PH Embassy in Berlin Screens Indie Film “Verdict”, Promote Discussion on Violence Against Women and Children

BERLIN 30 March 2022 – Philippine Embassy in Berlin and the Filipino Community in Berlin conducted a film screening of the indie film “Verdict”, written and directed by Raymund Rivas Gutierrez,  on 27 March 2022 at the Katolische Kirchengemeinde Heilig Geist (Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit) in Berlin to highlight issues affecting women in observance of the 2022 Philippine National Women’s Month.

The film, which focuses on the search for justice by a battered wife, received the Orizzonti Special Jury Prize at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival.

The Embassy’s Gender and Development (GAD) Officer Mary Luck Hicarte provided the context that violence against women and children is rooted in gender inequality or the uneven distribution of power among men and women in a society. “Bakit ba kailangan ng gender equality? Dahil kapag hindi pantay ang tingin sa lahat ng kasarian, kapag hindi ginagalang ang karapatang pantao ng bawa’t isa, iyan ang ugat ng maraming mga isyu sa lipunan, kabilang na ang karahasan laban sa kababaihan” she said.

Charge d’affaires Lillibeth Pono called on the members of the community to be vigilant against cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) and rallied their support for women victims of VAWC, regardless of their nationality.

The Chaplain of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Berlin, Fr. Tranquilino de Ocampo, SVD, provided insights on the sociological underpinnings of this phenomenon and enriched the discussion by drawing on his wealth of pastoral experience.

Around 40 members of the Filipino community who participated in the event had varied reactions, with some moved to tears by the indie film, and expressed appreciation for the activity. END

SMAK!  – 1^st Stage Production of Filipino Artist Khavn de la Cruz to  Premiere in Berlin

Filipino artist, filmmaker, musician and performer Khavn dela Cruz, in partnership with the German Federal Cultural Foundation, is set to premiere his first cross-genre stage production, “SMAK! SuperMacho AntiKristo – A Headless 100-Act Opera” at Berlin´s most iconic theater, “Volksbühne”, on 13 April 2022.  The show will run until end of April 2022.  

According to the German Federal Cultural Foundation, SMAK! is a reflection of the artistic theory and practice of the great theatre avant-gardist of the 19th-century  Alfred Jarry, juxtaposed with a literary reanimation of the unfinished novel “Makamisa” by Philippine national hero José Rizal.

The production features a mix of international artists which boasts of Filipino talents from its scriptwriters Khavn, Douglas Candano and Homer Novicio to its cast members which include singer-actor Bituin Escalante, filmmaker-cartoonist Rox Lee, singer-composer Bullet Dumas, theater actors Bong Cabrera and King Jon, and its stage and costume designer, Leeroy New. The script is also co-written by German author and musician Brezel Göring (Stereo Total) and stars the German actress Lilith Stangenberg, with artistic direction by Anna Heesen.

During the welcome dinner hosted by the Philippine Embassy for the production team, Charge d’Affaires,a.i. Lillibeth V. Pono expressed admiration for the recognition accorded in Germany to  the Filipino artists, and lauded the strong partnership between the Philippines and Germany in the field of culture and arts. END

BERLIN PE PARTNERS WITH NELSON MANDELA SCHOOL FOR A FUN MASSKARA FESTIVAL ART ACTIVITY

1 March 2022, Berlin, Germany – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin partnered with the Nelson Mandela School (NMS) Class Flex E composed of students from Grades 1 and 2, for a fun art activity on the occasion of the Karnivale.  Ms. Lynda Sylvester, a Filipina class adviser in the NMS, thought of bringing in the Filipino culture in the said celebration by tapping the children´s artistic side in making masks, as locals in Bacolod City would during the city’s  celebration of the Masskara Festival.

The Philippine Embassy provided the Masskara Festival kits which contained materials for mask making, including information on the festival and Bacolod City.   The Karnivale/Fasching is an annual pre-Lent celebration in Europe wherein children and even adults are allowed to come in to school or places of work wearing costumes.  In other parts of Europe, a Fasching parade is held to usher in the Lenten season.

The Embassy gladly welcomed this partnership as it is aligned with its thrust in promoting Philippine culture.  Students of the Flex E Class enjoyed the said activity immensely.   END

22 February 2022 — The Philippine Embassy in Berlin convened a virtual coordination meeting among various posts and attached agencies comprising Team Philippines in Germany.

The meeting provided Philippine Government representatives covering Germany an opportunity to take stock of their initiatives and projects in 2021 and identify programs and activities for the year, in line with the three pillars of Philippine foreign  policy and the respective mandates of the attached agencies.

A common thread among the initiatives identified were the so-called 8Cs, namely — COVID-19; community; consultation; collaboration; communication/coordination; cooperation; campaigns/commemorations/ celebrations; and lastly, continuity.

Participants of the meeting were:  the entire officer complement of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin – CDA a.i. Lillibeth Pono, Minister and Consul Gerardo Abiog, Minister and Consul Maryluck Hicarte and Vice-Consul and Third Secretary Mina Ganzon; from the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt – Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon-Abalos and Vice-Consul Fatima Mueller; from the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Berlin – Commercial Counselor Nicanor Bautista;  from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-Berlin – Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz,  Assistant  Labor Attaché Delle Palomar and Welfare Officer Sylvia Gabriel;  from DOT-Frankfurt –  Tourism Director Margarita Valdes;  Agriculture Attaché and Deputy Permanent Representative to Rome-based UN offices Dr. Josyline Javelosa;  Philippine Defense Attaché Col. Dennis C. Gutierrez PA (GSC);  Philippine Honorary Consul for Bavaria Stefan Detig;  and Philippine Honorary Consul Dr. Axel Neumahr and Ms. Rhoda Steegmaier of the PHL  Consulate in Baden-Württemberg.