One day in a demo...

Verdamp lang her...it has been such a long long time sings BAP
in the local Kolsch dialect. The rock band from Cologne City
performed with other artists and musicians in this weekend
of opposition to the scheduled international conference of
Pro-Koeln. The conference was declared to be Verboten-illegal
due to the massive protests and blockades to the site
of the conference of the ultra-right groups. The weekend
protest was organized by several groups,labour unions,political
parties, religious groups and institutions with the theme
Arsch Huh 2008,
Koeln stellt sich quer.
(Rough translate: Ass up, Cologne opposes!)
A demo-concert by concerned rock bands, artists and
social activists accompanied the weekend protest movement while
other more daring oppositionists have been blockading
roads and routes of the ultra-right groupings.

Today, we remember the notorious day when Marcos
declared Martial Law in the Philippines....36 years ago.
As a small reminder of that notorious day, I am
posting here a short video of this concert demo of
Arsch Huh 2008, Cologne City Says No!
No to intolerance, no to racism!
Yes to a multi-cultural society!
Yes to freedom of religion!

To join a demo in Germany is really a treat, I should say.
But don't come in total black with sunglasses and hood...
you are making yourself a target for the secret cameras
of the staff of Germany is looking for the super stars of
demo...get it?

Here's the video with music from BAP, Verdamp Lang her.
Enjoy it and imagine yourself living in
a multi-cultural society...church here, temple,
mosque,synagogue, Wats, sanctuary and beer gardens.

"Arsch huh 2008 Köln stellt sich quer"

A gathering of anti-racism organizations and institutions
against Pro-Koeln conference in Cologne.
Konzert-Demo with BAP, Brings, Hoehnern u.a.

See:www.koeln.de

Mit BAP, Gentleman, Brings, Klee, Höhnern und allen anderen
Köln stellt sich quer: Das Programm "Arsch huh 2008"

Der sogenannte "Anti-Islamisierungs-Kongress" europäischer
Rechtspopulisten trifft in Köln auf breiten Widerstand.
40.000 Gegendemonstranten werden erwartet. Wie beim ersten
"Arsch-Huh-"Konzert mobilisieren
jetzt auch wieder Kölns Musiker gegen Rechts. Hier das Programm
für den kommenden Samstag.

09.00 Uhr Versammeln sich die Demonstranten auf dem Roncalli Platz

09:30 Uhr Auftritt Tommy Engel Band mit Lammers und Steffen
und als Zugabe Das Trio Otta, Schlimbach, Schiffer

10:05 Uhr Kundgebung mit politischen Redebeiträgen -
Zwischenmoderation Heinrich Pachl

11:00 Uhr Umzug der Demonstranten zum Bühnenstandort
Gürzenichstraße - Quatermarkt

11:30 Uhr Höhner
ökomenisches Friedensgebet
Redebeitrag
Zeltinger Band
Nikitakis
Redebeitrag
KLEE
Redebeitrag
Wilfried Schmickler
Redebeitrag
Köster, Hocker & Friends
Anke Schweitzer & Rolf Lammers
Redebeitrag
Brings
Gentleman
Redebeitrag
BAP
Arsch Huh - Alle zusammen

September 14 and the Mooncake

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival or Happy Mooncake Festival!
This is not a posting on how to make these calorie bombs or
mooncakes but the photographed pinyin or yue bing
(moon biscuit) cake is prepared to be eaten
during our brunch this Sunday morning.
Well, not really prepared but as our original plan
to eat out turned into eating in, I have to look for
something eatable to go with our Espresso Casa Gusto
Cremoso meaning, Espresso if I see spilled milk
inside the fridge (placing milk carton is always a tricky
business in my kitchen) or Cappuccino if we could
splurge on this breakfast item.
Meanwhile, the mooncake is waiting on the breakfast
table as hubby gets back to bed while I check
my emails and found greetings sent by Chinese women
in one of my egroups:

祝大家中秋節快樂!

Could you guess the meaning?

In case you wish to know more about this mooncake
eating festival and Mid-summer Festival...here's
a short info taken from chinesefood.about.com.

The Moon festival (also called the Mooncake or
Mid-Autumn festival)falls on September 14th in the year 2008.
What is the Moon festival?
Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar
calendar,when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the
entire year,the Chinese celebrate "zhong qiu jie." Children are told
the story of the moon fairy living in a crystal palace, who comes
out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. The legend
surrounding the "lady living in the moon" dates back to ancient
times, to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky.
The Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine
extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western
Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal.
However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was banished
to the moon as a result. Legend says that her beauty is greatest
on the day of the Moon festival.

Hey, I just want to eat a mooncake!

祝大家中秋節快樂!

Back to Alemania and Mamma Mia!

 
Ciao!
The week of returning to the nest and Mamma Mia!
What I did the first thing in the morning was to
check the weighing scale and NO, would not, couldn't
say how much I am weighing now. Bad news for those women
who have been impressed by how fast I have lost weight just
by one week of Heilfasten. No... in the land of first and second
plates every meal, Heilfasten is not working at all! But honestly
I have been enjoying every serving during and after our
camping, been noting all the recipes on how to do simple pastas
by just having simple olive oil to top pastas and green leaves,
Sapori as Glen said everytime we had our plates of Italian
pastas in all sizes and names.

Will make a flashback of my sinful days in Bella Italia but
first explanation on the photo above with Meryl Streep
and Pierce Brosnan. This is my first film
this month of August this year after more than two months
of sojourn in Italia teaching or rather trying to teach
Filipino kids the national language of their roots and some values
and traditions like they should obey me as their camping teacher
without questioning my declared authority. It did not work!

Back to the photo from this musical film Mamma Mia...well, hubby
was ready for anything that night so I dared him to join me in this
film, and what a delightful evening we had or at least I had while
humming the winner takes it all. Imagine the scene where the cool
Agent 007 hangs Chinese lanterns and feeling totally helpless in
the presence of a singing ex-girlfriend, Donna (Meryl Streep).
Hubby was enjoying a musical film for the first time!
Anyway, I told him that I would come back to see the film
with my what you called in German "Gleichgesinnten" meaning
like-minded,kindred spirit but not necessarily sharing my
post Bella Italia sojourn, Mamma Mia!...obesity, ugh!
Here's the Tartufo Queen after days of Italian pasti
and tiramisi...I don't know if there's such a word.

How to Grind without Getting Cramps

Here's a good piece of entertainment for you.
To get the most benefit from watching it, get
yourself ready for real moving. Enjoy it!

Hmmmmm! After one and half hour of waiting for youtube
to finish my download, the video is again choppy!
Are there millions of youtubers out there uploading
videos or my modem needs replacement.

Will have to re-upload the video.

In the meantime, I'm getting cramps waiting for signal
from youtube.

Updates No. 2

Hey! Have to do a redo of the video posting.
I have no idea why it gets so choppy.
Wait please for the next posting. Sorry
about this.

Updates, Ngayon at Kailan Man

Ciao!
I am back and ready to spend sleepless nights to do postings
after more than two months of summery hibernation in the
land of fattening pastas and deliriously delicious ice creams.
Meanwhile, let me share this impromptu rendition of
Ngayon at Kailanman from the winner of the Sobre
La Habanera y La Musica Tradicional competition held
in Spain, the University of the East Chorale Group.
Enjoy it!
This is the reloaded video. Hope it works now.

June Ramblings from Independence Day to Paraskevidekatriaphobia

June 12 - Philippine Independence Day, celebration of our declaration
of independence from Spain in 1898.
I declared to be free from some of my blackheads and enjoy the
promised Facial Treatment and Massage birthday gift of Sol on my
8th day of Fasting.But she has condition. We should go for
a power walk first at nine in the morning in the woods near her
residence. No problem I thought as this would just be fitting
for my fasting ritual. I could need some extra burning of
calories as my heavy weight won't declare independence from me.

June 12 this year is one of those so called Schafskälte days
when instead of basking in the sun, people would wear winter
clothes because of the sudden fall in temperature. This
weather phenomenon happens between 10 and 20 of June in Middle
Europe. (Source: http://lifestyle.aolsvc.de


Like a meek lamb, I was trying my best to keep up with
the Olympic tempo of Sol and her other walkathon partner who
must be a bit frustrated with me as she had to break her
fast walking. It rained a bit, too.

Finally back to her place, she immediately made me comfortable
(with servings of tea and water) and started her magic.
Soothing music, soft blanket and my self in total surrender.
Wow! This is pure indulgence. Tell you, women get in touch
with her for your next appointment and feel like a newly reborn
after this exclusive facial treatment with massage.
Lunch served (not included in her treatment unless you are
willing to partake of this luxury)rice with Italian Bagoong
tomatoes, Japanese nori. I did not eat but just enjoyed
watching her consume her favorite meal. So this must be the
secret of her radiance was thinking to myself while taking
my cup of vegetable broth nearer to me. Sigh!
Home to my hubby in the evening who was not working
on manuscripts but of course on...football match Germany
vs.Croatia.

Friday, 13, day of blogging and my first Aufbautag.
Well, fastbreaking roughly translated in English.
While waiting for the supermarket to open and get fresh
apples as fastbreaker (I need only one piece steamed
apple)I find myself in front of the computer and started to
check emails and new postings and I stumbled upon this
word: paraskevidekatriaphobia
meaning fear of Friday-13th.
Oh, fitting day. It is the day after the match, and Germany
lost to Croatia but no cause for despair, the fans have
been assured, there will be another match to show their
might.Meanwhile, I wonder if many Dutch and French fans
are suffering from Paraskevidekatriaphobia for the match
tonight. So with Italian and Romanian fans.

Now, have to do a short break to get my fresh apples to
break my fasting. Hallo Italian Bagoong, here I come!

Dreaming a Pinay Team for the Cup

Source: www.welt.de

After my posting in my other blog of the future Pinoy team to play
in the World Cup,I am now creating this all Pinay Football team.
Let's see which team will make it to the semi-finals.

Pinay Matamisin Football Club

1. Macapuno, Alice
2. Cutsinta, Irma
3. Leche, Flavia
4. Bibingka, Flor
5. Pinipig, Rowena
6. Cassava, Bingbing
7. Akay-akay, Elda
8. Budbud, Edna
9. Budin, Nelly
10.Biko, Debbie
11.Guinatan, Gina
Reserves:
1. Sago, Marilou
2. Sapin-Sapin, Hermie
3. Jaleang, Violeta
4. Suman, Angela
5. Calamay, Claire
6. Panderetas, Marilyn
7. Reyna, Blanca
8. Puto, Thelma
9. Turron, Yvonne
10.Piyaya de Hopia, Pia
11.Gulaman, Victoria
Goalkeeper Extra
Palitao, Solita

If you know any Pinay with these delicious names, please
get in touch with me. Will invite her to a merienda in
my nest. No Joke!

June

Here comes June, named after the Roman goddess Juno,
wife of Jupiter and the equivalent to the Greek goddess
Hera (source wikipedia.org).
June is the traditional month for opening
classes in the Philippines.
June means month of marriage and other tags below:
June Bride
June 12 - Philippine Independence Day
June 24 - Foundation Day of Manila? (it was existing
years before the Spaniards colonized it.)
June 24 - St. John the Baptist, araw ng basaan sa San Juan
piyesta sa bayan ni Rizal sa Calamba, Laguna
Let me share this poem about June

In Fountain Court
by Arthur Symons

The fountain murmuring of sleep,
A drowsy tune;
The flickering green of leaves that keep
The light of June;
Peace, through a slumbering afternoon,
The peace of June.

A waiting ghost, in the blue sky,
The white curved moon;
June, hushed and breathless, waits, and I
Wait too, with June;
Come, through the lingering afternoon,
Soon, love, come soon.

Source: www.poemhunter.com


**********************************************************
The first email I got for this month is from Pinky who comes
from New York. Would like to share with you this
forward...to start the month of June.

JUNE is "REBUILD your LIFE" Month

I Wanted To Change The World
Unknown monk

When I was a young man,
I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world,
so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn't change the nation,
I began to focus on my town.

I couldn't change the town.

As an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man,
I realize the only thing
I can change is myself.

And suddenly I realize that,
if long ago I had changed myself,
I could have made an impact on my family.

My family and I could have made an impact on our town.

Our impact could have changed the nation
and I could indeed have changed the world.



BE THE CHANGE
YOU WANT TO SEE
IN THE WORLD.

--- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) ---

Our Own Search for a New Singing Star

We had a small gathering in the residence of Marilyn H.
to surprise a dear Pinoy friend Dong who celebrated his birthday
last May 14.
One of the guests, Cecile Centeno, a budding Pinay
singing talent gave an impromptu performance. I am posting
here one of her songs with our best wishes for her luck
in her career. Here's the video of her song:

Exhibition: Schlusspunkt. Ausstellung gegen Maennergewalt!

Schlusspunkt.
Ausstellung gegen Männergewalt!

From May 5, 2008
Amtsgericht Koblenz
Karmeliterstrasse 14
Koblenz

This is a roaming exhibition of the women`s group
Notruf für vergewaltigte und von sexueller Gewalt
bedrohte Frauen und Mädchen e.V.

Please see detailed information regarding the
project and information exhibition entitled
Schlusspunkt.Ausstellung gegen Männergewalt!
My rough translation of the title of the
exhibition: End of the Line: Exhibition Against Violence of Men!
German information, please see details in:
http://www.frauennotruf-trier.de/index.php?id=198

From Schafen to Suendenboecken

I chanced on this video and instantly thought of Mr. Mehdorn
and his present dilemma with his trains: Privatization,
looming strikes,demand for higher loan and now strayed
sheeps on the tracks.
Poor poor sheeps! From strayed sheeps to scapegoats!
Enjoy the video:


While investigation is still going on, another
train rammed into a herd of cattle near Dresden today.

I can just imagine that Mr. Mehdorn, the big boss of
the German train company is having bad
dreams lately...meeh, meeh, mehhhhhh.

Girls' Day in Germany, April 24

Girls'Day - Future Prospects for Girls

On the 24th of April 2008 technical enterprises, enterprises with technical departments and technical training facilities, universities and research centres are invited to organise an open day for girls - the Girls'Day.

Through a great variety of events young women are able to gain an insight into working life and get in touch with Human Resources Managers and personnel responsible for traineeships. For this purpose, the participating institutions open their laboratories, workshops and offices to give concrete examples that show girls how interesting and exciting this work can be. Employees are often personally available for discussions.

The Girls'Day opens up extensive future prospects to a generation of qualified young women. With the objective of establishing contacts and drawing attention of industries and the public to girls' strengths.

Pilot projects and campaigns have been launched for about 20 years to change girls' and young women's behaviour patterns with regard to their choice of career and to expand their spectrum of career options. Nevertheless, the number of girls choosing "typically female" careers or subjects of study is disproportionately high. In doing so, they do not fully exhaust their career opportunities. This is in opposition to trade and industry complains about an increasing lack of qualified junior staff in the technical field. Companies that have successfully organised specific Girls'Days are reporting about an increasing number of young women in technical and technically oriented occupations.

The Girls'Day - 'Future Prospects for Girls' initiated a large campaign in which experience made so far has been used and a wide range of professions and activities have been presented to girls in the age of class 5 to 10. By actively taking part in the Girls'Day, girls shall be particularly motivated and encouraged to seize their career options and to decide in favour of a qualified vocational training or degree. Subsequently, they choose an occupation even in professional fields that are presently not typically female. Being a nationwide event that takes place at a uniform date, the Girls'Day shall also in future combine regionally limited initiatives to achieve far-reaching effects unprecedented so far.

The girls who take part in the Girls'Day should be ideally supported by all instances playing an important role in their career choice. So for the Girls'Day encourage the surroundings of the young women - i.e. families, school, media and employers - to participate in the campaign.

Source: www.girls-day.de/english_information

Earth Day, April 22, remembering the Live Earth Pledge

EARTH DAY POEM
by Jane Yolen

I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.
Each blade of grass,
Each honey tree,
Each bit of mud,
And stick and stone
Is blood and muscle,
Skin and bone.
And just as I
Need every bit
Of me to make
My body fit,
So Earth needs
Grass and stone and tree
And things that grow here
Naturally.
That's why we
Celebrate this day.
That's why across
The world we say:
As long as life,
As dear, as free,
I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.
Source:http://www.mrsmcgowan.com/spring/earthday.htm#EARTH

Just to remind myself of the pledge I made last year
during the Live Earth celebration around the world,
I am posting again Live Earth Pledge plus my own
simple pledge for Mother Earth:
The Live Earth Pledge reads:

I PLEDGE:

To demand that my country join an international treaty within
the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in
developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for
the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;

To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing
my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to
become “carbon neutral;”

To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new
generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely
trap and store the CO2;

To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my
home,workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;

To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable
energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;

To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and
protecting forests; and,

To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my
commitment to solving the climate crisis and building
a sustainable,just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

Gore delivered his welcome address from a studio overlooking the
Capitol Building in Washington, DC, where he will be presiding over
Live Earth’s special broadcast event at the Smithsonian’s National
Museum of the American Indian featuring Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Following Gore’s remarks, Australian radio announcer Robbie
Buck took the stage and introduced the first band to play Live Earth:
the Melbourne-based blues/roots band Blue King Brown
.....
My own pledge:
* I will continue sorting out my basura or better avoid basura at all.
* I will bring always my pair of chopsticks when eating at this sushi
bar and will remind the other sushi aficionadas to bring theirs, too.
* I will remind my Japanese friend not to use so much wrappings
for gifts and not to use too many toothpicks!
* Will stop using strong bulbs...switch on to more candles for ambiente.
* Will never use disposables for picnics, gatherings and meetings.
* Will never stop to make kulits to relatives back home to plant
trees,sort out basuras, love their rivers and lakes
and walk than just wait for the next tricycle and ex-communicate
people who throw basuras out of cars,buses and jeepneys.

What about you energy saving bloggers?

Theater Tour: Once We Had a Dream

Oh so....low in Oslo!

 
Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel attended
the opening ceremony of Opera in Oslo and
caused a nation-wide discussion about her
dekolleté.
How low can she go?
Is this beautiful?
Does she not have the right to decide what fits her?
Why do women politicians get this kind of media attention...
either they look so boring in their blue or black suits
or so suddenly daring in their looks.
Any Comment?

Source of Photo:
Koelner-Stadt-Anzeiger
Nr. 88 Dienstag (Tuesday) 15. April 2008

International Women's Film Festival in Cologne

Internationales Frauenfilmfestival
Cologne
23-27. April 2008
Fokus China

Hey Lady...one of those nights when one can not sleep

April 9, Fall of Bataan
My mood is also falling this mid-night so I am Youtubing
and have found this old song. I remember that we had
one weekend of meditation years back and used this
song for reflection. Was it an empowerment weekend
or a retreat?
How do you find the song?



(I'VE) NEVER BEEN TO ME
Charlene

Hey lady
You lady
Cursin' at your life
You're a discontented mother
And a regimented wife
I've no doubt you dream about
The things you never do
But I wish someone had a talked to me
Like I wanna talk to you

Ooh, I've been to Georgia and California and
Anywhere I could run
Took the hand of a preacher man and we
Made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I've been to paradise
But I've never been to me

Please lady, please lady
Don't just walk away
Cause I have this need to tell you
Why I'm all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won't you share a part?
Of a weary heart
That has lived a million lives?

Ooh, I've been to Nice and the isle of Greece
While I sipped champagne on a yacht
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo
And showed 'em what I've got
I've been undressed by kings
And I've seen some things that a woman ain't s'posed to see
I've been to paradise
But I've never been to me

(narrated)
Hey, you know what paradise is?
It's a lie
A fantasy we created about people and places
As we like them to be
But you know what truth is?
It's that little baby you're holding
And it's that man you fought with this morning
The same one you are gonna make love to tonight
That's truth
That's love

Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children
That might have made me complete
But I, I took the sweet life
I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet
I spent my life exploring
The subtle whoring
That costs too much to be free
Hey lady, I've been to paradise
But I've never been to me, ooh

(I've been to paradise)
Never been to me
(I've been to paradise)
Never been to me

(Sigh, Huhuhuhu, Ngitngit,Sayang,Why?,Baket?
So what, eh ano?)
Choose your mood.

Konzert zum Nowrooz und Osterfest

 

An Invitation to a Concert
in Celebration of Iranian Nowrooz and Easter
Date: Friday, April 11, 2008, 7 pm
Place: Internationales Zentrum
Stolzestr. 1a
Cologne City
Tel:0221.560 460
Entrance Fee: 4.50Euro