Klaus Doring

To die is to live. We are always shocked when in the middle of our surroundings, somebody dies. Our usual questions are: Why die so young? Why he or she? A natural reaction, indeed.

When old people die, some say: “It’s good for him. He has played his role in life and on earth already!” Mmh - I don’t agree… .

When wicked criminals die, people would say: “It’s good for her or him; they won’t be a menace to society any longer!” Mmh - … .

When long-suffering patients die, relatives and friends would say: “It’s better that they died. They will not suffer any longer!” … .

You know why I got these thoughts especially now?

Allow me to add some religious thoughts: When Jesus finally gave up His spirit after three hours of bitter agony, the Pharisees said: “Finally, that impostor is gone! He deserved to die that kind of death!”

As we all learned, for Jesus dying was not the end of everything. It was the beginning of a new life. For three days after His burial, He rose from his grave on that bright Easter Sunday morning.

Resurrection means life.

Especially in parts of the world, like in my home country Germany, where deep winter let all plants and trees “sleep” for a couple of months, people enjoy the spirit of the new shots that come out of a big trunk of a tree.

They enjoy the seedlings that protrude from the ground in spring, the violet, red, and yellow little flowers that emerge from the soil, the new leaves that sprout from that seemingly dead branches and the well-known Easter Egg, out of which a new life germinates.

Eggs were usually symbols used in springtime long before Christianity came into existence. The eggs symbolizes life, which is causing to grow. Since Easter usually occurs at springtime (March or April, which is already summer season in the Philippines), this egg-symbol was still in the use among the pagans of early times when Christians were celebrating Easter.

The Church allowed converted pagans to retain the custom of egg during spring to symbolize germination of life, but not any more “Ishtar”, the goddess of spring.

Austen H. Layard explained in his book “Nineveh and Babylon II”, page 629, that the term “Easter” came from the goddess Ishtar, because of dig out monuments, carrying Ishtar’s name, of him in Niniveh. But this egg should symbolize the new life won for humanity by the resurrection of Christ.

I wish you all a blessed Happy Easter.

And, enjoy your egg hunting with your beloveds, as we also do, before heading to our well-deserved spring break…

It has been a couple of days ago, since you were able to read Part XX of my serial. I was surprised to get some emails asking me if “that’s it?” Of course - NOT!

Let me go back to the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal:

In Jaegerstrasse 71 in Berlin Rizal found a cheaper hotel. He occupied one of the rooms on the 4th floor. This is a historically siginificant place, for in this house Rizal wrote the final portion of his novel, NOLI ME TANGERE. Besides, he also wrote here the preface which was datelined Berlin 1886. It was also here that Rizal wrote fifteen interesting letters to Ferdinand Blumentritt aside from the letters he sent to his friends and relatives at home. I always remember this while staying in Manila and passing by the LTO-station “Blumentritt”… .

From these letters we know much of Rizal’s activities in Berlin, the city, where I also loved to stay almost 25 years before moving to the Philippines for good in 1999.

Rizal, for instance, translated Blumentritt’s important article in the “Ethnography of the Island Mindanao” in only three days.

In Berlin, Rizal planned to translate the “Travels of Jagor” in Tagalog after finishing the translation of Waltz’ “Ethnography”, because he believed that Soler’s translation was deficient and contained errors. He hoped to finish the work in spring. it seemed he did not undertake this work at all.

Once again I like to thank my mentor Monsignore Professor Dr. Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza for providing me with all these details.

(To be continued!) 

I have been provided also with the latest information, especially with the checklist of documentary requirements for applications for conversion to returning former Filipino citizen:

- Duly notarized letter of application

- General (NEW!) application form duly accomplished and notarized (BI Form No. MCL-07-01)

- NSO authenticated copy of Birth Certificate of the applicant

- Bureau of Immigration (BI) Clearance Certificate; AND

- Plain photocopy of passport, with English translation if written in other foreign language authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate nearest to the place where the passport was issued, showing applicant’s bio-page, admission stamp and authorized stay of at least twenty (20) calender days from the date of filing.

If in the application, the applicant is joined by his/her spouse and unmarried minor children, some additional requirements are to be mentioned. Contact me, and I am happy to help you.

Thank you again to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation in Davao City for providing me with the newest and latest information.

After a meeting in the local immigration office here in Davao City, my wife and I have been provided with the latest changes and informations:

The checklist of documentary requirements for applications for conversion to Non-Quota Immigrant by Marriage (Section 13, paragraph A) says the following:

- Duly notarized letter of application by the Filipino spouse

- General Application Form duly accomplished and notarized (NEW BI-form no. MCL-07-01)

- NSO (National Statistic Office) authenticated copy of Birth Certificate of Filipino spouse and certified copy of the ID as Filipino citizen issued by the BID (Bureau of Immigration and Deportation)

- NSO authenticated copy of the Marriage Contract of alien and Filipino spouse OR authenticated by the Philippine Embassy / Consulate nearest to or in the place where the marriage was solemnized

- Bureau of Immigration (BI) Clearance Certification; AND

- Plain photocopy of the passport of foreign national’s spouse showing applicant’s bio-bage, admission stamp and authorized stay of at least twenty (20) calender days from date of filing.

To avoid the summary denial/delay of the application/petition, please be advised of the following:

- All sworn statements or affidavits must be duly notarized.

- Documents executed outside of the Philippines must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy / Consulate at the place of issuance or nearest to it, with English translation, if written in other foreign language. Any document executed within the Philippines must be duly certified by the offices having official custody of the originals.

- All documents required for submission must be arranged in the order as listed above, otherwise your application or petition cannot be processed immediately.

The Legal Officer of the Day at the Bureau of Immigration has to certify, “that the documents submitted in support of the application/petition are complete and in order.

Any more questions? Ask me.

I like to thank to thank the BID office Davao City for providing me with the latest information.

After posting my article about health care, I got a lot of emails from concerned readers. I am happy about it, because I really like to help. Please give me a little bit time to answer all your questions… .

Let me talk about PhilHealth today. My whole family and me joined PhilHealth already five years ago. My former employer paid his contribution and my share has been deducted from my salary automatically. Good thing: after starting being self-employed I still got the chance to stay in PhilHealth as “Individually-Paying Member” for 100 Pesos (!) a month. By the way, Overseas Filipino Workers should pay 900 Pesos (!) per annum.  It’s important, that you remit your contribution on time regularly. Another good thing: I could even add my mother (84 years old) on my account as next beneficiary. We, as expats had to present our passports and immigration documents showing our permanent visa stay. My wife, former Filipina and now still carrying the German nationality, has been enrolled to PhilHealth also because of her former employer. She is, like me, a Individually Paying Member and put her mother as first beneficiary.

From my last hospital bill PhilHealth took over more or less 20%. Why could I avail of my benefits? Because - confinement in a PhilHealth accredited hospital of at least 24 hours or availment of outpatient services as identified by PhilHealth. And, the 45-day allowance for room and board per year has not been fully utilized.

There might be a lot of more questions. So please don’t hesitate to visit www.philhealth.gov.ph or contact your nearest PhilHealth office, i.e.

- PhilHealth Regional Office XI (region11@philhealth.gov.ph).

Additional we got some individual plans for our needs from the European company, we are working for in a sideline business.

Once again: also regarding health care the Philippines might be cheaper - or better, they are. But why not taken these a.o. mentioned chances instead of break into our savings…

You remember my post: Sick - but no savings!? One of my readers, who left a comment, David S., asked me to publish more details:

These are just and only some average details, I experienced myself in Davao City. I am not allowed to mention hospital names or doctors. Charges in Cebu or Manila are different then in provincial areas. That’s why I would appreciate additional informations from readers living in different parts  of the Philippines. But believe me: getting sick in the Philippines and being hospitalized is not such cheap as you might think. Depends how big your savings are you might think so. But many times the patient has been sent home again, because the land title’s value wasn’t enough. And being hospitalized as foreigner or alien or ex pat unfortunately let “go prizes up” (or unnecessary treatments or health check ups. I have been in a hospital twice here in Davao City and got a lot of very negative experiences. If my wife wouldn’t have take care of everything I would have been charged thousands of Pesos for nothing. Yes, for nothing…

Just to give you some ideas:

- One of my friends has been hospitalized because of “mild stroke” - 3 days = 35,000 PHP.

- I was hospitalized because of “simple collaps” - 2 days = 16,500 PHP.

- A friend of mine got an accident and broke his right hand = 34,000 PHP (because a very complicated fracture).

- A very good friend got cancer. Even several operations and chemotherapies (one “chemo” has been charged with 9,000 PHP) didn’t help. When she passed away, her in-laws have been confronted with bills reaching the huge amount of 800,000 PHP.

- For a single doctor consultation I pay in a multitest center in Davao City 250 PHP, while in a nearby located hospital the bill shows 500 PHP.

- For an ECG you can be charged between 1,000 and 2,500 PHP.

- A lungs xray can cost you between 800 and 2,700 PHP.

I must say: also in the Philippines you have the chance to be protected by good health insurance coverage. Take your time and look around and check the proposals individually prepared for you.

Having a good insurance protection really helps you saves. You can be sure, my family and I found a very good one… .

And, besides this: enroll to PhilHealth. You are also welcome as an ex pat. PhilHealth covers even only 20% percent of your bills.

-

Davao City, unfortunately, remains as cultural desert especially regarding classic music performances. That’s what I learned from many guests last night, who visited a great event here in Davao City. You remember my invitation a couple of days ago: “ATTENTION CLASSIC MUSIC LOVERS!”?

Sometimes I meet people, “who are not fun of classical music”. Some of them joined last night’s event - and changed their mind.

The Ladies of Charity (AIC) Davao proudly presented “An Evening of Classical Music” by ‘Four Davaoena Pianists on four Pianos’ at the CAP Grand Auditorium in Davao City. The Four Ladies really gave us an enchanted evening (by the way one of my favourite songs from the musical “South Pacific”, 1949, by Hammerstein/Rodgers).

Mila Cabaguio Jocson, A.B.M. graduate of Fernandez Piano School and aside from private piano teaching, also taught music in Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s University and Stella Maris. Together with Celine Garcia, Nelly Castro and Inday Fucoy Montero, they formed the original Davao Piano Quartet 20 years ago.

Following her footsteps, Mila’s children Daphne and Gretchen all play the piano. Daphne pursued it as a career. Daphne Cabaguio Jocson started her training with Ms. Encarnita Fernandez. It was these 13 years with her that Daphne was taught the right musical discipline. She received the Bachelor of Music degree at the Scholastica’s College in Manila and was molded to maturity by the late Ms. Alice Araneta Lim and under Ms. Vera Berskaya and Dr. Hugo Goldenzweig at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. Daphne also performed with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, which was one of her most memorable performances before she left for the U.S.

Evelyn Abellera-Magno, fortunately more or less my neighbour if not being in the U.S., called me and invited me to listen the daily rehearsals. Evelyn is indeed a woman of impeccable credentials and has proved her competence from the schoolroom to the corporate boardroom and back to her music, which “lifts my spirit and soothes my being from the stresses of the world”. (How very true, Lyn!). Her string of academic credentials includes degrees in Piano, Psycology, Educational Administration which gave her such honors as  TOWNS AWARDEE (Ten Outstanding Women in the Nations Service), a grantee at the Harvard University School of Education at Cambridge, Massachussetts and Past Governor of Rotary international of District 3860.

Maria Luisa “Inday” Montero attended the Conservatory of Music at St. Paul’s College of Manila, where she studied piano initially with Sony Lacson and the great Carmencita Arambulo eventually earning a Bachelor of Music Degree under the unforgettable Stella Goldenberg Brimo. Aside from being an incredible pianist , she has trained and conducted several choral groups including the Davao City Choral Ensemble, and the prize-winning PC-INP RECOM “Convent Choir and the LCB performing Arts Music Class”.

Did you miss something, because you was not able to join us last night? Yes a lot:

Mozart’s Sonata KV 545, Milhaud’s  Scaramouche, Friml-Stothart’s Donkey Serenade, Lecuona’s Ante El Escorial and (also one of my favourites) de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance. And after the break: Pinoy Classic Music, starting with an own composition of Music Director Belda-Azarcon “Prelude”. The first two measures of the Tagalog Folk Song “Inday sa Balitaw” was developed for this prelude.

The intermission was not only an intermission: the great opera diva of Davao City Soprano Mee Hai Cho, who graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Seoul University in South Korea and a Diploma in Voice from St. Cecilia Conservatory In Italy, performed “Stridono Lassu” from Leoncavollo’s opera “I Pagliacci” and a wonderful peace from Franz Lehar :”Il Paese del Sorriso” (Your whole heart is mine). …

I talked to Musical Director Mrs. Belda-Azarcon after the great performance: We want more! She smiled and told me: We try our best to be back on stage soon!

Two days ago I wrote already about illnesses and their financial problems - not only for Filipinos, but also for ex pats.

Whether we like it or not: every day we are confronted with upcoming news about health risks. How about this: Caffeine consumption by pregnant women can increase the risk of miscarriage, a new study reports. And, it doesn’t matter if the caffeine comes from coffee, tea, soda or hot chocolate… . Mmmh!!!

200 milligrams of caffeine daily, the risk of miscarriage increases twofold. Our family doctor advises us always to consume 3 up to 4 liters of water daily. How do you manage this, my dear reader? I am not a fan of drinking tap water and some very bad news about “bottled water companies” don’t let me enjoy drinking this water any more.

How you handle this??

Every time somebody in our surroundings is getting sick we are worried. Worried, of course, that the illness is not too serious and/or might be cured as soon as possible. The other fact is: Does the patient have enough cash to shoulder all expenses to be cured well?

I met a lot of expats, who came here to the Philippines, but they didn’t even think about it. “I will not become sick!” … .This indifference, coolness or nonchalance makes me speechless.

Last month it has been reported, that the increasing number of people with non-communicable diseases is really alarming. Dra. Anabelle Yuman, Regional Coordinator for Non-communicable Diseases of the Department of Health (Region XI Mindanao) attributed this i.e. to the wrong medication intake of affected persons. She said once the person has contracted with non-communicable disease the medication will be for a life time. Unlike the person is contracted with a disease that is communicable after taking the prescribed drugs like antibiotic the medication stops, she said.

Treating NCD is more expensive and will be forever, she stressed.

In Davao City the number one killer last year was cardio-vascular disease. Diabetes doesn’t fall within the top ten, but the number of cases is increasing dramatically.  Yuman also said, that only a few people are excersising enough. 30 minutes  per day should be a must. Diet must also be heavy on fruits.

Anyway, if the sickness is there and need to be treated seriously, enough cash or savings are needed. Have you think already about it? You got a good health insurance in your home country. I wonder, why so many ex pats don’t care about it any more while living in the Philippines…

To make it very clear: I am pro life! But there is a BUT. I have written about this topic many times in the past and got a lot of scoldings. The topic has been also always discussed mixed and conflicting in the Philippines with sowing seeds of discord.

Allow me to recall what the former directress of the United Nations Population Fund Dr. Nafis Sadik from Pakistan has said already several years ago: “The problems are not the (ethical or religious!) pros and contras, the problems are the attempt of authoritarian states on problems by showing no consideration for parents and their decisions; freedom of choice for women’s self-determination!”

The global population growth is a terrible drain on the demand on the environment and its resources.

In 1921, India in today’s borders counted 251 million inhabitants with enough space, water and food even for tigers and elephants. Some 80 years later the same region counted almost one billion (!) inhabitants. It became “damned narrow for each and every one”, as a local Indian news reporter said.

In 1948 Pakistan started its independence with 32,5 million people but must feed 140 million (!) hungry mouths nowadays. This is what we describe as population explosion. I know, i am not telling something new, but it should be an important reminder. If you live in the Philippines, please open your eyes… . Must I say more?

In many cities of the world, people are stuck in agonizing and painful jostling - a grievous daily life in mega cities like Mexico City, Bombay, Jakarta or Manila (sorry MIGS!). The world’s inhabitants’ quadrupled from 1,6 up to 6,1 billion (!) in 2005 - this is an universal example. A more gentle and mild dissipation is not yet in sight.

Population growth becomes almost and exclusively a Third World problem. The population prognosis for the next 50 years explains to 99 percent fast and meteoric human breeding, the new “Babylons” have to face new problems with upward tendencies.

The year 1975 showed us five so called mega cities with prevailing more then 10 million inhabitants each. In 2000 we found already 19 worldwide agglomerations. The polluted air in Mexico City, Bombay or (again sorry to say) also Manila is “breath-taking” dirty. Noise pollution, stench and stink and poverty’s ugliness are becoming unpleasant, hideous and rape our five senses, while “heavenly” skyscrapers try to let us forget the slums, incorporated in negligent garbage and environment contamination. Every time staying in Manila, I feel sad and helpless.

Drinking water shortage and a seldom working water supply are sure and every day experience. Costal cities like Bangkok or Jakarta observe already salt-water penetrations into empty drinking water pipelines.

“North and South” (or if you like “East and West”0 consume the creative Genesis cake from both sides, while the Poor nibble the fundament of their own existence. And, one day in future our globe will remain as sterile and indefinable moon countryside. We won’t get over it so easily! Are we really so much out of touch??? Where have we been?

Yes, I am very much pro life, but most countries treat the topic population half-heartedly. A birth control policy has been avoided while the global crisis in the long term looms. Most of the so-called “poor countries” are not really poor, but the elites in their midst allow an almost amazing wastefulness of resources because of luxurious consumption, armament, administrative inefficiency and incapacity and inability of leadership.