Cross-Border Weekend

 
 
 
 

One of those perks in living in Europe is a smooth and care-free
travelling around with European trains. That is if they are not
on strike or repairing some tracks on weekends. One can either
book tickets directly per internet with especial discounts for
holders of special discount for frequent travellers or the so-called
Bahncard which gives 25% to 50% cut on the regular fares, or for
bookers for holiday tariffs as advertised by almost all European
trains.
German trains offer as low as 19Euro
for one-way ticket to Amsterdam or even as low as 39Euro to
some European capital cities like Paris, Milano and Copenhagen.
I have a return ticket to Amsterdam which would
expire this last weekend of March and so despite the
not so encouraging weather forecast for Holland and the
return text of my girlfriend Herms who is, in turn,
spending her weekend in Belgium, I took the early ICE
train to this land of tulips and cheese with a bit
of frustration though as I found out that this super
fast train would be rerouted and definitely would
be encountering delays as good, industrious
Dutch railway technicians or other guest workers are repairing
Dutch tracks this weekend.
Reaching the main station of Utrecht, I have never fail to
do the first act of my visiting rites...go to the nearest
French fries (should be Dutch fries right?) and get myself
a normal serving with peanut and mayonnaise dressing. Yes,
even for breakfast! If I would get my good share of my
bad cholesterol, then it should come from a genuine
source and not the copied fries in Germany.
The rest of the short day would be spent in window shopping
checking the latest fashion worn by these mannequins. It always
amuses me to see that in Holland, the boundary of fashion
between let us say grandmas and their teenage granddaughters is
just also a cross-generation dressing. Wear anything as long as
you enjoy wearing it or simply anything goes seems to be the
fashion dictate in this land of Gouda cheese, Delft porcelain and
herring eaters.



Even for a rainy weekend, the flower market is worth
a visit to complement a day tour of the market taking
photos of how these honey waffle cookies are made or just
feasting one's eyes on all all sizes and shapes and colors
of fish, cheese, nuts,candies leather bags, skirts and shawls,
fruits and locks, screws, bolts and toys for cats
and dogs.

On my way back, the ICE train would be again rerouted
but this time, I have a bagful of giant-sized pindas
(peanuts), cashew nuts, crab salad, honey waffle cookies,
and cheeeeeeeeeese! A real Dutch treat, right?

Happy Easter Monday!

 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

East Meets West: Equinox, Newroz, Easter and 5th Year Iraq War

 
"And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
A.C.Swinburne

We received today an email from our Iranian friend and his
family greeting us for the coming Easter and at the same time
sharing with us his wish for peace just in time for
the celebration of the traditional Iranian new year
holiday of Newroz.
Newroz is celebrated throughout the countries of the Middle
East and Central Asia as in Iran, Azerbaijian, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Turkey.In Kurdish legend, the holiday
celebrates the deliverance of the Kurds from a tyrant, and
it is seen as another way of demonstrating support for the
Kurdish cause. The celebration is commonly transliterated
Newroz by the Kurds and coincides with the spring equinox
which falls mainly on 21st March. See the complete text
in wikipedia
This morning, I received also an sms from my sister:
"May All Good Things Come Ur Way as D Sun Rises.
Have a Meaningful Holy Week. God Bless!"

While all the greetings are about new start and new
beginning with the official start of Spring 2008,
media has been covering about the recent protests
in Tibet and the 5th year of War in Iraq.
What a waste of human resources!

I am posting here for this especial day of
remembering:
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in
the minds of men that the defences of peace must
be constructed."
Unesco, Constitution, adopted 16.Nov.1945

No to War!
Peace!
Happy Easter!

Without the light and the fire of Love
Without the Designer and the power of Creator,
We are not able to reach Union.
(Light is for us and dark is the night)
This fire massing and washing the Heart,
My heart claim after it.
And here come Newroz, and the New Year,
When a such light is rising.
from Melaye Ciziri (1570-1640)
Source: Wikipedia

Cross Posting: IWD 2008 Internationalerfrauentag

Photo: Peter Rakocyz

Talente und Potenziale liegen brach

VON CLAUDIA HAUSER, 09.03.08, 20:55h
BILD: RAKOCZY
Beim Internationalen Frauentag informierten im Rathaus
unterschiedliche Gruppen vor allem über Themen,
die Migrantinnen betreffen.

Elisabeth ist 15, kommt aus dem Kongo und hat einen einfachen,
mädchenhaften Wunsch: "Ich möchte mit 20 heiraten!" Das Foto,
das die Künstlerin Jane Dunker von ihr für die Ausstellung
"Innenwelten Außenwelten" machte, zeigt Elisabeth deshalb im
Brautkleid vor einer Fototapete mit Strand und Palmen. "Falls ich
nicht heirate,habe ich wenigstens ein Foto von mir im Brautkleid",
steht neben dem Bild. 17 Mädchen, die regelmäßig den
interkulturellen Treff "Lobby für Mädchen" in Mülheim besuchen,
zeigen über Bilder und Collagen,was sie sich wünschen, wovor sie
Angst haben und was sie berührt.

Die großformatigen Fotos waren beim Empfang zum
Internationalen Frauentag im Rathaus zu sehen, zu dem die Stadt
unter dem Motto "Frauen International - Dialog der Kulturen.
Wir feiern - Wir fordern" eingeladen hatte. "Niemand darf Frauen
daran hindern, sich frei zu entfalten und zu bilden", sagte
Bürgermeisterin Elfi Scho-Antwerpes in ihrer Eröffnungsrede.
Vor allem um die Förderung von Mädchen und Frauen mit
Migrationshintergrund sollte es in den einzelnen Foren gehen. So
referierte Faize Berger über die Stärkung von multikulturellen
Unternehmerinnen, die Psychologin Azra Pourgholam-Ernst stellte das Gesundheitserleben von Migrantinnen in den Fokus,
außerdem wurde die Chancengleichheit in Ausbildung, Bildung und
Beruf diskutiert. Die Ergebnisse der einzelnen Foren sollen in
das Integrationskonzept der Stadt einfließen.
"In Köln leben 159 000 Frauen mit Migrationshintergrund", sagte
Petra Engel, stellvertretende Leiterin des Amtes für Gleichstellung
von Frauen und Männern. "Es wird dringend Zeit,sie mehr ins
Blickfeld zu rücken." Engel findet es bedenklich, dass einerseits die
Erwerbsquote von Migrantinnen wesentlich geringer sei als bei
deutschen Frauen; die Beschäftigung der Frauen in privaten
Haushalten als Reinigungskraft oder Pflegerin aber deutlich
zunehme. "Die Talente und Potenziale dieser oft sehr gut
ausgebildeten Frauen liegen brach", ergänzte Scho-Antwerpes.

Köln hat als erste deutsche Stadt 1982 eine Gleichstellungsstelle eingerichtet - auch
dieses Jubiläum sollte im Rathaus gefeiert werden.

See original report in Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Nr. 59 Montag 10.03.2008

IWD Cologne 2008

In a society where the rights and
potential of women are constrained,
no man can be truly free.
He may have power,
but he will not have freedom.
Mary Robinson, President of Ireland

You are the architect of your personal experience.
Shirley Maclaine

Be critical. Women have the right to say: "This is
surface, this falsifies reality, this degrades".
Tillie Olsen

Women are always being tested...but ultimately, each of
us has to define who we are individually and then do the
very best job we can to grow into that.
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Never retract, never explain, never apologize...get
the thing done and let them howl.
Nellie McClery

I only want to lose to bathroom scales.
MarLou Baylanes

Yesterday is a cancelled check
Tomorrow is a promisory note
Today is cash in hand; spend it wisely.
Anonymous

Happy International Women's Day 2008!

International Literature Festival in Cologne

 

"Das achte Mal"
Internationales Literaturfest
lit.cologne
29.02. - 9.3. 2008

As my small contribution to the celebration of
the 8th International Literature Festival in the city
of Cologne, I would be posting some of my favorite
pieces of poetry, book info and just about your and my
favorite hobby...reading.
But as in German expression Vorab or roughly to begin
with, or in Pilipino Bago ang lahat...here's
the meaning of literature:
"Literature is the one place in any society where
within the secrecy of our own heads, we can hear voices
talking about everything in every possible way."
Salman Rushdie

For detailed information and program, see
litcologne.de

Remembering 1986 People Power

 


Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo
(Jim Paredes)

Di na ko papayag mawala ka muli
Di na ko papayag na muling mabawi
Ating kalayaan kay tagal na nating mithi
Di na papayagang mabawi muli

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao
Kay sarap pala maging Pilipino
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain
Kelan man di na paaalipin

Refrain:

Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarunungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan
Nagkasama ang mahirap at mayaman
Kapit-bisig madre, pari at sundalo
Naging langit itong bahagi ng mundo

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim
Tinig ng bawat tao'y bigyan ng pansin
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon
Ito'y lagi nating tatandaan.

Valentine

Valentine

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or a kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Carol Ann Duffy

Valentine's Day in Alemanya
Thursday, 2008 February 14
Weather: Foggy as in Foggy
Not Love
but condensed milk in the air
Hubby still sleeps
We have a date
if the weather will permit
to see the film
Charlie Wilson's War
Nope, we are not getting
romantic because it is Valentine's Day
It is Film Day - on Thursday
movies are cheaper.
In the meantime
will look for another soul mate
who thinks Valentine's Day in Germany
is commercial as in commercial
but where in the world
do you find uncommercialized Valentine's Day
from chocolates to gift of special rates of tanning studios
so women get as commercial as you can
it is Valentine's Day
go back to the classics
coffee, tarts and cream
shopping, window shopping.

Return of Spring in February

International Sweets and Biscuits Fair Part 2...The Fair

The Super Tuesday- Visit to the ISM, Cologne
What a double treat that my pasalubongs from
Padova of tocino and langgonisa plus the polvorons
from my mother would give me a free ticket to this
fair of sweets and biscuits held annually in the city
of Cologne. Thanks to Felinda and Enrico of Del Conte
Cioccolato sublime from Villa del Conte, Italy for the
treat and for bringing me the sweets pasalubong from
Anggie and Cecil of Padova plus the polvoron brought
by Irene from her holiday in the Philippines.
How about these tempting names of fingergoodies to
add to your favorite things:
Sesame Halva from Bolero
Cocoa Wafer Sticks
Marschmallows from Don Juan
Amaretti
Morbidi alla frutta
Neole d'Abruzzo
Marmelade for cheese and meat
Ice Cream without Freezing
Panecillos Tostados
Marzipan
Drogistendrop from Holland
Honey bars
Magic Fruits Beauty Snack
Candy Floss
and hundreds and hundreds of temptations





I discovered the booths of Philippine goods dealing with
chocolate chip cookies, fita spread, boas or
toasted lady fingers, apas-thin biscuits,
camachile-crunchy cookies double
cream sandwich cookies called Smileys, galletas
or egg craclets. Brought home a handful of
samples but my heart was longing for the
broas but they are strictly for display!
Lucena here I come!

Sweet Life: International Sweets and Biscuits Fair

Fair Cologne
ISM
27-30 January, 2008
International Sweets and Biscuits Fair

I thought Cologne has only Anuga for its international
exhibition on food until I got this sweet information
from my girlfriend Cecille who lives in the land of
pasta, pope and red wine.

She would like to send me some of my Italian
favorite fingergoodies like... Tocino and langgonisa through an Italian exhibitor...not exhibitionist who would call and
inform me where to get my pasalubongs.
As I did not find pinay/pinoy sounding names in my search for
for possible dealers of hopyas, otaps, dried mangoes, I am posting
photo of these pasalubongs from Marilou and Emma as
an alternative to buying an expensive day ticket to experience
that sweet life in my city.
For further info, please click the site of Fair Cologne
www.ism-cologne.com

Lust, Caution...Keeping the Hobby on Sunday

 

(photo taken from wikipedia)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Lee

Drizzling and grey this last Sunday and what to do on such
dreary and cold day in Germany? Two options are always left to
us, me and hubby on such days when things i.e. like papers
to be sorted out, reports to be submitted and I particularly
not in the mood as usual to do great cooking - go to the city
and dine and see films or stay at home, dine and see tv films.
This time we found a new cosy and elegant Italian Restaurant
where I tasted this red wine from Sicily...a sort of Nero d'
Avola from Pietra Sacra (sacred rock) which I quickly and
secretly scribbled for googling later to get original source
and not the pricey bottles from Italian restaurants.

Lust and Caution!

Then we found this film of Ang Lee Lust, Caution
Macht und Begierde in German. Let me insert here the
info taken from Wikipedia about Ang Lee and his
NC-17 rated but much awarded film. NC-17 means No Child below 17.

The story is mostly set in 1942 Shanghai under Japanese
occupation. It depicts a group of patriotic Chinese students
plotting to kill a member of the Japanese collaborationist
government of Wang Jingwei, using a young woman as a lure.
"Mrs. Mak" (played by Tang Wei -- a sophisticated and
well-to-do woman -- sits, remembering in a café, how her story
began several years earlier, in war-torn 1938 China. A shy student
-- Wong Chia Chi -- has been left behind by her father, who has
escaped to England. While in her freshman year at her university,
a male student named Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom) makes her acquaintance.
Kuang has started a dramatic theatre group, in which Chia
Chi becomes leading lady, moving and inspiring both her audience
and her new-found friend Kuang.

It is Kuang who devises a daring plan to assassinate Mr. Yee
(Tony Leung)a high-ranking Kuomintang official with overt ties to
the collaborationist government headed by Wang Jingwei who was
widely denounced as a national traitor -Hanjian. Chia Chi, already
the star performer in the theatre group, is chosen to penetrate the
police security surrounding the Yee family. In the guise of Mrs.
Mak, she insinuates herself in the social circle of Mrs. Yee
(Joan Chen). She catches the eye of Mr. Yee and tries to lure
him into a location where he can be assassinated. In preparation
for a possible affair with Yee, Chia Chi sacrifices her virginity
to a fellow conspirator. The plot goes awry, and Wong flees,
following an unexpected fatality.

In Shanghai three years later she again encounters Kuang, who --
now part of an organised underground resistance group seeking to
overturn the Japanese occupation -- enlists her into a renewed
conspiracy to kill Yee. By this time, Mr. Yee has become the head
of the Chinese secret-police working for the occupation to hunt
down Chinese resistance agents.

Eventually, Chia Chi becomes the mistress of Mr. Yee. After
several clandestine sexual encounters, Mr. Yee gives her a sealed
envelope to deliver to a jewellery store. She believes the letter to
be a covert message for the secret police. When she arrives at the
shop,she is surprised to find that the message is his expression of
his feelings towards her - he had purchased an enormous 6ct
diamond for her.

In a meeting with her superior officer in the Chinese resistance, the
officer states that they want to delay the assassination in order to
get more information from Yee. Chia Chi vehemently objects,
explaining her emotional turmoil due to the long months of
masquerading as Mrs.Mak and her real-world relationship with
Yee(as opposed to the un-realized feelings between her and Kuang).

In order to place Mr. Yee in a location where the Chinese
resistance agents can kill him, Chia Chi asks to return to the
jewellery store to look at the completed diamond ring. When they
enter the shop,she notices the resistance agents awaiting to spring
the trap. As Mr. Yee was unaware of his danger, Chia Chi finds
herself in a situation in which even her identity itself is pushed
to breaking point. She makes a split-second decision to expose the
plot to Mr. Yee and let him escape before being killed.

By the end of the day, most of the resistance group including
Kuang and Chia Chi herself, are captured. Mr. Yee signs their death
warrants and the group members are executed that night.

Personal Note: I admire Ang Lee and have seen his films.
Setting and shots of films are really wonderful...this is Chinese
professionalism in film-making or simply Ang Lee's genuis.
But I really was keeping my eyes closed in some scenes...too
bloody and brutal. Many viewers were saying...aaah, nein, No!
It was simply horrible! Atrocious!
Then came the love/sex scenes...silence...not a word from the
horrified audience. But I simply can not bear to watch the
two lovers grappling each other. I found something
funny in the scenes...not anymore erotic but just two bodies
perspiring and groaning like human pretzels.
Adding to it, the main actor-his face reminds me of a cross
between a friend who teaches in a university and the young
face of a once dictator in Asia.
(Siguro kung kasama ko ang mga kaibigan babae, baka
naghagikgikan kami lang during the scenes except for the
scene when this collaborator was raping her...it was
just brutal).

No, Ang Lee...I can't help but remember the words of
another film director...anything more than torrid
kissing will simply turn any sex scene to a comedy!
Will google who said these words and if you know,
then let me know. Thanks.
And of course, the source for not so pricey but
lustfully tasting red wine from Sicily. Cheers!

Cultural Calendar

The first ever asian hot shots berlin
is taking place from the 16th to the
22nd January 2008 in the festival
cinemas babylon berlin:mitte
and Z-Bar.

16-12. January 2008
Berlin offers first time eclectic insight
into young Asian cinema.
Asian hot shots berlin
Country Focus is Philippines featuring
Kidlat Tahimik
Nick Deocampo
Ishmael Bernal

Other feature of the festival is
a book presentation of KINO-SINE:
Philippine-German Cinema Relations
on Friday, January 18, 2008
in Babylon Mitte, Berlin.
Book is published by the
Goethe-Institute Manila 2007.
For more info and download of the book, please
click or contact goethe manila


or simply email me and will send you a file
of the ebook:
pinayskaleidoscope@gmail.com

One is not born a woman...

 

For the 100th Birthday Anniversary of Simone de Beauvoir,
I am posting some famous quotations from her:

"One is not born a woman, one becomes one."

"On the day when it will be possible for women to love not
in her weakness but in strength, not to escape herself
but to find herself, not to abase herself but to assert
herself- on that day love will become for her, as for man,
a source of life..."

"Sex pleasure in woman is a kind of magic spell, it
demands a complete abandon; if words or movements
oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken."

20*C+M+B*08 Christus mansionem benedicat

Wir kommen daher aus dem Morgenland,
Wir kommen geführt von Gottes Hand,
Wir wünschen Euch ein fröliches Jahr,
Caspar, Melchior und Baltasar.

This is not that sort of trick or treat thing we
know but a serious project launched every year
on Epiphany, January 6 by the German Catholic Youth and
Kindermissionswerk `Die Sternsinger`. Dressed as the
Three Wise Men, these kids go from house to house
singing `We come from the Orient
led by the hand of God
We wish you a happy year
Caspar, Melchior and Baltasar`
and collecting donation for projects like
training and education for youth and children,
medication for children who are suffering from Aids
and children who are mal or undernourished.
Hey, kids how about women who are malnourished
stuffing themselves with chocolates, cassava cake
and langgonisa with red wine?

Day of the Three Queens and Befana Day

 

Passing it on to the Wise Women in Your Life

Do you know what would have happened if it had been
Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?

They would have asked for directions,
arrived on time
helped deliver the baby
cleared the stable,
made a casserole,
and brought practical gifts!

I got this again rotating for this especial day...if you have
not received it yet, enjoy the message and pass it on to women
who mean so much to you.

Meanwhile in Italy, Bifana Day, the day when this good witch
comes down on Epiphany bringing sweets and gifts for
well-behaved kids and charcoal for the mischief-makers
including slovenly mothers.

Cheers to the New Year!

My Exchange Gift!

 

and just when I was about to go to sleep, came in an email
from another member of OTAP and dear good friend Sol who
sent this attachment. So for all you beautiful women
and men out there...PROST!

On the 23rd Day of Christmas...dreaming

 
 
 
 

Or shall I call it dress rehearsal for the final
eating day on the holy night of christmas.
First, the "saling cat-cat na cake"
which according to my girlfriend Yvonne tasted good
and wanted another huge serving but without raisins and
other dried fruits...so what will be the next request,
no flour, no sweeteners, no joy?

Then she surprisingly came with a real devilish
tasting chocolate cake this weekend for my hubby
who was celebrating his birthday (just in case you
women would be complaining why I got a huge cake
extra while you brought home only some tasty morsels
from our Friday eat and meet and founding night
of the OTAP (Organization of Truly Attractive Pinays!).

Then I got my attack of advent depression
thinking of puto bumbongs and other treats back home
after simbang gabi (mass held during four am!)
so I decided to get my ancient and unused puto bumbong
maker from our cellar (it refuses to get hot in my electric range...
choosy puto bumbong maker)to remind good friends of their
promised pasalubongs when they return to Alemanya in January.
My manita Marilou refuses to go to Chinatown to get my
hopyas even if she has signed a promissory note of pasalubong
(Mitbringsel), saying...oy hindi! no way!

On the 23rd Day of Christmas, my truly love said to me...
when do you clear up?