Bob Martin gave me the chance to become a part of liveinthephilippines.com. We met during a gather-together of the Friends of Mindanao last year. Up to that time I was a ‘print media journalist’ with ‘radio host experiences’. Internet was something very new for me. Meanwhile I feel very much at home here, and I could feel “the power of Internet”, means to say also the advantages and disadvantages.
Talking of some personal problems, happening right now to me and my family, I must confess, that there are some politicians somewhere out there, who do everything to help us. Kudos to them and let’s hope and pray, “that everything will be fine again one day”. Remember, what I published here before: “Can we love our politicians?” … .
Because of being a part of liveinthephilippines.com I really got a lot of advantages:
- The Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court certified me as translator and interpreter.
- I was invited to teach German language at the University of the Southeastern Philippines
Because of liveinthephilippines.com my wife and I were able to open up a legal business (of course with permit number) described as “Consultancy for Germany and the Philippines” including immigration assistance or legal civil marriages. I received a lot of emails daily and sometimes a lot of asking for help, which unfortunately can’t be handle by our office, especially in facts of illegal overstay in the Philippines or crimes and offenders.
Because of liveinthephilippines.com I got the chance to publish many thoughts and write ups worldwide. That’s of course a big difference writing “just for a daily newspaper”. I like to express my gratitude to all of you, who just send me a message by clicking CONTACT KLAUS… .Please be patient - I always try to do my best to answer all your questions.
Because of liveinthephilippines.com I got the chance to learn more about ‘how to live in the Philippines’. Yes, even after almost ten years being here for good, I must confess, that it’s still challenge or not such easy as you might try to imagine, while reading this and being in another country of this globe.
Because of liveinthephilippines.com my family and I got some very unique and precious friends like Bob Martin and his wife Feyma as well as my fellow columnist partners, for example John, Migs, Ichi or Martin here in liveinthephilippines.com.
Because of liveinthephilippines.com I got a lot of positive feedback from you, my dear readers, opening my eyes many times and making the right decisions , how to handle some things while living in the Philippines.
Thank you very much and God bless!
I am looking forward very much for my second year in liveinthephilippines.com. …
Related Posts:
Happy New Year!At a snails pace
Season is Thoughts
Living permanently in the Philippines?
Between yesterday and tomorrow
Philippine-German Relations (VII)
Silent night…
Gymnastic Courses in Davao City?
Credit where credit due
The Dissenter
# 1 Ron w said:
hello klaus
i have to say i enjoy lip articles alot.i actually find my self replying to articles here and returning to read the reply to my comments.mabe im getting addicted to lip hehehe.im a lover of mindanao and really miss that place alot.i find all the storys of all the writers here very interesting.alot i can relate to and some i have no knowlage.and i also like to share my experiences in philippines.
thanks for the nice article here klaus
# 2 Bob said:
Hi Klaus - I am glad to know that writing on LiP has been a (mostly) good experience for you. I wish you success in dealing with your current issues regarding the legal problem that we have discussed. I hope that after that is all resolved (and I hope that is soon) you can write an article to tell people what happened, as many could learn some lessons about living here from your experience.
# 3 Migs said:
Hi Klaus: It has been such a pleasure to have met you through this website. I know that living in the Philippines may be a double-edged sword, and that the problems we deal with daily can be simply overwhelming, but then we learn to look at the brighter side of things. We learn to carry on.
I am glad that despite your problems, you are still sharing your stories and your experience to the rest of the world. I am very much looking forward to reading more.
# 4 Randall Jessup said:
Guten Tag Klaus!
Herzliche Gruess aus Kanada!
I enjoy reading your stories very much. I’m glad you are staying with LiP for another year.
I hope everything works out well with your legal battles. These things can be rather stressful to deal with.
Auf Wiederschreiben!
# 5 rick b said:
Hi Klaus
good luck with the legal problem too, life here can be a little bit complicated, sometimes problems can come from un-expected directions, other times as you mention in your article, over-stayers or problems with law breaking (not sugesting you here Klaus but just pointing out that life here can get very complicated for some) can lead to big problems. As foreigners and guests here in the Philippines we need perhaps to be doubly careful.
I too have greatly enjoyed meeting people like Bob, Feyma, John and Migs, it has been a pleasure, not met you though Klaus and look forward to that, perhaps it will be with a smile on your face and i will know your problems have been solved, good luck and best regards
# 6 Klaus said:
Hi Ron W., THANK YOU for your nice comment. Yeah, I can feel that you are “addicted” to LiP
. Thanks a lot for all your great comments and your kind words to ALL OF US here.keep safe…
# 7 Klaus said:
Hi Bob, also to you a BIG THANKS. My family and I are looking forward that our problem will be solved soon, because meanwhile almost all Philippine authorities have been involved. Sure, I will write about it. This time I have been advised not to tell details. I think it is understandable. Again THANKS for your neverending help and support.
# 8 Klaus said:
Hi Migs, I only can say; SAME HERE. It was and and it is a pleasure to have you here as fellow columnist, Indeed: living in the Philippines can be a double-edged sword, as my family and experienced it right now. Even being legally here and doing everything legally… This time we indeed learn to carry on and look at the brighter side of the street, because we hopefully get a solution in our favour. THANKS AGAIN Migs…
# 9 Klaus said:
Hi Randall Jessup, thanks for your German greetings and for your kind words. Indeed, our legal battles are very stressful, especially we have all evidences in favour us. We have to wait and ‘to carry on”, as Migs said. Thanks Randall for stopping by and thanks enjoying my articles. - How comes you know how to speak German. Your name doesn’t sound German…
# 10 Klaus said:
Hi Rick B, thank you also very much for dropping by and for all your kind words. You are right: some things are coming from an un-expected side - that’s what to happened to us since last week. Even you are double careful, things can happened. Sure, i also would be glad to meet you one day personally - especially having a big smile on my face because the problem is solved. THANKS again and keep safe…
# 11 JOHN said:
It has been a great pleasure to be your friend and to be your neighbour. Just to point out its not me causing the legal problems lol.
Pop over for coffee when you guys have time
# 12 Klaus said:
Hi John, thanks a lot… Of course, everybody knows that not you are my neighbour problem…
mmmh… Okay, looking forward for coffee with you… 
# 13 Martin said:
Hi Klaus,
Happy anniversary! Although I have only recently begun to contribute to LiP, I can tell from your column today how great an experience it is for you and I’m sure the other regular contributors. All the best with your future columns and I look forward to learning more from your insights and deliberations.
# 14 MarcelinaWW said:
Hi Klaus,
Congratulations on your first year anniversary Klaus! I’m just glad I found this site and your column – I truly appreciate your insight. Besides, somebody in LiP had to understand my rather eccentric (weird?) comments – you won the prize!
I send you and your family my prayers to a quick and win-win resolution on your legal concerns. You’re a good and honest man, Klaus – I can sense it from your writing. Unfortunately “they” have made you part of what I call… “Games People Play” I know you’ll rise above it – it’s mundane stuff, though it consumes energy, time and money.
Take care and be well!
# 15 Randall Jessup said:
Hi Klaus,
To answer your question, I’m English-Canadian and not German as you guessed by my name. However I spent one summer a number of years ago living in Duesseldorf as well as studying German in school. My German is a bit rusty now but I can understand German quite well if someone speaks to me in German.
I live in Toronto with my wife who is from Surigao del Norte province. Recently I saw many cars with German flags flying from their rooves. Someone said there was a big football ( soccer here ) match in Europe.
Toronto as well as my province of Ontario has a large German population so I guess they were showing support for the old ” Heimat “.
You may find it interesting to learn that the second largest “Oktoberfest ” ( after Munich ) is held in a city called Kitchener which is an hours drive west of Toronto. The city used to be called Berlin but then the British Empire had some kind of disagreement with old Kaiser Willie and they had to change the name. They didn’t change the names of the nearby towns of Baden, New Hamburg and Neufeld though.
Best wishes. ( Hope you found the above a bit interesting.)
# 16 John Miele said:
Hi Klaus… Sorry to here about your legal problems… I know how frustrating and sometimes frightening it can be. Late last year I was arrested in Abu Dhabi after a traffic accident with a member of the Royal Family (who caused it, by the way… A**hole Arab drivers!). Enough tangent… It is frustrating in this situation to realize that right or wrong, laws or no, you are the outsider and you effectively have no rights… Tough pill to swallow.I faced deportation, 200 lashes, and 6 months in prison (70 people in a cell) for calling an arab a “term of endearment” after being rear-ended at 160kph…while he was driving with no lights. But, he was insulted and, as a foreigner, my rights were non-existent.Fortunately, I had a well-placed sponsor of my visa and a very expensive attorney.(Can you sense a bit of bitterness?)It is a shame that there will always be people who will take advantage of a situation no matter where you are. I know you just from your postings here… You seem like an upstanding guy just trying to live your life… All you can do is take solace in the fact that the jerks in the world usually get what is due in the end. They eventually mess with the wrong person. All I can do is to send best wishes and suggest that a cold San Miguel and a Bratwurst might make you feel a bit better…try and take it easy!
# 17 Klaus said:
Hi Martin, thanks for your very kind words.Same here. And, even having already a legal business here in the Philippines, I am also looking forward to learn from your insights and future columns. Thank you again and keep safe always.
# 18 Klaus said:
Hi MarcelinaWW, thanks for stopping by and thanks a lot for your kind words. Honestly I didn’t think that you are leaving eccentric or weird comments. Butr anyway, if I won the prize… salamat again.
Thank you also for your prayers. As I said before, I can’t tell any details right now. But those people seem to be rich and enjoy playing such games. I am sure we are on “the better side”. As I said: no comments right now, even it consumes indeed energy and time: some of my in laws (we are four families in this compound) got very sick… God bless you and your family too…
# 19 Klaus said:
Hi Randall Jessup, wow, thanks a lot for your wonderful comment and for sharing all these things with us. I didn’t know yet about the Oktoberfest in Kitchener. I stayed in Toronto only for a short stop over heading to Vancouver already in 1975. Yeah, very interesting everything. Thanks again and keep safe and enjoy reading Lip also in future.
# 20 Klaus said:
Hi John Miele, wow also here: You delivered also your own great story. Yeah, it’s really frustrating, if you know that the law is on your side, but some people are using their money and think they can get everything. We are still very hopeful, because there are still some jokers waiting for us: meanwhile no comments and no details. I am sure, you and everybody will understand. Yes, you are right: I love this country and I just try to live here another (better?) life. I tried already the San Miquel and the BRATWURST and some other stuff. it really works. And people like you, and all the other readers and LiP as my main platform helps a lot. God bless you all.
# 21 evelyn abellera magno said:
# 22 Klaus said:
Hi Evelyn, thanks for your kind words. Yeah, many people told me already that I am like a Filipino. But I am also still a German in my heart. Even having some “legal battles” with a Non-filipino neighbor, I do still enjoy living in the Philippines. I will write about these battles soon here. Meanwhile some other media took over already to report about my very special case. Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I hope you are doing well in the States right now. Glad to see you again in August here in Davao. take good care.
# 23 i.m. schneider said:
Happy LiP Anniversary Klaus!
Legal conflicts can indeed be upsetting especially for peace loving people. If you wish, you can email me your present legal travails.
I can share with you in turn my points of view as a Filipino and as a lawyer. Gratis. As a “hausfrau” in Germany, I feel the need to
exercise my gray cells.
And seriously, being married myself to a good German husband
who intends to retire soon in the Philippines, makes me empathize
with your situation.
But like any other challenges in life, hold on to the thought
that — this too will pass.
What can´t kill you, can only strengthen you in the end.
I am not saying the above as mere platitudes. I have lived them.
Our family once experienced a “life and death situation”
problem while I was preparing for the bar exam in 1996.
It was a time of enormous psychological strain.
But looking back at it now, the entire experience only made me a stronger and better person. Though at that time, I must admit,
these virtues were the least of my concerns.
My warm regards to Rosanna and your family.
Here´s to world peace and friendship to all mankind!
# 24 Chas said:
Hi Klaus.Keep up the good work,i look forward to your second year at LiP,regards Chas.
# 25 Klaus said:
Hi I.M. Schneider, thank you very much for your great and heartily offer. Since yesterday “my/our problem” is already published in the local media (print/Bomboradio/tv is on the way). I will not hesitate to publish it also here in the LiP, as well as Bob Martin texted me yesterday to do so on his blog. I really appreciate your helping offer. The case is meanwhile also handled by the city council of Davao City. Sad to say, that my mother-in-law got a stroke and can’t move any more because of all the circumstances. The Chinese “lot owner” keeps blocking our main gate with steel cages, big stones and a 2 meters high fence. Check out the next articles. - Thanks for sharing your very personal example to all of us. Yes, such things can give more power, if the right people are with you.Thanks for your kind words and greetings. I am sure, with god’s help everything will be fine and we are strong enough to survive the coming legal battles and the personal harrassments of our “new neighbour”…
# 26 Klaus said:
Hi Chas, thanks for stopping by and for yiour congratulations… I am glad that you still enjoy reading my posts. Sure, I have many more things to say during my second year in LiP, even it might become very personally this time. But I think, my (bad) experiences as a peace loving ex pat in this beautiful country can be also a good lesson for all those, who plan to stay here for good…