An applicant applies to renew her passport at the consular outreach mission in Stuttgart last April 27.

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt held its second consular outreach mission for the year last 27 April in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Consul Cecille Lao led the outreach team in providing more than 160 consular services to the Filipino-German community in the region, consisting of passport, legalization, civil registry, overseas voters registration, and assistance-to-nationals services.

The Philippine Migrant Workers‘ Office in Berlin (MWO-Berlin) and the Department of Tourism Office in Frankfurt (DOT-Frankfurt) also participated in the outreach event to extend labor-related services to Overseas Filipino Workers in Germany and to promote the Department of Tourism’s Love the Philippines and Filipino food Month campaigns.

Consulate personnel process clients’ civil registry and legalization requests.

Consulate personnel guide an applicant during her overseas voter registration application

MWO-Berlin personnel answer applicants’ queries regarding OWWA benefits and OEC requests

Tourism Attaché Dakila Gonzales promotes the Love the Philippines campaign.

Based on the latest regional statistical reports, there are approximately 6,495 Filipinos living in North Rhine-Westphalia, the second largest number of Filipino residents in Germany after Bavaria.

The Consulate General will hold its next consular outreach activity in Nürnberg, Bavaria to bring consular services closer to the Filipino-German community in the region. (END)

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt conducted its second Town Hall Meeting with the Filipino Community for the year on 27 April in Park Inn by Radisson, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg.

During the meeting, Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. explained to the Filipino Community the “Bagong Pilipinas” initiative of the administration which calls for the transformation of the country’s economy, governance and whole of society. He also conveyed the message of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to the Filipino Community in Germany during the latter’s visit to Berlin last month.

Mr. Rene Mangune and Welfare Officer Ms. Sylvia Gabriel gave a briefing on OFW services of the Migrant Workers Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, respectively, while Tourism Attaché Mr. Dakila Gonzales encouraged the audience to support the country’s “Love the Philippines” campaign. Ms. Rhoda Steegmaier of the Philippine Consulate in Baden-Württemberg shared her impressions of Germany’s new Modernisation of Citizenship Law.

Deputy Consul General Villanueva also gave an overview of the consular services offered by the Consulate and joined other speakers, in responding to questions from the audience during the open forum.

Around thirty leaders and members of Filipino organizations and communities in Stuttgart and nearby cities attended the Town Hall Meeting which was held in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate in Baden-Württemberg headed by Honorary Consul Dr. Axel Neumahr.

In collaboration with the Katolische Hochschule Gemeinde (KHG) and Goethe University in Frankfurt, Post organized a dialogue among German academics, focusing on the exchange of ideas catalyzed by the literary works of Filipino author and journalist Criselda Yabes. The session focused on the themes of peace, military, and politics showcased in Yabes’ writings such as “Peace Warriors: On the Trail with Filipino Soldiers,” “Battle of Marawi,” “Serena’s Story,” “Boys from the Barracks,” and “Crying Mountain,” among others. She underscored the profound impact literature can have in challenging societal paradigms and fostering positive change. She passionately articulated her motivations behind each narrative, offering a nuanced perspectives of Mindanao-related topics drawn from her childhood experiences and journalistic career covering the region. She also featured a selection of books on Mindanao, the majority of which were written by foreign authors.

In her remarks during the event, Vice Consul Fatima Mueller reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to fostering a ‘culture of peace’ emphasizing that the literary works of Criselda Yabes and other Filipino authors whose narratives celebrate cultural diversity, dialogue, reconciliation and understanding could nurture a ‘culture of peace’ that leads to a more harmonious society. END

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt held its first consular outreach mission for the year last 20 April at St. Winfried Church in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Consul Cecille Lao led the outreach team in providing almost 200 consular services to the Filipino-German community in the region, consisting of passport, legalization, civil registry, overseas voters registration, and assistance-to-nationals services.

The Philippine Migrant Workers‘ Office in Berlin (MWO-Berlin), led by Officer-in-Charge Delia Palomar, as well as Tourism Attaché Mr. Dakila Gonzales of the Department of Tourism Office in Frankfurt (DOT-Frankfurt) also participated in the outreach event to extend labor-related services to Overseas Filipino Workers in Germany and to promote the Department of Tourism’s Love the Philippines campaign.

Based on the latest regional statistical reports, there are approximately 6,495 Filipinos living in North Rhine-Westphalia, the second largest number of Filipino residents in Germany after Bavaria.

The outreach event was made possible through the assistance of Father Rodel Liguid of the Filipino Chaplaincy in the Archdiocese of Cologne, Filcom leader Ays Espiritu, and volunteers from the Filipino-German community.

The Consulate General will hold its next consular outreach activity in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg to bring consular services closer to the Filipino-German community in the region. (END)

Applicants for passport, civil registry, and legalization services are served during the consular outreach mission in St. Winfried Church last April 20.

     Consulate personnel guide an applicant during her overseas voter registration application.

   MWO-Berlin personnel answer an applicant’s queries.

     Tourism Attaché Dakila Gonzales promotes the Love the Philippines campaign.

In his briefing on the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign, Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. rallied the members of the Filipino Community to the President’s call for transformation by ending the culture of negativity, becoming self-affirming and mutually-encouraging people, and trusting the government while doing their part as good citizens.

Deputy Consul General Villanueva highlighted the positive aspects of the Filipino diaspora and potential of overseas Filipinos to contribute to their host country. Emphasizing that overseas Filipinos are known for their competence, adaptability, resilience and compassion, he exhorted the Filipino community to continuously strive for excellence.

During the meeting, Consul Cecille Lao delivered a presentation on consular services and provided information on frequently asked questions on passport and notarial applications, civil registration and dual citizenship. She addressed several inquiries pertaining to Germany’s new Modernisation of Nationality Law.

Other agencies that participated in the meeting with the Filipino Community and delivered presentations include the Migrant Workers Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration based in Berlin and Department of Tourism – Frankfurt. The Pag-IBIG Fund representative in London also participated via Zoom.

More than a hundred members of the Filipino Community under the Archdiocese of Cologne attended the Town Hall Meeting held in the community hall of St. Winfried Church which was preceded by the Filipino Mass officiated by Father Rodel Liguid SVD.

Holger Wank, Head Librarian of the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at Goethe University shares the library’s special collection on the Philippines to Consul General Ivy Banzon Abalos. The collection included books, audi0-visual Current discussions between the Goethe University and the Philippine Consulate centered on how the Consulate could contribute to expanding the Philippine collection in line with the PH’s Guest of Honor showcase during the 2025 Frankfurt Buchmesse.

26 March 2024 – In observance of the lenten season and as part of its “INKspiration” series to promote Filipino-authored books to the Filipino community in Germany, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt organized a guided reflection entitled, “INKtertwined: Exploring Faith in Philippine Literature” featuring the religious-themed novel “White Lady, Black Christ” by Filipino author Charlson Ong. Guided by Frankfurt-based Filipino priest Father Francis Ofrancia, the reflection explored the intersection of religious themes in Philippine literature from both religious and layman’s perspectives through the lens of the featured novel, culminating in an exchange among Filipino community members on how religious beliefs shape the Filipino narrative and literary heritage. END

                               DESIGN Philippines vitrine showcasing products from the Philippines at Ambiente 2024.

31 January 2024 – Philippine design and home furniture, décor, and crafts from the provinces of Quirino, Antique, and Tarlac were the limelight of the Philippine presence at this year’s edition of Ambiente, the premier international consumer goods fair organized annually in Frankfurt. More than 40 Philippine exporters participated in the fair.

The Philippine pavilion organized by DESIGN Philippines proudly placed Filipino craftsmanship, elegantly aligned with current market demands, at the forefront to further position the Philippines as a sourcing destination for finely crafted products for the world market.

The furniture, lamps and lighting, home decor, and holiday pieces collectively highlighted a natural and handicraft flair, paired with clean lines, modern silhouettes, and textures designed to captivate both in form and function, and highlighted the sustainability stories behind the Philippine products.

DESIGN Philippines also placed the spotlight on Antique and Quirino as two emerging hubs that offer crafts that elevate indoor and outdoor spaces.

Quirino’s display showcased 11 brands that preserve the culture and traditions of the tribes and communities local to the province, including intricate fossilized flowers, bags, fashion items, furniture, and handmade wooden decor.

The creations from Antique, developed under the theme of “Hantique” to highlight the hands that craft the artfully woven pieces of the region, were the result of a collaboration between 10 MSMEs and artisanal communities with the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) and Department of Trade and Industry-Antique, with the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, who is committed to bringing Antique’s craftsmanship and creativity to the global stage.

The Tarlac Province Pavilion, which was supported by the Provincial Government of Tarlac, similarly featured a collection of 12 companies that showcase the culture, natural resources, and design abilities of the province’s craftspeople.

Ambiente is the largest consumer goods trade fair outside of Asia, attracting over 3,000 exhibitors from 150 countries annually.

In Ambiente 2023, DESIGN Philippines generated USD 2.73 million in sales (around Php 152,675,250) with only 30 participating companies. For 2024, with even more exporters participating in the fair, DESIGN Philippines is hoping to generate an even larger amount of sales from the fair. END

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Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (in pink) and the Lord Mayor of Stuttgart Dr. Frank Nopper (middle, in front) visit the Philippine booth on the Opening Day of CMT 2024 in Stuttgart.

15 January 2024 – This year’s edition of the Caravaning, Motor, Touristik (CMT) fair, the world’s largest public fair for tourism and leisure, opened at the Messe Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg on 13 January with the Philippines as the Featured Country.

Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, the Lord Mayor of Stuttgart Dr. Frank Nopper, and Messe Stuttgart President Roland Bleinroth personally visited the Philippine pavilion.

Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos took the stage to introduce the “Love the Philippines” campaign. She highlighted that the Filipino advantage is its peoples’ special ability to “soothe and fill anxious hearts weary of crises, uncertainty and worry”.

At the Philippine pavilion, fairgoers can book their favorite travel package to the Philippines, enjoy the traditional dance shows by the Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild and taste Filipino food, including samples of kapeng barako and roasted pili nuts.

The Philippine booth at stand B11 in Hall 4 of Messe Stuttgart will remain open to welcome travelers looking for their next adventure until the close of the CMT fair on 21 January 2024. END…