Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

FOOD OF OUR ANCESTORS HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN FRANKFURT’s FILIPINO FOOD MONTH CELEBRATION

PRESS RELEASE

23 April 2021- In celebration of Filipino Food Month which coincides with the ongoing 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt co-hosted today with the Philippine Honorary Consulate (PHC) in Stuttgart an online program entitled, “Tao at Serbisyo ang Galing ng Filipino,” which was streamed live via Facebook. The activity, with Vice Consul Fatima Mueller and PHC Stuttgart’s Rhodaliza Steegmaier as co-hosts, discussed the origins of Filipino food, with ‘Lugao’ showcased as one of the earliest documented food of our Filipino ancestors.

A video entitled, “Lugao: Cooking Our Filipino Ancestors’ Food in Germany” which featured Filipino-German Chef Maite Dittke, was shown during the event. Chef Dittke described the different varieties of ‘Lugao,’ also known as ‘pospas,’ ‘arrozcaldo,’ ‘congee/jook,’ or ‘goto.’ She also discussed in detail the historical development of the Filipino dish and its significance in the country’s culture.

Vice Consul Mueller further highlighted the fact that Filipino culinary heritage had begun taking shape even before colonization. She noted that some of the earliest account of Philippine food can be traced in the written accounts of Antonio Pigafetta, the Italian chronicler of the Magellan expedition. She encouraged viewers to discover more of the Philippines’ culinary heritage, as ‘Filipino food defines the very structure of Filipino culture and gives more value to its cuisine.’ The Consulate also designated 23 April as “Lugawan sa Konsulado” where it distributed ‘lugao’ with side dishes to its consular applicants as well as its personnel.

The second part of the program involved the presentation by Vice Consul Mueller of the Consulate’s activities for the National Quincentennial Commemoration. Ms. Steegmaier interviewed Filipino fashion designer Lionell Christian Lanuzo, who was commissioned by the Consulate to undertake a virtual fashion exhibit entitled, “Golden Treasures: Culture, Art and Traditions of Our Filipino Ancestors,” for its National Heritage Month celebration in May. END

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