Consulate General of the Philippines Frankfurt

PHILIPPINES AND HANAU FORGE CULTURAL AND LITERARY SYNERGIES

Consul General Ivy Banzon Abalos today met with Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky to explore avenues for cultural and literary collaboration, paving the way for deeper ties between the Philippines and the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. Renowned for its iconic fairy tales, Hanau offers a vibrant platform to showcase the Philippines’ rich literary traditions, including its folktales, legends, and contemporary works, in the lead-up to the country’s Guest of Honour role at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair. Discussions highlighted Philippine presence in the city’s prominent cultural events, as a prime venue to introduce Filipino stories to German audiences. This collaboration seeks to celebrate the universal power of storytelling, bridging cultures and fostering deeper connections through shared literary heritage. END

Filipino Company’s Innovative Materials Attract Interest at Cologne Conference on Sustainable Materials

Nature’s Legacy, an award-winning Cebu-based manufacturer that produces innovative materials for use in a broad range of applications, attracted the interest of German and other European businesses at the Sustainable Materials Conference & Expo held on 13-14 November 2024 in Köln, Germany.

Nature’s Legacy featured its NUCAST and NATURESCAST materials – the first, a patented reengineered recycled paper composite, and the second, a material made from rescued agro-forest debris held by a proprietary water-based binder, both of which provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional but finite materials such as stone, wood, and steel to create designs and products for various construction, design, architecture, and industrial applications using what would otherwise have been organic waste materials. The interest of many European companies in the innovative sustainable materials from Cebu shows that Filipino ingenuity and Filipino sustainable materials can complement the sustainability trajectory of German and European businesses.

The Sustainable Materials Conference and Expo, Europe’s largest free-to-attend event for renewable and circular materials and manufacturing solutions, was held in tandem with the Sustainable Chemicals Conference & Expo and the Plastic Waste Free World Conference & Expo to form Cologne’s Sustainable Industry Week and provide visitors with the opportunity to source new solutions across the entire supply chain to meet the growing demand for sustainable and circular products.

(On the left: Nature’s Legacy demonstrates its NUCAST material and how it may be combined with other waste products to produce different textures and applications.

On the right: Nature’s Legacy co-founders Pete and Cathy Delantar with Philippine Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos at the Nature’s Legacy booth at Köln Messe)
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TEAM PHILIPPINES BAGS MAJOR AWARDS DURING ASEAN IN FRANKFURT BOWLING TOURNAMENT 2024

Congratulations to the members of the Team Philippines bowling team for bagging the major awards during the ASEAN in Frankfurt Bowling Tournament 2024. The 4-member Philippine team composed of Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva Jr., Eric Garcia, Adam Rosete and Rico Fajardo obtained the Highest Series – Overall for the group category followed by Malaysia and Indonesia. Mr. Adam Rosete was awarded the Highest Series – Overall for individual category while Mr. Rico Fajardo took home the Most Valuable Player award for garnering the Highest Score in a single game.

Competing teams from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the one-day tournament held in Bowling World in Frankfurt. Aside from the competition, the event included bowling fun games for the ASEAN countries including Cambodia. Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos joined the ceremonial throw along with the other Consuls General to officially open the games and boost the morale of the team. The event was made possible through the active support of the Filipino community in Frankfurt and bowling coordinator Mr. Ernesto “Nestie” Catibog, president of B.V. Pinoy Frankfurt e.V. END

Info Session in Bonn Boosts Awareness of Filipinos on Dual Citizenship and Pag-IBIG Services

As part of its continuing information campaign for the Filipino-German communities under its jurisdiction, the Philippine Consulate General held an info session on Dual Citizenship and Pag-IBIG services in St. Winfried Church in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia. Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. led the team composed of Consul Cecille Joyce Lao together with Ms. Marivic Agot, Area Head Pag-IBIG and Ms. Mylene Lontoc, Pag-IBIG Milan. The event in Bonn was made possible with the support of Father Rodel Liguid, Filipino chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Cologne and the council of leaders. END

PHILIPPINE MADRIGAL SINGERS ELEVATE FILIPINO ARTISTRY IN FRANKFURT PERFORMANCE

Fresh from their celebrated appearance at the Philippines Guest of Honor FBM 2025 Kickoff Program in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld, the Philippine Madrigal Singers continued their tour with a breathtaking performance on Sunday, 3 November at St. Ignatius Church in Frankfurt. Known for their world-class harmonies, the choir captivated the audience, showcasing the beauty and depth of Filipino music. Their performance not only filled the church with awe but also highlighted the cultural richness that the Philippines brings to the international stage. The Madrigal Singers’ tour marks an inspiring chapter in the celebration of Filipino talent and heritage in Germany. END

List of Applicants Approved by the RERB After Consolidation for the Period 01 July to 30 September 2024

In compliance with Section 43.a of COMELEC Resolution No. 10833 promulgated 07 September 2022, Frankfurt PCG  wishes to notify the public of the following List of Applicants Approved by the Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) in relation to the continuing registration of qualified overseas Filipinos for purposes of the 2025 National and Local Elections for the period 01 July to 30 September 2024:

List of Applicants Approved by the RERB After Consolidation

PHILIPPINES DISPLAYS DEPTH AND DIVERSITY OF ITS CULTURAL AND LITERARY TRADITIONS DURING GUEST OF HONOUR KICKOFF EVENTS IN HEIDELBERG AND WILHELMSFELD

29 October 2024- Following the 2024 Buchmesse, the Philippines officially launched its role as Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse with a series of impactful events from
October 24 to 27 in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld. Spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the visionary behind the Philippines Guest of Honour role, in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt and the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, the 4-day program showcased a rich array of Filipino literature, history, and art, celebrating the unique cultural bonds between the Philippines and Germany and attracting significant international attention.

The launch began with a ceremonial program at the Völkerkundemuseum in Heidelberg, featuring Philippine Ambassador to Germany H.E. Irene Susan Natividad, NBDB Executive
Director Charisse Tugade, and CCP President Kay Tinga, alongside performances by the Philippine
Madrigal Singers and indigenous artist Waway Saway. The kickoff program, which showcased Filipino writers and performance artist, set the stage for a year of activities leading up to the
Frankfurt Book Fair 2025.

The GOH kickoff program also featured Rizal walking tours in Heidelberg by historian Ambeth Ocampo dubbed ‘Lakbay Rizal’, retracing José Rizal’s experiences while studying ophthalmology, while the “Lebendes Bild” performance in Wilhelmsfeld brought scenes from Noli Me Tangere to life. The kickoff program ended with a ‘Tertulia’ where Filipino and German writers shared their perspectives about Rizal. These events underscored the vibrant dialogue between art and history as the Philippines prepares for its prominent role at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025. END

PHILIPPINES EMBRACES GLOBAL LITERARY STAGE AS THE NEXT GUEST OF HONOR AT FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR

21 October 2024 – The Philippines has officially assumed its role as the Guest of Honor for the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, following the ceremonial handover from this year’s Guest of Honor, Italy, on 20 October 2024. The handover event marks the beginning of the Philippines’ journey into the spotlight of the global literary community. The theme for the Philippine participation, “The Imagination Peoples the Air,” inspired by national hero José Rizal’s work Noli Me Tangere, will showcase the country’s rich literary tradition and diverse cultural heritage.

The handover ceremony celebrated a cultural exchange between Italy and the Philippines, with notable speakers including Special Commissioner of the Guest of Honour 2024 Italy Mauro Mazza and Philippine ambassador Irene Susan Natividad who delivered the message of Philippine Senator and Culture Champion Loren Legarda, the force behind the country’s bid to be the Guest of Honor at the Buchmesse. As a unique opportunity to share with the world the nation’s story of “creativity, resilience, and collective hope”, the Filipino narratives will include the perspectives of the indigenous peoples in the country and the Filipino diaspora all over the world. The program included performances from The Philippine Madrigal Singers and musician Waway Saway, as well as presentations by Filipino illustrator Isabel Roxas and Italian artist Alessandro Sanna.

The handover will be followed by a Filipino cultural program in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld from 24 to 27 October 2024 that will serve as the official launch of the Philippine term as Buchmesse Guest of Honor. Highlights will include the Lakbay Rizal Walking Tour led by renowned Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo, talks by authors, and a concert featuring The Philippine Madrigal Singers and Waway Saway. The Philippine literary and cultural program will then culminate at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair. END