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.

Drinking coffee in SM Lanang Premier, Davao

Do you want time for a coffee in peace?

If you are in the SM Mall Premier Lanang, Davao you might have - besides shopping - usually 2 problems: First, where do you find a bank or a chair - just  to rest? There are not many and they are mostly occupied.

The second problem - at least so I think - is where you can sip a coffee in peace? Going to STARBUCKS or FRENCH BAKER, then you sit like ‘on the display’ in front. Well, some people will surely need and like that.

So I was happy when I found in the second floor the ‘DAYAW Coffee & Tea’. Although I have seen the signs, but I did not know that the business is outside, so is on the terrace.

Prices start at 60 pesos for a coffee, you have a beautiful view with peace - if you sit outside - and it seems that there are mostly students who work on their laptops. Everything makes a nice impression of good Davao coffee taste and I highly recommended them.

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.  Please contact our institution assistants Mrs. Shella Lariosa and Ms.Diane Crisel ( Foreign Languages Institute of  USEP) during normal office hours  in Davao City: 082-224 1372 or 0909 2220 986.

Renew your your driver licence in Davao!

Life is here in Davao. You are always in motion!

Once again it was at the time that my driver license had to be renewed at the Land & Transportation Office (LTO). So, the normal way is that you have to stand in the queue, because at 8 o’clock the gate will be opened and then all the waiting people are whizzing through the entrance in order to get one of the front seats - or have it let reserved by a helper.

Then the papers have to be completed and delivered to booth 1 and again, you are looking for a place in the long row of chairs. And then you wait, because the next step is the photo taking. A lady with a  deep  voice called out the names. Every time one stands up to head to the booth, the people sitting next will get up and move to the next chair. You are  constantly in motion.

After some time my name was called. I smiled into the camera and  made my signature on the electronic device. And then there was it again: waiting. I had to wait until boothe 3 called my name to pay the renewal fee of Php417.63. And then wait again - but the heavy work is already done. How relieving.

After about 20 minutes - after having had a snack at the canteen - my name was called at booth 4 and I was finally able to take my new licence. I looked at my card, smiling, being happy to have overcome this procedure. Well, it is more fun in Davao. Life is here. You are always in motion!

With best regards

Ludwig from Davao

Machines of BOSCH have a distinct advantage

Old electric drill from Bosch

"It is nice when you get an unexpected surprise",  my friend uses to say . And this was exactly happening today.

He had brought a drill from Germany some years ago: for such simple purposes of drilling and doweling. He had realized that here the usage of dowelss has been unknown in the Philippines and that here everybody prefers to do with such work nails instead of screws

And after some years the machine stopped working. So what to do? When inquiring at Bosch in Germany  he learned that there is no Bosch branch in Davao yet – but intends to establish a subsidiary. Bosch was very welcoming and offered to repair the electric drill, if  the machine is back to Germany. Darn, the machine weights about 3 kg. No, this is too heavy, my friend thought. At the end the machine was left in the dark corner in the store room beside the broom

Some time passed and we were invited to visit a corporate exhibition held at SM Lanang. Among the invited companies there was an  accredited company that would deal with BOSCH machineries. An inquiry revealed that the company could not help us out with the drill, as it is an old machine with the type number CSB 650-2RE. And we were told that they are only able to repair BOSCH machines that begin with the code letter "G".

Again, at the end of the day, the drilling machine was in the dark corner of the store room beside the broom.

Having had the drill more than 15 years, a quality that is seldom to find nowadays, he did not give in. Then my friend searched on the internet to get more tips on how to solve this problem. He thought that  the problem could only be the carbon brushes which have be to replaced.  And then he realized that in different electric drills the carbon brushes are just the same! After reading so rare shares on this matter on the world wide web, he was happy to learn that BOSCH products have this distinct advantage to be of standardized component - and regardless where you buy these components. They are universally fit to  BOSCH drilling machine! Fantastic!

With this information, it was easy to get the brushes – one costs 420 Pesos in the hardware store  - and he could assemble it by himself. And everything worked! Yes, BOSCH machines are special.

With best regards,

Ludwig from Davao

Hot Technology in prison

The prison of Davao has a solar system

So, even Davao has a prison. It is located in the district of Ma-a. And  the technology was now introduced  by the Red Cross (ICRC) with a 1-million-peso donation. With this donation, a solar hot water system for a flow rate of about 1800 liters was installed in order to provide  the kitchen with plenty of hot water for cooking . Before the introduction of this technology the prison consumed  approximately 5 tons of wood / month and  the energy of  electric stoves  All  expensive materials.

Anyone who has ever looked inside  a Philippine prison may wonder whether such an investment of  the Red Cross in solar hot water is the right way. But you have to admit that it is a step in the right direction.

The prison was designed for about 380 times detainees. At the moment there are 2,190 men. The prison became overcrowded. Let us hope that the solar system is not limited to conserve the environmental and financial aspect , but also to enhance the stardard of living inside the prison walls.

With best regard,

Ludwig from Davao