BONN, 17 October 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, together with the Philippine Consulate in Frankfurt, and in partnership with the Philippinisches Diaspora Netzwerk (PhilNetz e.V.), successfully co-organized a diaspora dialogue on 17 October 2026 at the St. Winfried Parish Hall in Bonn.
The event, titled “Strengthening Filipino Migrant Engagement and Collaboration in Germany: Policies, Partnerships, and Community Welfare,” brought together Filipino community organizations, migration experts, and individual members from across southern and western Germany. This follows the multi-stakeholder conversation organized by the Embassy last April with partners in Berlin, northern and eastern Germany and northern Europe.
A panel of officials from the Philippines and Germany, experts on integration policies and labor laws in Germany, and representatives of the over 48,000-strong Filipino community in Germany exchanged views and insights on the evolving demographics of Filipino migrants and policy landscape in Germany as they demand new responses to promote the welfare and successful integration of the mostly healthcare professionals and their families.
Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Teresa T. Almojuela, who delivered keynote remarks, underlined that “the numbers, and profiles of Filipinos in Germany are changing. This presents new opportunities for engagements with Germany as a partner country and with the Filipino diaspora organizations.”
She noted that the engagements should move beyond securing survival of individuals but also to leverage partnerships and the robust Filipino diaspora networks “to create the best outcomes for a Filipino diaspora who confidently navigate new realities and successfully become part and pillar of their host communities.”
Driven by Germany’s immigration pathways, the Filipino diaspora is also projected to expand rapidly beyond traditional healthcare sectors into diverse non-health professions. A roundtable discussion on “Filipino Migration to Germany: Building on Gains, Navigating New Realities” was a highlight, with a panel of experts who traveled from across the country to outline proactive strategies for the diaspora, namely: Labor Attaché Delia Palomar (MWO-Berlin), Dr. Ronald Jopp (Head of Division, Skilled Labour Migration, Federal Ministry of Health), Mr. Wilfredo Dominic Josue (Integration Teacher, Gesellschaft für Interkulturelles Zusammenleben or GIZ (Society for Intercultural Coexistence), Dr. Maryan Deveza-Grau (newly elected Chairperson of PhilNetz e.V.), and Ms. Lolita Echaluse (Registered Nurse and former Vice President of Philippine Nursing Association in Germany or PNAG).
The Philippine Embassy and PhilNetz e.V. affirmed their shared commitment to sustaining collaboration in ensuring a safer, more connected, and well-supported Filipino community in Germany. END
