07 February 2020 – A delegation of Philippine exhibitors representing 24 companies and officials from DTI and CITEM kicked off its participation in this year’s Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany with a welcome cocktail reception today at the Fair’s Philippine pavilion. Ambiente, reputed to be the world’s largest trade fair for consumer goods, has been an annual meeting point for global suppliers and trade buyers of this industry.

In addition to the private sector exhibitors, delegations from the local governments of Regions 2, 3 and 5 were on hand to observe and embark on a benchmarking mission of the trade fair, which would benefit small and medium enterprises in their respective regions.

Gracing the reception were the Philippines’ top diplomats in Germany, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega who flew in from Berlin and Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia, who heads the newly reopened Consulate General in Frankfurt. They were joined by Mr. Rico Garcia, Deputy Consul General Emil Fernandez, Commercial Counsellor Althea Antonio of PTIC-Berlin and Tourism Director Margarita Valdes of PDOT-Frankfurt. Guests and potential buyers took part in the reception, which featured an assortment of Philippine drinks and snacks.

Consul General Austria-Garcia expressed her delight with the turnout from the Philippines, noting current challenges travelers are faced with. “I continue to be an advocate of the Philippines’ participation in trade and tourism fairs,” she said. “They are windows to new markets, create opportunities for networking and allow participants to see current trends in their industries,” she added. She also lauded Filipinos’ artistic skills and creativity, which she noted are evident in the products they create.

Spearheading the Philippines’ involvement in the Fair are CITEM and the Philippines’ Trade Office in Berlin. It was explained that the Philippine pavilions carry the Lifestyle Philippines banner with the participation theme Hands That Work “to celebrate the innate capabilities of Filipinos to create the most design-oriented yet functional pieces from the most mundane of things.”

2020 marks the fifth consecutive year of Philippine participation in the event, thanks largely to the continued support of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda of the House of Representatives. The former Senator has built a reputation not just as a staunch advocate of Philippine culture and environmental issues, but also as a champion of Philippine exporters seeking to establish a foothold in international markets.

The Fair covers three sectors: dining (kitchenware), giving (gift items) and living (furniture, lighting, home accessories and seasonal décor). Occupying an exhibition space of 306,500 square meters, the 2019 edition of Ambiente featured 4,451 exhibitors from 92 companies, with 85 percent coming from outside Germany. It welcomed 136,000 trade visitors from 166 countries, the majority of which are from Germany, Italy, China, France, UK, Netherlands, United States, Spain, Switzerland, Russia and South Korea. (END)

Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia traveled to Duesseldort last January 25 and 26 where she attended the 2020 Boat Consumer Trade Fair (BOOT), which is reputed to be the world’s largest trade fair for boat and water sports. 14 dive-resort exhibitors and a partner airline offered attractive dive-travel packages at the 137-square meter Philippine pavilion. The country has gained a niche market for itself vis-à-vis other popular dive areas in the world. 2019 saw a 13 percent growth in German travellers. Spearheading the Philippines’ participation is the Frankfurt-based Philippine Department of Tourism office.

 

 

 

 

 

The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Stuttgart has geared up its economic and cultural diplomacy activities as it transfers to its new office location at Königstraße 28, 70173 Stuttgart.

The Honorary Consulate has undertaken the following activities:

1. On 4 January 2020, the Honorary Consulate participated in the annual celebration of Sinulog Festival in Rottenburg. Now on its 26th year, the event was organized by the Rottenburg-Stuttgart Diocese. The event started off with a Holy Mass officiated by Filipino priest and coordinator for the Diocese, Fr. Jonathan Galope-Ramoso and Rev. Thomas Weißhaar, Reverend Canon and Officer of the Rottenburg-Stuttgart Diocese. A procession from the St. Martin Cathedral followed after the Mass leading to the Festival Hall where the Sinulog celebration was held. The full-day’s Programme included the traditional Sinulog Dance, Cultural Dances from various groups and messages from the Santo Nino Rottenburg-Stuttgart President Fred Silacan. Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Honorary Consul for Baden-Württemberg Dr. Axel Neumahr which were delivered by Rhodaliza Steegmaier, PHC Stuttgart’s Consular Assistant, on behalf of both officials. The event was attended by some 600 Sto. Nino devotees.

2. To celebrate the transfer to its new location, Honorary Consul Dr. Neumahr hosted a simple gathering promoting Filipino cuisine to the employees of BRP Renaud and Partner law firm on 14 January 2020. BRP is one of the leading law firm with more than 60 lawyers and patent lawyers and with presence in Stuttgart and Frankfurt. During the event, Filipino food such as pancit, lumpiangsShanghai, buchi, cassava cake, mango float among others were served.

3. In its effort to support Philippine tourism, Honorary Consul Dr. Axel Neuhmar attended the Caravan, Motor and Touristic Holiday Fair popularly known as CMT Urlaubsmesse which runs from 11 to 19 January 2020. The country’s booth was spearheaded by the Department of Tourism in Frankfurt under Margarita Valdes and Director for Southern Europe and Mario Sicup as project head, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Germany as its partner agency.

4. In November last year, Honorary Consul Dr. Axel Neumahr attended the 25th year celebration of the Philippinisch-Deutsch Nordschwarzwald e.V. In his remarks, he expressed appreciation to the organization and the municipality of Birkenfeld through its Mayor Mr. Martin Steiner for the support they have given to the Honorary Consulate throughout the years, particularly in hosting one of the performances of the visiting Choir Imusicapella during last year’s Independence Day celebration. Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega who was also present during the event, commended the organization for actively promoting the uniqueness of Filipino culture through its various activities for the past quarter of a century. The Philippinisch-Deutsch Nordschwarzwald e.V., is one of the most active Filipino-German organizations with the region of Baden-Württemberg focusing on cultural dances.

5. Honorary Consul Dr. Axel Neumahr visited three Filipino trainees who are among the top graduates at Porsche Centerin Stuttgart. Filipino nationals Jennievib Blemis, Mark Ivan Caisip and Daryl Nakila spent a three-month assignment in the workshop which is aimed at improving their skills in car manufacturing. Mr. Torsten Klavs, Porsche’s Manager for Qualifications Concept commended the three Filipino nationals and praised their job well done during the training program.

20 January – At the invitation of Father Rodel Liguid of the Archdiocese of Cologne, personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt joined the annual celebration of the feast of the Santo Niño in Sank Agustin, North Rhine-Westphalia. Consul Rogelio Villanueva Jr. led the Consulate team composed of Lolita Balansag, Violeta Bautista, Susanie Gonzales, and Rene Mangune, POLO Assistant.

In his remarks during the program, Consul Villanueva highlighted the Filipino people’s strong devotion to the Santo Niño as expressed in various forms such as the renowned Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-Atihan in Aklan and Dinagyang in Iloilo. He added that Filipino communities around the world also hold their respective celebrations of the Feast of the Santo Niño.

The Filipino tradition of paying homage to the Child Jesus traces its roots in Cebu when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan presented an image of the Santo Niño to Rajah Humabon. Every year during the month January, the feast of the Santo Niño is celebrated by Filipino Catholic communities across Germany. Father Liguid asked the participants of this year’s celebration to pray for the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.

The Consulate team took advantage of the visit to conduct registration for the Overseas Voting as well as provide information on POLO-OWWA services. There were twenty-two registrants for the Overseas Voting.

There are an estimated 4,200 Filipinos living in North Rhine-Westphalia. – END

The country’s creative edge in producing distinctly designed handcrafted products takes centerstage once again as Philippine manufacturers join Ambiente 2020 this coming 7-11 February 2020, at Messe Frankfurt, Germany.

Under the LifestylePhilippines brand, 24-strong furniture and home décor manufacturers that represent some of the artisan regions in the country will highlight handcrafted and consciously-made products that speak of story and purpose.

Mayor Christoph Oeldorf graced the commemoration of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine national hero, which was organized by the Heidelberg/Wilhelmsfeld Chapter of the Knights of Rizal this 30th of December at Wilhelmsfeld’s Rizal Park. Filipinos from as far way as Switzerland, France and Saudi Arabia joined the event.

In their remarks, Mayor Oeldorf and Chapter Commander of the Knights of Rizal Dr. Reinhold Lovenich recalled the ideals that Rizal propagated and the close relationships he had with German mentors. Dr. Lovenich also underscored Rizal’s desire to be in solidarity with the common Filipino during his time and unite his countrymen.

https://frankfurtpcg.de/1215-2

17 December 2019 – In celebration of the Christmas season, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt sponsored the first of the nine nights of the “Simbang Gabi” on 16 December 2019 at St. Ignatius Church and hosted a simple reception for the members of the Filipino-German community.

The Filipino Catholic Community of St. Ignatius Church holds the 9-day Christmas dawn masses annually. This year’s Simbang Gabi is being celebrated by Fr. Mario Estrella of the Archdiocese of Bistum Limburg.
After the Mass, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia explained the cultural significance of the Simbang Gabi. She also expressed appreciation to the members of the Filipino community for their support to the Consulate’s activities this year and expressed hope that they will continue to work closely with the Consulate in the coming year.

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt joins the fun at the Kapamilya Fiesta World in Frankfurt!

MADRID, Spain – Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda delivered the Philippine Statement at the High-Level Segment of the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Madrid, Spain, where she serves as Head of the Philippine Delegation.

Legarda urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments to the Paris Agreement by leading deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions and providing finance and investments for innovative adaptation solutions in local communities.

“The latest science tells us that our options to survive and thrive are swiftly diminishing. So in this COP, let us finish the work at hand, “the Paris rulebook.” The urgency of action, unequivocally, is most pronounced today than ever. United climate actions must now happen in an ambitious scale, scope, and speed,” Legarda said.

“The committed climate finance of at least 100 billion dollars by 2020 and every year thereafter for the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries must now materialize, beginning with the immediate replenishment of the Green Climate Fund,” Legarda added.

Legarda said that the Philippines has exhibited climate leadership and commitment to act on the climate emergency. She cited landmark climate legislation, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Renewable Energy Act, Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, National Protected Areas Act, Green Jobs Act, and the recent Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, as well as the country’s increase of excise tax on coal importation.

As a parliamentarian for the past two decades, Legarda also mentioned that she has led innovative policy and strategy development for climate action, including the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction in the government’s annual national budget.

“The Philippines, constrained as we are in means and capacities, has been doing all it can to make a difference in responding to the global climate emergency. It is in this context that we urge the developed country Parties to rise to the 1.5 climate challenge and uphold climate justice,” Legarda said.

“The time for action has long passed. Now is the time to catch up. Now is the time to translate words into actions. As we end the year to welcome a new one—the year Paris Agreement will be fully enforced—let the era of procrastination, inaction and apathy end as well. Let this end present a new beginning for humanity—a new chance to rise to the climate challenge, this time with a renewed commitment and a stronger resolve,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda thanked the people of Spain for co-hosting COP25 and expressed her confidence to the Chilean Presidency to deliver on the higher ambition and faster action that the 1.5 Paris goal requires of the global community.

Legarda is a UNEP Laureate, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, and Member of the Governing Board of the Green Climate Fund.