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

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