PCG Frankfurt Holds Seminar on SSS, Pag-IBIG and OWWA Services
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt hosted a seminar on SSS, Pag-IBIG and OWWA services at the Consulate premises last June 8. The event was attended by members of the Filipino-German community and Consulate personnel.
Speakers included Ms. Mylene Lontoc, Pag-IBIG Representative and Ms. Marie Jessielyn Sia, SSS Representative, both based in Milan, Italy, who delivered presentations on the services provided by their respective agencies. Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. delivered the presentation on behalf of OWWA, after giving a briefing on consular services offered by the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.
Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia thanked those who attended the seminar. She noted that many Filipinos in Germany were not fully aware of the huge benefits and savings from becoming a member of the SSS and the Pag-IBIG. “They were surprised to find out that interest offered by the SSS and Pag-IBIG were higher than commercial banks“, she added.
Ms. Lontoc confirmed that active members of Pag-IBIG who have decided to increase their contribution or deposit, are expected to benefit most from the Fund’s enhanced interest rates. Ms. Sia reminded SSS members to complete the minimum number of 120 contributions or ten years, in order to be eligible for pension.
Participants of the seminar availed themselves of individual consultations to inquire about the status of their membership, as well as to update their contributions. Filipino-Germans can continue paying their monthly or advance contributions through the accredited remittance agent in Germany, or through their relatives in the Philippines.
Consul General Garcia encouraged Filipino-Germans to take advantage of their improved financial position, to upgrade their investments in the SSS and Pag-IBIG in order to better prepare themselves for the future. She said that the successful outcome of the seminar has inspired the Consulate General to consider making the event a regular activity, including in its consular outreach mission.
Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia welcomes the participants of the Seminar on SSS, Pag-IBIG and OWWA Services at the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt on 08 June 2019.
Seminar participants consult with Pag-IBIG representative Ms. Mylene Lontoc and i-Remit
representatives regarding payment of their contributions.
Ms. Mary Jessielyn Sia, SSS Representative, responds to questions from participants. Consul Rogelio
Villanueva Jr., (seated 2nd from left) moderates the open forum.
Consul General Austria-Garcia Meets with High-level Bavarian Officials
On 5 June 2019, Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia (2nd from right) met in Munich with Bavarian State Chancellery officials, including Protocol Chief Dr. Alfred Ruhrmaier, to explore avenues to further deepen Philippine relations with the German state. Bavaria is home of luxury car-maker BMW, the heralded FC Bayern Munich football team, and Oktoberfest, among renowned companies and events. Also in the photo are Dr. Stefan Detig, Philippine Honorary Consul to Bavaria, and Dr. Bernd Foster, Director for International Relations of the Bavarian State Chancellery.
Consul General Austria-Garcia (2nd from left) is shown with Mr. Frank Dollendorf (leftmost), Managing Director for International Business, Industry & Innovation of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IHK) of Munich and Upper Bavaria, the largest such chapter in Germany with approximately 390,000 member companies. Bavaria’s GDP in 2018 stood at US$ 700 billion, which is more than double that of the Philippines’ GDP of US$ 330 billion in the same year. The Philippine Consul General underscored that now is the best time to consider the Philippines’ as a destination for German investments in view of the country’s continued stellar economic performance and challenges being confronted by Germany with its traditional economic partners. A delegation of corporate executives from Bavaria is being planned to visit the Philippines in 2020. Also in the photo are Mr. Hannes Aurbach (2nd from right), Unit Head for Asia-Pacific of IHK Munich, and Deputy Consul General Emil Fernandez (rightmost).
Frankfurt PCG Holds First Solemnization of Marriage Since Re-Opening
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany held its first solemnization of marriage on 28 May 2019 after its re-opening in 2018. Mr. Arbien Briones tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Kris Ann Casumpang in a ceremony officiated by Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr., and attended by the couple’s relatives.
The solemnization of marriage is among the consular services offered by the Consulate General since it opened its doors to the public last January 15.
The newly-wed couple (3rd and 4th from left) pose with Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. and family members after the wedding ceremony which was held at the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.
Consul General Austria-Garcia Meets with ASEAN and Hesse State Officials
Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia (third from left) hosted lunch on 22 May 2019 for her ASEAN colleagues in Frankfurt at the Philippine Consulate General’s new office to discuss joint activities the group.
Consul General Austria-Garcia (second from left) and her Southeast Asian counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam met with officials of the Hesse State Chancery on 29 May 2019 to request for, among other things, their support in increasing awareness on ASEAN among the German public.
Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia met with Saarland State Secretary Jurgen Lennartz and Head of International Cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saarland Oliver Groll on 24 May 2019 at Saarbrücken, Saarland. The Consul General took the opportunity to inform them of the Consulate’s re-opening as a manifestation of the Philippine Government’s interest to further enhance economic, cultural and people-to-people relations with Germany.
RIZAL MEMORABILIA GIFTED TO THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL – FRANKFURT
22 May 2019- In celebration of the National Heritage Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, held an exhibit and lecture on Rizal delivered by a well-known German Rizalista, Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, on 21 May 2019 at the Consulate General’s new office.
Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, an ardent German Rizalista delivers his lecture on Rizal at the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany German Rizalista on 21 May 2019. Rare Rizaliana items from the Ullmer Collection were also exhibited at the Consulate General’s new office.
With this year’s theme, “Mga Pinuno Para sa Pamana” (Leaders for Heritage), Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia urged the members of the Filipino community in Southern Germany to take the lead in preserving and promoting their cultural heritage despite being thousands of miles away from home. She underscored the life led by the country’s national hero and great Filipino leader Jose Rizal, who was inspired to write the poem, To the Flowers of Heidelberg, as a manifestation of his patriotism even in a faraway land.
During the lecture entitled, “Footsteps of Rizal in Southern Germany: Why did Rizal Come to Heidelberg?,” Dr. Ullmer shared his knowledge and insights on Rizal’s stay in Heidelberg and Wilhemsfeld, Germany. He passionately spoke of how Rizal was welcomed in the house of German Pastor Karl Ullmer, who was the speaker’s grandfather. He expounded on Rizal’s efforts to finalize the Noli Me Tangere during that time.
Dr. Ullmer, in response to Consul General Garcia’s remarks thanking him on the loaned rare Rizaliana items, gladly declared that they are “a gift” to the Consulate.
The blessing ceremony and tour of the new office immediately followed the lecture. The guests were led to Post’s exhibition area where selected furniture items from the guest room of Pastor Karl Ullmer that were used by Rizal were displayed.
The exhibit items include a mirror and table, cabinet, cupboard, dresser, and bed. Interestingly, it is believed that Rizal finished his novel “Noli Me Tangere“ using the table that was displayed at the Consulate.
The Consulate’s National Heritage Month activities also coincided with the blessing of its new office with Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Wilhemsfeld Mayor Christian Oeldorf among the special guests. Some 100 Filipino-German community members attended both events.
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt held the blessing of its new office with Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega and leaders of the Filipino-German community in attendance.
PCG Frankfurt Welcomes Consular Applicants to New Chancery
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt is housed at Westend Carree, Grüeneburgweg 16-18, 60322 Frankfurt.
17 May 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt welcomed yesterday consular applicants to its new Chancery located at Westendcarree, 1 st floor, Grueneburgweg 16-18, 60322 Frankfurt. The new office comprises almost 800 square meters of floor space in a modern building in the city’s Westend district.
Pictured above are (l-r) the Consulate’s reception area, exhibit hall and conference room.
“The Filipino-German community will benefit from the larger space and new facilities of the Consulate,” said Father Rodel Liguid, one of the first consular applicants to arrive. Fr. Liguid serves as chaplain of the Archdiocese of Cologne whose jurisdiction includes Bonn where a significant number of Filipinos reside. “The Consulate will now be able to cater to a
larger audience and host more community events in its premises,” he added.
Another applicant, Rosalie Schmid, said, “I am very happy to visit the new office of the Consulate in Frankfurt.” A native of Cebu, Ms. Schmid travelled over four hours by car from Pfaffenhofen, Bavaria. She added, “We no longer have to travel long hours to apply for passports at the Embassy in Berlin.”
Personnel from the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt man the Consular Section counters.
Clients await for their turn to be served at the Consulate.
“The new office is a testament to the sincere desire of the Philippine Government, through the initiative and full support of Senator Loren Legarda, to provide quality consular services using the best facilities to all Filipinos,” said Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia. The Consulate was reopened in 2018 after a six-year absence from the bustling German
economic metropolis. “The Consulate’s reopening is also a manifestation of the Duterte Administration’s commitment to further improve Philippine-German relations, which is anchored on our vibrant Filipino-German community and strong trade ties,” Consul General Garcia underscored. END