WHEE! WHEE! WHEE! I THINK....
While succumbing once again to a vanity google this morning, I found an article on my tours written on a German TV Station website (NDRTV). Trouble is I don't understand a word it says. I wonder if it's a good review. If not, maybe it's best I not know. Ignorance can be bliss sometimes. But if anyone out there speaks German, could you please be a dove and translate a little synopsis for me?
Philippinen - Der Stadtführer von Manila
Die philippinische Hauptstadt Manila ist ein Moloch. Es gibt 12 Millionen Menschen, viele Slums, viele Sorgen und ständig Staus. Aber hinter der Fassade ist Manila eine liebenswerte Stadt, mit freundlichen Menschen und einer bewegten Geschichte. Die kann keiner so schön erzählen, wie der Stadtführer Carlos Celdran. Armut, Gangster, Korruption. Für Stadtführer gibt es dankbarere Orte als Manila. Carlos Celdran hat Kunst studiert, er ist auch Schauspieler, seine Hauptbühne heißt Intramuros, die Altstadt. Sie war mal wunderschön, bis Bomben sie zerstörten. Viel ist nicht mehr zu sehen, und an die Antike erinnert hier schon gar nichts mehr. Read more here....
Philippinen - Der Stadtführer von Manila
Die philippinische Hauptstadt Manila ist ein Moloch. Es gibt 12 Millionen Menschen, viele Slums, viele Sorgen und ständig Staus. Aber hinter der Fassade ist Manila eine liebenswerte Stadt, mit freundlichen Menschen und einer bewegten Geschichte. Die kann keiner so schön erzählen, wie der Stadtführer Carlos Celdran. Armut, Gangster, Korruption. Für Stadtführer gibt es dankbarere Orte als Manila. Carlos Celdran hat Kunst studiert, er ist auch Schauspieler, seine Hauptbühne heißt Intramuros, die Altstadt. Sie war mal wunderschön, bis Bomben sie zerstörten. Viel ist nicht mehr zu sehen, und an die Antike erinnert hier schon gar nichts mehr. Read more here....
posted by carlosceldran @ 11:53 AM
5 Comments:
the babelfish translation is a hoot, if you haven't tried it yet. obviously not quite accurate but entertaining nonetheless. :)
-domokun
The Philippines - the city leader of Manila
The Philippine capital Manila is a Moloch. There is constantly 12 million humans, many Slums, many concerns and back-up. But behind the front Manila is a love-worth city, with friendly humans and a moved history. Those cannot tell as beautifully, as the city leader of Carlo Celdran.
Poverty, gangster, corruption. For city leaders there are more grateful places than Manila. Carlo Celdran studied art, he is also an actor, its main stage is called Intramuros, the old part of town. It was times beautiful, until bombs destroyed it. Much is not to be seen no more, and to those Antique one reminds nothing at all more here already. Wir do not have stone temples like others, say Carlo. Denn the island Luzon, on which Manila stands, does not have own stones. It is one of the recent geological formations of the earth. We are a volcano, which bubbles in the Pacific ocean. exactly like a large Hawaii..
Only the Spaniards brought fortresses, to 1571. Manila still consisted of bamboo huts. The entrance to it that were a-born directly killed, Muslims were reminded. The 36jaehrige does not try only at all to talk Manila beautifully. For the fact it shows that each epoch had the same losers: the Filipinos. The city experienced three colonial powers and a dictator. A miracle that it at all still stands, means Carlo. Because also taifune and earthquakes rage here.
Historical data it knows as well, as the private life of national heroes or generals, gossip and gossip likes it also gladly. With its city guidance he earns more than with the art. An entertainer with a message: Viele of us forgot, where we come, Filipinos want I their roots to show. And foreigners are to understand that what they see is not everything. We have a bad reputation, but under the surface the Philippines are a decoration small box.
The Philippines were always a ball of strange powers. The Americans bought the colony from the Spaniards 1898, for 20 million dollar. The country was placed on the head. Only a culture shock, then bombs fell. Die Americans said, poor Filipinos, them can only with a kingdom in far Europe talk, but that wants to know nothing more from them. Thus we do pleasure to them and create Spanish, this bad habit, simply off, tell Carlo Celdran. The Filipinos had to learn English, and artist of Carlo complains that so also the Spanish culture disappeared: Flamenco, Cervantes and Pablo Neruda.
A prayer for the war-dead. Altogether a million Filipinos died in the Second World War. The Japanese had driven the USA out, but America returned in February 1945 and bombte Manila in debris and ash, also the legendary old part of town Intramuros. Das was not our war, says Carlo Celdran, er only on our soil was delivered. During the release from the Japanese here 150,000 civilians, that died were 50,000 more than in Hiroshima.
Before the Japanese left the city, they arranged still massacres under the population. And at the end Manila was one of the most strongly destroyed cities of the Second World War.
In the old part of town a few old houses were developed. The most well-known Filipina, Imelda Marcos, which was woman with the 2,000 to 3,000 pair shoes, the building lady of the museum, at that time as its man still as a dictator governed and the country plundered inconsiderately. With the museum humans could begin at least somewhat. A small view into history: So sumptuously rich Filipinos lived in the Spanish time with 20 officials. Two floors, on the Klo one approximated oneself nevertheless.
At the end of condoms. Carlo distributes she otherwise in Slums, its contribution for family planning. Each second Filipino is bitter-poor. Preventing however is expensive and owing to the Spanish-catholic inheritance not very popular.
Wenn one is always annoyed, does not get ahead one not. It pleases me at our history that she shows, how everlasting we are Filipinos, as we always continue despite largest emergency. It can not change Manila, says Carlo, but the view of the visitors of the city. And those are to take with home that Manila is more than a soulless Ungetuem.
At the end of condoms? Heeheehee.
Carlos, I emailed the copy to my german friends who took part in your tour last year. I'm sure that'll bring back memories. They have a picture of you they love to show, you're the only one in motion, even in a photo, you can see how lively you are! :)
I can't tell if this was a good or a bad review...
Good gosh. I love that translation.
Thank you domokun
Thank you THANK YOU so much Ms. Paula Guevara for the best translation so far.
The Philippines - Manila city guide
The Philippine capital Manila is a moloch. There are 12 million people, many slums, many problems, and constant traffic. But behind this facade, Manila is a lovable city filled with friendly people and eventful history. Nobody can explain it better than city guide Carlos Celdran.
Poverty, gangs, corruption. There are better places for a city guide than Manila. Carlos Celdran studied Fine Arts. He is also an actor, and his main stage is the old city Intramuros. The city was once beautiful, until it was destroyed by bombings. Very few things suggestive of the city's ancient past remain. "We don't have stone temples here unlike in other places," says Carlos, "the island of Luzon, where Manila is, has no stone. It's one of the youngest geological formations in the world. We are a volcano that erupted in the Pacific, just like a big Hawaii.
The Spaniards didn't start building their fortresses until 1571. Manila at that time was still filled with bamboo huts. The entrance suggests that the indigenous people were killed: they were Muslims. The 36-yr-old doesn't even try to sugarcoat Manila: he shows that each epoch has had the same loser--the Filipinos. The city has gone through three colonial powers and one dictator. It's a miracle the city still stands, observes Carlos, since it's also ravaged by typhoons and earthquakes.
He knows historical facts very well, like the private lives of national heroes or generals. He also loves gossip. His tours offer more than culture, he is an entertainer with a message: "Many of us have forgotten where we come from. I want to show Filipinos their roots, and foreigners should understand that everything that they see isn't necessarily it. We have a bad reputation, but underneath the surface, the Philippines is a jewel box (treasure trove??).
The Philippines has always been a ball played by the great powers. The Americans bought the colony from the Spaniards in 1898 for 20 million dollars. The country was turned upside down: first, culture shock, then bombings. "The Americans said, poor Filipinos, they can only speak to a faraway European kingdom that doesn't want to have anything to do with them. We'll do them a favor and get rid of Spanish and all these bad manners". Filipinos had to learn English, and Spanish culture disappeared: Flamenco, Cervantes, Neruda.
A prayer for those killed in war. Around 1 million Filipinos died during World War II. The Japanese drove out the USA, but they returned in February 1945 and bombed Manila---Intramuros included-- into debris and ashes. "It wasn't our war," says Carlos, "but they carried it out on our own soil. When we were liberated from the Japanese, 150,000 civilians died. That's 50,000 more than in Hiroshima."
Before leaving the city, the Japanese massacred some of the population. In the end, Manila was one of the worst destroyed cities of World War II.
A few old houses were reconstructed in the old city. The most famous Filipina, Imelda Marcos, she of the 2000 to 3000 pairs of shoes, oversaw the construction of the museum during a time when her husband reigned as dictator and plundered the country. At least the museum gave the people a place to begin from. A glimpse into history: how luxurious Filipinos used to live during the Spanish period with their 20 servants!
Finally, condoms. Carlos gives them out in the slums, his contribution to family planning. Every other Filipino is extremely poor. Contraceptives are expensive and, thanks to the Catholic church, not very popular.
"When one is always angry, one can not move forward. I find that our history shows how resilient we Filipinos are, that despite our hardship, we always push forth." Manila can't change itself, says Carlos, but visitors can change how they see the city. They should go home thinking that Manila is more than a soulless monster.
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