Used Fryer Oil in Davao.

What to do with used fryer oil in Davao?

The love of the Filipinos is eating! Eating is a great occupation the whole day. Unfortunately, a lot of cooking oil will be used for this purpose. It is estimated that about 1200 liters a day of cooking oil are going to waste in Davao. For instance, a vendor of "Kwek Kwek" needs a minimum of about 2 liters a day. And what will happen to the big amounts of used oil?

The usual method is: to throw this oil into the next water channel or just in the next corner. Or they sell it:  The restaurants sell the used oil for about 300 pesos per 17-liter jug to farmers. These farmers take it to mix it with corn and copra, to feed their animals.

The City Council of Davao wants to change this, because this oil - especially if it is Coconut Oil - will pollute and contaminate the water channels , the water becomes clogged and, thus, increases the rat infestation.

In order to do something for hygiene and environment, the used oil will be filtered and recycled so that it can be used as "biodiesel oil" again. From 1000 liters used oil such a filter can produce "biodiesel oil" with about 900 liters. However, there is unfortunately  a flaw: Those producers of used oil are supposed to bring the waste good - free of charge -  to the collection points in the barangays.  I wonder, who will do that - for free?

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

PAL flies Cebu - Los Angeles

PAL flies Cebu - Los Angeles

Again Philippine Airlines (PAL) is going more international. Starting this year, PAL will offer a flight to Los Angeles (L.A). from Cebu and wants to purchase two Boeing 777. During the last years Cebu has become the second largest airport in the Philippines. Already, Japan and China are served by PAL  - always starting from Cebu.

The largest number of passengers will probably come from Davao, where now the two daily flights from Davao to Cebu are utilized by 80%.

And so was the question of   giving preference to Davao for the flight to LA. But because of the runway in Davao, which is not sufficient  for an international carrier, Cebu was chosen. And so is to understand the offer of more flights to Cebu, in order to bypass  the difficult situation  in Manila.

It’s getting  better with PAL.

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

Christmas in Davao

Christmas in Davao

It’s impossible to say that it is quiet in Davao.  Always something is going on - and even if it is only the traffic, to get upset.

But so close to Christmas,  it would be better to emigrate temporarily. There are simply too many people and cars there. Although it is a nice in the evening, to admire the illuminated Christmas decoration: laterns, deers, stars and “snow” falling from the trees.

It is estimated that this year there are even more Lumads than last year and there  it were - according to official estimates - about 16,000 Lumads. These people are  again housed at the various basketball courts and receive food and medical care and are allowed  to ask for Christmas donations at every corner of the city - again this year.

Even at the City Bus Station there is a hive of activity. It is said that this Christmas and about New Year ca.700  buses come and go every day. And these  bring ca. 40,000 people in the city, because the malls offer great specials and nice entertainment.

Yes, here comes the  Christmas spirit and you do the best to spend these days t on the beach under palm trees with good food.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Another prestige project fully sold

Prestige project: Lakeshore Drive behind SM Premier Lanang / Davao

It is known now  that two condo towers  of "Lake Shore Drive" have been completely sold - even though the  customers have to wait about 5 years to move in. It's about the two residential towers with 21 floors and 354 condos that have views across the sea to the island of Samal. This means for "Suntrust Properties"  a sales revenue of about 2.1 billion pesos. Not bad.

It was a surprisingly good start in the real estate market in Davao and probably the other two residential towers will follow soon.

The attraction is certainly the large artificial lake with jogging opportunities (= eco-tourism), the proposed exclusive restaurants, the school complex and the generous "Davao Finance Center" - a building with 15 floors for offices. Even a small hospital and a church will be built. Everything should be like in Makati / Manila , according to the motto: Live, work, learn and play. "All from one hand”

It is not clear if someone has thought of the new amount of extra cars and the expected traffic problems.  

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao.

Our new compagnion

A new, four-legged companion

Recently, we have a new friend in our household, a small, white, long-haired puppy. He has got the name "Barnaby"  - in the hope that he grows big and strong and vigilant

He is about  2 months old, a real "Sweetheart-Doggy" beautiful and playful. If it is true, it should be from a combination of a Japanese Spitz and a Philippine beauty. His paws are already large -  it could really grow to a big dog. Well, we'll see.

You have always the feeling to comb the long, curly hairs. Actually, short-haired dogs are here in the Philippines the norm - only because of the temperatures of about 30 degrees every day.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

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

A dog-surprise

There's nothing but joyful surprises. And this was so: Some time ago we had  spoken to friends  about dogs. And it was me who mentioned, that a dog could fit quite well for us.

And how were we surprised when Jerrold brought to us  two little baby dogs. And they were so cute and so clumsy. Maybe they were just 6 weeks old. Color: gray-black. Pedigree unknown - just Askal, fully Filipino.

And now we have a problem: For a dog we were prepared - and now we have two. And they are quite exhausting.

Let's see how we get through this.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao