23 June 2024 – Team Philippines in Germany, under the leadership of Berlin-based Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad, and Frankfurt-based Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos, solemnly commemorated the 163rd birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal at Wilhelmsfeld’s Rizal Park. The ceremony honored Rizal’s enduring legacy and the deep cultural, historical, and people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Germany.
Notable attendees included officials and members of the Order of Knights of Rizal led by European Commander Albert Arevalo and Heidelberg-Wilhelmsfeld head Herbert Ehses; Wilhelmsfeld Mayor Tobias Dangel, who was inducted as a new member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal; Antipolo-based artist John Paul Antido, awarded for his winning Rizal wine label artwork; and officers and staff of the PH Embassy in Berlin and PH Consulate General in Frankfurt. Some German students and residents of Wilhelmsfeld were also recognized with the Rizal and Karl Ullmer prizes. Senator Loren Legarda’s special recorded message, emphasizing preservation of Rizal’s legacy in Germany, added a poignant touch to the event. The event forms part of a series of activities marking the 70-year partnership between the Philippines and Germany. END
