CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE IN BERLIN
Ambassador Natividad (left) and Dr. Martin Thümmel of the German Federal Foreign Office (right) raise their glasses in a toast, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood. (© Klaus Dombrowsky)
Berlin, 16 June 2023 – The Embassy of the Philippines in Berlin celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood in a reception held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel Berlin on June 16 with representatives of German government and businesses and members of the diplomatic corps.
Drawing from this year’s commemoration theme Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan, and recalling President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr’s Independence Day message, Ambassador Irene Susan B. Natividad paid tribute to the brave men and women whose sacrifices and struggles for a free country and people should not be forgotten in today’s world where new challenges and oppressors emerge and where the fight to “defend our liberty day by day” and preserve our hard-won freedoms continues.
Ambassador Natividad delivers her welcome remarks (© Klaus Dombrowsky)
“We are happy to celebrate this day with all freedom-loving friends and partners in the international community, especially with our host state – Germany. The Philippines’ and Germany’s common adherence to democratic values and a strong commitment to a rules-based international order have been the foundation of a relationship that has spanned 69 years, ” Ambassador Natividad said.
She went on to recall recent high level visits and engagements between the Philippines and Germany in the areas of regional security, climate action, trade and investment, labor mobility, science and technology and tourism.
Dr. Martin Thümmel, Deputy-Director General for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific of the Federal Foreign Office, in his response, traced the Philippines-Germany connection to Dr. Jose Rizal and said, “I would like to salute again, your forebears and their indomitable resolve to fight for their freedom.xxx We take pride in our shared values with the Philippines, particularly in defending the UN Charter and upholding international law xxx I want to reaffirm our unwavering support to stand by you and with you in addressing challenges to that order.”
One Globe Voices @ Work entertain with their rendition of Philippine songs (© Klaus Dombrowsky)
The evening was filled with musical performances by select Filipino artists with tenor Jose Mari Rubio singing the Philippine and German national anthems. Berlin-based violinist Emanuel John Villarin and the One Globe Voices @ Work choir from the Philippines gave renditions of Filipino and German compositions. END
(L to R) Emmanuel John Vilarin performs Filipino and German classics; Jose Mari Rubio leads the Philippine and German National Anthems (© Klaus Dombrowsky)
