Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

FILIPINO SCIENCE FICTION STIRS IMAGINATION OF SCI-FI ENTHUSIASTS IN GERMANY

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt conducted on 3 July a book presentation of Filipino science fiction work, “Fate of a Distant Future” by Filipino-Australian author Renato Tranquilino. The book, which was part of the Philippine book line up during the Frankfurt Book Fair last year, stirred the imagination of Filipino and German science fiction enthusiasts who attended the event. The book is a collection of four Philippine Sci-fi stories in different generations with Southeast Asian characters that contribute to their country’s evolution to become a planet-colonizing powerhouse. The book is also the prequel to a forthcoming Space Opera Trilogy book.

During the event, Mr. Tranquilino, underscored that Filipino science fiction offers a unique cultural perspective to the genre which blend traditional Filipino culture, folklore, history and futuristic elements.

He said that the Philippine science fiction industry has been growing steadily and has an untapped market potential with a wide range of audience. He also added that that several Filipino sci-fi filmmakers and writers gaining international recognition for their works.

The book, which is published by 8letter Publishing, is available online via Amazon. END

PHILIPPINE UBE FETED AT INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION IN BAVARIA

The Filipino community in Bavaria put a spotlight on the Filipinos’ obsession with ube, with this year’s Independence Day celebration featuring various gastronomic interpretations of ube, cultural performances, concert of the Philippine Male Singers, ‘ube-themed’ Santacruzan, and ube recipe/cooking competition, among others.

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, which also conducted a consular outreach mission alongside the festivities, provided support to the Philippine Culture Club Nurnberg e.V. in organizing the second Ube Fiesta in Germany. Other government agencies that provided support to the event were the PH Department of Tourism Office in Frankfurt who took the opportunity to promote and gather participants to its ‘Bisita, Be My Guest’ tourism campaign; the Migrant Workers Office in Berlin that promoted Migrant Workers’ Day and sponsored prizes; and the Department of Agriculture Office in Brussels. END

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