L-R FDCP Chair Liza Diño-Seguerra presents new FDCP programs at the Berlinale Co-Production Market; Chair Diño-Seguerra and Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega at the Philippine Cinema Night

The Philippine Embassy in Germany with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) held a Philippine Cinema Night on 24 February 2020 to celebrate 100 years of Philippine Cinema and to introduce the Philippine Delegation to the 70^th Berlin International Film Festival better known as the Berlinale.

The Philippine presence at the 2020 Berlinale from 20 February to 1 March is one of the largest in recent years with four Philippine-themed and co-produced films screening at the one of the world’s top festivals.

The Philippine productions are director Raya Martin’s “Death of Nintendo”, Rafael Manuel’s short film “Filipiñiana”, Alex Piperno’s “Chico ventana tambien quisiera tener un submarine” (Window Boy Would Also Like to Have a Submarine”, a Philippine co-production with Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands, and “Orphea” a rock musical film set in Manila co-directed by Filipino Khavn Dela Cruz and German Alexander Kluge.

The Philippines likewise took part in the Berlinale Co-production market via “Boldstar” a new film written by Rody Vera and to be directed by Antoinette Jadaone and produced by Bianca Balbuena and Dan Villegas. The film was pitched to various potential international partners at the co-production market.

Four other Filipino directors and producers took part in the Berlinale Co-Production Market Visitor Programme – Alemberg Ang, Anne Prado-Magadia, Carlo Valenzona, and Gutierrez Mangasakan II.

At the Berlinale Talents Programme two young Filipinas producer Gale Osorio and filmmaker Celine Marie Donato took part in discussions and networking sessions.

In her message at the Philippine Cinema Night held at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, FDCP Chair and CEO Liza Diño Seguerra spoke about the exciting visions and voices in Philippine cinema across all genres. She invited the over 150 guests from the international film industry to consider the Philippines newly-launched Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP) and International Co-Production Fund (ICOF). These new programs allow the Philippines to venture into more collaborative projects and to welcome international filmmakers to an exciting filming experience in the Philippines.

Touting the theme of the new programs, “Let’s Create Together” Chair Diño-Seguerra shared that the Philippines offers not only diverse and beautiful filming locations but also a creative community which is vibrant, dynamic, and welcoming.

For her part, Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega assured the Philippine film sector and the FDCP of the Embassy’s continuing support in raising the profile of Philippine cinema in Germany.

Among those who came to Philippine Cinema Night included Korean Film Council Chair Oh Seok-geun, Tokyo International Film Festival Director Takeo Hisamatsu, Festival programmers from the Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Berlinale organizers, filmmakers, producers, creatives, talents, and film journalists.

The event lasting for several hours was enlivened by special Philippine cocktails created by Filipino-German mixologist Jane Narag-Kupke and Philippine street food served cocktail style by Filipino-Germany Chef Bulawan Callanta of AYAN Filipino Restaurant in Berlin. END

Guests enjoying the atmosphere at the Philippine Cinema Night

The Philippine Delegation to the 70th Berlinale lead a toast to 100 years of Philippine Cinema

L-R Amb Dizon-De Vega, Korean Film Council Chair Oh Seok-geun and FDCP Chair Diño-Seguerra; Chair Diñ0-Seguerra and Amb. Dizon-De Vega with international film mentors for the Philippines (Photos by Renante Estrella, Berlin PE and Carolyn Ramoran Malasig)

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega (seated 2nd from left) with outgoing Filipino Chaplain Fr. Simon Boiser (3rd from left), Archbishop of Hamburg Stefan Hesse (center), and incoming Chaplain Fr. Ritchill Salinas (1st from right) at Kleiner Michel Parish

Filipino communities across Germany joined celebrations of the Feast of the Sto. Niño more popularly known as the Sinulog this month.

In Berlin, Filipino Community members gathered at the Parish of the Holy Spirit in Bayernallee to join the annual Sinulog commemoration and mass. Fr. Tranquilino De Ocampo, SVD, Chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Community at Bayernallee officiated the special mass. The event featured the traditional Sinulog dance paying homage to the Child Jesus performed by different groups in the Chaplaincy. Philippine Embassy personnel led by Vice Consul Alvin Malasig, Vice Consul Mina Angeles Ganzon, and Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz participated in the activity.

In Hamburg, the Sinulog Feast and Mass at Kleiner Michel Parish had as its Main Celebrant the Archbishop of Hamburg Stefan Hesse who donned Philippine and Sto. Niño-themed vestments in tribute to one of most enduring symbols of Christianity in the Philippines. He was joined by outgoing Filipino Community Chaplain Fr. Simon Boiser SVD, incoming Chaplain Fr. Ritchill Salinas SVD, Fr. Jonas Piodo SVD, and Parish Priest Fr. Philipp Gortz SJ.

Community groups from Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck, and Bremen with participants from Rostock and as far as Denmark joined the Sinulog presentations and dances.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega spoke of the significance of the Sinulog Feast stating that like the image of the Child Jesus which journeyed from Europe before reaching Philippine shores nearly 500 years ago, Filipino migrants are also undertaking their respective journeys and bring with them their faith and their culture.

Other Filipino communities such as the Rottenburg Community in Stuttgart held their Sinulog celebrations earlier in January. Similar activities likewise took place in North Rhine Westphalia while other cities will be observing the feast in the coming weeks throughout Germany.

The Sinulog Festival takes place annually in the Philippines every January. It is commemorated throughout the Philippines and among Filipino Catholic communities overseas with the largest celebration taking place in Cebu Province. Blending Catholic rituals and folk traditions, it is an homage to the Child Jesus, one of the first symbols of Christianity to reach the country in the 16^th century. Since then, the Sto. Niño has remained an important symbol of faith for many Filipinos worldwide.

For 2021, the Filipino-German community plans to take part in a Sinulog Festival being planned in Rome, Italy to mark the Quincentennial or 500 years celebration of the Philippines. END

Sinulog dancers at Bayernallee and Sto. Niño images brought by community members for the Sinulog dance and blessing. (all photos by Berlin PE)