PHILIPPINES SHOWS STRONG PRESENCE AT THE INTERNATIONALE TOURISMUS BOERSE BERLIN 2023 WITH ITS BIGGEST ITB DELEGATION YET

10 March 2023 – The Philippines returned to the Internationale Tourismus Boerse Berlin 2023 (ITB Berlin 2023) – the world’s largest travel and tourism trade fair – with its biggest ITB delegation yet.  The ITB is being conducted face-to-face this year, after a three-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led 27 co-exhibitors from the Philippine public and private sector, with 43 delegates.  Secretary Frasco was joined by  Tourism Promotion Board COO Margarita Nograles, DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, DOT Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso and DOT Assistant Secretary Maria Rica C. Bueno, and a Congressional Delegation composed of Davao de Oro, 1st District Representative Maria Carmen Zamora and Barangay Health Workers Representative Cong. Angelica Natasha Co.

The Philippine stand delighted its audience with snippets of Philippine culture — an Arnis demonstration with performers wearing pintados costumes; Philippine T’nalak and Yakan weavers from Mindanao highlighting their rich weaving tradition and colorful products; and a booth offering coffee from Philippine-grown coffee beans.

The Philippines’ participation at the ITB Berlin reinforces efforts to promote it as a premiere travel destination through partnerships with various tourism private sector players including tour operators, online travel agencies, new online distribution platforms, travel websites and communities, journalists, and influencers.

Considered as a major event in the international tourism scene, the ITB travel and trade event expects 10,000 exhibitors and 160,000 visitors from various continents to be in attendance throughout the three-day fair. – End –

PH EMBASSY BRINGS THE LOST ART OF SERENADE TO BERLIN; PROMOTES PHILIPPINE INTANGIBLE CULTURE

Berlin, 27 February 2023 –  The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, the Filipino Community in Berlin, and San Diego Filipino Film Festival presented a special screening of the award-winning documentary,  Harana: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade by Benito Bautista on 26 February 2023 at the Katolische Kirchengemeinde Heilig Geist (Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit). The screening was organized in celebration of Philippine National Arts Month (Buwan ng Sining).

The film tells the story of the dying art of the harana, a unique form of courtship and communication that was once a common practice in rural Filipino communities. The documentary takes viewers on a journey through the Philippines as three musicians search for the remaining master haranistas and attempt to revive this beautiful tradition.

“Through this endeavor, we also wish to encourage collaboration among Filipino artists around the world in our common goal to promote our culture,” stated Minister Mary Luck S. Hicarte in her opening remarks. She further emphasized the relevance of the film as it “celebrates our culture, and it documents the richness of an art from an era that has already gone by.”

Director Benito Bautista, in his brief talk with the audience, expressed that Harana “is a love letter to our people” and that the film serves to preserve the art of harana from becoming a “vanished tradition”.

The screening was a success, with attendees moved by the beauty and significance of the lost art of harana.  “Harana: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade” is a poignant and powerful film that not only showcases the beauty of this lost art form, but also raises questions about the importance of cultural preservation and the impact of globalization on indigenous traditions. (END)

PHILIPPINES AND GERMANY REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO FURTHER ENHANCE COOPERATION AT THE BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND MULTILATERAL SPHERES

20 February 2023, Berlin – Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock exchanged views on regional security issues and discussed ways to further enhance ties between the Philippines and Germany, during their bilateral meeting on 20 February 2023 at the Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.

“The Philippines and Germany have had a long history of working together to support democratic values and strengthen peace, security, stability, and the rule of law.  The Philippines is one with Germany in supporting all states in upholding a rules-based international order and in resolving their disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law,” said Secretary Manalo.

Both ministers noted the breadth and depth of the cooperation between the Philippines and Germany and reaffirmed their commitment to increase cooperation on climate change, renewable energy, trade and investment, labor and human rights, among others.

“The future of Philippines-Germany relationship remains full of promise, as we continue to deepen our engagements across a wide range of mutually beneficial cooperation, at the bilateral, regional and multilateral spheres,” added Secretary Manalo.

The meeting comes at an opportune time as the Philippines and Germany prepare to celebrate in 2024 the 70th year of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

PH EMBASSY JOINS FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BERLIN IN CELEBRATING THE SINULOG FESTIVAL

Berlin, 15 January 2023 –  The Philippine Community in Berlin celebrated Cebu’s annual Sinulog festival at the Parish of the Holy Spirit in Bayernallee – the first since the outbreak of COVID-19.  Fr. Simon Boiser SVD was the Mass Presider, with Fr. Jun De Ocampo, SVD and Fr. Lieber Waldemar as concelebrants. 

Fr. Boiser, in his homily, highlighted the significance and role  of the image of the Sto. Nino in our history as a people  and as Christians. He  emphasized as well the call to emulate the  “childlike” attitude of the Nino, which is characterized by humility, joy  and simplicity.  Several groups under the Chaplaincy performed traditional Sinulog dances, accompanied by loud cheers of “Pit Senyor!”  The Sinulog was followed by the traditional Filipino Fiesta shared by all members of the congregation. 

The Embassy’s  Chargé d’Affaires, a.i.  Lillibeth V. Pono, in  her remarks, took the opportunity to bid the Filipino community in Berlin goodbye,  as she leaves for her new assignment as Ambassador to the State of Qatar. She looked back to five years ago, when she said her first “hellos” to the community, also  during the Sinulog celebration.   She thanked the community  for their support of and strong partnership with the Embassy,  as she was  presented with a certificate of appreciation, thanking her for her years of service to the community and for furthering Filipino interests in Germany.