LP - Linis (Clean)

Happy LP sa lahat ng miyembro ng Litratong Pinoy. Ang tema natin para sa araw na ito ay LINIS na sadyang napapanahon dahil sa pinsalang dulot ng bagyong Ondoy (Ketsana). Ako'y nalulungkot sa sinapit ng ating mga kababayan na hanggang ngayon ay patuloy na nangangailangan ng tulong. Marami ang mga bagay na dapat LINISin sanhi ng baha at harinawa'y sa tulong ng Poong Maykapal ay unti unting makabangon ang mga naapektuhan at higit sa lahat, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. Ito ay isa lamang pagsubok ng tadhana at walang pinipili, mayaman man o mahirap.

Ang aking lahok ay may kaugnayan sa nakaraang tema- ang Palengke. Dito sa aming lugar ang araw ng tiyangge sa siyudad ng Offenburg ay tuwing Martes at Sabado at ito ay mula alas- siyete ng umaga hanggang ala-una ng hapon. Eksakto ala-una ay darating na ang trak na magliLINIS ng kalye. Sadyang napakaunlad ng bansang Alemanya, ang mga gamit nila sa pagliLINIS ay mga makabagong makina.

Ayan malinis na ulit, wala ng bakas ng mga puwesto ng gulay, prutas, isda, halaman at kung ano ano pa.

Ang wine festival naman ay idinaos mula Septyembre 25-28. Libo libo ang mga taong dumalo sa taunang winefest. Kinabukasan, ang mga may ari ng stalls ay nagsimulang magLINIS at magligpit ng kani-kanilang mga puwesto.

Typhoon Ondoy:The Aftermath

First of all, in behalf of our La Reyna Kapitana of Barrio Siete, i would like to thank all the donors for our bayanihan fund drive. The first remittance to the Philippine National Red Cross was done today. Please spread the word that the victims still needs help, foods, goods, cash or in kind. To those who have more in life, please help. The Philippines has not yet recovered from the damage caused by the typhoon, yet there is an incoming typhoon again, hope and pray that it will not as harmful as Ondoy and might change direction. Added to the fear of the people are the crocodiles that escape their sanctuary at Pasig nature park. What's happening is really unusual, its the domino effect of climate change. In this situation when mother nature attacks, there's no rich, there's no poor. Please click here for your donation



By the way, i would like to thank Dirk, for his generosity and understanding, Mutti, Klaus and our german friends who called and show their concern especially to Thomas, Gunther and Gudrun. Thank God my family are safe and only a minimal damage on my kids house.

Dinner with Friends

Our weekly family gatherings started last month when my best friend Joy initiated a once a week dinner. She hosted our first family get together and the other week is our turn. Our partners in life are golfers and they never run out of topic to discuss during those meetings.

Last saturday, it's the König's turn to host dinner for us. Aside from us, Lilia and Gwen joined us for a night of good camaraderie.

We cooked, eat together and talked mostly about family life back home, the typhoon that hit the Philippines that day and parental responsibilities. (Lalaine König in black and white shirt)

Our golfers joined the golf tournament that day where Edgar, the husband of Joy won 4th place in his division. (Michael König on the left side)

B7 Fund Drive for Typhoon Victims

Yesterday, more than 300,000 people have been affected by tropical storm "Ondoy" that has caused heavy downpour and massive flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.Thousands have lost their homes, many children are now hungry and stranded on their rooftops. Rescue workers are overloaded with the burden of saving thousands waiting to be saved. Please help by putting a badge or making a small donation.

Photo credit-Xinhua/Reuters Photo
To all readers, bloggers, lurkers, expats around the world and to all who have some extra money to spare, please help, your small donation will help a lot our kababayans who are in dire need of your support.

For your donation please visit Barriosiete.com. The donors list will be updated regularly and will be posted in our website.

Offenburg Winefest

Today is the start of the much awaited wine festival in Offenburg. For others, it is an excuse to try to get drunk on endless shots of wine, but basically its more of a drink and drown situation.


We did go there early enough to witness the preparation of the people involve in the festival. There are food stalls serving up barbecued German sausages, gyros, flammkuchen and other german foods.

There's also live music to entertain the wine drinkers, there are at least three musical flatforms each with different kind of music and entertainment

There are also several wine stalls selling different kinds of wines and other alcoholic drinks.

Winefest is not only for wine drinkers, its for children as well because of the presence of kids rides.

Offenburg winefest attracted thousands of visitors every year and the most important thing to remember about winefest is that you definitely shouldn’t drive home. Truly, September brings an event that cheers a lot of people and its all about wine.

Mama Mary's Visit

Mama Mary is also visiting houses here in Germany, a Filipino tradition that was passed from one generation to another. She is staying for a few days at Elena's house and together with some of our friends, we prayed the rosary. Mama Mary never fails me, she is my daily source of strength.

It's a good feeling to be with friends again and after praying, we have lunch together.

Mama Mary is going to another friend's house in the next days and she will bring with her our never ending love and dedication. To you Mama Mary, we love you very much!

LP- Palengke (Market)

Happy LP to all!!! Ang tema para sa araw na ito ay palengke o market, mga giliw na readers at mga ka-LP, atin ding silipin ang lahok ng ibang miyembro ng Litratong Pinoy.

Sa aking paglilibot saan mang bahagi ng mundo, isa sa mga pinupuntahan namin ay mga palengke. Ang lugar na ito ay malapit sa aking puso sapagkat dito kami binuhay ng aking namayapang ina. Madaling araw pa lamang ay kasa kasama na ako noon ng aking ina sa palengke ng blumentritt upang mamili ng mga paninda. Sa pagtitinda at pagkakaroon ng karinderya kami nabuhay at nakapagtapos ng pag aaral. Kaya, halina at ililibot ko kayo sa mga palengkeng aking napuntahan.

Unahin natin ang Tutuban (Divisoria) sa Pilipinas, paboritong palengke yan ng aking better half kasi diyan lang siya nakakabili ng kilo kilong tela para ipagawa ng short at t-shirt. Mura ang mga bilihin dito kung kaya't ito'y dinadayo ng mga tao lalo na kapag nalalapit ang kapaskuhan.

Dumako naman tayo sa bansang Hongkong, dito ko nakita ang marami nating kababayan na namamalengke.

Sa ibabang larawan naman ay ang palengke sa Ho Chi Min City o dating tawag na Saigon sa Vietnam, parang palengke rin sa atin

Amin ring napuntahan ang floating village sa bansang Cambodia at ang palengke nila ay nakalutang rin. Ang mga mamimili ay nakasakay din sa maliit na bangkang de sagwan at ang mga bata naman ay sa palanggana nakasakay. Lahat ng kabahayan, paaralan at simbahan ay pawang nakalutang.


Dumako naman tayo sa bansang Thailand, ang palengke sa Bangkok ay kagaya rin ng sa atin, napakarami ng mga paninda gayon din ang mga nagtitinda

Sa United Arab Emirates naman ay nabisita namin ang palengke sa Kuwait.

Napadako rin kami sa tindahan ng mga gintong alahas at kasuotan sa Kuwait market, at ito ang nabili namin, mukha pa rin bang German si Dirk kahit na naka Arabian costume??

Dito naman sa Europa ay nagawi kami sa city market ng Amsterdam sa bansang Holland, kasama ko sa larawan ang aking anak na si Rose Belle nung siya ay nagbakasyon dito sa Germany.

Sa Budapest, Hungary naman ang palengkeng nakalarawan sa ibaba, napakalaki rin ng kanilang palengke kung saan ka makakabili ng lahat ng pangangailangan sa bahay at buhay.

Dito sa aming lugar, dalawang beses lang sa isang linggo nagkakaroon ng tiyangge, araw ng martes at sabado. Bagama't mabibili mo rin ang mga paninda dito sa mga supermarket, mas gusto ng mga tao dito sa kadahilanang mas sariwa ang mga paninda lalo na ang mga prutas at gulay na hango sa kanilang mga taniman.


Sana ay nagustuhan ninyo ang paglilibot sa iba't ibang palengke kasama ang palengke queen.

The Ageing Population

Here in Germany, people live longer and have fewer children than before. As a result, the share of elderly people in the total population rises. A society ages because of greater longevity, people had a healthy life styles in terms of improved nutrition, hygiene, and a growing emphasis on physical and mental exercise. There's also a decline in the fertitility rates because couples choose to have few children because of their expensive basic needs.

Before, children were important means of facilitating household work – especially when their parents grew old – and thus functioned as a sort of old-age insurance. Other reasons include life-long learning and increased educational possibilities that certainly played a part in the trend towards later marriage and consequently less children. Higher ages at marriage are also due to changing values in society, namely a greater social acceptance of cohabitation prior to marriage.

There is a direct effect on Germany’s social security system due to shifting relative weights of different age groups in society. Working life will also change in the long term due to shortages of young workers on the labour market. Today, about 70 percent of the people in need for care are hosted by their families. However, family care has its limits, which is due to a shrinking portion of young people in society.

Havaianas

Havaianas are considered one of the most comfortable rubber flip-flops in the world and these sandals are made in Brazil using a secret rubber formula. While Brazilians were the first to become addicted to the simple sandals, their popularity has spread and the little flip-flops that could have now been seen around the world attracted not only me but the biggest celebrities as well.

I bought my first havaianas in the Philippines. While we're in the shopping mall, i noticed a lot of women, wearing just a simple rubber slipper. So i asked my daughter, why are they wearing those bath flip flops. She told me that's the trend nowadays and another brand Ipanema is also making waves in the feet scene. I find those flip flops comfortable especially during mall hopping. I bought my first Ipanema at SM North Edsa and the picture above is my new havaianas which Dirk bought for me here in Gemany.

Vandalized Election Posters

Election time is always a silly season. Next sunday is election day here in Germany. While walking around the city this afternoon, i came across campaign pictures of candidates vandalized by german teenagers. It happened everywhere in the world when there is election, where they make fun of the faces of the candidates.

Actions of this kind can be ascribed to spontaneous opportunistic behavior of undisciplined people.

The Last Boxes

Today we finished the final two balikbayan boxes for shipment to the Philippines. It's going to be the last boxes because we're going to be there again in six weeks.

It's very exhausting the preparation of the boxes but its all worth it. Our retirement house is finished and come the next step- buying and arranging the furnitures inside. That's why we're sending some of our stuff here to save money. It's no joke to build a house because of the economic crisis, but if you look on the inflation rate which is increasing yearly, crisis or no crisis, now is the right time. It's more of build now, worry later, just look at the sky and tell yourself, "i can manage this, so please help me God"

Summer is Over

The warm weather is over which draws more tourists than at any other season, driving up prices and creating long lines at museums and sights. It's also during summer that europeans are themselves on the move to their own vacation spots. Even the german kids also return to their normal school routine starting yesterday. So goodbye to summer and hello to herbst or autumn.

Harvesting is the most significant event in autumn in Germany, therefore, it created a vast variety of traditions and celebrations. But most of them are aimed to celebrate the only thing which is most important for people – good and rich harvest –which feeds the whole nation during winter. It is also the start of more wine fest around the country and also the famous oktoberfest in Munich.

Back to School for German Kids

Summer vacation is over and the kids return to school today. Here in Germany, the start of classes varies depending on the area. It is a time of hopes and dreams for a happy and successful school year for kids, parents and teachers.

To ensure safety of the schoolkids, the authorities installed a lot of speed cameras on the road leading to schools. There are also printed signs reminding the motorist to be careful and watchful in driving.

Its a mixed feeling for schoolkids, some are excited to go back to school while others still in the vacation mode.

Jenny's Birthday

Yesterday, Jenny, the daughter of lalaine and michael, celebrated her 15th birthday. It's a very simple celebration attended by just a few of jenny's friends, relatives and close friends of the parents.

Her grandma and mom lalaine prepared schnitzel or breaded pork, salads, french fries and vegetable dishes, typical german foods.


The kids also have fun

We're friends and our partners in life are golf buddies