Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

Read Your Roots: From Dialogue to Celebration of Filipino-German Identity in Frankfurt

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Frankfurt, 20 September 2025 – Read Your Roots gathered the Filipino-German community at Brotfabrik for an afternoon of dialogue, storytelling, and performance, shining a spotlight on diaspora experiences as part of the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBM) 2025.

Hosted by Filipino-Austrian actress and media personality Cindy Kurleto, the program featured a panel discussion on identity and growing up with two cultures. Panelists included writer Mo Schneyder, entrepreneur Nelson Enriquez, and actress and influencer Helga Krapf, all of whom shared personal perspectives on navigating life between Germany and the Philippines. Their reflections underscored the experiences of the Filipino-German diaspora and its role in shaping contemporary narratives of identity and belonging.

The discussion was followed by a performance from Filipino-Austrian singer and entertainer Vincent Bueno, who wrapped up the event mixing comedy, music, and spontaneous karaoke — a finale that mirrored the vibrancy of the diaspora it celebrated.

Co-organized with second-generation Filipino-German groups Halo-Halo and the podcast Henerasyon 2.0, Read Your Roots was designed as a platform for children of the diaspora in Germany to step into the spotlight and reflect on the complexities of growing up between two cultures. The program underscored the distinctiveness of the Filipino diaspora in Germany while celebrating contemporary Filipino talent.

The Land in Sicht bookstore had a popup at Brotfabrik to complement the program with a selection of Filipino novels translated to German, while author Saskia Zimmermann was also on hand with her award-winning cookbook Sarap Sarap – Cooking Filipino Style, alongside bilingual children’s literature and travel-inspired titles. Filipino books translated into German were raffled off during the program, with copies donated by Dante Verlag, Unionsverlag, and Angkor Verlag. END

Mousonturm’s Sincerely Yours, the Philippines Festival Brings Contemporary Philippine Performance to Frankfurt in Lead-Up to Philippines’ Guest of Honour role at FBM 2025

Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos
Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos
Left to right: Mousonturm Artistic Director Anna Wagner, artists Franchesca Casuay, Eisa Jocson
Left to right: Mousonturm Artistic Director Anna Wagner, artists Franchesca Casuay, Eisa Jocson
Transfeminist scholar Jaya Jacobo
Transfeminist scholar Jaya Jacobo
Goethe Institut President Gesche Joost
Goethe Institut President Gesche Joost
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Frankfurt am Main, 19 September 2025 — Sincerely Yours, the Philippines, a festival of contemporary Philippine performance, opened at Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm as part of the cultural program for the Philippines’ Guest of Honour role at the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBM) 2025. Mousonturm, one of Germany’s leading independent production houses, organized the 11-day festival as a platform to feature the boldness and diversity of Philippine contemporary art.

The opening featured remarks from Anna Wagner, co-artistic director of Mousonturm; Gesche Joost, President of the Goethe-Institut; festival curator Eisa Jocson; and Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon Abalos, who emphasized the significance of experimental and independent art in offering a contextual and multi-faceted understanding of the Philippines. The keynote was delivered by Jaya Jacobo, trans-feminist poet, scholar, and theorist, who reflected on the festival’s themes of identity, migration, and cultural imagination.

The Mousonturm space was transformed by installation artist Leeroy New with recycled plastic works accented by familiar Filipino details. The evening concluded with the premiere of the Filipino Superwoman Band, a performance exploring the history of Filipino show bands abroad and reimagining them through experimental art.

Running until 29 September 2025, the festival underscores the importance of performance as a medium for cultural exchange, critical reflection, and international dialogue. Curated by Eisa Jocson and organized by Mousonturm, the event is also supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as part of the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at FBM 2025. END

Sulog: Filipino Architecture at the Crosscurrents Opens at the German Architecture Museum in Frankfurt

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Frankfurt, 19 September 2025 – Sulog: Filipino Architecture at the Crosscurrents opened to the public at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) on 19 September 2025. The exhibition, presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in cooperation with DAM, runs until 18 January 2026 as part of the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBM) 2025.

Remarks were delivered by Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos, DAM Director Peter Cachola Schmal, Simone Bühler, Head of the Guest of Honour Program of the Frankfurt Book Fair, and Senator Loren Legarda, the visionary behind the Philippines’ participation as Guest of Honour at this year’s fair (via video message).

Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos expressed pride in the Filipino architects and artists behind the project, as well as in the Filipino community in Germany, “for whom this exhibition carries a special resonance… living the very narrative that Sulog presents.” She further noted that presenting Philippine architecture on such a stage affirms not only the creativity of Filipino practitioners but also the relevance of Philippine culture in global conversations. She underscored that the exhibition contributes to deepening international understanding of the Philippines.

Curators Edson Cabalfin, Patrick Kasingsing, and Schmal emphasized that Sulog brings together leading Filipino architects and artists in an exhibition of significant international scale, situating Philippine architecture within broader global conversations.

The exhibition reimagines Philippine architecture as a dynamic flow of people, places, and processes that extend beyond borders. The title Sulog, from the Cebuano word for “streams of water,” symbolizes this ebb and flow, placing Philippine architecture within global networks of cultural exchange.

Organized around three interrelated themes — People as Networks, Places as Flows, and Processes as Flows — the exhibition highlights the roles of architects, communities, diaspora, context, culture, heritage, and socio-political influences in shaping Philippine architecture. A symposium held prior to the opening brought together architects and scholars for in-depth discussions that informed the exhibit.

Inspired by anthropologist Arjun Appadurai’s concept of “global cultural flow,” Sulog presents Philippine architecture not as confined to a single nation but as a confluence of transnational exchanges across time and space.

The opening drew a diverse audience from the German and international cultural community, marking a strong start to what promises to be one of the highlights of the Philippines’ cultural showcase in Frankfurt.

The exhibition catalogue Sulog is available as a digital download. END

Alaminos Bishop Napoleon Sipalay, Alaminos Youth Pilgrims Pay Courtesy Call on the Consulate General in Frankfurt

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17 September 2025 – Bishop Napoleon Sipalay of the Diocese of Alamninos, Pangasinan led a group of Filipino Catholic youth pilgrims in paying a courtesy call on the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt on 17 September 2025.

 

The historic visit honors the longstanding partnership between the Diocese of Alaminos and the Diocese of Limburg, which started in 1987. Since that time, the partnership has blossomed significantly, with the Diocese of Alaminos being in charge of appointing the Chaplain for Filipino Catholics under the Diocese of Limburg.

 

The two Dioceses also maintain a people-to-people exchange program, which started in recent years. Under this program, volunteers from either Diocese are hosted by a family in the other diocese, during which they are able to exchange their diverse cultural, social, and religious perspectives, and the issues they face as young Catholics.

 

Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon Abalos, in her remarks to Bishop Sipalay, noted the important role of the Filipino Catholic chaplaincies in organizing Filipino communities, wherever they may be. “Where there is a Filipino Catholic chaplain, there is also a strong Filipino community,” she said. She also requested Bishop Sipalay’s prayers in ensuring the successful participation of the Philippines as Guest of Honor in this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse in October.

 

In addition, the Filipino youths from the Diocese of Alaminos participated in a youth celebration of the Feast of the Holy Cross organized by the Diocese of Limburg, during which the pilgrims were able to visit a number of parishes and places across the host diocese. They were also warmly received by Limburg Bishop Georg Batzinq.

 

The pilgrims took pride in the unique Filipino expression of faith- exuberant, colorful, energetic, and deeply personal- noting its role in sustaining and comforting the volunteers even as they faced homesickness and other challenges. END

FRANKFURT PCG AND NACC MET TO DISCUSS UPDATES IN THE PHILIPPINES’ LEGAL ADOPTION FRAMEWORK

26 August 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt welcomed delegates from the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), Director Imelda Ronda and Council Member Meluya Reluya to discuss updates in the Philippine legal adoption framework and the NACC’s work.

The meeting also provided a platform for the two sides to discuss programs and services for Filipino children adopted in Germany, underscoring both sides’ commitment to ensuring the welfare of adopted children. END

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Filipino Author Irene Sarmiento Feted at the White Ravens Festival in Munich

14 July 2025 – Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos joined young literature enthusiasts at the International Youth Library’s White Ravens Festival for International Children’s and Youth Literature, held at Schloss Blutenburg in Munich, to support Filipino author Irene Sarmiento. Sarmiento, author of Stray Cats, represented the Philippines on the Festival’s White Sofa stage, sharing her work and reflections on cultural identity, migration, and her experiences as a Filipino immigrant writer based in the United States. Her book, Stray Cats, was awarded the Philippine National Children’s Book Award in 2024 and continues to earn recognition for its literary merit and cultural depth.

The White Ravens Festival, held under the patronage of the Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts, gathers authors and illustrators from around the world to celebrate outstanding children’s and youth literature and foster cross-cultural dialogue through storytelling.

The participation of a Philippine author in the festival comes as Filipino literature continues to gain visibility internationally. Alongside this event, the Philippines is preparing to be Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, further highlighting the country’s diverse literary voices on the global stage. END

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Consulate–SSS Dialogue Highlights Next Steps in Advancing Social Protection for Overseas Filipinos, Including in Germany

03 July 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt welcomed the President and CEO of the Social Security System (SSS), Mr. Robert Joseph M. de Claro, and accompanying officers during their call on Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon Abalos on 02 July 2025. The visit marked the final stop in a 10-day mission that included engagements in Doha, Geneva, Rome, and Madrid. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between SSS and the Consulate to better serve the Filipino community in Germany, which remains under the jurisdiction of the SSS Milan office. With overseas membership still significantly low relative to the size of the diaspora, the delegation emphasized the importance of expanding SSS presence and improving access to services for Filipinos abroad. 

The Consul General highlighted the diversity of the Filipino community in Germany, which includes healthcare professionals, longtime residents, and newly arrived contract workers. Many early migrants are now pension claimants and often encounter challenges in accessing benefits and navigating SSS systems remotely. In response, both sides discussed possible ways to improve access to information and services, including through closer engagement with Filipino community partners and more regular participation in consular outreach activities. The Consulate expressed its openness to supporting future initiatives that would help make SSS programs more visible, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Filipinos in Germany. END

Philippines at World’s Doorstep with Guest of Honour Pavilion Program at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025

Source: https://www.buchmesse.de/en/press/press-releases/2025-06-26-philippines-guest-honour-preview

Authors, cultural programmes, pavilion design. 

The Philippines unveiled the full scope of its Guest of Honour (PhlGoH) program for the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 during a press conference in Frankfurt today, positioning the archipelago as a rising force in global publishing. The country announced it has organized over 77 literary events, with 100 authors and creatives, and 50 artists across exhibitions, performances, and films. Inspired by a line from Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, the country’s theme—The imagination peoples the air—captures the deep interplay of Philippine literature, culture, and history, inviting the world to engage with its stories. 

The program included speakers Juergen Boos (CEO and President, Frankfurter Buchmesse), Patrick Flores (Curator, PhlGoH Pavilion), Karina Bolasco (PhlGoH Head of Literary Program and Curator of Books), Stanley Ruiz (Head Designer, PhlGoH Pavilion) and a video message from project advocate Senator Loren Legarda. Filipino authors Blaise Campo Gacoscos and Candy Gourlay, with newly released German edition books, had a conversation moderated by author and translator Annette Hug. The award-winning The Philippine Madrigal Singers regaled attendees with a captivating performance. 

Karina Bolasco, the PhlGoH curator of books and head of literary program, said that “As we occupy center stage at the global literary marketplace, in this time when the world is malignantly divided, our spaces: the Pavilion, the Asia Stage, and our National Stand— are for dialogue, for listening and reflection with clarity of purpose, and respect for one another. These are forums to engage in ideas, guided by memory, and driven by resistance to any injustice, emerging or entrenched.” 

Patrick Flores, curator of the PhlGoH Pavilion, remarked “The Philippines aims to foreground Philippine books, including their translations, with care, acuity, style, and intellectual dignity; and share with the world the robust history of writers and readers, the nation’s literacy and literature, and the levels of sophistication that these have reached.”

Juergen Boos stated, “This year’s Guest of Honour presentation is opening a gateway to the rich cultural variety of the Philippines. A country which is unknown to many in Europe. I am very excited that the stories from 7,641 islands with more than a 100 different languages are coming to Frankfurt to show us the lively, vibrant and contradictory history of our guest country. We will experience Philippine literature live through numerous events – from readings, discussions and talks to fliptop rap performances that tell of everyday life and new beginnings, of political upheavals, inner struggles and self-empowerment. Through Philippine literature we will get insights into colonialism and societal changes and learn more about climate fiction. Under the motto “The imagination peoples the air”, a program is being created that builds relationships: between continents and generations; between colonial heritage, climate change and visions of the future.

Senator Loren Legarda, principal advocate said, “We are a nation that reads itself into being, a people who have written our way through disasters, colonialism, dictatorship, and diaspora, and emerged louder, more insistent, more human. What we bring to Frankfurt is a gathering of voices that defies singular narratives, each telling a part of the whole, offering a portrait of humanity in its most intricate and truthful form.” She concluded, “For ours is not an imagination that escapes. It is awake. It questions, it dreams, and it dares—a way of seeing with eyes wide open to the world as it is, and to what our world could yet become.”

The Philippine Guest of Honour Pavilion

In his presentation, Patrick Flores explained that the architectural design and scenography of the Philippine Pavilion as Guest of Honour create a warm and fair space for introspection and wonder. He stated, “As an honoured guest, the Philippines cherishes this invitation and hospitality at the same time that it cohabits the site with its own historical experience and interests in a present driven by intense conflict and inhumanity.” 

The Pavilion alludes to an archipelagic clearing, enlivened by books and moving images from contemporary artists responding to the literature of the country across the seasons. There are four zones, each dedicated to the oeuvre by and on the National Hero Jose Rizal; the work of National Artists and National Living Treasures; the history of books in the Philippines; and books on the Philippines published outside the country in the last five years. 

Designed by Stanley Ruiz, the Pavilion integrates local materials with modular architecture that is also furniture. Dominant materials involved in the construction are kapis (shells), bamboo, and pineapple fabric, alongside steel and fabrics. Central in his imagination are the integrity of Philippine materials and technologies as well as the intuition to repurpose and refunction. It includes elements like circular layouts suggestive of gathering and sharing across Philippine communities.

Configured like islands, the structures are dispersed and yet the pathways into each other are fluid, meandering like routes of water or trails of the hills. The skin of the structures consists of translucent membranes that recall the quality of kites or lamps, both referencing anecdotes around Jose Rizal. The said surfaces also function as screens for moving-images by Gary-Ross Pastrana and the drawings of David Medalla, animated by Mervin Malonzo. 

“The overall feeling in the Pavilion is one of airiness, lightness, generosity. It is an open situation for honoring the gifts of writing and reading in an unnerving but hopefully irrepressible world, conceived by a guest who peoples the imagination,” Flores stated. 

 A press tour through the Philippine Guest of Honour Pavilion will be offered on October 14, 2025 at 12:30 pm.

The Literary Program

At the core of the PhlGoH program is a robust literary agenda featuring over 100 delegates—a Nobel laureate, National Artists, authors, poets, creatives, publishers, authors with new international editions, and cultural figures. 

The program spans talks, performances, book launches, and rights negotiations, underscoring the country’s growing global presence in publishing. Events will unfold across the Philippine Pavilion, the Asia Stage, and a 300-sqm National Stand. 

The Philippine Pavilion with its two stages will host sessions hourly including talks, conversations, interviews, panels, annotated readings, performed poetry, rap, fliptop, poetic jousts, chants, music and dance, live drawing, language teaching, annotated film excerpts, and other performances inspired by books. They are clustered into the following themes: That You May Know Us, What Moves Us, While We Are Away, What Bewitches Us, What We Imagine, and What We Keep and Remember. Helmed by Bolasco, the Pavilion will also present more than 500 books under the framework of: Diversity, Histories, and Hope and Faith. 

The Philippine National Stand, spanning 300 square meters, will feature thousands of titles available for rights sales and international distribution. 

The Asia Stage program, co-hosted by Rex Education and the Frankfurter Buchmesse, highlights regional dialogue among the Philippines and its Southeast Asian neighbors. 

“As the world gathers in Frankfurt, the Philippines shall bring with its books, its voice—firm, open, critical, and fiercely hopeful that storytelling remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for truth and transformation,” Bolasco stated.

Cultural Program

Running throughout 2025, the cultural program spans multiple cities—Heidelberg, Berlin, and Frankfurt (Main)—and includes exhibitions, performances, film presentations, and publications that highlight both traditional and contemporary Filipino artistry. 

For its inaugural exhibition, the country launched Oculus at the Heidelberger Kunstverein, and featured the works of contemporary artists Stephanie Misa and Joscha Steffens. It ran from March 15 to May 18. 

Highlights of the upcoming exhibitions include Sulog: Filipino Architecture at the Crosscurrents at Deutsches Architekturmusem (DAM), New Beginnings: Philippine Photographic Art at Fotografie Forum Frankfurt (FFF), and storytelling traditions like the Pasyon, and Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (Stories of Grandmother Basyang) at Haus am Dom. Furthermore, the program features an immersive sound installation at Humboldt Forum Berlin by meLê yamomo, concerts by The Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Sincerely Yours, the Philippines – Festival for Dance, Performance and Karaoke led by contemporary artist Eisa Jocson, and a film series by Kidlat Tahimik and Nick Deocampo at the Deutsches Filminstitut Filmmuseum (DFF).

A publication on Rizal will be released- a monograph about the textile collection housed at the Berlin Ethnological Museum, and the entomological and herpetological specimens held at the Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden. 

Together, these events offer a multi-sensory experience of Philippine culture. Full details are available in the press booklet. 

The Philippine Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 is a collaborative undertaking of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda. 

Information about the theme and full event details can be found in the official website, philippinesfrankfurt2025.com or download the digital press booklet.