Klaus Doring

The most awaited season of the year has finally come. The most joyous month is here at last. At times it really makes me wonder what life would be without December. Something is indeed very special on this season, which brings changes not only in the atmosphere but also in our zest for life and living.

The air begins to get cooler especially in the mornings when the fields and remaining forests are embraced and kiss by the fog, that slowly descends upon the earth.

The first streak of light that pierces the darkness of earth is the sign of life. The stillness of the dawn which has long been awakened by the crowning of the fowls and singing of the birds only add more colour and harmony to the many fabrics of creation, all for the beauty of life and for the joy of mankind. Have you walked around already at 4 or 5 in the morning???

We may not have snow in the Philippines to behold and touch as the music lanes blast to the tune of “White Christmas” like now I grew up in my home country. But out in the grassy fields, as you feel the earth with your feet, the fog and the dew give testimony that the earth is still full of life. Yes, we have all the reasons to love life, also here in the Philippines. It’s really a piety, that many people don’t see the beauty any more. It’s sad that man prefer to destroy rather than to build or to keep everything in good condition. Like the beasts, it seems that man has only learned to fight and kill one and another.

December is Christmas. And still now at the second half of my life December is still my favourite month and the most special season of the year. It’s time for giving and sharing instead of hurting in an egoistic way hiding behind our incredible masks.

December and Christmas should be the song to awaken our sometimes hardened hearts, to touch those people around us, who might have waited a long time for such a move.

It’s also the time to thank Bob and Feyma Martin for a wonderful and unique friendship. Thank you Bob, that you make it possible for me to join “Live in the Philippines”.

I also like to thank all my friends, who supported me in my work, especially internet business, just to mentioned Ted Padova and John Grant. Thanks to all the others, whom I can’t mention here.

And last but not least I like to thank all readers dropping by my blog and “Live in the Philippines”. Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year 2008. God bless us all.

… as innermost part of ourselves. Filipinos call it “Utang na Loob”. I still owe you something, or better, I owe you more than that. We are not talking about debts - “utang na loob” goes farer. It’s a more complicated and far-reaching matter, because we have to pay back our personal debts plus high interests, even these debts can’t be express in figures.

“Utang na loob” becomes a “spider’s web of mutual dependencies”. I give you a job and you have to be thankful to me life-long. I also accept material gifts from time to time. In human relations every Filipino is connected to one and another and vice versa because of “utang na loob”.

Is that really so still today?

I met already a lot of Filipinos, who still practice this part of Filipino culture. I also met Filipinos, who tried to involve me into this matter. I gave you a job…

I must say, I am not feeling very comfortable with it. Question of the week: “How do you think about “utang na loob”, my dear reader?

Having a different opinion is not new. It’s a must. It should be a must. Wherever one stays, people differ in opinion, people disagree, quarrel, and show nonconformity.

I remember the 25th Asean Tourism Forum held in Davao City last year. It was really a milestone in this city’s history. It opened our minds and eyes in an excellent way. I caught myself many times praising our good mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Its known about people who can’t make friends with the mayor, maybe because he’s unorthodox and blunt.

Yes Sir, happy-go-lucky foreigners are really not the dissenters I am talking about. Speaking especially about Davao City’s hesitation to entice outsiders into visiting Davao City is indeed due to the history of struggle against former Western colonizers and a “Manila-centric” national government.

If foreign businessmen turn Filipinos to slaves in this country thru oppression, underpayment and inhuman treatment, then that is simple atrocity. If Filipino businessmen adopt these behaviours because of their partnership with foreigners, that this is downright betrayal.

Indeed, political power is overpowering. There are really some foreigners who come to the Philippines for a visit but extend their stay as tourists while engaging “monkey business” and enslave Filipinos in their own land.

But hold on: generalization is dangerous and poisonous. The former Spanish colonizers have nothing to do with Spain and its people nowadays. Even I, as a German citizen with an I-card (permanent stay) and Philippine ACR (Alien Certificate Registration), was subjected to strict entry permit requirements from the US if I take off from the Philippines. I could still remember the days when I travelled to the US with my German passport without a visa while greeted with friendly inquiries at the Los Angeles International Airport if I needed also a work permit.

But let’s go back to the Philippines, especially Davao City. I am a dissenter, maybe more than any other countrymen of mine. Sorry, I don’t love my own…

Davao City is a unique and safe place. Sometimes I learned about foreigners, who really should not be welcome here and the whole Philippines. Marrying Filipinas/Filipinos to stay here and abuse them and the whole nation is really unwelcome. I am now in my 9th year of stay here in Davao. I never regretted it. I might be a dissenter in the eyes of many others. Appreciating diversity, wishing to be enriched by varied cultures, respecting people’s rights and welfare are also expected of me as a German living in the Philippines. Not only here, also if I would plan to migrate to the US, Africa or Australia.

Can a foreigner be deported? Of course, he can. In many cases, he should be. But I also know a lot of cases, where the Filipina, even being tortured daily, is hesitating to inform the BID.

Yesterday speaking about Ida Hube gives me the idea for today’s write up. Have you thought already about “Giving while living”? Philantrophy is a very interesting topic. It comes from the Greek (philein = to love and anthropos = man) and means a desire to help mankind, especially as shown by gifts to charitable institutions.

Philantrophists are loving and seeking to do well to their fellowmen and are paying more attention to how they give their money away.

In times of political crises and corruption, we might only observe our own pockets becoming emptier and emptier, while others’ slop over. Giving while living? Of course not, getting and receiving as much possible seem to be the motto.

One of the Bible’s books of poetry, the Proverbs really offers advice on every imaginable area of life. The style of wise living describes here leads to a great life. Proverbs 28:27 says: “He who gives the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses!”

In the Philippines patrons and benefactors can be also found, although they could be more, especially in “bad times”. And, every one of us can become a “little philantrophist: in his family and in his whole surroundings.

Personally I am very blessed to meet “such people” in the past and especially here while living in the Philippines. I don’t mention named names. I am sure, the one who read this will know whom I mean…

Ida H. Hube (a German Nightingale), whose maiden name was Ida Haenstche, was born in Radeberg/Germany on April 11, 1872. As we can learn from Hermogenes E. Bacareza, did she come to the Philippines as a member of the US Army Nurse Corps in 1902 where she met and married a German businessman named H. Hube. After her stay in China in search of her sonh who disappeared in 1935, she returned to the Philippines.

Although a German, Ida Hube braved the dangers of Japanese wrath by supplying the prisoners-of-war, including 70 nurses at the UST Interment Camp with food, clothing and money from 1942 till the end of 1944. Sie died in Manila on November 28, 1947 at the age of 75, a heroine and philantropist, who truly loved the Philippine Nurses Association by “heart and deeds”.

 (To be continued!)

We live in a frightful loud world. Also here in the Philippines… - At every corner of our daily life are innumerable chances of being covered up with unbearable din and noise. The loud outcry gives us sometimes the needle. Even we tell ourselves not to lose our heads, but time will come when we loose our cool. We don’t have nerves of steel forever.

If you ask me how it would feel like to spend a lovely evening after a hectic and stressful day, I could tell yout his:

The nicest occurrence is silence, the intimate taciturnity, which can “weld” people and partners together. It might sound just like an idiomatic expression, but 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 reason or has no say in this and that matter. No, I mean a deep understanding between two people, who are together and are able to share time in quiet and silent happiness. Maybe, for the younger generations it sounds splendid and even a little bit  histrionic. But it’s so simple if we only practice it. It works even between a Filipina wife and alien husband…

After a long and strenuous day it is a real comfort to sit and lean back, read all the (old) newspapers from the past week while enjoying a handful peanuts or an apple. A crossword puzzle is easier to solve while having a “silent radio program” in the background than a TV, which “roars hell to pay” all day long. How relaxing is such an evening after traffic woes, telephone’s ringing, meetings and never ending discussions. Why should we talk right now??? Sure, we would like to talk of the daily occurrence in our life. But honestly, we enjoy quite and lovely evenings…

Feeling safe and secure, inseparabl, indestructible with peace in our minds and our surroundings - this is what we really mean to each other, understanding even without words… And, suddenly out of 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, without being desperate or forced. It’s like walking hand-in-hand on a lonely sand beach (the Philippines have more then enough) such as “once upon a time” with our first beloved. And unexpectedly: we are silent again AND thankful for it.

Much could be told or written about all the wonderful places worldwide. A lifetime is not enough to discover this wonderful world. Although, I decided to stay in the Philippines for good. On the other hand sometimes I am also thinking about the Filipinos abroad, They are so occupied and so tired with work sometimes that on a half-day of not working, they don’t even have the energy to go out anymore.

They prefer to rest instead. Then they work again until dawn. There’s even no more time to write letters or emails any more. They get up early next day  to do the same activities. They fail to appear on dates or appointments even if schedules were already set. On the last minute before going out on a free day, guests arrive who need to be served. All these and more make it difficult for Filipinos abroad to find time for themselves.

I might be a little bit out off time, but Christmas time should let us remember and remind “those heroes somewhere out there”. Being there is something like being in a garden of roses. Everybody is free to pick up flowers, but surely everybody will not find that easy because the roses are on top of the thorns. Being abroad is even more complicated than that.

Much has already been written about homesickness of mind and heart. And, with this kind of work, health counts much. From the start, one must always be in top form, not only lively but also elegantly.

Wearing three kinds of jackets daily can be a must, Staying abroad for Filipinos is really not heaven on earth. And then, homesickness comes…

Homesickness usually attacks, when Filipinos abroad receive unpleasant notices from home, as many say, “Problema at magpadala ka ng pera” (”Problems with money”). The beloved ones overseas even try to save a little amount for airfares just in case they need to come to their families in the Philippines (especially for Christmas). They always consider the difficulty and complication in sending money home.

Nervousness leads to homesickness. We learned that one of the boys doesn’t like to go to school any more. Homesickness comes when misunderstandings between husband and wife arise. Homesickness comes abroad, when one is so hungry he couldn’t simply chew something because the boss is around!

It’s very known that many Filipinos abroad are also reading these websites “Live in the Philippines”. I like to salute to them. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

The Southeast Asia Cultural Week (August 28- September 4, 1977) has been celebrated in Tuebingen/West Germany, whre the Philippines actively participated.

Another great happening was the economic conference on Philippine-German development cooperation between representatives of the Philippine Government headed by Dr. Gerardo P. Sicat, Minister of Economic Planning, General Director of the National Economic and Development Authorithy.

Back to the culture: the very first Philippine-German concert with Filipino artists with Filipino artists performing at the Paco Park, the original resting place of Jose P. Rizal after his execution.

The next part of “Phippine-German Relations” will show us details about the German Nightingale Ida H. Hube.

(To be continued!)

When my family and I moved to the Philippines for good in January 1999 we were really looking forward to enjoy our first Christmas here. To be honest, we got shocked about all the din of firecrackers, and shootings. We even experienced shooting with real arms. New Yew Eve it happened the same. Okay, we were used to it from Germany and many other places in the world to greet the New Year with a big bang. But Christmas Eve???

In Davao City law prohibits the use of firecrackers on Christmas and New Years Eve. To be honest, we, and not ONLY WE, enjoy the silent night (and holy night). Question of the week: What do you think about this topic? Leave your comment and let’s share your thoughts and ideas…

One of my Italian friends admired the “Five Tibetan Monks”. I mean, not the personalities. Every morning my friend does the exercises entitled “Five Tibetan Monks”. Since my friend started with that, he swears never becoming sick any more. He also felt mentally balanced. I can’t guarantee it even he keeps on swearing it to me.

Another friend can’t take his breakfast without first jogging for an hour. Rain or shine… . If he’s not able to practice this, he becomes moody, intolerable and frustrated. Mmh.

Others have to swim three times a day. Good for those, who have a pool or live near the sea.

I love rainy days (like right now while writing this piece), a good book, a glass of red wine and relaxing (old) music. So everyone of us is looking for his or her special ways on being comfortable.

But some of our fellow creatures can’t get some peace. The “Five Tibetans Monks” have been blurred, jogging is unhealthy; green tea is putting out and forces ill-feeling; swimming in a pool supports logical ringworms.

I am sure, my red wine (even one glass only!) is never digestible and instead reading a good book while listening relaxing music weigh heavily upon our minds.

A couple of years ago, another expat loved to swing a pendulum to and fro. He occupied himself with astrology and the esoteric. I can’t forget one of his first questions regarding my birth time. He warned me immediately: “Mondays are bad for you!” Something new but strange for me.

Last Monday was really a bad day. I am sure, you all experienced days like this. In the morning we got some little accidents. Then our car seemed to be no more in the mood to run. When we rushed to our first appointment being terrible late, we learned that the meeting has been cancelled. We changed our sked and went to a bank (name doesn’t matter!). We wanted to deposit money. Offline! We were informed to go to another bank (name doesn’t matter!) and experienced 30 minutes waiting time, because the one and only cashier started to entertain us after my wife’s question: “Are you ready now to serve us?”

It was really the last straw, when somebody (name doesn’t matter!) hit one of our big vases. Broken crockery brings you luck… .

Are Mondays really bad for me??? :roll:  :lol: