Boracay closed for tourists Summer 2018

For Better or for Worse: Tourism Dept. Pitching to Close Boracay From April to October

“I will close Boracay. Boracay is a cesspool.“, resounding words uttered by President Rodrigo Duterte a few weeks ago in a business forum.

 

The highly acclaimed pristine waters of this paradise now plagued with a sewage problem. Is Boracay going to be another Philippine landmark that will go to waste?

 

Drainage Waste Direct to the Sea. Disgusting!

Around 850 establishments have been served show-cause orders for such violations. Establishments violated the Clean Water Act, Ecological Waste Management Act, and Land Use Regulations.

 

Only 18% of the 500 accredited hotels are connected to the sewage line. So where does the waste go? Multiple businesses drained their waste directly to the sea.

 

If this continues, I’m afraid the President’s cesspool description might just be an understatement.

"I told Cimatu, Cimatu is a general, he was assigned here. ‘I’ll give you six months. Clean the g***** thing”, as said by the President Duterte at the Manila Business Forum.

 

With President Duterte’s directive, the tourism department is pushing the closure of Boracay on July to October to expedite the island cleanup. Plans are also present to announce a state of calamity to further hasten the process.

A mandatory salvage zone of 25 meters plus 5 meters is drawn for the buildings and the shore (high tide mark). Any establishment that will violate this boundary will be demolished.

Those who illegally tapped in the drainage system are all also forced to dismantle their businesses.

Balancing Act: Loss of Jobs vs. Preservation of Boracay’s Beauty

 

One of Asia’s top holiday islands faces closure by presidential decree. Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, has called for Boracay to be placed off-limits to tourists for six months while it is cleaned up.

An English-language news site, The Inquirer, said the president would declare a “state of calamity” in Boracay. Closure to tourists is expected from 26 April for “rehabilitation” of the tiny isle.

Nach einer Verfügung des philippinischen Präsidenten am 04.04.2018, soll die ganze Insel Boracay für den Tourismus für 6 Monate geschlossen werden. Die Verfügung soll am 26. April 2018 in Kraft treten.

Wie konnte es dazu kommen?

Fest steht jedenfalls, dass die Insel hoffnungslos überlastet war. 

Das schlug sich auf die täglich erzeugten Müllberge und die Abwässer nieder, mit denen die Insel und deren Infrastruktur fertig werden mußte.

Fragt sich, wie das ALLES in 4 Monaten gelöst/zum verschwinden/gereinigt wird?!

 Da bin ich mal gespannt!

und wie gehts wohl Victory Divers ? 

und dem Tattoo Randy ?

Guests from PH in Switzerland

Hello po

I am very happy that i could accomodate my first Pinoy friends:
Ludy, Ron and Sheila - we had wonderful very full 3 days/nights.

Welcome - Mabuhai 

Folklore dances with refugees, main station Zürich HB

Visit of the Black Madonna, Einsiedeln

Ludy knows all about it :-)

Ludy with my maganda ...Pinoy umbrella

Philippinen Homepages

Gerne möchte ich euch diese  Homepages, Newsletter empfehlen
Kindly check following homepages:

Hier halte ich mich auf dem Laufendem!

https://www.facebook.com/pjpsbilibid

- https://www.philippinejesuitprisonservice.org/
(The PJPS, my NGO :-)

- https://www.asienhaus.de/philippinenbuero/
(Infobüro aus Deutschland, in English und Deutsch)

- http://cbcpnews.net
(The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines)

- http://www.bucor.gov.ph/  
(Die offizielle Seite vom Bureau of Correction = Department of Justice) 

Lg Gabi

philippinen aktuell 1/18

Der Inhalt in Kürze Allgemeines Situation in Mindanao Friedensverhandlungen mit der kommunistischen Linken Drogenkrieg und Menschenrechte Klima und Umweltschutz Das philippinenbüro vor Ort Termine und Veranstaltungshinweise philippinenbüro in den Medien

Allgemeines

Die Besorgnis um die Sicherheit von Zivilist*innen bleibt weiterhin bestehen, diese Besorgnis teilten auch die protestierende Menschen am Menschenrechtstag, dem 10. Dezember. Tausende protestierten gegen die außergerichtlichen Tötungen, gegen das Kriegsrecht, gegen soziale Ungleichheit und schließlich für Menschenrechte und Frieden. Das Kriegsrecht in Mindanao wurde um ein Jahr verlängert.

Die jüngste Anklage gegen das Nachrichtenportal 'Rappler', eine oft Regierungs-kritische Stimme, entfacht eine Diskussion über die Pressefreiheit in den Philippinen.

Das Archipel wird und wurde von einigen Stürmen heimgesucht, die zu Landrutschen und Überschwemmungen führten. Über 30.000 Anwohner*innen in der Provinz Albay sind vor dem Ausbruch eines Vulkans geflüchtet.
Aufgrund einer Steuerreform steigen zum Jahreswechsel die Preise für bestimmte Lebensmittel und Benzin.

Weitere Nachrichten wie folgt: 

• A cry for human rights: 2017 International human rights day
• More Pinoy families experience hunger in Q3 (SWS survey)
• 600 nurses from Philippines to be recruited to fill Northern Ireland gap
• New Tax reform for accerleration and inclusion or TRAIN law
• Tax reform will harm 21M poor Filipinos
• How the tax reform affects filipino consumers
• CNN Philippines sacks more than 90 employees
• Nationwide Martial Law still on the table
• Why Martial Law? To warn public and allow media take over
• Opposition Congressmen get zero budget in 2018
• Senate OKs joint resolution raising pay of AFP men, uniformed personnel
• Crimes except homicide down by 21,8% in 2017
• Manila 'comfort women' statute catches DFA's attention
• UP-PGH to review deaths of 14 children vaccinated with Dengvaxia
• Rapid death seen among children who got Dengvaxia
• 8.7 M Pinoys jobless
• Duterte mulls creating LGBT commission

BCPNews Top Stories 

CBCP chief calls for end to ‘waste of lives’

CEBU City— As the police relaunched its controversial anti-drug operations, the head of the Catholic hierarchy appealed that it won’t lead to further “waste” of human lives

VATICAN

Truth, example, motherly guidance need to transmit faith, pope says

NATION

Filipino priests encouraged to study in Rome

MANILA— As had been expected for the past week, President Rodrigo Duterte has nominated Grace Relucio-Princesa as Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See.

Millennials ready to advocate juvenile justice

Bucor: Key Statistics, Jan. 2018:

Bilibid Storys

Gerne möchte ich euch die Posts von

Father Eli Lumbo SJ - von Facebook - weiterkopieren!
Father Eli ist der Priester der NGO - PJPS und schreibt immer wieder seine Geschichten über die Begegnungen und Erfahrungen mit den Menschen im Bilibid Gefängnis!

Lies selber, was er für berührende Erfahrungen macht.
            Herzlichst Gabi

PS Deine Spende ist immer willkommen (in bar, per IBAN, siehe unten!

Bilibid Stories from Father Eli Lumbo SJ: 
20. Jan. 2018:
One of the most consoling experiences I have had in the prison ministry through the almost 7 years I have been in the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service has always been the celebration of the Mass. There have been so many Eucharistic celebrations which has left me overwhelmed and teary eyed. I believe one of the reasons is the participation of the inmates in the Mass. I feel their intensity. When they sing "Panginoon, kaawan mo kami," I can feel the inmates' sincerity and desire for forgiveness. Some of them shed tears. Some with eyes closed, beg the Lord not to forsake them. There are some who I have observed pray at a distance, feeling unworthy of entering the chapel. But they all participate. They join the singing and the responses with so much passion. They listen to the readings and the homilies. They laugh at jokes. They shed tears. They PRAY. Really pray. I have seen how a number of elderly inmates, despite the difficulty in walking and moreso, in bending their knees, still choose to kneel especially during consecration and even when receiving the Body of our Lord. When I observe this, I recall a text message I received many years ago that says, "the distance between heaven and earth is a man on his knees." In prison, with the inmates in prayer, I truly feel God's presence. God feels so close, very present, and very real. I feel God will not and does not withhold His mercy and love. This I felt once again a few days ago when I celebrated Mass in front of the inmate students' building dormitory. With perhaps more than 500 inmates in attendance, I could really feel the the emotions. I could sense the prayerful atmosphere. I could feel the power of prayer. And I could sense the presence of God. And as the inmates thank God in song, which they always do before the end of each Mass, I could only praise and thank God for His abiding presence. The inmates always sing "Salamat, salamat, Panginoong Diyos. 
Salamat, salamat sa pag-ibig Mo..." or "Salamat po O Diyos, Ika'y laging tapat, pag-ibig na wagas handog Mo sa lahat..." because there is always something to be grateful for. May we learn from them. They may have many reasons to complain, but they choose to focus on the one and only reason to be thankful for and contented: God is with them.

Jan. 9, 2018: Bilibid Stories: Late last year I talked with an inmate in the camp. I had a letter for him from one religious sister whom he had the occasion to interact with. He was so happy. Not even happy. He was jubilant. He said this is the first time he had received any letter from any one. And it was not just any letter. It was a letter for him because the letter had his name on it. He said he felt remembered and tears fell. I asked him if he had any visitors. He turned sad and dejected and said he had no one. He said no one has ever visited him ever since he got imprisoned. I asked him where he was from. He said his parents were down south. I asked him if he yearned for them and he said yes, tears once again forming in his eyes but he added, I am okay. I asked him he he wanted to see them. He said he honestly wanted to but he said he had stopped hoping to see them years back. He has learned to move on. He said in his more than 5 years in prison he has learned not to rely on anyone and just to survive on his own. He added he has learned not to expect any visit or letter from people as it will just hurt him when no visit or letters arrive. No one has remembered him he said ever since he got incarcerated. He has accepted his fate, he said, and he has learned to accept that no one cares for him. But I told him, "Someone cares! This sister wrote to you. She cares! I care! People do care for you! God cares! " He then hugged me and said, thank you and cried. I added, "What if your parents wanted to visit you but they do not have the means? What if they long for you and did not know how to get in touch with you? He said he did not want to hope as it will just open old wounds, pains, sadness. He said, "nasanay na ako mag-isa." I said, what if we in PJPS can bring his mother or father for a visit? He said, "huwag na, father. Baka masaktan lang ako. Mahirap na ang umasa muli. Mabibigo lang ako. Masasaktan muli." I told him to pray about it. A few days ago I got to talk with the inmate again. He said he was opening his heart again. He wanted to hope again. And he thanked me for being instrumental in this. And he thanked God for remembering him. He then opened up and said he has child whom he also wanted to see, and if it was possible for his mother to bring his child. He said, he is tired of being alone. He said he wanted to re-connect. He said he wanted to remember that he has a child, that he has a family, that someone, some people care for him, and he wants to care again. My friends, the little things we do can transform or change people. The simple letter from a religious sister opened this inmates' otherwise closed heart. He is willing to hope again, to love, to be loved. Today I saw the inmate again, and he approached me and said thank you. His smile is more genuine; his eyes has more life in it. He has hope back in his life. He said he is praying more now. He has allowed God back in his life. This made my day. I smiled and I know God is smiling. 

Dec 20, 2017:
Bilibid Stories: Today was one of those days where I just felt the hand of God: of answered prayers and of being blessed. One answered prayer was mine. Some years back I thought of wanting to have something like a prayer concert inside the camp. It became a reality today inside the Medium Security camp. Entitled, "Ang Unang Pasko," the concert featured mostly inmates belonging to the different education units in the camp. The concert had 2 parts: the first had performers (angels, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, and 3 wise men) singing songs which focused the first Christmas (on the birth of our Lord more than 2,000 years ago) while the second part was after the first Christmas (modern day songs and dances as well as scenes inside the prison). The concert was simple but the blessings received by those who were witness to the performances was beyond grand. It truly moved me to prayer; it moved people to prayer. I was moved to tears several times by what I saw and heard. Many shed tears at several parts. One could not help but feel the loneliness and pain of those behind bars as they celebrate Christmas away from their loved ones. One could not help but empathize with those who yearn for the love, for the presence, for the embrace of a beloved mother, father, wife, or child. One could not help but understand and appreciate Christmas celebrations inside the prison camps/cells. One could not help but recall the simplicity and miracle of the first Christmas. Another answered prayer was of an inmate. Before the concert, I gave a letter to him. It was from a religious sister who was able to interact with the inmate some months back. The inmate was so touched by the gesture. He felt remembered; he felt important; and he felt loved. He told me that he read the letter several times and each time he read it, tears just fell. He said it had been years since he received any letter from anyone. His family and friends did not send him any letter. He felt forgotten. But when he received a letter today, a letter which was really for him, addressed to him, he felt remembered, he felt special, he felt loved. He thanked me profusely for handing him the letter and for being an instrument to an answered prayer. He cried as he thanked me. He said for a long time he has learned to rely on himself, to survive through his own efforts, to live alone. Yet in his heart he yearned and prayed that he be remembered and loved. I felt his pain but I was thankful that this Christmas he felt the love of God. Many other prayers were answered like that of a lady guest to the concert who met her beloved cousin inside the prison (her cousin is an inmate). I am sure the inmate's prayer was also answered. Both of them were surprised to see each other inside the camp. Sadly one was an inmate. But still they were both happy to see each other. They both cried. They both thanked God. People who knew of the incident thanked God. As we draw closer to Christmas, I pray that we all will feel the hand of God: of prayers answered and of being blessed. 

Wishes for 2018 - Annual report 2017

Wishes for 2018:

May light be around you,

Light outside and inside.

Wherever you are,

like friendly people

                 meet you. Irish proverb

PS. Everyone smiles in the same language! 

MY YEAR 2017: 

Birthday with my friends

Top of ... 

Walking over hot charcoal

Annual Review 2017

New arrival - Big new beginning!

Yes, back from Nepal and India, I searched for the scarce snow, wrote applications, ski tour leader course and literally before Easter, I could sign the contract in Menzingen ZG.

That made me flight active again: from April to May I was able to support two donation projects for my PJPS, NGO Philippines. A great graduation with the Medical-Dental Mission, where about 200 mothers and 200 children received free medicin and dental examinations including tooth extraction.

Afterwards Borneo – the greenest animal tropical island. The greatest surprise was that I went for two weeks on that adventure together with my son Dani! Right back for the summer time in Switzerland, mainly trekking and swimming in sunny Valais.

And then, since Aug.2, I am working 3 days a week regularly, in addition to projects, as catechist teacher for the cath. Parish Menzingen. Working in a good team, children like everywhere! Yes, and so it is over with longer trips, but I mostly have long weekends for beautiful Switzerland! There is enough choice here whether mountains, lakes or concerts, museums, firewalking, adventure rooms, etc.!

I enjoy my free time - with kids, friends, nature lovers, women'sport teams, spontact people ... oh and I have a great new apartment partner, Manuela Fusco.

Thankfully, I look back and look forward to everything else ...

Gabi

Time is running everywhere -
                                Let us remember and pray forever
and always remember the time we shared together :-)

and hopefully, maybe - maybe ... we see and hear each other again!

Please keep the contact and don' hesitate
you can write or WhatsApp me:

gabi.pjps@gmail.com;   +41 79 425 24 11

Eine Überraschung - surprise, wonder or ...

Na so was...
Da hat mich ein Schweizer gefunden, weil meine Arbeiten und Fotos immer noch im RDC hängen!
 und dieser Mann ist  wieder in der Schweiz - aus ungeklärten Gründen wieder rausgekommen aus dem Maximum Gefängnis, unglaublich!
und
nun haben wir uns in Zürich getroffen und uns erzählt! Mal sehen, was da noch kommt  ...
 Es ist  schon spannend, was da so alles läuft....
und

WIR sind sehr dankbar wieder in der Schweiz zu leben! 

Medical Mission on 28 May 2017

PJPS' First Medical & Dental Mission - 05.28.17

June 7, 2017

In its aim of providing access to health care activities for the inmates and their families, and in partnership with local government agencies and professional groups, the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation, Inc. (PJPSFI) conducted its 1st Medical and Dental Mission held on 28 May 2017 at the Ina ng Awa Parish Compound, New Bilibid Prison Reservation, Muntinlupa City. 

Improving the health of inmates as well as their children and wives is one responsibility among many in the fight against poverty. Addressing this inequity of health is therefore necessary in order to rebuild their lives, rekindle hope, and become productive members of society. 

During the event, scholars were able to bring their mothers and one more family member, which led to an incredible amount of about 300 beneficiaries. There were volunteer doctors, nurses, dermatologist and dentist who wholeheartedly gave professional advice and service to the patients. Medicines were provided as well at no cost. In addition, many volunteers came over and helped out during this event. 

PJPSFI would like to thank all of the medical practitioners, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone else involved who devoted a part of their day for this wonderful cause. This will be the first of many for this project! The scholars and their family members greatly appreciate all of your time and efforts. 

Ein herzliches super Danke vielmals an meine Sponsoren. Das war der krönende, total guete Abschluss meines JV-Einsatzes. Ein sehr berührender Tag mit vielen Begegnungen und praktischer, medizinischer und zahnärztlicher Hilfe (Untersuchung, Behandlung, Medikamente und Essen) für 300 Menschen.
GOTT SEI DANK
gabi

Thank you for supporting PJPS Medical & Dental Mission and Gen. Assembly!

On behalf of the scholars and their parents, the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation, Inc. (PJPSFI) would like to thank you for your support and prayers during our 1st Medical & Dental Mission and General Assembly of Scholars and Parents last 28 May 2017 held at Ina ng Awa Parish Compound, Muntinlupa City. 

We are very grateful for your support during the event especially on sharing your time, resources and great service. Your generosity made it more extraordinary event and without your involvement, these things would not be possible. 

We are still collating photos of the event and we hope to share with you the soonest possible. The meantime, you may visit our facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/pjpsbilibid and website: https://www.philippinejesuitprisonservice.org/ to keep you updated of our upcoming events and news. You may also reach us through Tel. No. 659-0513 / 710-1837. 

Again, thank you and we are looking forward to collaborating with you in our future endeavors. Mabuhay po kayo palagi!

Medical Mission on 28 May 2017: schedule of Activities: