A Philippine cocoa-success story

The Malagos chocolate

That chocolate tastes good, that it is known and is also reflected in the abdominal circumference - especially at Christmas and Easter .

Here around Davao there are many cocoa plantations. There the cocoa trees  are growing like the apple trees at home in Germany.  One of the known cocoa plantations in Davao-Calinan, is the Malagos farm. I knew this farm through their Cocoa Taler (TABLEYA = native chocolate), which have a particularly good full flavor and are therefore often used in restaurants and pastry shops.

The  cocoa beans  from this farm earn international respect. This was confirmed in international competitions in London in 2014 and now in 2015 in Hannover/Germany, where a silver medal was earned. It is probably the first ever Philippine product that has received so much recognition.

It is even on the composition of the cocoa mass  which varieties they come from- and there are many. Most particularly, it probably depends on the processing, where fermenting and roasting are really important at that. And that requires a lot of experience.

The Malagos chocolate I've probably seen often in the Supermarket of the malls. But the brown packaging has not approached to me. And this chocolate seems to be  a little bit loosing  to the other chocolate varieties of Goya, Hershey, Ferrero, Toblerone and Ritter Sport in the shelves.

  The Malagos farm has also made a name in the last years in the production of goat's cheese and fruit wines. Also an orchid farm with breeding the most famous orchid of the Philippines, the Waling Waling-belongs to the company, which is also called Malagos-Garden Resort. A very Impressing story of success.

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

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How to have a good seat in the plane .

Is it luck to get a good seat in the plane ?

My friend seems to have much luck when it comes to a good seat at the flight from Europe to Davao. Most often, the seat is free next to him and he has enough place for the legs and can sleep well.

He says that this has nothing to do with luck. It could be calculated.

He always tries to get a seat in the back of the aircraft, namely there where only 2 seats in the row. And there he takes  the aisle seat. When he flies with his wife, then they occupy the seats- again  in the rear part of the aircraft - but the left and right of the aisle, because - as he says from experience - then the chance is great that any seat remains free  next to them.

One other tip from him is that he did  specify when booking that he has an incompatibility with the food and for example, he must eat vegan. He has found that these people will be  served very first and have not have to wait long to receive the meals and drinks.

So, I want to try the tips. Let's see if it works.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Philippine ants are a plague

How to fight  with ants in Davao

My friend is in despair. In the pots and into his new house - where the architect has said that he uses an extra remedy for ants - cavort  these animals. Above all, there are the little ants, approximately 2 mm in size !.. And there are ants here in the Philippines - in addition to termites - in all sizes and in all quantities.

From his Philippine neighbors he has already received tips. Since the ants are irritated by strong odors, he should try  with cinnamon sprinkle or with the leaves of tomato. He had already tried  spray with vinegar. The results are not yet totally. The animals seem to get used to  the new odor after a while . And  still they are present. Or are they  some new ones ?

Now he has got a new tip from home, from Germany. He should use the ash of  cigars or cigarette, which is dissolved in water. And that he wants to do. Otherwise he will try it with lavender. I press the thumb.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

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who is writing to you:

Hello! My name is Ludwig . As a native German, teacher for German language with diploma from University of Ludwigsburg/Germany, chief editor of “123easyGerman”,  I  give classes and tutorials at  USEP  Davao ( University of Southeastern Philippines)  for German A1-test, crash course and  seminars.