The Philippine Consulate General along with other ASEAN Consulates in Frankfurt met today with the professors and students of the Goethe University’s Southeast Asian Studies Program to discuss on a collaborative project with the University focusing on sustainable development issues in the ASEAN region. Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva and Vice Consul Fatima Mueller represented the Consulate during the meeting at the Goethe University campus in Frankfurt.
Ms. Lilibeth Pono (standing right), Chargé d’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin and Chairperson of the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) receives from Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva Jr. (standing left), the Election Returns prepared by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, in the presence of other SBOC members Delia Palomar and Maria Cecilia Estrella.
11 May – After two days of non-stop counting from the close of the voting hours on May 9, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt successfully completed its duties for 2022 National Elections as Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr., in his capacity as SBEI Chairperson, formally turned over to Ms. Lilibeth Pono, Chargé d’affaires, Philippine Embassy in Berlin and Chairperson of the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC), the accomplished Election Returns from the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.
The Election Returns from the Consulate in Frankfurt will be included in the overall canvassing of votes for the whole of Germany by the SBOC of the Philippine Embassy, for subsequent issuance of Certificates of Canvass and onward submission to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Philippines.
During the 30-day overseas voting period from 10 April to 09 May, the Consulate received 1,687 accomplished ballots out of the 2,256 registered voters within its jurisdiction, representing 75 percent of the total number of registered Filipinos. Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos attributed the huge turnout of votes to the public’s heightened interest during presidential elections, increased awareness brought by social media and aggressive promotion by the DFA and COMELEC. She thanked Filipinos in Germany for letting their voices be heard.
Consul General Abalos also heaped praises on the members of the Consulate’s electoral boards, registered watchers and accredited media for the smooth conduct of the elections in Germany. Throughout the voting and counting process, Consulate personnel have faithfully performed their patriotic duty and solemn obligation to ensure the integrity of the election process, recognizing that the ballot is the true expression of the will of Filipinos, wherever they are, as they exercise their right of suffrage and choose the country’s leaders. – END
15 November 2021 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt conducted its fifth consular outreach mission this year in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia on 13 November 2021. The 9-member consular team, led by Vice Consul Fatima Mueller, a total of 154 consular services including passport renewal, legalization of documents and civil registry. Moreover, 22 clients were provided one-on-one consultations by Mr. Rene Mangune from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Berlin who also participated in the event to provide information and extend the services of POLO and OWWA.
20 October 2021- The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, in cooperation with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, today unveiled the Philippine stand at the 73rd edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair which is being held from 20 to 24 October 2021 at Messe Frankfurt. Dubbed as “Books Philippines: An Archipelago of Stories,” this year’s stand highlighted the country’s rich oral and print literary heritage which has survived more than three centuries of colonization.
Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia expressed the Consulate’s unwavering commitment to partner with the NBDB and the Office of the Deputy Speaker in attaining the Guest of Honor (GOH) status for the Philippines in 2025 and in promoting Philippine book publishing at the annual international book trade. Though this year’s three-member Philippine delegation is miniscule compared with the 2019 FBF which saw the biggest ever Philippine delegation, the Consul General stated that “the Philippine participation provides a good opportunity to showcase Filipino publishing/cultural luminaries in the world stage while proving the country’s relentless pursuit of GOH status in FBF.”
NBDB Director Anthony Balisi and Vice Consul Mueller are set to meet with Dr. Juergen Boos, President and Chief Executive Officer of FBF, to continue discussions on the Philippines’s bid to become GOH country in the 2025 edition of the FBF. The Philippine delegation will be joined virtually by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade to assure the FBF organizers of the country’s readiness to take on the responsibility of being the GOH country.
For six consecutive years now, the country brought to the 2021 FBF its top publishers, that included 19th Avenida, Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Milfores Publishing, University of the Philippines Press, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, and Komiket, among others.
