a vertical Garden

Garden on the wall

A friend here in Davao had a problem with his plants, such as with arugula or Kale  or tomatoes - all things that he had brought as seeds from home. These plants  did not want to "get on their feet", did not grow. They were quite different from his other vegetables taken from the local, Philippine countryside.

He brooded. Then he found out that  the higher UV radiation here in Davao, directly on the equator, could be the reason. So he looked for a spot on his garden wall, which was not directly in the sun - there he made his VERTICAL garden with plastic bottles. A garden on the wall.

And he added  a "water-saving idea", because he wanted that the  water will flood each plastic bottle after the other. So the water drips through all plastic bottles.

The first result is  impressive: A tomato plant has developed the first small tomato. Soon there will hopefully be more….

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Driving without a helmet is fun ?

Driving without a helmet is fun ?

As every year in January there is a FIESTA in Makilala - and we were there. But how were we surprised. There was not only a FIESTA, but we were also invited to a visit at the hospital.

The nephew, 19 years old, is a happy-go-lucky motorcyclist and thinks that nothing could disturb him and that he can deal with all difficulties. And  sometimes he is  driving extremely risky. On this afternoon last week he did not observe that a  jeepney - looking for passengers –bends suddenly to his side just ahead of him.So it crashed.

Our nephew crushed with his motorcycle into the Jeepney: facial injury under his left eye, because he drove without a helmet. The motorcycle then tipped to the left, breaking his left thigh-bone. Result: motorbike is slightly injured, the driver is seriously injured!

It is not a big help that the driver  of jeepney  assures to take over all the  costs of the hospital and that his girlfriend is constantly taking care of him. For at least 3 months he is in treatment, in this time no motorcycle, and a  cut-off  of his job training. And now the poor boy has  enough time to think  that  he had a similar accident a year ago - for he was driving his motorbike  without a helmet  too !!!

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

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