Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

FILIPINO ARTISTS SHOWCASE TALENT AT LIVE PAINTING AND MUSICAL SPECTACLE IN FRANKFURT

5 June 2023 — As a kick-off activity of its celebration of the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence and in cooperation with Philippines-and-Germany-based art organization Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento (KUNST), the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt hosted an art and live painting exhibition on 2 June entitled, “Viaje: Journey of Heart and Soul,” featuring four contemporary Filipino visual artists from the Philippines, namely Doy Kastilyo, Fiorna Panopio, Jerwind Magnaye and Marissa Gonzales.

During the event, KUNST art manager and curator, Mr. Virigilio Cuizon presented KUNST’s unique perspective called “Filipinism” in their art, which aims to establish particular brand of Filipino art. While empowering Filipino communities abroad. A total of twenty (20) artworks with the theme ‘art and wellness’ were showcased during the event. The style featured were ‘Pinoy fauvism,’ ‘expressionism’ and abstract art.

Former professional basketball player and singer, Mr. Zaldy Realubit, who was also part of the artists’ group, serenaded the audience while two artists performed live painting exhibition in a spectacle called “PintAWIT,” providing the audience with a unique aesthetic experience.

In her remarks, Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos took the opportunity to thank the Filipino artists who have contributed towards building the Filipino brand of art called ‘Filipinism’ and showcasing the unique Filipino talent in Germany and the rest of Europe. END

Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt Forges Deeper Ties with German Universities in Cologne and Ruhr

26 May 2023 – In celebration of the National Heritage Month and order to expand exposure to Philippine history and culture of German universities, Frankfurt PCG conducted a lecture in the University of Cologne and presented the eskrima/arnis exhibition as well as promoted Filipino adobo and ube during the “Asia Festival” in Ruhr University in Bochum (RUB) on 24 and 25 May.

In coordination with Filipino professor, Dr. Luzille Satur, a lecture entitled, “Rizal from Heidelberg to Dapitan” was presented among the students of Social and Cultural Anthropology in Cologne University as well as second and third generation Filipino-Germans who were also in attendance. The discussion sparked greater interests among the participants in learning about the life of Rizal in Germany and inspired them to follow Rizal’s lead as a patriot and a man of service for the others. The lecture also served as good opportunity for second-and third-generation Filipino-Germans to connect with their Filipino heritage. Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon Abalos who attended the lecture, took the opportunity to share some insights on the life of Rizal and encouraged the students to learn more about Rizal and Philippine history, culture and society in general.

In Ruhr University in Bochum, the Consulate collaborated with the Student Council of the Faculty of East Asia Studies of the University and Eskrima International to present a public exhibition of the Filipino martial arts Inayan III System – Eskrima/Arnis during the ‘Asia Day’ event at the University. The Eskrima International, a Germany-based organization which practices and promotes the Filipino martial art Inayan System III Eskrima/Arnis showed the participants the basic moves and techniques of eskrima/arnis and educated them on the development of the martial art in the Philippines and Germany. Vice Consul Fatima Mueller expressed appreciation for the group’s dedication, skills and effort in promoting the Filipino martial arts in Germany. She also emphasized that the art of eskrima/arnis could be a great opportunity to deepen PH-German people-to-people ties as the Filipino martial arts is popular in Germany and has a number of Filipino martial arts organizations already established all over the country. END

German-Produced Documentary Film Expected to Intensify Business and Tourism Interests in the Philippines

A German-produced documentary film entitled, “Philippines- The Hidden Champion of Southeast Asia” premiered on 20 April at the Gloria Cinema in Stuttgart, Germany.
The film is part of the project of German students of Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW), which are higher educational institutions in Germany that focus on tailoring education and training to the specific needs of the workplace. The film provided a look into the vast array of work by German companies in the Philippines such as Urban Greens – Urban Farming, Bauer AG, CS Garment, and the Porsche Aftersales Vocational Education (PAVE) program in Don Bosco Technical Institute. It also featured some tourism destinations such as Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Mindoro, Masbate, Samar, and Negros.

The film thus provided an exciting insight into the business potentials in the Philippines that especially harness the Philippines’ greatest asset, its human resource. END

Santo Niño Unites Filipino-Germans During Sinulog Festivities in Key Cities in Southern Germany

This year’s colorful celebration of the Sinulog Festival in honor of Señor Santo Niño became an opportunity for Filipino-Germans to converge and showcase their talent, creativity and hardwork. Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon Abalos and Deputy Consul General Rogelio E. Villanueva joined the celebratory Masses, novenas, street dancing and merriment to honor the Sto. Nino in Rottenburg /Stuttgart, and Frankfurt/Limburg areas, respectively. The Consulate emphasized that “our country today continues to be bound together as one nation because of every Sto. Nino believer, including Filipino-German devotees.”