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Philippine Independence Thanksgiving Mass and Appreciation Event Held in Berlin

June 22, 2020

Amb. Dizon-De Vega, Fr. Jun De Ocampo, and Community members at the Independence Month event (all photos by Berlin PE)

The Filipino Community of Bayernallee in Berlin held a simple but meaningful commemoration of the 122^nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 21 June 2020.

The event was highlighted by a Misa ng Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving Mass) officiated by the head of the Filipino Chaplaincy Fr. Tranquilino “Jun” De Ocampo, SVD. In his homily, Fr. De Ocampo encouraged the Filipino Community to continue to be brave in the face of challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mass was followed by a formal turnover and appreciation ceremony to the Team of The Migrant Newsletter which won the print category as Best Newsletter for the Migration and Advocacy Awards of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) which was earlier awarded in December of 2019 in Manila.

Accepting the award was Vincent Valiente, Editor of The Migrant Newsletter. Witnessing the turnover was the head of the Publishing team of the newslette, Fr. De Ocampo and other members of the production team.

A special part of the event was a tribute to the late Editor-in-Chief and leading light of The Migrant, Alan Valdez, who passed away earlier this year after a lingering illness. The Valdez family was represented by Alan’s wife Eve.

Certificates of appreciation were likewise given to The Migrant staff, contributors, and resource persons.

In addition, both the Filipino Community of Bayernallee and the Philippine Embassy presented certificates of appreciation to the Embassy’s ATN Officer Jovencio P. Catbangan to cap several decades of public service this month.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega shared with the Filipino Community members the theme of this year’s Philippine Independence Month commemoration towards a free, united, and safe nation. She likewise thanked all the frontliners and those providing essential services who continue to face numerous challenges on a daily basis. Finally, she expressed her gratitude to the community for adhering to public safety rules and for being living embodiments of the spirit of Bayanihan during a challenging period. END

Fr. De Ocampo gives out a Certificate of Appreciation to the Philippine Embassy, Berlin for its support for The Migrant Newsletter

Top Left :Amb. Dizon-De Vega delivers an Independence Day message; Top right Mr. Vincent Valiente received the CFO Migration and Advocacy award; Bottom smaller audience this year due to strict social distancing requirements in Germany

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BERLIN PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. JOSE RIZAL

June 19, 2020

19 June 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin and members of the Knights of Rizal and Ladies for Rizal paid tribute to the life and work of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, the 159^th anniversary of his birth.

The occasion was marked by a simple wreath-laying ceremony at Dr. Rizal’s former apartment at Jägerstrasse 71, in the center of Berlin, where our National Hero finished his novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Germany had a special place in the heart of Dr. Rizal. He once referred to it as his “scientific mother country,” where he was immersed in various intellectual pursuits and maintained close friendships with German scientists. He also traveled along the Rhine, admiring the beauty of towns and cities along the river.

Amb. Dizon-de Vega and Knights of Rizal member Gerhard Müller offer a wreath at the historical marker at Jägerstrasse 71 in Berlin.

Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega recited Rizal’s Spanish-language poem, Canto de Viajero (Song of the Traveler) as part of the ceremony. National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s English translation was read by Consul Catherine Rose G. Torres.

The Ambassador drew parallels between the events in the life of Dr. Rizal and the health crisis that the world is currently facing. She shared that an elated Dr. Rizal wrote the poem in 1896 after he was granted permission by Spanish authorities to volunteer as a medical practitioner in Cuba. At that time, the Spanish colony was in the midst of a revolution and yellow fever epidemic.

Amb. Dizon-de Vega (left) and Consul Torres recite Rizal’s El Canto de Viajero.

The Ambassador said that the poem’s words ring true today, which speak of a desire to be part of a larger community and to be of service.

Dr. Rizal’s was unable to fulfill his Cuba mission after he was ordered deported to the Philippines to face charges of rebellion and other crimes against the state. He was executed at Bagumbayan (present-day Rizal Park) on December 30, 1896. END

Another Batch of Filipino Crew of Sea Chefs and Tui Cruises Return to the Philippines

June 18, 2020

18 June 2020, Berlin – Another batch of 304 Filipino crewmembers of AIDA Cruises departed for the Philippines from Hamburg, Germany on 17 June 2020 via a chartered TUI flight. They are expected to arrive in the Philippines on 18 June 2020. The seafarers had been awaiting repatriation after cruise trips were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic starting in March.

The Filipino crew, part of several thousand Sea Chefs and Tui Cruises employees of different nationalities, were assisted at the send-off by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz, and Philippine Embassy staff members Arneil Sergio and Elvin Jay Alejandro.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega gave a brief message to the Filipino crewmembers on the procedure upon arrival in the Philippines and expressed the hope that they would be able to secure employment again in the near future. Labor Attaché Cruz likewise reminded the seafarers to avail of the government’s different programs for displaced overseas workers.

The crew members expressed their hope that cruise operations would gradually be resumed by German maritime companies. To date over 2,800 Filipino crewmembers have been repatriated from Germany.

Before boarding, The Filipino crew were provided with information on how to avail of the AKAP or Social Amelioration Fund and also the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Livelihood Assistance Program of OWWA. END

Filipino crew members prepare to board the flight to the Philippines (all photos by Berlin PE)

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega gives a brief message before boarding

Labatt Cruz explains the AKAP and other government programs for returning overseas workers

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BERLIN REACHES OUT TO FILIPINO COMMUNITY, PARTNERS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY AMIDST PANDEMIC

June 15, 2020

Embassy personnel, led by Amb. Dizon-de Vega, hold a flag raising ceremony at the chancery.

In keeping with tradition, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin reached out to the Filipino community in Germany and its partners on Philippine Independence Day.

As the Embassy adapts to measures to prevent the further spread of the CoViD-19 pandemic, its annual celebration went fully remote and digital, with a special video presentation featuring inspirational songs sung by Filipino performing artists and special guests both from Germany and the Philippines. The performers were classical artists Andion Fernandez-Ching and Jeffrey Ching, Berlin-based Filipino nurse Shermaine Rocacorba, and UST Singers Alumni, Mylah Ann and Jose Mari Rubio.

Philippine tokens were also sent to the Embassy’s partners in the German Government, diplomatic corps, business sector, media, academe, cultural institutions, and resource persons to thank them for the assistance that they extended in the past year.

In her Independence Day Message, Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega assured the public that the Embassy will continue to be of service to the Filipino community in Germany. She also paid tribute to our frontliners who continue our tradition of “commitment, passion, and service to people and country.”

Ambassador Petra Sigmund, Director General for Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Federal Foreign Office conveyed the German Government’s greetings on the special occasion. She said that “Germany will continue to be a reliable partner to the Philippines and a friend to the Filipino people.” She also thanked the contribution of Filipino health workers to her country’s efforts to overcome the pandemic.

This year’s celebration was made possible through the assistance of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Department of Tourism, National Historical Commission, and the German Federal Foreign Office.

The full video can be viewed through the following link: https://bit.ly/30FusXj.

Throughout the month of June, the Embassy will continue to stream content related to Philippine history, culture, and the arts. A commemorative event on 19 June 2020 for Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s 159^th birth anniversary and tribute event for the team behind Community publication The Migrant will likewise be held on 21 June 2021. END