Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL HOLDS INFO SESSION ON MWO-OWWA, SSS AND PAG-IBIG SERVICES IN FRANKFURT

As part of its financial literacy awareness and community engagement program, the Philippine Consulate General held an information session on the services of the MWO-OWWA, SSS and Pag-IBIG in St. Ignatius Church in Frankfurt in coordination with the Filipino Catholic Community of Frankfurt headed by Rev. Father Francis Ofrancia.

Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. welcomed the attendees and encouraged them to take advantage of the presence of the resource speakers from different agencies who travelled from Berlin, Germany and Milan, Italy to share information and updates on their respective services.

Among those who delivered presentations were MWO-Berlin OIC Ms. Delia Palomar, OWWA Welfare Officer Sylvia Gabriel, Pag-IBIG Member Services Officer Ms. Mylene Lontoc and SSS Foreign Representative Mary Jessielyn Sia.

Agency representatives held individual consultations after the program to respond to specific inquiries mostly on the status of their membership and personal contributions.
The Consulate hopes that information obtained by attendees during the forum could assist and guide Filipinos in Germany when planning to invest their hard-earned money for their future and retirement.

The MP2 savings program of the Pag-IBIG and Pension Booster of the SSS both offer higher interests and are tax-free. Meanwhile, the very minimal membership fee of the OWWA provides wider coverage and higher protection for OFWs in case of emergency situations including those that involve repatriation.
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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL HOLDS INFO SESSION ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP IN WIESBADEN

As part of its information drive on dual citizenship services, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt held its second info session on Republic Act 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Reacquisiton Act of 2003) at the parish hall of St. Andreas Church in Wiesbaden. The event aimed to inform the public of the procedures and requirements for applying for dual citizenship. Around a hundred people mostly former Filipinos and naturalized Germans attended the forum.

After their presentations, Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr., Consul Cecille Joyce Lao and Mr. Alvar Rosales responded to questions during the open forum and individual queries after the program. The event in Wiesbaden was made possible with the support of Mr. Tony Naluz and council members of the Filipino Catholic Community in Wiesbaden and Filipino Chaplain Father Francis Ofrancia.

The Consulate has been receiving numerous applications for dual citizenship from former natural-born Filipinos and naturalized Germans since the German Law on the Modernization of Nationality Law (StARMoDG) took effect on June 27. END

Colorful Opening Ceremony Kicks Off Pinoy Basketball League in Stuttgart

Filipino sports enthusiasts trooped to Ruth Endress Halle in Stuttgart to witness the much-awaited opening ceremony of the Pinoy Basketball League. The tournament, organized by Mr. Joey Maniaol, Jr., will see teams from Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Reutlingen, Freiburg, Munich, Ichenhausen and Frankfurt competing against each other on August 3 and 17.

Ms. Rhodaliza Steegmaier, representing the Philippine Honorary Consul in Baden-Württemberg, welcomed the participating teams wearing their colorful jerseys and their families. In his invocation, Rev. Father Jonathan Ramoso of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Stuttgart reminded the players that their talents are gifts from the Lord and that everyone should be always be treated with respect.

Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva Jr. of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt led the ceremonial toss marking the official start of the Pinoy Basketball League in Stuttgart. Officials from the Migrant Workers Office in Berlin led by Officer-in-Charge Ms. Delia Palomar also graced the opening ceremony. END

Philippine Consulate General Holds Info Session on Dual Citizenship in Frankfurt

As part of its information drive on dual citizenship services, the Philippine Consulate General held an info session at the parish hall of St. Ignatius Church in Frankfurt. The event was aimed at informing the public that the Consulate has begun accepting applications for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 from former Filipinos who were naturalized as German citizens.
Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. welcomed the attendees numbering over a hundred, some of whom travelled more than two hours to reach the venue in Frankfurt. Consul Cecille Joyce Lao delivered a comprehensive and in-depth presentation on the requirements and procedures in applying for dual citizenship.
To encourage former Filipinos to take advantage of the latest changes in German citizenship law allowing dual citizenship, Atty. Alvar Rosales outlined the benefits and advantages of being a Filipino citizen such as the right to vote, hold a Philippine passport, practice one’s profession and own properties in the Philippines while addressing some issues on payment of taxes.

The open forum that followed the presentations allowed the attendees to ask questions and clarify certain requirements especially documents which need to be sourced from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The event in Frankfurt was made possible with the support of Father Francis Ofrancia and volunteers from the Filipino Catholic Community in Frankfurt. The Consulate intends to hold info sessions in other areas to enhance public awareness on the process of reacquiring Philippine citizenship under RA 9225 which has been made possible for former natural-born Filipinos and naturalized Germans as a result of the German Law on the Modernization of Nationality Law (StARMoDG) which took effect on June 27. END

FILIPINO CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN WIESBADEN BRINGS FESTIVE MOOD DURING ANNUAL BARRIO FIESTA CELEBRATION

The annual celebration of the Barrio Fiesta organized by the Filipino Catholic Community in Wiesbaden started with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Rev. Father Francis Ofrancia in St. Andreas Church.

This was followed by a cultural program featuring song and dance numbers from Filipino and German performers, as well as drawing of tombola prizes, the proceeds of which will go to charity projects in the Philippines.

Filipino Community Leader Mr. Tony Naluz welcomed regular guests and newcomers from the communities of Bad Homburg, Frankfurt, Limburg and Wetzlar who travelled to Wiesbaden for the barrio fiesta event to enjoy the wide array of Filipino food and products.

In his welcome message, Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. noted that the barrio fiesta celebrations highlight the unity, faith and bayanihan spirit of Filipinos in Germany. END

 

UP CONCERT CHORUS SHOWS OFF WINNING PERFORMANCE DURING MUSIKADASIG CONCERT IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY

The multi-awarded University of the Philippines (UP) Concert Chorus culminated its month-long International Goodwill Cultural Concert Tour in Europe with a spectacular performance in Frankfurt, Germany.

The UP Concert Chorus or Korus held its MusiKADASIG concert and serenaded the Filipino-German community in St. Ignatius Church after the Filipino Mass celebrated by Rev. Father Francis Ofrancia. The Korus also served as choir during the Mass.

The choral group showed off their world-class singing talent with a medley of English and Filipino songs featuring pieces that won them four major awards including two gold medals in the recently concluded Musica Orbis Prague Festival participated in by 16 countries.

Frankfurt is the last stop of the Korus before they return to the Philippines on 16 July after performing in the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Germany.

In Germany, the Korus performed in Cologne, Bonn, Wiesbaden, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt and other communities.
Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. thanked the members of the Korus led by their conductor Prof. Dr. Janet Sabas-Aracama for making our country proud and bringing the rich choral tradition and Filipino excellence in music and the arts to Germany and Europe in general.

He also thanked the Filipino Catholic Community in Frankfurt for their generous support and Filipino families for hosting the members of the Korus and welcoming them into their homes.

Prof. Aracama conveyed the group’s gratitude to Father Francis for making it possible to hold the concert in St. Ignatius Church and for praying for their safe trip back home. END