Klaus Doring

The majority of Filipinos face mostly each day of the year the disquietude and uneasiness how to live and how to survive in fear and uncertainty. I experienced that Filipinos are incorrigible optimistic. Only then one might be able to dream that the future will eventually roll up in their favor. This wishful thinking about a better and glorious future let many prayers become a monotonous refrain of asking, dreaming and hoping.

Yet, the wake up in the morning or the plenty sleepless nights make it very clear that not knowing the difference between yesterday and today is at least much painful then without seeing the promise of a tomorrow.

There are official and unofficial figures about Filipinos Oversea Workers. No one exactly knows considering that,many are going out illegally equipped with their desperate situation. “Bahala na ang Diyos” … “God will take care” - and so they put their life and future at risk. Of course, a lot of Filipinos and Filipinas have already prospered materially. They risk their lifes abroad to save their families - and the Philippines from economic collapse and poverty. No need to mention the importance of remittances of those oversea workers.

But in spite of the awe-inspiring and formidable dollars and euros, this is never enough to fill up the emptiness in a Filipino heart. I guess it’s the bravery and fearlessness of the Filipino heart, that helps to sustain him in a better or worse situation in a foreign land, separated from partner and family and having no other choice, if the next generation should survive.

I learned that most Filipinos dream to be free from all kinds of bondage, because only in freedom they can see and enjoy life’s beauty. Deep in the heart, the years and years of separation from the love-ones has cut wounds, which may never heal again. I observed such things more now since I decided to stay in the Philippines for good.

Education will never be expensive as ignorance. A great many children face the difficult task of learning good behavior without seeing any. Another philosophical behavior is: Youth is wasted on the young.

I remember the day my parents first lugged the heavy accordion up our front stoops, taxing the small frame. They gathered me in the living room and opened the case as if it were a treasure chest. And guys, it really was!

“Here it is,” my parents said. “Once you learn to play it, it will be with you for life!” Thanks God, it is. Really. Up to now, even here,in my private room in the Philippines. Anyway, if my thin smile didn’t match my parents’ full-fledged grin, it was because I had prayed for a piano.It was at the end of the 50s, and I was glued to my AM- and shortwave stations,playing classical music 24/7. Accordions were nowhere in my hit parade - even later during the 60s or 70s… .

As I looked at the shine white keys and cream-colored bellows, I could hear already hear my classmates and friends’ squeeze box jokes. For the next weeks the accordion was stored in the hall closet. Mmh! Yeah, really! Then, one night it was announced, that I should take music lessons. Spending an incredible amount for the accordion and the lessons, I really tried my very best to appreciate my parents’ effort - and music! I found out, that music carried away my parents from their world of tools and projects - so to say even me nowadays.

On a Sunday, one of my favorite days till now, I started taping the radio shows. I remember, I was 10 or so. It seemed that I hang on every note. Shortly after, my lessons began with our city church organist, who even allowed me to play on the cathedral organ - “if nobody is around!” I felt clumsy in every day. I was ordered to practice 2 hours or more daily. I tried to get out of it. But one day I was string notes together and coordinate my hands to play simple songs. Beethoven’s “For Elise” on an accordion… . I got the invitation to join the college band. I still remember my teacher’s comments: “Very nice, much better than before!” “You can bring people joy and you can touch their hearts whatever you play!” Whatever? Ok, I agreed, what my professor tried to hammer into my mind. I was just speechless. But finally I learned what it means to work hard and sacrifice for others. Now I understand my parents. Many times, If I just operate my compact disc player of if I join a great concert event, I remember “my parents’ music”. Once upon a time in the West…

I learned to coax sweet but maybe not so perfect sounds from instruments. I admire people, who can do so.By the way, I remember some events with the “Five Pianist Women from Davao” Not only I miss them back on stage.

The “Webster New World Dictionary” gives us two explanations about friendship: first, the “state of being friends” and second, “friendly feeling attitude”. Hey, for me these explanations are very superficial. Friendship means a relation between living things or so-called creatures. This can be even the deep closeness between my (meanwhile) nine dogs and me. They always try to protect me go or wait for me, if I am out of town. (Hi John, great article!).

A human friend should be a person whom we know very well and who is fond of an ally, supporter, or adviser. A friend could be an intimate associate or somebody attached to another by esteem and affection. Good oder very good friends one could become after years or even short period because of an unforeseen and dramatic situation, where “one side” needs urgent help and the “other side” is ready to help. (Thank you Bob and Feyma!).

Real friendship is mostly seldom, but can be served everywhere on this earth. It also took time to find real friends here in the Philippines. I am happy, proud and honored to get some.

Real friendships doesn’t know a special place or season and it is really an accidental fortune.Nevertheless, remember, friendship is a plant, which should be well cared for very much, because it is very easy to shrink and die on lack of readiness to do something for it. If you find out that your “friends” think first at themselves forget them! Remember what the French writer Nicolas Chamfort (1741-1794) wrote in his “Caracteres et anecdotes”: Somebody said of a very egotist - he would burn your house down to cook himself a couple of eggs”.

I wish us friends with eyes, which discern the lights and signals in our daily darkness. I wish us friends with ears,which understand the shouts for help in our mental anesthetic. I wish us friends,who know how to speak the language of honesty, that guide us away from our painful speechlessness and muteness.

Friends forever, which should be a sense of community, stamped life-long! Wherever you life….

Why do I live in the Philippines with my whole family? Why you, dear reader, who just click this article? Maybe you plan to move here for good? Maybe your wife is Filipina and you as foreign husband could follow the wish of your wife to move here? Maybe you are looking for another lifestyle then in your homecountry?

Well,I got many reasons to settle down in the Philippines. Once upon a time (exactly in 1998) I thought to myself, “We people sometimes really miss too much in life!” During that time my life was really fully packed with dates, appointments, trips,meetings, work, work and again work. Nevertheless, I missed something.

Some people live quickly - and die as well. If life is fully packed with work, you have no more time to live, or simply, to enjoy life. The German dramatist Georg Buechner (1813-1837) wrote in his “Danton’s Death”: Can you take your country with you on the soles of your shoes?  -  Before I moved  here I asked myself  more or less the same question. Of course, we cannot!

If you pass a certain age, you start trying make up omissions. Life punishes latecomers! Our existence many times contents of failings, faults, weaknesses and shortcomings or not taken chances. I took my chance, and now I am living here. However, you need faith. “Nothing in life is more wonderful than faith - the one great moving force which we can neither weigh in the balance nor test in the crucible”, wrote the Canadian physician William Osler (1849-1919) in 1910. Without faith, you should not do the big step and stay here for good.

Life goes quickly. I observed that I failed to talk to good friends. I failed to answer letters. I failed to apologize to some people. Life tried to overtake me.

No, it was not a rash action to move and live in the Philippines.Everything was planned very well. And, I tried to adjust myself here. Six weeks vacations are different from living permanently in another country. Also here. Many foreigners I met before gave up already. The reasons will be topics of my write ups in future. Nevertheless, if you are losing yourself because of continuing criticism the country and its people 24/7, what can you still expect?

No mountain is high enough. You can live here a wonderful life - as pensioner or as businessperson. Plan well, and then enjoy living in the Philippines. Of course, a day here also contents of 24 hours. However, since I am living here I lost the feelings, that life might overtake me.

Television or magazines, and parts of the State Medical Board of Registration surpass by far in their efforts, Philippine faith healers to brand as confidence trickster. The patients have mostly another opinion. They don’t care, whether Western science breaks a physical explanation to this phenomenon or not; the main thing is it comes off: an improvement, a recovery, or a disappearance of the illness.

Miracles or charlatanry? With all the trimmings, what is true on such reports regarding curing of even physical illnesses?

Authors from all over the world have made enquiries about healers and reported about thousands different healing, remedies, medicinal herbs and healing powers - and, of course, their healing results.

To be honest, one should not conceal, that the healing success in many cases did not really appear. Then I would really warn everybody to omit or to refrain from prescriptions or ordered medical treatments. On the other side, I also have experienced cases of “medical give up” while the faith healer became successful. Do not ask me for any explanations. How was it possible? Healing by just laying hands on somebody? Conjuration or entreaty instead of chemotherapy? Operation with mere bare hands instead with scalpels?

Mostly everybody from Western countries will be put into a category of fools, if he or she plans to travel to the Philippines for a faith healer treatment. It also happened to me during the lat 80s. When I returned to Germany and all following examinations including x-rays documented a disappearance of my illness, my doctor told me never to consult him anymore. I was subscribed as malingerer. By the way, during that time I suffered “recurring damaged disc with left leg paralysis”.

My conscience is clear, even being described as “religious visionary” during that time. If I would have been healed by medical therapy, the doctor would have talked about medical recovery, and the state of health would not be the result of a “spontaneous remission”, so to speak “abatement” or “diminution”.

Well,who are all these healers, who just only get the medical disdain and scorn? Are they the Christian prototypes following the bible’s healing offer? Is everything what happened here in the Philippines just a placebo effect result? If suggestion plays a role, how comes, that Filipinos can even heal babies? Parapsychology? Believe it or not.

I just returned from a third faith healer session somewhere in Baguio District Mindanao. I am glad I could communicate with Nanay  in Bisaya. She cured me. And my doctor did not get angry… .

“I have nothing to offer but blood, tears and sweat!” The British statesman Sir Winston L. Churchill (1874-1965) said this already in 1940 - certainly in a sad interrelation durching World War II. Not everybody might like this remark.

I like it more then Lord George Gordon Noel Byron’s (1788-1824) quotation: “I awoke one morning and found myself famous”. So far so good, but I guess this might happened only once in a million or s. Nothing comes from anything. But Bryon’s sentimental desire for freedom and whining world-weariness influenced the whole world literature during that time.

Blood, tears and sweat because of changes and challenges in our daily life… . Millions Filipinos struggle through life. We, as aliens experienced at first a terrible culture-shock. Yes, living in the Philippines can be a change but it’s also a challenge. Many times our life does challenge us to a duel. I don’t mean the provoking, provocative or defiant people around us, who just try to block our eventually changes in life. These people just make “much ado about nothing” (thank you William Shakespeare!). These people carry their curt and not-binding keep smiling, but since long time, these people didn’t try even a single step in direction of changes and challenges. They enjo their splendid isolation while mourning about their terrible struggle for life.

Since 1999, when I moved to the Philippines I did meet a lot of people. I was blessed to meet always the right people at the right time. My changes became challenges but with success. Changes in life are important and necessary. Let’s alter or make a difference, let’s put one thing for another; let’s shift, let’s quite one state for another, let’s take fresh clothing. Let’s change from the old to the new, from negative to positive, from ignorance to knowledge, from doubts and worries to understanding and awarness, from fear to faith, from disease to health, from sadness to happiness, from “I cannot” to “I can”!

Yes I can live in the Philippines! Because I burned The “Lock Fact” away. Remember, nothing comes from anything!

The religious and philosophical writer Joseph Telushkin stressed a couple of years ago: “If you can’t go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue!” Joseph Telushkin lectured on the awesome power of words.

He suggested taking a revealing “tongue test” to see where you stand. “Monitor your conservation for two days”, he said. “Note every time you say something negative about someone, who is not present. Also record, when others do so, as well as your reactions when it happens. Do you try to silence the speaker, or do you ask for more details?” Telushkin concluded, “Most of us who take the test are unpleasantly surprised.” Now you can guess, why… .

I found a good description in Proverbs 6:16-19, relate to the causes and effects of damaging words:”Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers”.

But also written words can damage. I described it as “aggression’s hotbed” in one of my earlier write ups”. Many times it’s painful to read columns or editorials, where journalists don’t care self-disciple, responsibility, inquisitiveness and respect. We all know, how journalists can mentally form and shape the public opinion, characters, life, community and the way things go. The power of words, written as well as spoken out, is a weapon, which can hurts - and kill! Writing with a wicked pen and having a sharp tongue  doesn’t mean, that we should walk disrespectful through life, as a saying goes: as an elephant in China!

Matthew 12:34 says, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”.

“The place to begin dealing with our words is inside in our thoughts about others and us. If we accompany that with a commitment to stop speaking harmful words. We’ve begun a dramatic mid-course correction in life”, another religion writer, Dave McCasland said.

Careless words can really inflict wounds that last a lifetime. Kind words can bring healing and encouragement. Everything we say has the power to hurt or to heal. Let’s accept this great challenge and let’s think first, before we open our mouth or before we start writing.

Public opinions and moods are defeating changes and the mode of life - like the fashion. Is a cigarette a sign of culture or stupidity? (I quit 15 years ago!) Is the institution church pro or contra pacifism? (I think I am still a good Christian, even I don’t go to mass regular!) Is learning by heart in school good or bad? (I was a bad pupil regarding this!).

Nowadays, also here in the Philippines, we experience a time of coming up fears and neurotic ill feelings, SARS, bird flu, mad cow disease, fine dust, demographical catastrophes, global effects, and terrorism. Moreover, so to speak: to fears we react with a desire for clearness, clarity, law and order.

The rigorousism returns. In example the environmental debate. Nowadays all sides voice out that only a state of emergency decree guarantees our survival chances on earth. Driving suspensions in town centers, refrain from long distance flights (trips), no hot showers… - how do I explain it to my grandchilds?

However, let’s think positive: at last, ecological processes of reasoning receive attention. Since how many decades blue eyed and naive people have ignored environmental conservation? Now after all at last: insight, understanding, and reason? Probably panic!

If fears gnaw and stirs things up, we wish “leadership” - the state and the society, law and order will fix it and everything. Really? If you take a closer look, it’s just activism. Light bulb ban, tempo limit on motorways. That’s possible, but does that matter? Check it and watch the real results. Climate debate means a lot of hot air for many of us. The media and high politics are taking their moral hammers and hit to that - no matter how.

Nevertheless, being of great importance are other spheres, i.e. the major CO2-emits are coming from nuclear power stations. A change needs money. Everything needs money and a great change readiness and affluence-reduction and limitation. In addition, how about the so-called countries “being on the threshold of a great discovery” such as China, India or Brasilia? Who wants ecology NOW, needs to attend with a lo of money.

Don’t let your electric units remain in standby modus. It’s not saving the world, but many a mickle makes a muckle. The one who loves cudgel and war screaming will remain lonely. Hour’s precept is a “cool brain”, even the heart is burning.

Interdiction, law and order have absolutely meanings. Many times, they are not doing without. Sometimes their advantages, profit, or usefulness remain questionable. Can we force people towards their luck i.e. through an anti smoking campaign? Sure, smoking is dangerous to our health, but those who want to smoke should do so.

Man has been thrwon into liberty. This freedom scares many of us. What a large field (with many depths to sick into!). Where are the bridges and the crash barriers? The precipice is near. Everywhere we are thrown into liberty and freedom - also if we live in the Philippines. That’s why every single person is responsible for his or her own behavior. This is a part of dignity but also part of many burdens. It should be main attention of politics, media, and society. Taking and promoting insights, giving incentives, being a model - these should be our new efforts. Not a new interdiction.

*****You’re telling me!*****

… moreover, I like to say thanks a lot for your comments regarding my first write up (My Mindanao? My Mindanao!), especially to Jul, Angie S., Ken, Luz, Charlene, Bob and John.

Regarding “Idiotic TV” thanks to Paul: it’s a brilliant idea, if you mention radio. Having been a DJ for almost four years in Davao CIty, I remember how my listeners (Filipinos and foreigners) appreciated my classical music show every Sunday and Wednesday night. I mostly played music from my own old collection…

Thanks to American Lola and Rick: yes, DVD”s or a good book. - Thanks to Jul: there are really nicer things becoming our lullaby then TV. - You’re right, Zois in Athens/Greece: I also didn’t take out my TV yet. Even. - Thanks also to Jim from the UK: of course, there are other things you can do while staying in the Philippines then watching TV. And, surely, broadcasting is a business, but it most not be a hinderness creating and searching quality and excellence in programming. - Thanks to Angie: you hit the nail on the head - theater! Unfortunately, I don’t have the time always to travel to Manila to “satisfy my desire”…! Thanks to Jae: actually you voiced out, what many Filipinos told me before. Anyway, luckily we all know where to find the switch off button!

“Tsunami” becomes the new clubbable stylish expression. 180,000 died - maybe 250,000 during the last years. When will we stop counting already, because we surley never find out the correct numbers? Another question: When will we start keeping and protecting our Mother Earth - also here in the Philippines?

Anything goes - yes, it seems so: illegal logging, climate changes, melting icebergs, natural disaster while my neighbors go on burning rubber, plastic and other poison garbage. Hey guys, will you still do this if the next disaster has taken away your whole family and your belongings?

A couple of months ago my niece showed me a brochure entitled “Questions and Answers On Your Ecosystem” mentioning and explaining 365 reasons to stand up for Mother Earth and be counted as “Barkada ng Kalikasan”. It’s really a primer on environment care, produced bu the Kinaiyahan Foundation, Inc. and BARog KAlikupan DAbaw, Inc. (BARKADA) for worded by Elisea G. Gozun, that time Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Quezon City.

I studied this valuable brochure while still having the terrible smell of nurned poison garbage in my nose and while having the latest nature disaster news in my ears. Watching the news doesn’t make me tired, of course NOT! I’m just afraid how long we will be able to continue teaching our following generations how to keep our globe in good health, while stupid environment killers go on in their thoughtlessness and absent-mindedness.

Anything goes - sure! Why should we think about ecosystem and its structures, or solar energy and life on earth and how and why it should or could be protected? The effects of global warming can be seen more and more, but deforestation and profit kill the thoughts and deeds about the value of forests and how to protect them. Fertilizer and its problems are known - but who really cares? Pesticides and its problems are known, but how looks reality? How do we manage soil degradation and its effects on crops? How do we handle major consumers of water, managing water resources and instead overusing groundwater?

Climate change, greenhouse effect, gases that pollute the atmosphere, acid rain, and biodiversity - foreign words for those people, who continue to destroy our globe and provoke new disasters.

Yes, there are solid waste management issues about garbage burning, solutions to garbage, waste separation, segregation, composting or recycling of waste. What should do we tell our political leaders? It’s easy what to tell them, but reality shows difference in acting.

Schools are (or should be) environment-friendly, if…, yes, if… . And, how the local community can contribute to environment care? There are even existing ten earth saver’s commandments for sustainable development, but… .

The above-mentioned brochure even mentioned the Top 30 Environmental Issues in the 21st century. Great, really great. I pray for many followers. Do it, yes, please do it NOW! For our following generations…

Many times journalists have been ciriticized as notorius know-it-all-betters, who love to attack people or institutions whenever they can, and even those “victims” really try their best to do their job. Especially painful is it if these journalists do not know enough about the topic they are writing or talking about.

For example, their are still some people not being convinced yet on the pride of Davao in terms of food and out dining. Okay, everybody has a different taste. I have the problem regarding cultural aspects in this city and it’s surroundings. I must say “again”…

Sorry, I might be also quite guilty to expect too much, or I might be also still in the process of discovering. Maybe another excuse is accepted that I might be also too much smiled upon by fate because I got the chance to stay and live in different places worldwide with an overwhelming cultural exchange and cultural offer. Of course, Davao City is neither Berlin nor the Broadway, neither Manila nor Tokyo. Nevertheless, Davao City should not be classified as a provincial town with backwoodsmen or hillbillies. For some, this place may not be the ideal to live but it is definitely one place worth living. I do it myself since 1999.

As I said before, I might be still in the process of discovering more. Maybe I am still hiding myself too much in my mouse-hole while keep on writing, instead of looking around. Or do the information politics and readiness to support ideas of the appropriate and corresponding local government departments turn out to be more and more emotionless? Where are all the people with ingenious and brilliant ideas for rebuilding the history of civilization? Talents are more then enough here. Talents are living in the whole Philippines. The Manila Symphony Orchestra in Davao City - a never ending dream?

Benefactors, sponsors and donors are ready to support any kind of event. Visitors, tourists and more inhabitants of this city must be convinced that there (not only?) living philistines, Here are also living people with grandiose ideas how to attract Davao City (more!). Let’s start to support them Let’s prevent, that all these ideas become again a short-lived passion.