The Embassy of the Philippines in Berlin celebrated trailblazing Filipino women in Berlin by hosting a ladies´ high tea on 3 November 2016.  The event was attended by the female officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy, led by Ambassador Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, and representatives from the Filipino community drawn from the academe and organization leaders.

The ladies shared their experiences and challenges as wives and mothers in a foreign land like Germany.  Sharing how they coped, many said that their faith and love of their family sustained them through trying periods.  They brought up their children blending two cultures but never forgot to espouse Filipino values as respect for elders and others, the importance of family, of education and of sharing.

Visiting Psychologist Maria Teodora “Teddi” S. Dizon gave a presentation on “Pagnananay: The Value of Filipina Mother´s Role in Today´s World,” outlining traditional Filipino values that make Filipinos highly preferred in the global workforce such as loyalty, adaptability, warmth, compassion, helpfulness and an empowered view of women.  Ms. Dizon expounded that “Filipina nurturing is what teaches us these values, and also what forms them in us through modeling. The goals and approaches of Filipina mothers are highly valued as a unique avenue for forming a new generation who can significantly contribute to the global community.”  Taking on the perspective of a daughter of an OFW, Ms. Dizon expressed the views of the younger generation of gratefulness and appreciation for the sacrifices of Filipina mothers bringing up children in foreign cultures.  A short Q&A followed Ms. Dizon’s lecture, during which the audience also shared their personal experiences and ideas.

The discussion was part of the Philippine Embassy´s Gender and Development Program. END

The Philippine Catholic Mission in Hamburg celebrated a thanksgiving mass and cultural program on October 30, 2016 to mark the third Filipino Seafarer’s Day at the Kleinen Michel Parish in Stadthausbrücken, Hamburg, Germany.

Fr. Simon Boiser, the priest for English-speaking Catholics in Hamburg, disclosed that many members of the Catholic Mission in Hamburg are former seafarers who helped organized the event.  The occasion was attended by active seamen, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, church representatives and members of the Deutsche Seemannsmission Hamburg-Altona e.V. and the  Deutsche Seemannsmission Duckdalben International Seamen’s Club.

In his remarks, Consul Adrian Cruz thanked the Seaman’s Mission for their assistance in setting up overseas voter registration centers at the Ports of Kiel and Rostock. He also met with individual seafarers who sought advice on social security concerns and retirement opportunities in the Philippines.  After the mass, a cultural program was held to raise awareness of the unique role played by Filipino seafarers for the shipping industry as well as for the Philippine economy. (END)