Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

WOMEN’S ROLE IN COMBATTING THE COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTED DURING NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION

08 March 2021- The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, in celebration of the National Women’s Month, conducted today an online talk entitled “Talakayan sa Konsulado: Bida si Juana sa Panahon ng Pandemya” with Dr. Jennefer Salas, a Filipina doctor and GAD advocate based in Germany, as guest speaker. Labor Attaché Atty. Delmer Cruz and Consul Rogelio Villanueva also participated with presentations on the Philippine government’s response against covid-19 with a focus on programs and services for women. The activity was conducted via Zoom and Facebook live.

Dr. Salas, who is an OB-GYNE and an assistant doctor in a Berlin hospital, underscored the vulnerabilities and needs of women and girls especially during the COVID-19 crisis, why protecting sexual and reproductive health and women’s rights, and ending the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence is imperative.

In her remarks, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia thanked Dr. Salas for imparting her experience with gender and health-related issues. She also underscored the fact that “COVID-19 affects women significantly and is the reason why the availability of proper advice to cope with their predicament is crucial, whether they are in the health services sector, in the corporate world or as homemakers.” She added, “women must now take a leadership role in combatting this pandemic and encouraged the participants to share their views, experiences and ideas in further promoting gender equality and women’s rights.”END


500th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE IMAGE OF STO. NINO IN THE PHILIPPINES HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE VIRTUAL CELEBRATION OF STO. NINO SINULOG FESTIVAL IN ROTTENBURG-STUTTGART

9 January 2021 – Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia today joined the Filipino-German Community of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart who highlighted the 500th Year Anniversary of the Arrival of the Image of Sto. Nino in the Philippines during their virtual celebration of the 27th Sto. Niño de Cebu Sinulog Festival, which was streamed live via the Facebook page of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart (@pmgstuttgart).

In her remarks, Consul General Austria-Garcia commended the devotion among the Filipino Catholic Community in Germany to the Sto. Niño and how it has taken root within the Filipino culture and how the Sinulog Festival has become an expression of our Catholic faith. “This year’s festivity is particularly special as the country celebrates the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the image of the Señor Santo Niño in the Philippines. We remember the story of how Ferdinand Magellan and his crew were able to indoctrinate the natives in 1521, some 500 years ago and underscored that though some may see the image of the Sto. Nino as one of colonialism, it can also be argued that Filipino natives at that time were baptized of their own free will,” the Consul General said.

Among those who delivered messages during the online event were Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon de Vega and Philippine Honorary Consul in Stuttgart, Dr. Axel Neumahr, as well as Filipino and German religious and community leaders including the Most Reverend Archbishop Jose S. Palma D.D. of Cebu, Reverend Father Eligio Suico of Archdiocesan Shrine of Guadalupe, Cebu, Brother Roy Paraiso of Archdiocese of Freiburg, Germany, Reverend Father Jonathan Ramose of Filipino Chaplaincy in Stuttgart, and Mr. Alfredo Silacan, President of the Sto Nino Group Rottenburg-Stuttgart.

The Sinulog Festival also featured musical numbers from members of the Manila-based Imusicapella Chamber Choir and Sinulog song and dance performances by members of the Filipino-German Community in Stuttgart. Due to the expanded COVID-19 restrictions mandated by German authorities until 31 January 2021, this year’s celebration of the Holy Eucharist in honor of the Sto. Nino was cancelled. END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN FRANKFURT BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER WITH “PAMASKONG ALAY” VIRTUAL CONCERT

17 December 2020- The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, in collaboration with the MusicArtes Inc., conducted today a virtual Christmas presentation entitled “Pamaskong Alay” to bring holiday cheer to all Filipinos abroad, especially to the Filipino-German community. The online concert featured the Viva Voce Voice Lab, Jose Mari Chan and Ricky Davao. The Christmas presentation also included performances from Post’s personnel and members of Filipino-German community singing ‘Pasko Na Naman’ and ‘Christmas in Our Hearts,’ respectively. The activity was conducted via Zoom and Facebook live.

In her remarks, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia conveyed that “despite the Christmas celebration this year being different, Filipinos abroad should still be joyful as the true meaning of Christmas remains within us.” She added that the holidays enables us to welcome the Child Jesus and the joy, love, hope and peace He brings us year after year.” The Consul General also emphasized that the Consulate is trying to do what it can to support the Filipino performing artists at this difficult time and encouraged Filipinos abroad to do their share and support them as well.

Prior to the virtual Christmas presentation, Post also hosted the first night of the Simbang Gabi at the St. Ignatius Church in Frankfurt on 16 December. Post’s personnel attended the Holy Mass and offered a monetary donation to benefit the victims of typhoon in Catanduanes. A 10-minute preview of the “Pamaskong Alay” virtual event was shown after the Mass. END