L-R Amb. Dizon-De Vega with Minister President Stephan Weil; The Philippine flag is displayed at the entrance of the State Chancellery Building (photos by Berlin PE)
L-R Mrs. Nasreen Garbin, Amb. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Mr. Alexander Kulitz, MdB, Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr. (photos by Berlin PE)
Congressman Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr. of the AKO BICOL PARTYLIST met with Member of the German Bundestag Alexander Kulitz, Mdb of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) today at the historic Reichstag, home to the German Parliament.
Rep. Garbin, who is on his 2nd consecutive term in the Philippine Congress met with Mr. Kulitz as part of efforts to promote greater inter-parliamentary engagement between the Philippines and Germany. Mr. Kulitz and Mr. Garbin found many common points of interest, having been elected as Party List representatives in their respective parliaments and similar backgrounds as active members of the Junior Chamber International better known as the JCI or Jaycees. Both have also had legal studies training.
The two legislators discussed their respective parliamentary processes and systems as well as ways to enhance the law-making process in their respective countries. Both agreed that further interaction among Philippine and German parliamentarians would contribute to the overall strengthening of Philippine-German ties.
Rep. Garbin extended an invitation for Mr. Kulitz and his fellow German legislators to visit the Philippines. Mr. Kulitz is currently the Deputy Chair of the ASEAN Parliamentary Friendship Group of the German Bundestag.
Rep. Garbin was joined at the Bundestag by his spouse Mrs. Nasreen Garbin and Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega. END
Alexander Kulitz, MdB and Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., exchange views on their legislative experiences
Photo courtesy of Rafael Manuel
Filipino Director Rafael Manuel’s short narrative film “Filipiniana “won the Silver Bear Jury Prize for short films at the recently concluded 70th Berlinale. One of the world’s foremost international film festivals, Manuel’s film was honored with one of the coveted three main short film prizes. The other awards, namely, the Audi Short Film Award went to ‘Genius Loci’ by Adrien Mérigeau and the Golden Bear for Best Short Film went to ‘T’ by Keisha Rae Witherspoon.
The Berlinale Shorts segment of the festival presents a maximum of 30 international short works premieres to a large global audience. This year’s program was curated by Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck, head of Berlinale Shorts. The Berlinale Shorts Advisory Selection Committee is composed of eight international experts in film theory and practice. The Golden Bear winner of the Berlinale automatically qualifies to participate in the competition for the Academy award short film category.
Throughout the year selected films from the Berlinale Shorts are presented at Spotlight events in other film festivals. END
Director Rafael Manuel (2nd from left) with his collaborators talks about making “Filipiniana” at a Berlinale Screening (photo by Berlin PE)
Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (4th from left) presents the Embassy’s Certificate of Appreciation to Mrs. Chit Apura-Heitmann (3nd from right), current President of the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG), together with other FFONG leaders and members
The Philippine Embassy in Berlin kicked off its 2020 consular mission schedule in Hamburg on 29 February 2020, where it rendered a total of one hundred sixty-one consular services including passport renewal, certification and notarial services, civil registry services, one-on-one consultations and overseas absentee voting registration. The Embassy’s youngest client of the day was a 29-day old newborn whose parents filed for her Report of Birth and passport application.
The 5-member consular outreach mission successfully delivered various frontline services with the support of the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG), an umbrella organization of the Filipino communities in Hamburg and Northern Germany as well as the Kleiner Michel Parish through the assistance of Fr. Philipp Görtz, SJ and Filipino Chaplaincy Head Fr. Ritchill Salinas, SVD.
Certificates of Appreciation to Filipino Community partners were handed over by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega during the outreach mission.
POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) Welfare Officer, Ms. Sylvia Gabriel likewise took part in the Embassy outreach. Welof Gabriel conducted 3-rounds of orientation seminars on OWWA membership and benefits throughout the mission. She also processed the registration of new OWWA members and provided consultations on OEC and labor-concerns of Filipino nurses working in Hamburg and nearby areas.
The Embassy’s consular outreach was warmly received and appreciated, despite rising concerns on COVID-19, given that the first case of COVID-19 patient in Hamburg was just reported a day before.
In view of COVID-19 concerns, the Embassy provided copies of its latest Advisory on COVID-19 and continuously reiterated reminders on proper hygiene and wellness.
Located about 3 hours from Berlin, over 1000 Filipinos reside in the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg with an additional 1,000 Filipinos in neighboring cities such as Kiel and Bremen. END
Applicants availing of the Embassy’s consular services (photos by Berlin PE)