The Future will be better tomorrow. G. Bush

This article is taken from WOZ, 5/1/01
von menschen und mäusen

George W. Bush: Weisheiten zum neuen Jahr
(GWB: Wisdom for the New Year)

Ökonomie: "The vast majority of our imports come
from outside the country."
Mathematik:"One word sums up the responsibility
of any Governor, and that word is `to be prepared`."
Geschichte:"The Holocaust was an obscene period in
our nation`s history. I mean in this century`s history.
But we all lived in this century. I didn`t live in this
century."
Geographie:"We have a firm commitment to Nato,
we are part of Nato. We have a firm commitment to
Europe, we are a part of Europe."
Politik:"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer
people going to the polls."
Ökologie:"It isn´t the pollution that`s harming the
environment. It is the impurities in our air and water
that are doing it."

First Tulip for the Season

Die Gruppe KETEWA

Verleihung des Berliner Literaturpreises

Die Gruppe heißt KETEWA, diesmal mit Daniel, dem
Trompeter. Er ist aus Kuba. Die Bandmembers sind alle
Berliner;alle sind in Berlin geboren: Isaak, Dani, Nara,
Dudu, Charlotta, Valerie und Chana. Die Musik stammt
von Kofi Asamoah, Bandleader aus Ghana, und Norbert
Mattes.
Die Gruppe KETEWA spielte anläßlich der Verleihung des
Berliner Literaturpreises im "Roten Rathaus." Der Preis
wird von der Stiftung Preussische Seehandlung verliehen.
Diesmal an den bulgarischen Schriftsteller Ilija Trojanow.

The band KETEWA comes from Berlin. Members are all
Berliners as they were all born in Berlin. Photo shows
Norbert Mattes with Daniel who comes from Cuba
playing music of Kofi Asamoah, the bandleader from
Ghana and Norbert Mattes. Bandmembers are Isaak und
Dani whose father and mother come from Ghana; Nara,
father is from Malawi; Dudu, father is from South Africa.
Other female members from Berlin are Charlotte, Valerie
and Chana who is currently in Valencia. The group played
during the presentation of the Berliner Prize for Literatur
in "Roten Rathaus". Recipient of the prize is the Bulgarian
writer, Ilija Trojanow.

For more information on KETEWA, contact:
norbert.mattes@inamo.de

Orkan Kyrill

As reported by many online newspapers, Hurricane Kyrill (the word comes from an old Greek word meaning The Lord), was the most severe storm to hit Germany since 20 years. The highest wind recorded was 169kph in Brocken mountain in the region of Harz. (Radio news was saying even as strong as 200kph.) Other online newspapers were reporting that gale force was reaching as high as 190-200 kph along the coasts of UK. In Germany, train and bus services were cancelled and electricity was cut off in some cities. Due to the weather forecast and warning, we opted to stay home, cancelled our Thursday film watching day, stayed indoors and waited for the storm. And what a view and sounds we got from our balcony! I "enjoyed" experiencing my first "brown-out"in this country which lasted for about two hours. (My neighbors surely heard me clapping when the lights came back.) As there was no possibility of heating the milk to enjoy a cup of Italian thick chocolate, I took a glass of white wine, heard the sounds of the howling winds and the piano music of our neighbor who lives one floor below us. It was simply a meditative mood with only candles burning in our flat while hubby got so upset thinking about his unsaved data when the current was suddenly cut off. No blogging, no phone, mobile low-bat. Really, what could one do without power?

A Filipino in the Supplementary City Council of Rome

Their official title is Consiglieri Aggiunti, Supplementary City Councillors representing the four major continents of migrants in Rome. Elected to represent Asia is
a Filipino migrant worker, Romulo S. Salvador. Other elected councillors are Victor Emeka Okeadu for Africa, Madisson Godoy Sanchez for Latin America and Tetyana Kuzyk for Eastern Europe.
What are the functions of these added city councillors?
Their role is similar to that of a city councillor but they have only the right to intervene but no right to vote during deliberation. They could submit proposals, participate in interrogations during commission hearings and represent the city of Rome to functions regarding immigration.
We congratulate our dear Romulo S. Salvador and hope that he would take this chance in giving more support to our kababayans in Rome. He assured us that he would try his best in upholding Pinoy leadership. (Soon, meron na tayo siguradong right to vote, Pinoy eto!)

Perché mi piace questo paese Part 2

TALKING ABOUT PULUTAN SISIG IN ITALIA

Staying with Filipino friends in Italy requires a firm decision making when it comes to eating: Filipino or Italian? No problem here as I often settle on both options and somehow our kababayans seem to know the taste of visiting fellow migrants that they have reserved Eurofil foodstuffs ready for serving when guests drop in on them to drink or to stay surprisingly for a week.

After each stay, I am even sent off with tips on how to cook a simple PENNE CON TONNO E POMODORI (Penne with Tuna and tomatoes) or a complicated HUMBA for my hubby.

In my recent Italian sojourn, while simultaneously chewing a rice cake especialty from Batanggas and asking if someone knows how to make SISIG, Marcial Hernandez gladly scribbled the necessssary ingredients to make that famous SISIG ala Batanguenyo in Milano which could match the quality of the original SISIG from Pampanga. So here goes the simple recipe in making SISIG. You will need for this salad:

Luya- gayatin ng pino /finely cut ginger
Sibuyas/Onions
Bawang/Garlic
Paminta/Pepper
Toyo/Soya sauce
Bitsin/MSG (optional)
Suka/Vinegar
Calamansi o Lemon
Tenga ng Baboy with Karneng Baboy na inihaw/Roasted Pork with hmmmm pig's ears

As you could very well imagine, it is up to your creativity and taste how to make the most out of these ingredients, quantity and length of time for your roasting. Mix all the ingredients, toss in the shredded, roasted pork and serve. Charmaine added that it is better to serve it on a sizzling plate and break an egg on top of the mixture to cook. One could add crushed tsitsaron or cracklings on top as garnish. Who will need ANTIPASTI?

Padova First Day in 2007

Perché mi piace questo paese

2007 May You Be Blessed with Abundance in Life

MAY YOU BE BLESSED
by Kate Nowak

May you be blessed with all things good
May your joys like the stars to be too numerous to count
May your victories be more abundant than all the grains of sand on
all the beaches, on all the oceans in all the world
May luck and struggle be always absent from your life
And may beauty, order and abundance be your constant companion.

May every pathway you choose lead to that which is pure and good and lovely
May every doubt and fear be replaced by a deep abiding trust as you
behold evidence of a Higher Power above you
And when there is only darkness and the storms of life are closing in
May the light at the core of your being illuminate the world.

May you always be aware that you are loved beyond treasure and
May you be willing to love unconditionally
May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God
like the cherished child you are.

And when you are tempted to judge,
May you be reminded that we are all One
and that every thought reverberates across the universe
touching everyone and everything
And when you are tempted to hold back
May you remember that love flows best when it flows freely
And it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.

May you always have music and laughter
And may a rainbow follow every storm
May gladness wash away every disappointment
May joy dissolve every sorrow
And may love ease every pain.

May every wound bring wisdom
May every trial bring triumph
And with each passing day
May you live more abundantly than the day before
May you be blessed and others be blessed by you.

Thanks to all our wonderful friends who have sent us cards, e-cards, texts, and invitations to celebrate the coming of 2007 and best wishes for this new year. Our heartfelt thanks to our dear treasured friends for sharing with us their time, home, stories, food and laughter. Especial thanks to Zeny, Charmaine, Marcial, Abner and Denia of San Donato, Milan. Maraming Salamat na walang katapusan to the wondeful people of Padova: Cecil Silva, Nads, Alec H., Irene Garcia, Chito, Nene, Sheng and Airish Silva. Dear Anggie, Jimmy and Bryant Barba-Natividad, thanks for your hospitality kahit nasa Pinas pa kayo. And to our dear Cely A., we wish you all the strength and love that will ease your pain. To Mr. Lillium, I hope to taste your wonderful fig and nut cake again soon.