Fiesta at Santacruzan sa Isang Parte sa Alemanya

Kommentarya! Masaya as usual pero sana kaunting decoration naman
para ipakita yun magagandang bagay mula sa atin at hindi lang
kaldero at plastic na lalagyan ng mga suman, puto at dinuguan.
At please, huwag naman Barong Tagalog with denims as pants or
kahit na denims, itim na parang pormal wear naman!
May kaunting ambiente naman at hindi lang parang karinderia
atmosphere.

At saka, nasaan yun mga bulaklak? Pati ba naman yun nawawala
na rin at papalitan ng Maria cut out of hard cartons? Sana man
lang nilagyan ng kaunting decorasyon. Parang basta na lang ba
nagawa, tapos.

Mahalaga yun may pagkakataon kumita yun mga associations, pero
mahalaga din naman na may presentation, di ba. Hindi lang basta
nakalagay ang panindang pagkain, benta, luto tapos pack-up for
the next opportunity of selling. Hay kulturang maski pops...
mukhang yata talagang mabigat.

Birthday ni Philip II, King of Spain

 

He was born on May 21, 1527, six years after Magellan chanced
upon Mai or Mayi, Luzon and other names referring to "Filipinas"
prior to the Spanish colonization.

More of Prince Philip's titles:

First Official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598,

King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598
King of England (as King consort of Mary) 1554-1558
King of Portugal and the Algarves 1580 to 1598

Important Details on this monarch whose name
we have for our dear Motherland:

...The rebel leader, William l, Prince of Orange (William the Silent)
was outlawed by Philip, and assassinated in 1584 by a Catholic
fanatic after Philip had offered a reward of 25,000 crowns to anyone
who killed William the Silent, calling him a 'pest on the whole of
Christianity and the enemy of the human race'.

Now we have a country known as Philippines, the only Christian
Country in the Far East (Ost-Timor is the second country competing
with us for the title).

For more interesting details on the life of this King, read Philip II
of Spain in Wikepedia and find many aspects which might be missing in many of our textbooks.

Fast Running Business, From Formel 1 to Strawberry Fields?

I came about this article in Vanity Fair about
Schumacher. "Es ist eine große Erleichterung,"
roughly translated: It is a great relief.
He says, he has more time now for his family, one wakes up in the morning and one works out his own plans. He will help wherever he can.
Taken from Vanity


Well, I have no idea that he wants to help out in
do your own harvest of strawberries in this village.
I know that he comes from the next small city of Kerpen before he bought this villa in tax-friendly Switzerland. Maybe this is a family related enterprise.
See, nothing comes from nothing. From Formel 1 to Strawberry Fields.

Vaters' Tag o Araw ng mga Tatay sa Alemanya

In Germany, we celebrate Father's Day on
Christi Himmelfahrt or Ascension Day. Why they choose this day
to honour German fathers is not the reason for this posting, but I
think I have stayed long enough in Germany to say that if one asks
me about symbolic image associated with Vaters Tag, I would not
think twice but would say men with beer and carts.

Symbols for me for today's honouring the 'breadwinner' of
German families are not men pushing baby carts but men dragging
carts full of beers. It is actually a day for men to go
bonding, grilling and whole day feasting on Wursts (sausages)
and beer with their male friends. I read the other day a German
online survey asking male readers to click on what they would be
doing on this especial day for fathers, drinking excluded as this
is considered as the alpha and omega of this celebration.
* i will go hiking
* i will stay in the garden (will work or will grill?)
* i will go boating
* i will go biking

While loving mothers stay with their families and
enjoy their house arrest and cake with them, dutiful
breadwinners and fathers are granted this especial day to spend
it with their buddies sans baby carts and screaming kids.

And when I see men so gloriously drunk on their
way home after a whole day of fatherly leisure,
either I begin to understand or wonder why they choose
Ascension Day as Father's Day in Alemanya.

Prost! Magbeer muna tayo!

Salamat sa mga uliran Tatay: Chito, Eddie and his Apo Andrea,
and cooking wizard, Glen.

The Day After

Everybody is hoping and praying, I should say for their voted
candidates to occupy any of the seats up for election May 2007.

In the meantime, we read news both in German and English
dailies describing our election from dramatic to bloody
exercise of democracy. Polls "worse than Afghan election,"
says foreign observer reads in the Inquirer Breaking News from
May 15, 2007.

Just a reminder: We are electing candidates for 17,889 seats
including 12 in the Senate and 275 in the House of Representatives.
Women and men with promises to be of service for the
welfare of the country and its people.

HARINAWA!

Philippine Election Day, May 14, 2007

Same Procedure as Every Election Year?


*No elections in some areas in Laguna, Mindanao provinces
*Comelec exec decries PPCRV's refusal to open Cainta counting
*Disabled voters decry lack of facilities
*Aquino leads AMA unofficial count
*Local Absentee vote canvassing starts
*Negros town poll exec relieved for defying exclusion order
*Makati senior voters a force to reckon with
*Binay leads Lapid in initial count in Makati first district
*Uncle of Masbate mayoral bet killed in shootout
*Rich or poor, voters find their names missing
*Defensor at peace with self, will respect outcome of vote
*Cops brace for violence during canvassing as deaths increase
*Pinikpikan singer claims mayor threatened her
*Kabataan claims votes going to Anak party-list
*(UPDATE)Despite 114 dead, polls 'generally peaceful'

Please click for details of the news in
INQUIRER

*Quo Vadis, Genuine Opposition?
(Q & A with Atty. Adel Tamano, Genuine Opposition Spokesperson)
*We Need Good Leaders
*Kabataan Partylist: Ready for Congress
*Anti-Fraud, Militant Groups Fear OFW Votes Tampering
*Militant, Religious Ask for Ban of AFP
Deployment in NCR
*Soldiers Ordered to Vote for Team Unity,
DND Employee Confirms
*Military Geared for Massive Poll Fraud-NPA Leader
*Election Fraud in Mindanao Begins - Pimentel
*Fraud, 2007
*The Philippine Poverty Situation:
Beyond Poverty Measures, Inequality Grows

Please see complete stories in BULATLAT

The Hands that Rock the Cradle Will Rule the World

Mother's Day in Germany on May 13, second Sunday in May

Featuring the origin of Mother's Day in USA.

As a protest against the Civil War, Julia Ward Howe
wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870.

A part of her proclamation reads:

"Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women, who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity,
mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

A Meaningful Mother's Day, A Day of Peace
to all Mothers.

Philippine Election Special, Voice from a New Botante

Would like to post here a letter/comment from Michelle who will
be voting for the first time this coming Philippine Election
on May 14, 2007.

I'm 23 and I will be voting for the first time this
May 14. I have always been passive about the elections and
have always seen it from an outsider's point of view. This
time, I will try to be a concerned Filipino citizen and
participate in choosing the people to hold the reins. For the
past month, I have been following and watching the news to see
which candidates are worthy of my vote. And to be honest, I
still do not know who is deserving. They are all the same,
I see them as a power-hungry, corrupt officials who have
been milking on the people's tax. What I hate most are
those who bragged about the facilities they have built while
they were in position. (i.e. a bridge with a huge sign
"contributed by Congressman____"). The money used for building
each and every "project" (for lack of words to use), are taken
from the taxpayers'contributions and how dare them take
credit for that.

I have graduated just last 2005 and am in the labor force
for two years. I have felt the bite of tax contribution.
Maybe those who have been working for a longer time now has
taken for granted and/or just choose to forget about these
deductions. But I do not. I get angry while looking at the
"Tax Deductions," in my payslip. It is the amount that I
contribute to the politicians' pocket every month.

This election, I will write the names of those I think are
the lesser devils. I won't vote for actors running for
senators. What do they know about law and lawmaking?
I hope I will make a good choice.

One thing that has been in my mind were the words of
a woman who lived in one of the squatters areas in Manila.
She was interviewed about her views about the candidates
and about the elections. She said, "kung pagsama-
samahin at tuparin ang lahat ng plataporma ng mg kandidato,
tapos ang problema ng Pilipinas" (something to that effect.
How true!

One show in ABS-CBN was also featuring about what children
see about the candidates and politicians; all of them
answered that all Philippine politicians are corrupt.
How sad is that?

I continuously pray for the betterment of the Philippines.
I hope those elected and who will be in power will be
conscientious, and I hope that they would forget their
personal agenda and see what our country desperately needs.
What makes me sad is that I know that I shouldn't hope for
such miracles.

From Michelle

Philippine Election Specials

BEES AND BUGS CONVENTION

BEES
Bees for Eliminating Election Scallywags

BUGS
BUGS UNDERCOVERING GOVERNMENT SECRETS

Who said it in a newspaper that it is better to vote
straight for the carabaos as they are more useful
than some candidates? Touché!

Party-List for the May 14 Philippine Election

Certified List of Sectoral Parties/Organizations/Political
Parties/Coalitions Participating in the Party List System
May 14, 2007 National and Local Elections

1Utak, AA-Kasosyo, At, Abakada, Abanse!Pinay, Aba Ilonggo,
Abono, Add-Tribal, Add, A Teacher, Asahan mo, Agbiagi, Aging Pinoy,
Agap, Ahon, Ahonbayan, Apoi, Akbayan, Aksa, Alagad, Abay Parak,
Abc, Anad, Aawas, Anc, Apo, Arc, Vendors, Ave, Ats, Almana,
Akapin,Agham, Asap, Aba-Ako, An Waray, Amin, Anakpawis, Bandila,
Ag, Alif,A Smile, Aangat ka Pilipino, Anak, Abs, Amang, Assalam,
Aaps, Apec,Babae Ka, Bago, Batas, Btm, Bahandi, Banat, Bayan Muna,
Bigkis, Bp,Biyayang Bukid, Buhay, Cibac, Senior Citizens, Cocofed,
Grecon,Diwa, Gabriela, Hapi, Kabataan, Buklod Filipina, Kalahi,
Kakusa,Ang Kasangga, Kasapi, Butil, Nelfi, Pm, Pmap, Pba, Sm,
Sanlakas,Spi, Suara, Sb, Bantay, Tucp, Umdj, Uni-Mad, VFP,
Yacap, Lypad.

If you wish to check on the meaning of the acronym, please
click on all links pertaining to Philippine Election May 14, 2007.


Photo Credit: Taken from the Internet.

Philippine Election 2007 Specials

 
Senatorial Candidates for the Philippine Elections on May 14, 2007







Angara Edgardo,Aquino Benigno III, Arroyo Joker, Bautista Martin,
Cantal Felix, Cayetano Alan Peter, Cayetano Joselito,
Chavez Melchor, Coseteng Anna Dominique, Defensor Michael,
Enciso Ruben, Escudero Francis Joseph, Estrella Antonio,
Gomez Richard, Honasan Gregorio, Kiram Jamalul III, Lacson Panfilo,
Legarda Loren, Lozano Oliver, Magsaysay Vicente, Montano Cesar,
Oreta Tessie, Orpilla Eduardo, Osmena, John Henry, Pangilinan
Francis, Paredes Zosimo, Pichay Prospero Jr., Pimentel Aquilino III,
Recto Ralph,Roco Sonia, Singson Luis, Sison Adrian, Sotto Vicente III,
Trillanes Antonio IV,Villar Manuel Jr., Wood Victor, Zubiri Juan Miguel

Photo Credits: Niklas

Election Special 08.05.2007

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas,
aking lupang sinilangan
tahanan ng aking lahi

....So far, 95 people have been killed since campaigning
started in January, including two gunned down last
month when police acting as bodyguards for rival politicians
exchanged fire at a road block in a northern province.

In the 2004 presidential elections, 189 people were
killed and 279 wounded.

See complete story in
Reuters

Election Special

Panatang Makabayan

Kasalukuyang bersyon

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas, aking lupang sinilangan,
Tahanan ng aking lahi, kinukupkop ako at tinutulungang
Maging malakas, masipag at marangal
Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas
Diringgin ko ang payo ng aking magulang,
Susundin ko ang tuntunin ng aking paaralan,
Tutuparin ko ang tungkulin ng mamamayang makabayan
Naglilingkod, nag-aaral at nagdarasal nang buong katapatan
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap, pagsisikap
Sa bansang Pilipinas.

Dating bersyon

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas
Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan
Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi.
Ako'y kaniyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan,
upang maging malakas, maligaya at kapakipakinabang
Biglang ganti ay diringin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang
Susundin ko ang tuntunin ng aking paaralan.
Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan
at masunurin sa batas.
Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang walang pag-iimbot
at nang buong katapatan.
Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino,
sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.

Patriot's Oath

I love the Philippines.
It is the land of my birth;
Is is the home of my people.
It protects me and helps me to be strong,
happy and useful.
In return, I will heed the counsel of my parents;
I will obey the rules of my school;
I will perform the duties of a patriotic,
law-abiding citizen;
I will serve my country unselfishly and faithfully
I will be a true Filipino in thought, in word, and in deed.

Overseas Absentee Voting

Calling All Registered Oveaseas Absentee Voters!
For this coming Senatorial and Party-List
Election on May 14, 2007,please be reminded
that the last day of submission of ballots
is on May 14, 2007 not later than 9:00 AM
at the Philippine Embassy.
For detailed information, please
click on the posting regarding May election
in this blog:


Check also Comelec<

Botschaftergespräch, Länder und Kulturen

Im Rahmen des Veranstaltungswochenendes Kölner Bürgerzentren 'Kölner Elf'

Alte Feuerwache Köln
Samstag 5. Mai 2007 17:00 Uhr
Veranstaltungssaal Eintritt frei

Kuturbotschaft in der Alten Feuerwache
Botschaftergespräch
Länder und Kulturen, Begegnen und Handeln

Am Ende der Multikulturellen Gesselschaft wird deutlich,
dass Toleranz mehr ist und mehr sein muss, als den jeweils
Anderen 'nur' zu dulden. Lessings verzweifelt
aufrührerisch Wirkender Ausruf 'Wir müssen, müssen
Freunde sein!' besagt, dass gerade unsere Unterschiedlichkeit
uns zu Austausch und Gespräch verpflichtet. Denn wie
sonst lassen sich Konflikte und Ausseinandersetzungen
vermeiden, wenn nicht durch den Dialog - die Kenntnis und den
fortlaufenden Abgleich unserer unterschied-lichen Positionen.

Dieses von Lessing weltumspannend gemeinte Gespräch zwischen
Ländern, Kulturen und Religionen nennt sich heute
'interkultureller Dialog'. Nicht nur in Köln soll er vor dem
Hintergrund wachsender Bevölkerungsanteile mit 'Migrations-
hintergrund' gestärkt werden. Dabei wird interessanter Weise
den oft als zu kostenintensive geschmähten Künsten eine
Vorreiterrolle zugewiesen.


Vor dem Hintergrund der von uns geplanten 'Kulturbotschaft', in
der KünstlerInnen aus allen Ländern leben und arbeiten
werden, lader wir daher zu einemm 'Botschaftergespräch' ein.
Am Veranstaltungs-Wochenende, 'Kölner Elf' der Kölner
Bürgerzentren werden wir uns mit KünstlerInnen aus
verschiedenen Ländern aber auch mit MitarbeiterInnen unseres
Zentrums über ihre Welten-Erfahrungen unterhalten und
sie zu Möglichkeiten und Begrenzungen des Interkulturellen
Dialogs und zu unserem Projekt Kulturbotschaft befragen.

Teilnehmen an dem Gespräch werden unter anderem

Sonia Mota Tänzerin, Choreografin; Deutschland-Brasilien
Lena Simanjuntak, Theaterregisseurin; Deutschland-Indonesien
Ade Bantu, Musiker, Gründer Brothers Keepers; Deutschland-Nigeria
Ali Jalaly, Theaterautor, Regisseur; Deutschland-Iran
Leornardo Martinez, Schauspieler, Hörfunkregisseur; Deutschland-Iberoamerika
Moderation: Hans-Georg Lützenkirchen und Gregor Leschig
Information: Gregor Leschig: kontakt@gregorleschig.de