11 September 2022, Berlin — The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, Ban Ying e.V. Coordination and Counselling Center and the Philippine Community in Berlin held a discussion on marriage, divorce and separation under German law. 

Entitled Pag-usapan Natin: Family Life in Germany, the information session seeks to strengthen knowledge among the Filipino community, particularly marriage migrants, on German family law.   Ban Ying e.V. is a coordination and specialist advice center on women’s issues and advocates for the rights of migrant women who have experienced violence, exploitation or human trafficking.

The main speaker, family law expert Atty. Maria Wilken, provided information on the rights and obligations of spouses under German law, entitlements during a divorce or legal separation, and the attendant issues of residency permits, child custody and violence against women. Atty. Wilken was assisted by Ban Ying’s Ms. Krisanta Caguioa-Moennich, Linguistic and Cultural Mediator and Dr. Babette Rohner, social worker. 

In her remarks, Charge d’affaires Lillibeth Pono stated that the activity was in line with the third pillar of Philippine Foreign Policy, or the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of Filipinos abroad.  It is also aligned with the Embassy’s Gender and Development Program, which seeks to empower Filipino marriage migrants in Germany with accurate information on German law.  Lastly, she reminded the Filipino community that the Embassy stands ready to assist any Filipino in need. 

The information session was a response to an observation that some Filipina marriage migrants in Germany are not aware of German laws governing family life.

PH Embassy in Berlin Introduces Philippine Culture to Gustav-Heinemann Oberschule Students

28 June 2022, Berlin – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin conducted a workshop on PHL culture for Year 12 students from the  Gustav-Heinemann Oberschule, in line with the school’s  Projekt Woche.

 The Project Woche is an annual school event that allows German students to transform their classes into workshops that  allow them to  develop and expand  their interests.  This year, the Year 12 class selected the Philippines as their country of interest.

CDA Lillibeth Pono welcomes the Year 12 Class of Gustav-Heinemann Oberschule to the Embassy

CDA Lillibeth Pono, with  Ministers Gerardo Abiog and Mary Luck Hicarte welcomed the students by sharing how and why  it is “More Fun in the Philippines.”  Vice-Consul Mina Ganzon gave  a presentation on Philippine geography, history, economics, and culture.   The  students were then made to   experience PHL gastronomy through a Pinoy merienda of pancit, chicken adobo, mais con yelo, and ube ice cream.

A virtual banig-weaving workshop was also offered to the students.  Ms.  Judith Basco, a Philippine-based modern weaver and founder of The Art of Yarn, guided the students on paper banig-weaving, as she lectured on the cultural relevance and sustainability of banig production. The students were able to produce their own paper banig after the workshop.

Gustav Heinemann students weave along with Judith Basco of The Art of Yarn.

Mr. Peer Sylvester, the Class 12 teacher, expressed satisfaction for the positive outcome of the workshop, especially on how it deepened the students’ appreciation of the Philippines.  END

Source: PR-LVP-10-2022