PINAY KALEIDOSCOPE SA ALEMANYA: Friendship

Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts

Sunday, 17 May 2015

Alles neu macht der Mai

May means revisiting cherished friends' nest and their rhododendron blooming for brunch and asparagus dinner

Lunch with former neighbors who made us feel so cherished preparing our favorite German potato salad

White wine to go with our German-Italian lunch

Seeing again the house and the street lined with blooming chestnut trees

Lilo prepared the butter so artistically, I didn't want to touch it.

Lilo's own dessert-cream with blueberries and toasted almonds

May is month of Maibowle

Looking at this shop while enjoying our Maibowle and beer

Ludwig Windthorst (17 January 1812 – 14 March 1891)

Osnabrücker Rad - the logo of the city

Hase river

A little Madness in the Spring, is wholesome even for the King. (Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886)


Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling. Walt Whitman 1819-1892

Another city to visit in May for Reibekuchen, May in Münster

May for strawberries

to match asparagus, white or green

cherries for dessert

or the Rhododendron with dry sherry before dinner

Dinner of golden asparagus to match the young potatoes of Spring cooked with love by Rolf and Heike


Two towers, rotating telling the story of the battle of the Germanen and the Romer

O, the month o May, the merry month o May,
So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green
O, and then did I unto my true love say,
Sweet Peg, thous shalt be my Summer's Queen.

The Merry Month of May by Thomas Dekker (c.1572-1632)

Sunday, 5 May 2013

Remembering dear Father Avel

We are saying goodbye to a dearly loved and respected friend and parish priest of the Filipino Community in Barcelona, Father Avel Sapida. A staunch supporter for the rights of migrants, he founded the Centro Filipino, a center for Filipino migrants in the capital city of Catalunya, Spain where migrants come looking for consultation, help and celebrate small gatherings. Courses and other info activities on the situation of migrants especially in Barcelona are offered in the Centro Filipino San Benito.


Fr. Avel being given a recognition from Diwata, the women's network in Greece during Babaylan's 20th Year of Celebration in Barcelona in 2012.

Below is one of the hundreds of tribute to Father Avel.

As a priest, a friend, a brother, a father or a grandfather, what FR. AVEL had done will always be a significant part in the history of the Filipino Community in Barcelona. He will always be remembered as THE ONE WHO CAME, THE ONE WHO SEARCHED AND THE ONE WHO GATHERED.

To you Fr. Avel, thank you very much for unconditionally loving the Filipino community in Barcelona. For opening our eyes to the plight of our kababayans abroad. For defending, protecting and fighting for the rights of migrant workers.

I heartily thank you for touching my life, for showing and inspiring me to serve our Kababayans in my own little way. I will always remember you, Fr. Avel. The man I truly admire and look up to. Rest in peace and may you have a pleasant journey to a place where happiness is eternal and love is everlasting.

I join the whole Filipino community in Catalunya in praying for the eternal repose of Fr. Avel Sapida.

From Nats Sisma Villaluna.

Today, May 5, Greece is celebrating Easter Sunday. I would like to share my video where Fr. Avel explained briefly the meaning of Easter. Video was taken during Easter Sunday celebration in Barcelona in 2011.

We found a home in Barcelona in his presence.

Babaylanes Women Honouring Father Avel


Such a loving host, spoiling us and even tolerating our "splurging" moods by driving us around.

You will surely be missed, Fr. Avel.

Tuesday, 25 December 2012

Merry Christmas!

Monday, 3 September 2012

A Triathlon and More Weekend (Bulgogi, Haberdashery and Social Engagement)

Bulgogi - marinaded or fiery beef

It was the weekend of the so-called Köln (Cologne) Triathlon. Wiki gives us the meaning of the word Triathlon, which comes from Greek trei (three) and athlos (contest); a multiple-stage competition involving the completion of three continuos and sequential endurance events. So while the city was feverish with its known sports festival, I was having my own Triathlon and more weekend. It started with feasting with our group we named OTAP (Organization of Truly Attractive Pinays, hehehe!) in a Bulgogi Korean Restaurant where we enjoyed servings of Ssamgyup-sal (pork), Bulgogi (marinaded beef), slices of squids and shrimp pieces to grill. There is a non-stop, all you can eat bar for the side-dishes from Kimchi (spicy pickled white Chinese cabbage), Chap-Chae (stir-fried mixture), Kimba (sushi roles) and other fiery mixture of green and yellow vegetables. For this dinner, one has to pay 18.90 each excluding drinks.


Fried Korean Mandoo - Dumplings as Starters


Side-dishes of fried noodles, sprouts and other veggies

A Day for Haberdasheries- Did you Know That?

Next day, Sunday, I saw an ad in the local newspaper about a German-Dutch Textile Market going on in the city. This is a rotating market of textiles, leather stuffs, buttons, self-made ornaments and other articles for sewing and home decorations. I befriended a stand-owner from Morrocco selling shawls, leather bags and clothes from India. I heard him saying no discount to other buyers but to me he gladly gave 3 to 4 Euro discount for the stuffs I bought. He gave me his card and I promised him to look after him in FB. Maybe I would even visit him in my next trip to Holland and see more of his colourful collection of Indian skirts and shawls. One sees and gets more of these exotic pieces in the neighboring Dutch cities. Watch out for the next rotating market in your cities. Check expo-concept dot de if you're interested in sewing. I am really thinking of getting myself a sewing machine and relearn how to sew and stitch.

Good for sewing your coats and not only for sofa

Sorry, they are not selling this dress.

The stand of exotic shawls and Indian dresses owned by Mohammed from NL

Beads, stones, plastic and real


A duster

Next stop is Heumarkt for Köln (Cologne) Engagement - Volunteering Spirit in Cologna

I received a call from a friend informing me that our dear friend, Honardo, is performing in Heumarkt. I rushed from the Haberdashery Market to Heumarkt to see him perform but I missed his performance by some minutes but luckily I found out that it was the Sunday of honouring the many organizations and individuals doing volunteering work for the city. Engagement without any remuneration. A city so rich in caring citizens. CCC - Cologne's Caring Citizens

Cultural Program for Social Engagement

Amnesty International

In formal German it means, do you like to work as a volunteer?

Volunteers by the Red Cross

He is showing what this trained dog could do for you for some sweets, of course.

Cologne Against Hunger

Residence for Inter-Generation

Volunteering to cultivate interest of children for arts

Future Avant-garde - starting them young

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Ausflug nach Hamburg

Finally we found a common date for our first excursion but we didn’t realize it would be one of the hottest weekends recorded in Germany. Temperature was going as high as 38+° and so with our excitement. We agreed not to fight, not to have especial wishes and most of all to be tolerant to each other. One for all, all for one.

The train ride from Bonn to Hamburg took about four and half hours which we didn’t feel at all as we were busy finishing a bottle of sparkling wine, homemade cake, bought croissants and salted bagels, strawberries, plums, pieces of honey melons and samosas. One train employee selling coffee even willingly took some of our offered honey melons. We were not bothered anymore as they could see our compartment was turning into an instant dining room. Some women travelers passing by our compartment were giving us the thumb-ups. For the bottle of sparkling wine early morning? Enjoy the photos!