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PHL EMBASSY IN BERLIN HOSTS APPRECIATION DINNER FOR FILIPINO COMMUNITY AND PHL AMBASSADOR’S FAREWELL

20 November 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Berlin hosted a thanksgiving dinner on October 18 at Zhou´s Five Restaurant in appreciation of the cooperation and support extended by the Filipino community in Berlin during the successful visit by President Benigno S. Aquino III.  The event also gave the Filipino community a chance to bid farewell to Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad (in photo: seated, 3^rd from right) , whose tour of duty ended on October 31.

Ambassador Natividad informed her well-wishers that President Aquino himself was very much impressed with the way the Filipino community worked with the Embassy so that the Filipino community evening with the President held recently in Berlin was both well-organized and well-attended.

The Berlin Filipino community guests were treated to a sumptuous buffet of Asian and international dishes. A Berlin-based band led by Filipino pianist Ms. Carolyn del Rosario played live dance music to the guests’ dancing delight.

Surprise song and dance numbers from some members of the community added to the fun of the casual evening event. Various gift items were raffled off as the guests enthusiastically took turns having their photographs taken with Ambassador Natividad.

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PHILIPPINES, GERMANY CELEBRATE 60^TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BAYANIHAN DANCE COMPANY

18 November 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin recently celebrated the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Germany by hosting a gala concert that featured the world renowned Bayanihan, the National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines.

The gala dinner and concert welcomed Ambassador Clemens von Goetze of the Federal Foreign Office and Madame Gretchen del Rosario as the guests of honor as well as Philippine parliamentarians that included Senators Sergio R. Osmeña III, Loren B. Legarda and Gregorio B. Honasan II, Representatives Rufus B. Rodriguez, Arlene J. Bag-ao, Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Francisco T. Matugas, Agapito H. Guanlao, George P. Arnaiz and other high level officials.

The event began with the launch of the commemorative coffee table book “Freundschaft Pagkakaibigan: Sixty Years of Friendship between Germany and the Philippines”, which was produced by Ms. Marily Y. Orosa, co-edited by Dr. Isagani Cruz, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad, and Ms. Charlotte Bandelow, and published by Studio 5 Design, Inc. 

The coffee table book focuses on the various dimensions of Philippine-German relations, including business links, development cooperation, and people-to-people connections.  Highlights include profiles on the history of Rizal in Germany, the work of non-government organizations (NGOs) such as the AFOS Foundation, the Benedictine Sisters of the Philippines and the Goethe Institut Philippinen.

During her remarks, Madame Del Rosario emphasized that her visit was helping her to retrace her childhood roots, having grown up in Hamburg during the 1950s and 1960s when her father Dr. Policronio R. de Venecia was assigned as the first Filipino diplomat in the country.  She expressed confidence in the prospects for future relations, since both countries continued to be open and accepting societies.

For her part, Ambassador Natividad emphasized the renewed intensity in Philippine-German relations. “I believe that the visit of President Aquino and the candid discussions with Chancellor Merkel have sown the seeds for a more comprehensive partnership which we can pursue in the long term,” she said. Director General for Asia Ambassador Clemens von Goetze echoed this perspective and lauded the Embassy’s ability to transcend recent challenges and chart a new and highly promising new chapter in Philippine-German relations.

The Bayanihan Dance Company, whose program was conceptualized by its Executive Director Suzie Benitez, Music Director Melito Vale Cruz and Choreographer Ferdinand Jose, showcased the breadth in musical traditions of the Philippines, spanning indigenous, Muslim, Spanish, and American-inspired themes.  A vast array of dance and music numbers such as Bagobo-Tiboli, Torneo, Singkil, Pandanggo, Maglalatik, Subli and Tinikling were presented before a delighted audience of 200.

The event was spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Berlin in cooperation with the Philippine Honorary Consulates in Stuttgart, Munich, Essen and Dresden.

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GERMAN NATIONAL TELEVISION LAUNCHES “CHILDREN OF TACLOBAN – 100 CAMERAS FOR 100 CHILDREN” PHOTO EXHIBIT

11 November 2014 – Almost one year after Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan struck the Philippines, German television has reminded the German public about the communities affected by the world’s strongest typhoon.  ARD, Germany’s public service broadcaster recently launched a photo exhibit “The Children of Tacloban – 100 Cameras for 100 Children” at its Central Studio in Berlin.

The photo exhibit is a project of Philipp Abresch, ARD TV’s correspondent based in Singapore.  While covering the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, Mr. Abresch distributed 100 disposable cameras to 100 children in the Tacloban area.

Philippine Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. Mardomel Melicor emphasized that the “initiative has empowered those who were directly affected by Typhoon Haiyan and has allowed the youth to share their own stories and provide snapshots of how they have persevered and carried on with rebuilding their lives. The photo exhibition reveals that even in their darkest hour, the Filipino people’s resiliency, humor, and hope continues to shine.  One year on, communities are still rebuilding their homes, schools, hospitals and businesses… I am confident that this initiative as well as the partnerships and friendships that have been forged between Filipinos and Germans will ensure our shared commitment to rebuild better and stronger after Haiyan.” 

The German government and public contributed more than 175 million Euros (approximately USD217,549,503) in relief support to those communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. 

For his part, Mr. Abresch expressed his desire to bring the photo exhibition back to Tacloban City.  He noted that the exhibition materials were completely waterproof and would be ideal for an outdoor exhibit. The exhibit, curated by the Hamburg Deichtorhallen and also supported by CEWE and North German Radio/TV (NDR), may be viewed online at www.photosofhope.org.  

The “Photos of Hope” initiative is a long-term project of Philipp Abresch, which started 15 years ago when he distributed disposable cameras in crisis areas such as Kosovo, Syria, Iraq, Sahara, and the rainforests of Southeast Asia. The idea was to give a voice to young people with the help of photography.