BERLIN. Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad flew into Manila from Berlin last August bearing the remains of Ms. Charlotte Gödicke, an educator from Osterholtz, Lower Saxony, Germany, who helped inspire the community of Sagay City to achieve sustainable livelihoods through the Sagay-Osterholz Partnership.
Ambassador Natividad was met by representatives from the office of Congressman Leo Rafael Cueva of the Second District of Negros Occidental. Ms. Godicke – considered by Sagaynons as “the beloved daughter of Sagay” – passed away on 21 February 2013. From Manila, her remains were brought to their final resting place in Sagay City.
Ms. Godicke is a German citizen that had for decades been a champion of many humanitarian programs in the Philippines. She first came to Sagay in 1980 as part of the Sagay-Osterholz Partnership Program, a three decade friendship network established between Sagaynons and the people of Osterholz District, Germany with the aim of fostering cooperation in the fields of culture, education and livelihood building. Ms. Godicke had been instrumental in helping the community of Sagay develop and enhance its healthcare, school and administrative services. Her selfless dedication and humanitarian efforts were recognized by the Philippine Government when she was conferred the Presidential Bana-ag Award in 2004.
Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva had even described Ms. Godicke as “a one woman NGO” and acknowledged that her lifelong involvement and untiring efforts forever changed the lives of Sagaynons. (END)
