Traveling to Munich with Kids: Top Things to Do

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Traveling to Munich with kids can be a fun-filled and exciting experience. The Bavarian city has plenty to offer for families with children, from world-class museums to theme parks and outdoor activities. With its rich culture and history, Munich provides a fantastic educational opportunity for kids to learn and explore. If you are thinking about visiting this amazing place with your kids, here are some of the top things to do in Munich with kids to ensure you and your family have a memorable trip.

Visit the Munich Zoo

The Munich Zoo, also known as Hellabrunn, is one of the oldest and most popular zoos in Europe. The zoo is home to over 19,000 animals from all over the world, including tigers, elephants, polar bears, and many more. It also features a petting zoo, playgrounds, and interactive exhibits that will keep your kids entertained for hours. The zoo is spread over an area of 89 acres, making it one of the largest zoos in the world. The zoo is designed to replicate the natural habitats of the animals, allowing visitors to see the animals in their natural environment. The zoo also has a children's farm where kids can pet and feed the animals.

Explore the Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum is the largest science and technology museum in the world. It has over 250,000 exhibits, including aircraft, ships, trains, and automobiles. Your kids can learn about the history of technology and science through interactive exhibits and demonstrations. The museum has a dedicated section for children called the Kids Kingdom, which features hands-on exhibits that allow kids to experiment with science and technology. Kids can also learn about astronomy, geology, and electricity through interactive exhibits.

Climb to the top of St. Peter's Church

St. Peter's Church is the oldest church in Munich, and its tower offers a stunning panoramic view of the city. Climbing to the top is a great adventure for kids and adults alike. The tower has 299 steps, but the view from the top is well worth the climb. The church is located in the heart of the city, and the climb to the top offers a unique perspective of the city's architecture and landmarks. Kids can learn about the history of the church and the city through guided tours.

Have fun at the Bavaria Filmstadt

The Bavaria Filmstadt is a theme park and film studio where your kids can experience the world of movies and television. The park has rides, shows, and interactive exhibits that will give your kids an exciting and educational experience. The park has a dedicated section for children called the Bullyversum, which features hands-on exhibits that allow kids to explore the world of movies and television. Kids can also take a tour of the film studios and see how movies and television shows are made.

Discover the castles and palaces

If this is your cup of tea, do not forget that the Nymphenburg Palace is a magnificent baroque palace that was once the summer residence of the Bavarian monarchs. The palace features a beautiful park, fountains, and gardens, which make it a great place to explore with your kids. And if it turns out that you enjoy visiting castles, you might check out those informative Munich day trips that will take you to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof as well because these places are more beautiful than you can imagine!

Explore the English Garden

The English Garden is a vast public park that offers plenty of activities for kids. It has playgrounds, walking trails, and a lake where you can rent a boat. The park also has a beer garden where you can enjoy some Bavarian specialties while your kids play. The park is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon with your family. The park has a dedicated section for kids called the Kleinhesseloher See, and that might turn out to be quite interesting as well.

Experience the Marienplatz

Marienplatz is the central square of Munich and a must-visit for any tourist. It is home to the famous Glockenspiel, a mechanical clock that performs twice daily. Kids will love the show, which features moving figures and music. The square is also surrounded by historic buildings and has plenty of shops and restaurants to explore. Visiting Marienplatz is a great way to introduce your kids to the culture and history of Munich.

Go on a bike tour

Munich is a bike-friendly city, and going on a bike tour is a great way to explore the city with your kids. Many companies offer guided tours that take you through the city's historic neighborhoods and parks. Kids will love the adventure of exploring the city on a bike, and it's a great way to get some exercise while sightseeing. Some tours even offer bikes with child seats or trailers, making it easy for families with young children to participate.

Visit the Olympic Park

The Olympic Park was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics and is now a popular tourist destination. The park has a variety of activities for kids, including a playground, mini-golf, and a swimming pool. You can also take a tour of the Olympic Stadium and learn about the history of the games. The park is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has stunning views of the city skyline. Visiting the Olympic Park is a great way to spend a day with your family.

Learn about beer at the Hofbräuhaus

Munich is famous for its beer and beer halls, and the Hofbräuhaus is the most famous beer hall in the city. The hall has been serving beer for over 400 years and is a great place to introduce your kids to Bavarian culture. The hall has a lively atmosphere and offers live music and entertainment. Kids can enjoy Bavarian specialties while parents sample some of the local brews. Visiting the Hofbräuhaus is a unique cultural experience that your family won't forget.

Munich is a great city to visit with kids, and there are plenty of things to do that will keep them entertained and educated. From exploring museums and historical sites to playing in parks and experiencing Bavarian culture, there is something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a day trip or a week-long vacation, Munich is sure to provide an unforgettable experience for your family!

WWF-Philippines urges swift action and a review of Oil Spill Contingency Plan in view of the Mindoro Oil Spill

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WWF-Philippines is profoundly concerned over the critical environmental and social consequences caused by the recent oil spill in Oriental Mindoro resulting from the sinking of the MT Princess Empress last February 28. As of March 27, PCG has reported 10,613L of oily water collected, 123 sacks of oil-contaminated materials from offshore operations, with 3,644.5 sacks and 22 drums of waste from the shoreline. The total length of coastline affected is 55.5 km in Oriental Mindoro (45 km), Antique (6 km), and Palawan (4.5 km). A state of calamity was declared in nine towns surrounding the site.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), The MT Princess Empress was reportedly carrying 800,000 liters (211,340 gallons) of industrial fuel oil when it sank. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimates that the sunken vessel releases oil at a rate of 35,000 to 50,000 liters a day. Furthermore, DENR has expressed that 21 marine protected areas are possibly at risk of being affected by the spill. The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) has provided projections on the extent of the spill. UP MSI has initially reported that the oil slick could possibly affect over 36,000 hectares (for context, Quezon City is 16,110 hectares) of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass across Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique.

This event has caused widespread and interconnected damage to the well-being of the living communities there: people, ecosystems, and other species. We have insight from the Guimaras Oil Spill in 2006 that recovery from oil spills can take a long time. Because of that 2006 incident, 20,000 fishers across the islands of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros have lost income linked to 1,143 hectares of marine reserves spoiled and a total of 648.98 hectares of mangrove forests affected, with 0.93 hectares of mangrove dead three months after the spill. Mean seagrass has reportedly declined from 28.2% to 15% after two years.

WWF has been actively working together with various sectors from the government, NGO, and private sector in coming up with a plan, including an interactive map application revealing the extent of the oil slick based on the oil spill mapping conducted using the available free satellite imagery from March 1 onwards. The analyses published by other organizations and government agencies are also included in the map. This plan will also help to mitigate the further extent of damage from the oil spill, including the urgent provision of livelihood reparation through available means and ensuring the granting of immediate aid to the affected communities.

We recognize and acknowledge the Government's response in addressing and containing the oil spill. We further recommend the following actions based on lessons learned from WWF’s experience in its worldwide network working on similar incidents over the years:

1. Immediate stoppage of the leak and recovery of oil that remains within the sunken vessel to retrieve it from underwater should be of utmost priority. Based on lessons from the Guimaras oil spill in 2006, working with international agencies and organizations should be considered in terms of technology assistance and siphoning the oil. This should be aligned with implementing massive coordinated oil spill containment and clean-up effort spanning multiple provinces, with the active involvement of various national government agencies.

2. Review the current implementation of the policy on the Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP) to consider imposing comprehensive and more stringent regulations and accountability on vessels carrying hazardous materials and reviewing the current routes of these vessels. WWF-Philippines supported the development of NOSCOP in 2019, which aimed to provide clear guidance on the national response to oil spills. We recommend conducting a Sensitivity Index Mapping throughout the country to determine habitats and other coastal resources that are at risk of being damaged by potential oil spill incidents.

3. Conducting baseline assessments of ecosystems over a wide area of the Verde Island Passage beyond the oil spill and regular monitoring of water quality, indicator organisms (such as clams, corals, and fishes), and critical habitats, particularly mangrove and coral reefs. This will determine oil spill impacts and determine proper attribution. Efforts should focus on mapping endangered and threatened species.

4. Fast-track phase-out of fossil fuels to transition to clean and renewable energy. This oil spill is just one of the many lethal risks that fossil fuels pose to the environment. Our country is already struggling with adaptation and mitigation measures against the climate crisis, and oil spills seriously compound the crisis.

5. Better management of shipping routes and marine protected areas so that they do not overlap and to avoid similar incidents from happening again in the future. Thousands of Filipinos have their small-scale livelihoods anchored on the natural resources provided by healthy seas, and this should be a crucial factor considered by all corporations, especially those in the logistics and oil industries.

We archipelagic Filipinos live our stories soaked in pride and joy over the beauty of our 7640 islands, strung by our beautiful seas. An oil spill is a lethal poison not just to the beauty of our marine heritage but also to our overall natural wealth and future. We can only genuinely claim to be the center of marine biodiversity in the world if we ourselves address oil spills swiftly and seriously, knowing full well that our very lives and futures depend on it.

SSS releases record-high P5.95B pension loans in 2022

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Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said that pension loan releases in 2022 reached P5.95 billion, the highest annual disbursement for the Pension Loan Program (PLP) since it started in 2018.

Macasaet said that pension loan releases in 2022 almost double the P3.08 billion recorded in 2021. “From January to December 2022, the SSS has disbursed a monthly average of P495.77 million pension loans benefitting 10,660 retiree-pensioners, which is 93% higher than its corresponding monthly average in 2021 of P257.01 million to 5,753 retiree-pensioners.”

“We are delighted that we have assisted many of our retiree-pensioners for their short-term and immediate financial needs. We also prevent them from becoming victims of private lending institutions that charge high interest rates and require them to surrender their ATM cards as collateral,” he explained.

Likewise, the number of PLP applicants grew after the national government ease up community quarantine restrictions in the country, which allowed retiree-pensioners to submit their pension loan applications in SSS branches. “Our records show that a total of 127,920 retiree-pensioners availed from the PLP in 2022, which is 85% higher than the 69,036 retiree-pensioners who availed of the program in 2021,” Macasaet said.

Luzon recorded the highest number of PLP applicants with 30,158 retiree-pensioners amounting to nearly P1.39 billion in pension loans. The National Capital Region (NCR) came in second with 28,239 borrowers amounting to P1.43 billion. Visayas follows it with 17,038 loan applicants amounting to P740 million, and Mindanao with 12,917 borrowers amounting to P590 million. Meanwhile, online application through My.SSS portal had 39,568 loan applicants amounting to P1.80 billion.

The SSS chief said that 69% of the borrowers filed their loan applications through SSS branches while 31% used their My.SSS account in filing their PLP applications.

Macasaet noted that PLP applications through its online portal My.SSS also grew in 2022. “Starting May 2022, SSS enhanced PLP by allowing first-time applicants to file their loan applications using their My.SSS account, resulting in 39,568 approved pension loan applications in 2022, a 963% increase from only 3,721 in 2021,” he added.

“Opening an online facility for PLP borrowers paved the way for more retiree-pensioners to access this loan program. It also offered them convenience because they could submit their application even in the comfort of their homes. Once approved, the loan proceeds are directly credited to their disbursement accounts within five (5) working days,” Macasaet said.

SSS launched PLP to assist SSS retiree-pensioners in their immediate financial needs by offering a loan program with a low-interest rate of 10% per annum.

Macasaet further explained that PLP offers its borrowers flexible installment payment terms ranging from six (6) to 24 months. “We also ensure that the pensioners will still have a net take-home pension of at least 47.25% of their monthly pensions.”

Qualified retiree-pensioners can avail themselves of a loan equivalent to three, six, nine, or 12 times their basic monthly pension plus the P1,000 additional benefit granted in 2017, but not exceeding P200,000.00.