OSRAM is LED chipmaker now

OSRAM is LED chipmaker now

When you think of light bulbs, the name OSRAM –Germany comes into your mind. The names OSRAM  and lamps   belong  together - so far.

Also OSRAM has recognized the signs of the times. Now it's decided that the lamp manufacturer OSRAM –Germany will build a new factory in Malaysia for about 1 billion euros - not in the Philippines. For years, OSRAM seems to have problems with the new technology of light emitting diodes of the competition from Asia and with the general decline in prices. In Malaysia no fluorescent tubes, halogen and energy-saving lamps will be built, but it will be produced the chips for LED car lights and for general lighting. OSRAM starts as a  LED manufacturers.

Everything goes hand-in-hand with an austerity program. Works in Augsburg and parts in Berlin and Eichstaett will be closed. A partnership in China is sold already. The worldwide workforce will be reduced.

With the new LED technology, OSRAM wants to re-conquer his old place in the light-technology , especially in the automotive sector. I hope so.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

An exceptional restaurant - Balik Bukid Davao -

An exceptional restaurant - Balik Bukid Davao -

 Like a cozy tavern in Swabia  – only in a Filipino style

We stood in front of the restaurant and thought: "Well, this is something new!". This establishment resembles from outside like a big bamboo house embedded with empty plastic bottles. From the outside, there is nothing much unusual – just a restaurant in a very ethnic and Philippine style.

But if you step in that bamboo house, you will be surprised and you start to believe to be have entered a Swabian "broom-local" (a little word game for non-Schwaben: A "broom"  is normally the living room of a family of a winemaker in Remstal near Stuttgart, where you drink  the indigenous, home-made wine of the winemaker and eat what the housewife has just prepared. Very lovely!) – or in a regular English, a tavern.

Here, in the restaurant Balik Bukid, the ambiance gives a cozy feeling. The wooden chairs are simple, the backrests are made of strings from plastic bags or rough sisal. The tables with glass top have undercarriages of old sewing machines or sometimes car tires. The lighting consists of lamps that are hidden in hand woven baskets, and the floor is made of colored tile pieces. Simple and yet so beautiful.

The menu - in Bisaya and English - was placed in wooden boxes, which were previously used for playing  chess. As drinks we could choose from fresh juices of papaya, guava or guyabano. The different food were served on wooden plates - which suit even more the ambience. 

We were particularly impressed by the yellow rice (colored by turmeric) and the blue rice which got the  blue color from an edible blue flower. Maybe they used  Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' (Ochsenzunge).

While waiting on the food, we enjoyed playing dice games. And when we had finished eating, we were offered "a fairy tale" about a Philippine legend - if you like to listen to it. And of course, we grabbed the opportunity!

The owners plant their own vegetables on farm near Calinan (Mt. Apo) in where all the proceeds are offered in the restaurant. Everything is free from preservatives. The prices are average, not overpriced. The food was refreshingly different! Balik-Bukid is a place of excitement and new discoveries! We really felt at home and will come back again. That we promise! Address: Ecoland, Quimpo Blvd., Davao City (beside Yellow Fin)

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

The first high-rise giant

Avida Towers in Davao

In a prime location of Davao, in the C. M. Recto Avenue, there  the Avida Towers are currently being built.. And the first tower with 23 floors, of which 20 floors are for condominiums, will  be completed in December 2016. A year later then the second tower with 28 floors.

According to the administration  ca. 890 units of the over 1,050 apartments should already be sold. This is understandable, as the location is really perfect: in the middle of the city, near Ateneo and Gaisano Mall, within earshot of Marco Polo Hotel and Royal Hotel Mandayang. The buyers were mostly high-income yuppies and foreigners. Finally there are about 170 car-parkings .The prices for the condos  will start at about 1.8 million pesos for a studio with approx 22 sqm and go up to about 6 million pesos for a 2-bedroom-apartment.

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

Is Davao soon a skyscraper city?

New residential towers are in construction.

As in any city there are small and tall buildings. In Davao  you could count the number of high-rise buildings at five fingers. Undeniably at the top was the "Marco Polo Hotel" with 19 floors and a height of 65 meters. Then came - in the amounts of hight - the "Landco Tower", the "Pryce Tower", the "Grand Regal Hotel" and  the "Pinnacle Hotel", which is  still 51 meters high.

About 10 high-rise buildings are currently in construction . Among those the "Abreeza Place Tower 1" with 27 floors and with 94 meters is probably the highest. And more are to come. In planning stage are again 6 of these skyscrapers

The result is –according to my opinion - an oversupply of condos and  hotel rooms. Currently there are about 47 hotels that are listed in the internet platforms. A spokesman for the city government announced that  about 8,000 hotel rooms are available in Davao  and so  Davao is well prepared for large and international events.

On the other hand each manager of a hotel has to  consider and anticipate how to get enough guests. Nearly every hotel needs a  minimal capacity of about 68% or more to make a profit. And at such a surplus  a tourist will be happy : the prices will fall - I am sure, because the big conferences that should bring the many guests  are currently not yet in sight.

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

Who has money and appetite for luxury

One more luxury residential complex to be built in Davao-Lanang

At the moment, all construction companies seem to want to be present in Davao. For years everything was quiet and all of a sudden – since about 20 months – the run starts for the big building activity: from very cheap-cheap Condos and townhouses up to the  proper luxury apartments. Right insane.

Already this year, there will be a  move in luxury and it begins with the "Siam 8000" - a proper luxury  facility with residential towers and hotels. It will be created near to he Insular Village, Davao Lanang. The investor says "Siam  8000 will set the scale for future developments in Davao, so that the city is recognized as a world-class destination where Dabawenyos and guests can purchase a deluxe accommodations underline what the city has to offer."

There are 4 projects to be built, but first it starts with the construction of two projects, the 168-unit Dusit Thani Residences and the 120-room Dusit D2 hotel. First investment will be the P2 billion for the Dusit Thani Residences. A prestigious residential complex on a lot of  1,2 hectare. The Dusit Thani Residences are characterized by pure comfort and luxury - of course in a correspondingly expensive price range.

By the way, the district Lanag of Davao was previously known only by the two Insular Subdivisions and the famous Waterfront Hotel. Otherwise, Lanang was at the end of Davao, as in the direction of Sasa, the container port of Davao. There was  more of an industrial estate atmosphere. And that will change soon completely: The Mall "SM Lanang Premier receives from the company MegaWorld a small Makati – like  the lines of Manila -with the name" Lake Shore Drive ". Next in the direction to the Insular-Subdivision since 2 years  Alcantara plans together with Ayala steps to transform the 25-hectare plot in a prestigious Hotel- Business- Beach area. And then there's the "Siam 8000". This all happens within a distance of about 1.5 km.

So, who has money and a desire for maximum comfort, here is the right place.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

What to do with the many garbage

Davao and its garbage

Such  a big city like Davao produces an incredible amount of waste. There are daily up to 450 tons of garbage, which are  previously stored unsorted on a 7 acre lot. And from that we know already that in the long run it is not  sufficient for the many garbage in the future.

Of course the city has  searched for solutions. So was once a German company  was in contact with the city  that would recycle the garbage to compostable earth, industrial oil products and electricity  as end products. In principle it would have been  a good  project, which  then failed on the implementation and the funding.

Now there is  a second attempt and it's concentrating on eliminating the plastic and scrap tires from the waste. That would amount to about 4 tons monthly. But that would be enough to reduce the  waste by ca. 10% to 20%. The partner in this project  is  a cement factory. Making  cement needs plenty  of energy. And by burning the plastic and rubber much energy is produced and this can be utilized as well.

The problem could be the poisonous gas that emerges in the process. But the company claims to have all the components  "under control".

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

It is fun

Diving at Talikud-Island

Febr. 23, 2015

So, what could be better than swimming in clear water, snorkelling or  diving ? The Talikud-Island ( a small island near by Samal Island)  offers the best possibilities.

Although you must take a ride from Sta. Ana Wharf (next to the Magsaysay Park) with the boat for about 30 minutes to the south. But it's worth, because  Talikud Island has really white sand and the water is clear.

Around the Talikud Island there are various beaches, such as: ISLA RETA, BABU SANTA, CORAL GARDEN, ANGEL'S COVE and the prices are not excessive. There are also good diving companies that offer an island-hopping to different places. It is a pleasure.

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Fresh milk from Samal Island

Real milk from real cows

Febr. 21, 2015

It is a fact that someone had in Samal on the idea of producing fresh milk from real cows around 8 years ago. And in the meantime we heard over and over again that a foreigner who was driving his motorcycle in Samal all around to the local foreigners to bring fresh milk. Just as a liter or so.

From these beginnings, an operation has become with an number of cows which give all together at least 65 liters of fresh milk daily. The milk will be  pasteurized and offered for sale - at present only in the region of the island of Samal.  Concerning to the amount of milk you have to remember that there are not the high-performance cows from the Allgäu/Germany, but cows that are related to the Zebu cattle and carry this little "camel hump" on the back and in milk production they are still "a little bit slow"...

There will be soon fresh milk in Davao, that is a real asset. At the moment  in the malls there are enough milk cartons - but that's milk, which is prepared from dry milk powder –  on the package there you will find the names of  so called producer countries like Australia, New Zealand or even Germany.

The company  would like to expand the production and to make goats milk too. And that would be worth because  the prices of yogurt and cheese are quite high. A 500 g package of "NESTLE CREAM YOGURT" (the only yogurt that exists) costs currently 125 pesos = 2.50 euros and the prices for cheese are even better. In "SWISS DELI" cost 1 kg of Gouda 1,700 pesos = ca.34 € and in the "S & R Mall" after all, it still at 1550 pesos = ca.30 €. These are great prices - right?

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

about 12,000 families leaving Davao today

about 12,000 families leaving Davao today

Since the beginning of December the lumad are back in Davao.( With lumad one thinks of about the 17 groups of indigenous people who live in the mountains around Davao.) Just as every year - since 2007 - they were brought from the  City Social Services and Development (CSSDO)  office in Davao City  to celebrate the Christmas season and to ask  the inhabitants for Christmas gifts. "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!". It is an officially allowed  begging.

The city provides them with sleeps in the 8  basketball arenas and fed them all the time. Also medical care is provided. You can hear them  from afar with their guitars brand "yourself" and with the drums, stretched with  a string  and beat  it in a crazy rhythm .

This year there were almost 12,000 Lumad families = 40,000 people, some in old costumes . And there were about 2,000 families  more than last year. Today, December 26, they are brought back again by trucks and a big Christmas celebration will take place - as it is common. "It's more fun in the Philippines!"

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Townhouses for 1,250,000 pesos

3. 12. 2014

The real estate market in Davao is in motion. Now there are the low-priced real estate providers that have been run with success  its concept already in Manila or Cebu .

Some weeks ago  the company JOHNDORF VENTURES came first. It offers  very interesting designed townhouses,  a 2-storey building with an attractive facade in the “Portside Davao”. In total, a townhouse has 52 sqm and a lot of 44 sqm. In the first floor there  are living room, kitchen and bath room. In the 2^nd floor are 2 sleeping rooms. That’s all. And the price is really unbeatable with about 1,250,000 pesos.

At a cost of about 24,000 pesos / sqm, it is also really cheap. Other construction companies start from about 55,000 pesos / sqm. It is necessary to consider that these other  houses are also in a much quieter and more  expensive location.

The  company will pack ca. 420 townhouses on the 2.7-acre plot. It will be really close-to-close. The lot is near to the Davao airport and depending on the wind position you will get the aircraft noise – some times. The company has perfectly calculated the demand for  its townhouses: More than  35% are  already sold  within 14 days off the plan. A real low-cost house with conversion possibility. Not only Filipinos have bought , but also a lot of foreigners who want to have a rest house in Davao.

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

1000 new low-cost condos for Davao

Also PHINMA is building  low-cost condos in Davao

Now it the news have spread  to Manila, Davao that is a good place for real estate. The well-known company PHINMA Realty Corp., which has so far raised many low-cost condo houses  in and around Manila, now has a foothold in Davao.

In the area of Pampanga, this is between Sasa naval port and airport, 9 condo houses will be built with the proprietary modular system with each 5 floors and with 90 Condos in a house  with living space 30-32 sqm (incl. small balcony). The first 2 houses to be ready for move in at April 2015. Around 2016, all the houses will  be built  and then Davao has approximately 1,000 condominiums more.

The prices for the apartments are said at about 1.32 million pesos, which is much lower than from other companies. The equipment should be simple: low cost. The house monthly allowance will be  at  approximately 1,120 pesos, or about 35 pesos per square meter of living space. This is significantly low because  other building companies charge between 60 -90 pesos.

The initiators of PHINMA also believe that Davao is on a huge demand for housing, as it is in Manila at the moment. With a  price of 44,000 pesos/ sqm the company is located in an interesting  low price segment.  Other construction companies will ask  around 70,000 pesos /sqm and more - of course with another, better equipment and higher priced location.

The offer is interesting. 

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

How to transport a chicken ?

How to transport a chicken ?
Nov. 25, 2014

There are certainly a lot of possibilities to transport a chicken: in the cage, in a bag, in a pocket or under the arm.
This possibility, which we saw on the way from Kidapawan to Davao, is also one - although not very nice. But perhaps Filipinos see the matter differently, just from the point of view of the saucepan.

With best regards,
Ludwig from Davao

Hopelessly overloaded

hopelessly overloaded 

Yes, if you're going on a trip, you can see incredible things. How true this phrase is! The more for the the roads in the Philippines. And especially if the police is not present... You might become witness of some unbelievable encounters, especially outside the cities, in the wild, wild west.

We enountered such along the way from Kidapawan city to Davao in the late afternoon. The traffic there was slow, so we thought it will be a slow, comfortably road back home.  we thought nothing bad - yes until we had this truck in front of us and passed it. We counted 10 rows and colums of 40 kg bags of rice on a truck. This size we have never seen before. It looked incredible yet dangerous.

We are not sure if the driver knew that he could endanger his and other drivers' lifes. Probably not. We have often seen trucks here that were longer than long  and their load was"up in the sky" . And so it is no wonder that  accidents will happen again and again. For such  an overloaded truck to bring to a stop -  the best brakes are not so strong enough to make it. The truck rolls on and on, as if it were on a skating rink and pushes everything  away. Simply, hopeless.

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

The coconut reveals its secrets

The coconut reveals its secrets

Nov. 8, 2014

If you  come in the tropics on vacation, you immediately think of  beaches of white sand and coconut trees swaying in the wind. A picturesque scene. And then you can imagine the tanned islanders, to get the coconuts from the trees and drink the delicious juice.

The juice of the coconut is a great thirst quencher- this is known yet.. The juice is a real  power cocktail with many vitamins   and minerals. It seems that  this juice was just created for the people living in the tropics as a benefit because you can live from the coconut and the juice for weeks – if it must be.

Another substance in this juice, which was  regarded as a beauty facility for smooth beautiful skin and healthy long hair, is gaining more and more importance. It is the trace element selenium.

For every tourist who lies down in the sun to get his suntan, it is recommended to drink  the juice of the coconut. It is to maintain our skin. More important is  that the UV radiation here in the tropics can cause sunburn fast - despite the use of sunscreen with a high protection factor. The selenium in the coconut belongs to the "antioxidants", is a reliable herbal  and  can  protect the skin from inside – if you drink enough.

By the way, even in radishes the selenium is included. And salads with radishes, which are prepared with coconut juice, are delicious. Have you  tried it?

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

The traffic problem in Davao can be solved

A light rail transit system for Davao to start in 2020

November  7, 2014

It is tackled again: The light rail transit (LRT) project for Davao. All people from Davao will be happy if this LRT will finally be established.

Although, if you think realistically about the project, there are a lot of difficulties - the financing is the lesser “evil”. The biggest problem is the narrowness of the streets and the uphill as the infrastructure has not been developed well. While in Manila, as the main capital of the country, has installed the light rails along and above the road, which works well – regardless the traffic and density problem.

Having installed the rail tracks above the main roads is the most expensive option, but probably the only one that is feasible. The Korean company, which will produce a study will probably need up to 12 months. Since next year is an election year, the discussion and implementation of the project will probably start in 2016.

According to the plan, there will be two city tracks, which should work independently from each other. So people can move better and faster to the different city districts. The declared aim is to remove the many tricycles and jeepneys from the main traffic flow that clog the streets mercilessly in the rush hours.

This is indeed a prestigious project of mayor Duterte – and very promising to the future of Davao City. Also for the next mayor of Davao, he probably meant his daughter Sarah (who is also the previous mayor), the project is of great importance. The Korean company says that - in a time span of about 7 years – the investors will have achieved the breakeven point.

 For us the users of the new light rail who have the advantage of better transportation, must be aware of the fact that  the cheap prices of jeepneys and tricycle will be gone... Yes, all good things  do not come in cheap – but surely expensive!

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

1,2 km long bridge from Davao to Samal Island

A new -old  project in Davao

October 31, 2014

It's been already 10 years that a connecting bridge from Davao to the island of Samal was discussed  and planned . But then, it had been stopped.

Now a new attempt has been made. The initiator is a Japanese company that is engaged in planning and made a feasibility study on the said endeavor. And now in 2016 the construction should start  - yes, if all parties will join and the financing of approximately 10 billion pesos is secured.

Until now Samal is a dreamy spot that you can only reach by the car ferry or by boats . And quite many  individuals are living there, the real estate prices are still comfortably low and there is still a lot of unspoilt nature - if one disregards the coastal strip with many touristic beach resorts.

The whole island will take an upturn, because Samal has a lot to offer: At least two waterfalls with clear water, a sparse population, the largest bat colony (important for the banana plantations around Davao), no industry, crystal clear water at the beaches on the ocean side - just to name the most important facts.

And those who want to catch up with the next real estate boom in Davao, should enter now. By the way, in April this year the costs were said to be about 6 billion pesos !

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

really dangerous

Why this dangerous overloading ?
Jan 11, 2014

When you're  traveling in Davao, especially on Saturday morning when the local farmers bring their goods to market, you can see "horrible dangerous things" on the street. Just like this jeepney, which is crammed over the roof with melons and bananas and more. And  this vehicle is still driving and the driver is laughing. And “no eye of the law”  is looking for this incredible overloading.

And you can only hope and pray that the brakes are still in good condition ....

Best regards,
Ludwig from Davao

Car Accident shortly before New Year

Car Accident  tax

You are always in a hurry - especially in Davao, where the traffic is so slow. This is because of the new speed limit of 40 km / h , which is completely pulled out by the taxis  where a lot of the driver  have already been sentenced  to penalties. On the other hand there are the "great hollow " roads that do not allow higher speed. So you obliged to plan more time from the very beginning.

But if you have to drive to the airport and you're in a traffic jam, then you feel  the time quite different, because the plane will not wait for you. So you have time to think where to overtake now or later and left or right side – like the taxis are doing it.

And then it happens that someone will slip from the brake onto the gas pedal and you will be pushed in the  backside of your car  with a  "Big Boom!" . And then, something happens what people call  "finding new friends ".  So you  turn signal light on, check the  damage on both cars, explain to each other that they are sorry, trembling on the arms to show how excited they are. Then they exchanges addresses and cell phone numbers. As a special feature in Philippines  you take photos of the driver's license , of the license plate and the vehicle papers.  And they say to each other that they will call each other and will discuss  the regulation of damages  in the next few days . With a handshake they will say goodbye to each other and regret again, how sorry they are . And it has happened  that the trembling driver  has been invited to a drink beer in the nearest pub.

Well, that's Davao and "new friends " are real friends.

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

The sweet potato can help

The sweet potato can help if you suffer from gout, asthma, arthritis, infertility and  high blood pressure
November 29, 2013

Here in Davao I have made acquaintance with the sweet potato that I have known from the traditional turkey dinner, which is eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving time. Actually, the sweet potato has nothing to do with our German potato, except that it looks the same. I was looking for native food that is good against high blood pressure. And so, I have learnt about the sweet potato as it has like the banana a lot of potassium. But what if I do not want to eat always banana? Yes I agree with the dieticians, the potassium treats high blood pressure, but it will add more pounds to your belly!

My diet trial: It was the lady who offers vegetables every day  in our street. During a casual conversation she mentioned about the sweet potato. Since then I have been eating regularly sweet potatoes with skin and my blood pressure shows already a success.

In the Philippine literature, there a lot of reports about the sweet potato. It is a very cheap vegetable and yet it has many active ingredients to certain common diseases, such as gout, asthma, arthritis – which can be treated preventively. And because in the Philippines almost all dishes are spiced up with sugar, the number of cases of diabetes has increased. The active ingredient, especially the Caiapó, can intervene and regulate blood sugar level too.
The believers of the “old native medicine” mention that the sweet potato is a wonderful and effective means for pregnant women or for women who wish to conceive a child. The sweet potato contains much folate (natural folic acid) , which the body needs for healthy development of embryo cells and embryonic tissues .

Well, sometimes things are quite simple – if you know it

Best regards,

Ludwig from Davao.......

Bosch Company from Germany is now in Davao

Bosch  Company from Germany  is now in Davao

19/11/2013

Well, finally , BOSCH is in Davao. Bosch has furnished its first branch in Mindanao  in the Roxas Avenue in well -to-reach location near by Ateneo University . It is provided as a service center for Bosch power devices and as a showroom for more Bosch products . What I find particularly good, is that there should be a training center too , so that not only hobbyists  deal with the repair but especially trained electrician  deal with the appliances from Bosch in the future! And that spare parts are more easy to get – not as before !

 It is interesting for all motorists , BOSCH  offers professional diagnosis , maintenance and repair for all the problems of  petrol and diesel vehicle models  . And of these we have many.

That BOSCH has gone on the offensive as we see that – after bringing to China more than 50 service stations - four months ago a service center of BOSCH was  established in Cebu ,  with great success.

Sincerely yours,

Ludwig from Davao