Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

Consular Outreach in Bonn, Germany

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany held its fifth consular outreach mission for this year in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia last 7 December. The one-day event which was held at the Elohim Center in Bad Godesberg was conducted in coordination with Father Rodel Liguid, Filipino Community in Bonn, Elohim Community, Sacred Heart Group and Tropa ng Kabataang Pinoy. The outreach team led by Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr., provided passport, notarial, civil registry and other consular services. Mr. Rene Mangune of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) attended to labor-related concerns and accepted applications for OWWA membership.

Based on the latest regional statistical reports, there are approximately 4,200 Filipinos living in North Rhine-Westphalia, the second largest number of Filipino residents within Post’s consular jurisdiction after Bavaria. The majority of the applicants are spouses of German nationals and their children. – END

RIZAL ARTWORK EXHIBIT AT THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN FRANKFURT SPURS REFLECTION ON PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO

9 December 2019 – In commemoration of the 123rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt today opened an art exhibition entitled “Rizal, the Hero of the Filipino People,” at the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal area. The art exhibit features a total of 24 Rizal artworks by renowned Filipino artists Rene Robles, Ronna Manansala and Robert Lavides.

Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the exhibition which will run until 31 January 2020. She was joined by the exhibit’s curator, Mr. Klaus Hartung, Consultant of Transwing Art Gallery.

In her remarks, Consul General Austria-Garcia encouraged the Filipino-German audience to take the opportunity to revisit the life and work of the national hero through the artworks of the three featured artists. She expressed hope that the exhibit will arouse reflection on Rizal and allow the people to pay tribute to the national hero. “I hope that the pieces of art on display could stimulate thoughtful conversation and understanding of our national hero and provoke us to put Rizal’s ideals into action,” Consul General Austria-Garcia said. She thanked Mr. Hartung for raising the consciousness of the German public to the ‘genius’ that was Rizal.

Rene Robles is an internationally acclaimed artist and a recipient of various awards and distinction both in the Philippines and abroad. He is credited as the founder of “assertionism”, an art movement asserting the power of art to transform and transcend. His works have found their way into the collections of His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, and former US President Bill Clinton, among others.

‘Artivist’ Roberto Lavidez, on the other hand, is a narrative painter who candidly tackles socio-political issues ranging from oppressiveness of colonialism to the continuing complicity of corrupted institutions and injustices. Lavidez teaches art to reflect history and writes poetry as well.
Meanwhile, Ronna Manansala is the granddaughter of the Philippines’ national artist in visual arts, Vicente Manansala. Initially, Ronna’s art paid homage by interpreting his grandfather’s style that departed from rural idylls of Fernando Amorsolo. Ronna chose female themes of mother and child, Virgin Mary, gossiping women and stayed close to her famous grandfather’s style that departed from analytical cubism or the intentional breaking down of subject into near abstract form. As she moves to new styles, she has opted to use bold colors and sure brushstrokes in the broader concept of cubism that is unmistakably her own.

The Rizal artwork of the featured artists are part of the collection of Transwing Art Gallery. The gallery has a collection of Filipino visual art, which includes old and contemporary masters as well as promising artists, especially those who are self-taught. The Gallery has been present in the Philippines since 1995 through Transwing Consulting Company, managed by its president, Mr. Klaus Hartung.
The artworks complemented the existing rare Rizaliana furniture items currently on exhibit at the Consulate’s exhibition area which include a mirror and table, cabinet, cupboard, dresser and bed. It is believed that Rizal finished his novel “Noli Me Tangere“ using the table that is displayed. The Consulate presented its video production entitled, “Rizal and His German Connections” during the event. The video features Rizal’s life and times in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld in the spring of 1886.

The event was attended by art patrons, German Rizalistas and the Filipino-German community members, as well as other Frankfurt-based expatriates. It was capped with a reception featuring Filipino delicacies and Rizal wine. END

Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia, who was accompanied by her spouse, Mr. Rico Garcia, attended the fiesta celebration of the Filipino parishioners at the church of St. Leonard’s today, 8 December. The celebration, held annually, always coincides with the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

During the homily by the Monsignor who is now based in Ireland, he underscored the Filipinos’ strong faith, love for Blessed Mother Mary and admirable community spirit.

 

https://frankfurtpcg.de/1175-2

Legarda to Speak on the Role of RE in Implementing the Paris Agreement at the Global Renewables Congress

MADRID, Spain – Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda is set to deliver a statement on country insights and participate in the open dialogue on the role of renewable energies in implementing the Paris Agreement, at the Parliamentary Breakfast of the Global Renewables Congress (GRC).

Legarda, UNEP Laureate, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, and Member of the Governing Board for the Green Climate Fund, serves as Head of the Philippine Delegation to the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), from December 6 to 12, 2019, in Madrid, Spain.

The event will facilitate dialogue among legislators from across the world in discussing legislative measures to aid in the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a means to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. It aims to identify the most suitable energy policies and solutions for effective acceleration of energy transition, emphasizing local benefits to communities, such as the creation of livelihood opportunities.

Legarda will share her expertise and insights from the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region.

The GRC is a cross-country, cross-party platform facilitating peer-to-peer exchanges among legislators on issues related to the rapid and large-scale deployment of renewable energy solutions. It focuses on solutions for a rapid and large-scale deployment of renewable energy through enabling legislative frameworks. It supports the global commitment of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.”

The GRC is a project of the World Future Council Foundation, which consists of 50 eminent global change-makers from governments, parliaments, civil society, academia, the arts and business. It is currently chaired by Ms. Bärbel Höhn, Commissioner for Energy Reform in Africa for the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and a former Member of Parliament of the German Bundestag.

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The public is invited to monitor events of COP25 and of Deputy Speaker Legarda through the following channels:

  • Website – lorenlegarda.com.ph
  • Facebook – facebook.com/conglorenlegarda
  • Twitter – twitter.com/loren_legarda
  • Instagram – instagram.com/iamlorenlegarda

The Consulate conducted a team building and planning session today. The activity is aimed at establishing and maintaining positive work relationships among the Consulate’s officers and staff in order to provide better services to its clientele.

 

https://frankfurtpcg.de/1168-2

FILIPINO PROFESSOR STIRS INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE WITH GERMAN ACADEME THROUGH HER LECTURE ON PHILIPPINE CLOTHING AND NATIONALISM

4 December 2019 – In line with the recently signed agreement between the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt and the Ruhr University Bochum to promote Philippine studies, Professor Stephanie Marie Coo delivered an engaging lecture on Philippine clothing and nationalism entitled, ‘Clothing and Nationalist Literature in Nineteenth century Colonial Philippines’ before the research fellows and professors of Ruhr University on 3 December 2019 in Bochum, Germany.

The lecture, which focused on clothing in the context of nineteenth century Philippine colonial life and the role of clothing in Jose Rizal’s Noli me tangere and El Filibusterismo, stirred intellectual discussion with the audience. Professor Coo expounded on what clothes revealed about nineteenth century economy, gender and class relations and how Rizal used clothing in his novels to address racial, gender and class hierarchies. She also explained her analysis on clothed Philippine “types” (tipos filipinos), clothing advertisements, periodicals and Rizal’s personal letters to better understand the nationalist struggle in the late Spanish colonial era.

Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia, who was present during the lecture along with Vice Consul Fatima Mueller, expressed hope that Professor Coo’s meaningful discussion would spark further interest in Philippine culture and studies. She also indicated that other Filipino professors could be given a chance to deliver lectures on various topics at the University.

Professor Coo is a Marie Curie Postdoctoral fellow based in Granada, Spain. After competing her PhD in History, summa cum laude, at Université Nice Sophia Antipolis in France, she returned to the Ateneo de Manila University as Assistant Professor at the Department of History, Chair of the Internationalization Committee and Coordinator for Internationalization of the Loyola Schools. Her first book, Clothing the Colony: Nineteenth century Philippine Sartorial Culture, 1820-1896, was recently launched in October 2019.
The event is the first occasion where a Filipino professor has delivered such lecture at the German University. The activity forms part of the Consulate’s efforts to promote Philippine culture and the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal under its Sentro Rizal lecture series. END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN FRANKFURT’S CAMPAIGN TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SERVES AS BACKDROP FOR MEETING OF WOMEN CONSULS GENERAL WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB OF FRANKFURT

26 November 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt hosted an afternoon tea with the women Consuls General in Frankfurt in order to promote closer ties as well as start its engagement with the International Women’s Club (IWC). The event coincided with the launching of the Consulate’s 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, which started on 25 November.

During the meeting, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia underscored the Consulate General’s common goal with IWC in promoting cultural understanding among peoples of different nations.

In her remarks, IWC President Roseann Padula, who is a lawyer by profession, noted that more than 500 women from 50 nations in Frankfurt have cultivated friendships and engaged socially in the IWC for over 70 years. Ms. Padula underscored that the organization hosts  talks/discussions on a variety of topics such as animal and human health connections, bridges in films, urban development, language and culture, among others. She added that she looks forward to collaborating with the Consulates General in Frankfurt on common interests.

The Consul General took the opportunity to talk about the Philippines’ 18-day Campaign to End  Violence Against Women (VAW). A video on Philippine efforts to address VAW was presented at the event, which impressed the guests. A meaningful exchange followed on Philippine initiatives to end VAW.

The event was attended by women Consuls General/officers from Argentina, Belgium, France, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand. An assortment of Philippine delicacies comprised of puto pao, lumpia, ube cream puff, mango mousse, buko pandan and selected PHL teas were served to the delight of the attendees.

Prior to the event, the Consul General served as the guest of honor during the monthly gathering of the IWC on 13 November 2019 at the Hotel Intercontinental.

The Consulate General intends to take active part in IWC activities and to hold a cultural event in cooperation with IWC in line with its cultural diplomacy efforts and gender and development activities next year. END

Shown above are applicants during Frankfurt PCG’s consular outreach in Munich, held at the Pullach Community Hall on 22 November 2019.

25 November 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt held its fourth consular outreach mission for the year in Munich, Bavaria last November 22.  The outreach mission was undertaken in cooperation with Dr. Stefan Detig, Philippine Honorary Consul for Bavaria, who secured the use of the community hall of Pullach, the municipality where he previously served as mayor, as venue for the outreach.  Deputy Consul General Emil Fernandez headed the team, with Administrative Officer Bayani Sibug and Consular Assistants Lolit Balansag, Dona Mallari and Violeta Bautista as members.  Mr. Rene Mangune of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office attended to labor-related concerns and accepted applications for OWWA membership.

Left photo shows Mr. Bayani Sibug and Ms. Susan Gonzales processing consular documents, while Ms. Violeta Bautista (hidden) and Ms. Dona Mallari, right photo, capture the biometric data of passport applicants.

Bavaria is home to the largest number of Filipinos in Germany.  According to latest figures, there are 4,700 Filipinos living and working in the state, comprising 19 percent of the country’s total.  Many of the Filipinos in Bavaria are married to German nationals, with professionals also present in the engineering, information technology and healthcare sectors.  (END)

https://frankfurtpcg.de/1140-2

Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia participated in the 24th General Assembly of the Consular Corps of Deutschland (CCD) in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg last November 15 and 16. The two-day event included activities with high-level officials of the State Parliament, Justice and Economic Ministries, and City Government, notably Deputy State Parliament President Sabine Kurtz, Minister of Justice and European Affairs Guido Wolf, Ministerial Director Helmfried Meinel of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy, and Stuttgart City Mayor Dr. Ing. Martin Schairer. Founded in 1995, CCD is the nationwide association of honorary and professional consuls of all sending states in Germany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://frankfurtpcg.de/1095-2

13 November 2019- Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia, serves as the guest of honor during the monthly gathering of the prestigious International Women’s Club e.V. (IWC) at the Hotel Intercontinental. The Consul General hopes that the Consulate could explore possible areas of collaboration with IWC in the future. Both organization share the common goal of cultural understanding.

 

https://frankfurtpcg.de/1074-2