In celebration of the 121st Independence Day of the Philippine Republic, the Philippine Honorary Consulate (PHC) in Stuttgart, headed by Dr. Axel Neumahr, recently held a 3-day Independence Day celebration in various areas of Baden-Württemberg with “culture” as its central theme.

 

The celebration kicked-off at the Philippine Honorary Consulate’s office in Stuttgart with the newly appointed Philippine Ambassador to Germany H. E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, together with Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt as Guest Speakers. Both officials delivered an Independence Day Message at a Reception for members of Baden-Württemberg’s Consular Corps, Stuttgart’s local officials, business community and members of the Filipino community.

During his welcome address, Dr. Neumahr emphasized the Honorary Consulate’s commitment in further developing Philippine-German relations through its support for various economic and tourism undertakings of the Philippine government and by addressing the various needs of the Filipino community in Baden-Württemberg.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega, for her part, encouraged more dynamic engagement between the Philippines and Germany, particularly in the economic field. She likewise stated, paraphrasing National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, that “Germany will always occupy a special place in the pages of our history by providing a welcoming haven for Dr. Rizal during the creation of many of his most enduring works.”

Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia also shared with the audience the early beginnings of the bilateral relations between both Germany and the Philippines and emphasized the Consulate General’s commitment to enhance relations between the two countries.

The multi-awarded church-based Choir Imusicapella impressed the Guests with its rendition of various folk, religious and pop songs shortly before an array of Filipino and German dishes were served while guests expand their business network.

The next day, a second celebration was done at the St. Maria Church where a Special Independence Day Mass presided over by Filipino Chaplain Fr. Jonathan Galope Ramoso was held.  Ambassador Dizon-De Vega delivered a message and joined members of the Filipino community of Stuttgart and nearby cities.  The event was jointly organized by the Honorary Consulate in Stuttgart, the Philippinische Muttersprache Gemeinschaft (PMG), and the Philippine American German Association in Stuttgart Area (PAGASA).

The 3-day celebration capped off with a full-concert of Imusicapella, held at the Event Hall of Birkenfeld city in Pforzheim through the initiative of the Philippinisch-Deutsch Verein Nordschwarzwald e.V., one of the Filipino organizations in the region of Baden-Württemberg, that as it celebrated its 25th year anniversary.

Financial pledges, collections during the mass and proceeds from ticket sales for all concerts held during the 3-day event were donated to Imusicapella as a collective support from the region of Baden-Württemberg for the group’s 3-month European Tour which will conclude in Arezzo, Italy when the group represents the Philippines at the European Grand Prix for Chorale Singing in August 2019.

Düsseldorf, 22 June 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt (PCG Frankfurt) conducted a Consular Outreach Mission at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Düsseldorf last June 22. Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. led the outreach team in providing passport, notarials, civil registry and other consular services.

Members of the Filipino-German community in Düsseldorf and nearby areas within the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia took advantage of the outreach mission held in the city center of Düsseldorf, to avail themselves of consular services.  The Consulate General rendered a total of 130 services during the event, composed of 98 passport applications, 11 civil registry and 21 legalization of documents.

Based on the latest regional statistical reports, there are approximately 4,235 Filipinos living in North-Rhine Westphalia, the second largest number of Filipino residents within Germany, after Bavaria.

The Consulate General in Frankfurt has already conducted two outreach activities since it re-opened in January this year. Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia said that outreach missions have been scheduled throughout the year to bring consular services closer to the members of the Filipino-German community in the areas under its jurisdiction. (Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Bavaria).

 

 

19 June 2019 – In commemoration of the 158^th birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on 19 June 2019, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt invites the public to visit the exhibition of rare Rizaliana furniture items at the Consulate’s exhibition area.

The Rizaliana exhibition was officially opened for public viewing on 21 May 2019 after a lecture on Rizal by well-known German Rizalista, Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, during the Consulate General’s National Heritage Month celebration in May. The exhibit showcases selected furniture items that were used by Rizal during his stay in the vicarage of his German host, Pastor Karl Ullmer in the spring of 1886.

The exhibit items include a mirror made of walnut wood, while the cabinet, the cupboard, the dresser, and the bed, are all made from mahogany. Interestingly, it is believed that Rizal finished his novel “Noli Me Tangere“ on the said table. They were “gifted’ to the Consulate General by Dr. Ullmer, the great grandson of Pastor Ullmer, so that these rare Rizaliana items may be shown to the public as pieces of shared history between the Philippines and Germany.

The Rizaliana exhibit is open to the public from Monday to Friday, during office hours at the Consulate General’s Exhibit Area, 1^st Floor Westend Carree Gruenerburgweg 16-18 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

19 June 2019 – To coincide with the celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt inaugurated its new office on 17 June 2019 with the members of the Consular Corps and local government officials of Frankfurt and neighboring areas in attendance. Senator Loren Legarda was the Consulate General’s guest of honor.

 

“The re-opening of the Consulate General is consistent with the Philippine Government’s priorities to bring our services closer to Filipinos overseas, particularly in Southern Germany. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Honorable Senator Legarda for being instrumental in its re-establishment. The Consulate General shall endeavor to promote Philippine interests and serve the Filipino community under its jurisdiction with the highest standards of excellence,” Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia said.

During her remarks, Senator Loren Legarda said that she was “inspired, challenged and excited” on the recent developments in Philippine-German relations, which include the celebration of the two nations’ 65th year anniversary of diplomatic relations, the purchase of the Embassy chancery in Berlin and the re-opening of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt. She stressed the importance of Philippine-German relations and her commitment to further deepen the two countries’ bilateral ties.

 

 

To showcase Filipino musical flair, Pundaquit Virtuosi, a Zambales-based string orchestra, composed of youth from modest backgrounds and led by renowned Filipino violinist Alfonso ‘Coke’ Bolipata, serenaded the guests with a mix of Filipino and classical music. The group is currently on a European concert tour and has performed in two other separate events in Frankfurt. A variety of traditional and fusion Filipino food created by Filipino-German chefs based in Frankfurt was served to the Consulate’s guests.

Prior to the inauguration, the Consulate General’s officers and staff also held a flag-raising ceremony followed by a Filipino breakfast on 12 June.

The Consulate General, which is currently housed at Westend Carree 1^st Floor Grüneburgweg 16-18, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, has been rendering consular services such as passports, visas and notarials since January of this year.

 

19 June 2019 – As part of its cultural diplomacy efforts in Southern Germany and in celebration of the 121^st Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt organized three separate performances of Pundaquit Virtuosi from 16 to 18 June 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Zambales-based string orchestra, composed of youth from modest backgrounds and led by renowned Filipino violinist Alfonso ‘Coke’ Bolipata as their artistic director, ‘stirred the souls’ of Filipino and German audiences during their performances in Frankfurt. Their repertoire included both Filipino and classical musical pieces, such as Lucio San Pedro’s Sa Ugoy ng Duyan and German musician Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto No. 3.

On 16 June 2019, Pundaquit Virtuosi held a concert at St. Ignatius Church for the Filipino community’s Independence Day Celebration. An estimated 300-400 attended the concert. The concert was organized in cooperation with the Filipino Catholic Community of Bistum Limburg, Frankfurt. It was followed by a merienda cena and other community presentations.

“It is a good opportunity for the members of the Filipino Community in Frankfurt and neighboring areas to celebrate Philippine Independence Day again after a long time. We truly appreciate the re-opening of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt and its efforts to bring Pundaquit Virtuosi here in Frankfurt and promote Filipino talents,” Father Mario Estrella, the Filipino priest assigned in Bistum Limburg said.

Their second performance was held at the Consulate General’s Independence Day reception and the inauguration of its new office, with Senator Loren Legarda as the guest of honor. The group serenaded the members of the Consular Corps and the local government officials of Frankfurt and Rhineland-Palatinate with both classical and Filipino musical pieces.

 

Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia conveyed her appreciation of  the group’s musical achievements. “Music knows no boundaries nor does it discriminate. It inspires and provides a stepping-stone to self-discovery and personal development. Pundaquit Virtuosi has exemplified this through its admirable musical achievements,” she remarked.

To cater to a much younger audience, Pundaquit Virtuosi  performed at the end-of-school-year program of Lessing-Gymnasium, a local Frankfurt City music school. The group had an opportunity to interact with local German students after the show.

Prior to Frankfurt, Pundaquit Virtuosi performed in Vienna, Austria. The group is set to perform in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain after the Frankfurt leg of their European Concert Tour.

 

 

 

 

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt hosted a seminar on SSS, Pag-IBIG and OWWA services at the Consulate premises last June 8. The event was attended by members of the Filipino-German community and Consulate personnel.

Speakers included Ms. Mylene Lontoc, Pag-IBIG Representative and Ms. Marie Jessielyn Sia, SSS Representative, both based in Milan, Italy, who delivered presentations on the services provided by their respective agencies. Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. delivered the presentation on behalf of OWWA, after giving a briefing on consular services offered by the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.

Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia thanked those who attended the seminar. She noted that many Filipinos in Germany were not fully aware of the huge benefits and savings from becoming a member of the SSS and the Pag-IBIG. “They were surprised to find out that interest offered by the SSS and Pag-IBIG were higher than commercial banks“, she added.

Ms. Lontoc confirmed that active members of Pag-IBIG who have decided to increase their contribution or deposit, are expected to benefit most from the Fund’s enhanced interest rates. Ms. Sia reminded SSS members to complete the minimum number of 120 contributions or ten years, in order to be eligible for pension.

Participants of the seminar availed themselves of individual consultations to inquire about the status of their membership, as well as to update their contributions. Filipino-Germans can continue paying their monthly or advance contributions through the accredited remittance agent in Germany, or through their relatives in the Philippines.

Consul General Garcia encouraged Filipino-Germans to take advantage of their improved financial position, to upgrade their investments in the SSS and Pag-IBIG in order to better prepare themselves for the future. She said that the successful outcome of the seminar has inspired the Consulate General to consider making the event a regular activity, including in its consular outreach mission.