Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

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

Press Release on the ROLE OF FILIPINO-GERMAN COMMUNITY IN PROMOTING THE PHILIPPINE PERFORMING ARTS HIGHLIGHTED IN AN ONLINE TALK

4 December 2020- The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, in collaboration with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), conducted today an online talk entitled “Engaging the Filipino Community in Germany in Promoting the Philippine Performing Arts” with Mr. Calvin Millado, CCP Vice President and Artistic Director, as guest speaker. The online talk was aimed to cultivate appreciation, gather support and engage the Filipino-German community in promoting the Philippine performing arts. The activity was conducted via Zoom and Facebook live.

In her remarks, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia thanked CCP Vice President Millado for taking the time to engage with members of the Filipino-German community and present them with new artists, art forms, ideas and stories. She emphasized that the online event was an opportunity for the CCP to broaden its audience and create a meaningful collaboration with foreign communities. She also called on the diaspora in Germany to become partners of the Consulate and CCP in promoting the performing arts industry of the Philippines.

“Beyond entertainment, the performing arts has a strong educational purpose, provoking our thoughts, critical thinking and social dialogue. There is a need for the Philippine performing arts to be supported and nurtured, especially during situations like the one we are currently experiencing,” the Consul General said.

CCP Vice President Millado delivered a presentation enumerating the CCP’s artistic programs and contents on alternative platforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. He also underscored CCP’s goal to protect the lives and livelihoods of the cultural workers, while continuing to deliver educational and inspiring contents to Filipinos. He introduced the CCP Arts and Culture Online, which streams videos of the theater, dance, visual arts, film, literary and workshop events from the CCP’s Cultural Content Digital Archives. Some sample video clips of these digital contents were shown during the event.

Vice Consul Fatima Mueller introduced the Filipino-German community, and explained ways to leverage the community in promoting the Philippine performing arts.

Some 31 participants from the Filipino-German community organizations, social media groups and vloggers in Germany, as well as the Consulate’s and CCP’s personnel joined the lively Zoom discussion.  The online event reached about 1,370 people, garnered 655 views, 34 likes, 20 comments, and 18 shares on its initial livestreaming. END