The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

Team Philippines-Germany Mark the Countdown for the 60th Anniversary of Philippines-Germany Relations

Berlin –   Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad convened the Team Philippines-Germany’s consultation meeting in Berlin on 01 March 2013 to prepare for and mark the countdown for the celebration of the 60th year of Philippine-German diplomatic relations.

The annual meeting is a regular consultations mechanism of the Team Philippines-Germany, composed of the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin and the various Honorary Consulates with jurisdiction over Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hessen,
North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony. During the meeting, the accomplishments of the Embassy and the honorary posts during the previous year and the work program for the coming year were discussed to ensure that they were in line with the Key Result Areas of President Benigno Aquino III’s Social Contract with the Filipino people.

tpdIn 2012, the Team Philippines-Germany was given a service award by President Aquino, particularly in recognition of the innovative economic diplomacy model pursued by the team.

During the consultation meeting, presentations were made on the work programs in the area of political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, as well as agriculture, tourism and cultural promotion activities.  The honorary consuls also reported on their work accomplishments and plans – Prof. Dr. Gerhard Zeidler, Consul General a.h. (Stuttgart), Mr. Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach, Consul a.h. (Munich), Mr. Heinz-Peter Heidrich, Consul a.h. (Essen), and Mr. Hartmut Fromm, Consul a.h. (Dresden).

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Ambassador Natividad gave strategic directions to the Team, basing her presentation on the concrete outcomes of the  official visit of German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle to the Philippines – the first German foreign minister to undertake such a visit in thirteen years.  She reported that Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle have agreed on cooperation  across the board between Philippines and Germany and had sought support from the Team  to realize this vision for reinvigorated relations.

The members of the Team-Philippines supported the Ambassador’s call for efforts for further cooperation and pledged commitments for activities to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Philippine-German bilateral relations, with celebrations to begin by October 2013 until October 2014.  END

A Farewell, Women’s Day, and Philippine Banana Fabric

Berlin.

Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad hosted a farewell dinner for outgoing Georgian Ambassador to Germany, H. E. Gabriela Archduchess of Habsburg-Lothringen.  The occasion also commemorated the 2013 International Women’s Day whose theme for this year is “The Gender Agenda:  Gaining Momentum.”

Fashion designer Fernandina Sandico Ong capped the occasion by presenting Philippine banana fabric with a mini fashion show demonstrating the various forms of her wrap fashion.

 

Dita Sandico-Ong demonstrates how to wrap creatively the banana fabric pieces.

From Left to Right: Princess Corinna von Anhalt; Mme. Daniela Xuereb; Ambassador Natividad; Ms. Brigitte Ory, Director of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific-Federal Foreign Office; Dr. Anna Prinz, Division Head of Academic Relations and International Culture-Federal Foreign Office; H. E. Gabriela Archduchess of Habsburg-Lothringen, State Minister Cornelia Pieper, Federal Foreign Office; Fernandina Sandico-Ong, Fashion Designer; Ms. Ilka Hartmann, Vice-President, Commerzbank Berlin; Ms. Mania Feilcke, President of Ambassadors’ Club Berlin; Dr. Inge Fromm; H. E. Kornelija Utevska-Gligorovska of Macedonia; and H. E. Sarojini Seeneevassen-Frers of Mauritius

From Left to Right: Princess Corinna von Anhalt; Mme. Daniela Xuereb; Ambassador Natividad; Ms. Brigitte Ory, Director of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific-Federal Foreign Office; Dr. Anna Prinz, Division Head of Academic Relations and International Culture-Federal Foreign Office; H. E. Gabriela Archduchess of Habsburg-Lothringen, State Minister Cornelia Pieper, Federal Foreign Office; Fernandina Sandico-Ong, Fashion Designer; Ms. Ilka Hartmann, Vice-President, Commerzbank Berlin; Ms. Mania Feilcke, President of Ambassadors’ Club Berlin; Dr. Inge Fromm; H. E. Kornelija Utevska-Gligorovska of Macedonia; and H. E. Sarojini Seeneevassen-Frers of Mauritius

Left to Right: State Minister Cornelia Pieper, Federal Foreign Office; H. E. Maria Cleofe R. Natividad;H. E. Gabriela Archduchess of Habsburg-Lothringen

Left to Right: State Minister Cornelia Pieper, Federal Foreign Office; H. E. Maria Cleofe R. Natividad;H. E. Gabriela Archduchess of Habsburg-Lothringen

 

PHILIPPINES AND GERMANY COMMENCE NEGOTIATIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT

BERLIN – Negotiations on a Philippine-German bilateral agreement on social security took place at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) in Berlin from 04 to 08 March 2013.

Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad opened the expert talks and introduced the Philippine delegation from Manila headed by Philippine Social Security System (SSS) President and CEO Mr. Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. She spoke of the agreement’s long negotiating history and expressed satisfaction at the timing of the formal negotiations.

“As early as 2002, informal discussions on a social security agreement have begun between our labor ministers. Eleven years later, we are finally on the negotiating table,” noted the Ambassador.

The Philippine delegation discussed with their German counterparts details of social security cooperation – including how the totalization of coverage periods, export of benefits, and mutual administration assistance could potentially benefit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Germany and Germans working in the Philippines.

President de Quiros also gave a presentation on the Philippine social security system, particularly on the “layers of social protection.” This was followed by discussions on the articles of the proposed agreement, and the concluding protocol. Ms. Judy Frances See, SSS Senior Vice President, explained the Philippines’ proposed amendments to the agreement, mainly for the benefit of OFWs.

On the other hand, Mr. Michael Schmidt of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs also gave an overview of the German social security system. The lead negotiator for the German side was Dr. Albrecht Otting also from the same ministry. Officials from the German Federal Pension Insurance, German Pension Insurance for Miners, Railway Workers and Seamen, and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance also joined Dr. Otting’s team.

The Philippine and German delegations expressed satisfaction at the results of the first round of negotiations in Berlin. Both sides agreed that the next round of talks shall be held in the second half of 2013 in the Philippines.

“The timing could not have been better. From October of this year to 2014, Germany and the Philippines will be celebrating 60 years of bilateral diplomatic relations” Ambassador Natividad said. She further noted that, “The agreement is an instrument for the protection of Filipinos in Germany. It will potentially benefit the Filipino nurses who will soon be deployed to Germany, allowing them to repatriate their pensions in full.”

The Philippine delegation was headed by Mr. Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr., President and CEO, SSS. The members of the delegation were: Ms. Judy Frances See, Senior Vice President, International Operations Division, SSS; Atty. Roberto B. Bautista, Manager II, International Affairs Department, SSS; Atty. Edgar Julio Asuncion, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, PhilHealth; and Atty. Jonathan Mangaoang, Division Chief, PhilHealth. From the Philippine Embassy, Minister Mardomel Melicor, Vice-Consul Anna de Vera Balle, and Vice-Consul Azela Arumpac joined the negotiations. (END)

TEAM PHILIPPINES-GERMANY MARK THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE 60TH YEAR OF PHILIPPINES-GERMANY RELATIONS

Berlin – Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad convened the Team Philippines-Germany’s consultation meeting in Berlin on 01 March 2013 to prepare for and mark the countdown for the celebration of the 60th year of Philippine-German diplomatic relations.
The annual meeting is a regular consultations mechanism of the Team Philippines-Germany, composed of the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin and the various Honorary Consulates with jurisdiction over Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony. During the meeting, the accomplishments of the Embassy and the honorary posts during the previous year and the work program for the coming year were discussed to ensure that they were in line with the Key Result Areas of President Benigno Aquino III’s Social Contract with the Filipino people.

In 2012, the Team Philippines-Germany was given a service award by President Aquino, particularly in recognition of the innovative economic diplomacy model pursued by the team.

During the consultations meeting, presentations were made on the work programs in the area of political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, as well as agriculture, tourism and cultural promotion activities. The honorary consuls also reported on their work accomplishments and plans – Prof. Dr. Gerhard Zeidler, Consul General a.h. (Stuttgart), Mr. Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach, Consul a.h. (Munich), Mr. Heinz-Peter Heidrich, Consul a.h. (Essen), and Mr. Hartmut Fromm, Consul a.h. (Dresden).

Ambassador Natividad gave strategic directions to the Team, basing her presentation on the concrete outcomes of the official visit of German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle to the Philippines – the first German foreign minister to undertake such a visit in thirteen years. She reported that Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle have agreed on cooperation across the board between Philippines and Germany and had sought support from the Team to realize this vision for reinvigorated relations.

The members of the Team-Philippines supported the Ambassador’s call for efforts for further cooperation and pledged commitments for activities to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Philippine-German bilateral relations, with celebrations to begin by October 2013 until October 2014. END

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