GERMAN CHOIR SINGS FILIPINO CLASSICS AT CONCERT IN HAMBURG

19 May 2025 – The Filipino-German community in Hamburg was treated to an afternoon concert entitled One World, One Music by Ensemble Musicus Diestedde at the historic Museum Am Rothenbaum Kulturen and Kuenste der Welt (MARKK) in Hamburg last Saturday, 17 May.

Under the direction of  co-conductors Mr. Raul Huesca Valverde and Mr. Karl Melegrito,   the Ensemble sang a mix of hymns and Filipino melodies composed, arranged or written by Filipino National Artists such as Silence My Soul by Dr. Francisco Feliciano and Sa Ugoy ng Duyan by Prof. Lucio San Pedro, as well as crowd favorites like Rosas Pandan and Bukonut.  

Guest flutist, Ms. Jean Clariz Petrasanta,  a Filipino student at the Vivaldi Conservatory of Music, also performed during the concert. 

“It is not every day that we witness a German choir performing Filipino songs.  More often we see visiting Filipino choirs rendering German songs.  Today is a rare and interesting reversal and one that reflects the beauty of Philippine-German friendship and collaboration,”  Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad said during her remarks.

The 2-hour concert was organized in collaboration with  the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG e.V.) and MARKK through its curator Ms. June Rillando Lamadjido, to celebrate 70 years of Philippine-German relations.  END

ECO-MATERIAL INVENTED BY  CEBU-BASED COMPANY MAKE IT  TO THE FINALS OF THE GREEN PRODUCTS AWARD 2025

NaturescastⓇ, a material invented by Cebu-based company, Nature’s Legacy Eximport Inc., was among the five finalists under the New Materials Category of the Green Products Awards, which was held on 15 May 2025 in Berlin.   

NaturescastⓇ is an eco-friendly material made of agro-forest debris and bound by proprietary water-based binders. Lightweight and versatile, the material has applications in home décor, furniture, and architectural and design elements.  

The Green Product Award recognizes products and services which are outstanding in design, innovation and sustainability.  Out of 1,500 entries from 50 countries, 200 entries were chosen as nominees for the Award’s 14 categories.  Five finalists per category were selected, and the top three received awards. 

Aside from the New Materials category, the other categories were: Architecture, Building Design, Consumer Goods, Fashion, Initiatives, Interior and Lifestyle, Kids, Kitchen, Mobility, Packaging, Personal Care, Sport, and Workspace.

NaturescastⓇ now forms part of Green Award’s “top 100 products for a more sustainable life.”  In 2015, it received the Gold Invention Award in Geneva, Switzerland, and in 2019,  earned a Cradle to Cradle (sustainability) certification. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pedro and Catherine Delantar are the forces behind Nature’s Legacy Eximport Inc. A B-Corp certified company, Nature’s Legacy meets standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, as assessed by the nonprofit B Lab.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS BERLIN’S FIRST GLOBAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR

BERLIN, 14 April 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin took part as an exhibitor in the First International Children’s Book Fair, held at and hosted by the Divan Arabic Culture House from from 11 to 13 April 2025. Joining a global celebration of storytelling and cultural exchange, the event featured books in more than 20 languages and a mix of publishers, cultural institutions, and diplomatic missions.

This marked the first-ever Kinderbuchmesse (Children’s Book Fair) organized by the Divan Arabic Culture House, which regularly hosts the annual Arabic Book Fair in Berlin. The new initiative expands the organization’s literary and cultural programming to younger audiences, highlighting the role of children’s literature in fostering intercultural understanding.

In his welcome remarks, H.E. Abdalla Al Hamar, Ambassador of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Divan, speaking on behalf of the Divan Arabic Culture House, underscored the importance of literature in nurturing a more inclusive world. He shared that the theme of the fair, “The Future is Us,” was a tribute to the shared responsibility of shaping a compassionate future through the minds of children.

“Books are a window to the world,” he said. “They allow children to dream without borders. The world we shape must be one of empathy and understanding across cultures. Today, we honor the role of books in sparking curiosity, teaching compassion, and bringing people together.”

The fair gathered embassies and cultural organizations from around Berlin in an effort to make diverse stories accessible to children in Berlin. Through booths filled with books in Arabic, German, English, Tagalog, Turkish, Bahasa Indonesia, Ukrainian,  and other languages, the event showcased literature as a powerful bridge for dialogue, inclusion, and shared dreams.

The Philippine Embassy’s participation reflected its continuing commitment to promoting Philippine culture and literature in Germany, particularly in the lead-up to the Philippines’ role as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) in 2025.

The Embassy’s curated selection of Filipino children’s books offered visitors a glimpse into the richness of Philippine storytelling traditions and the growing body of contemporary literature for young readers. As part of a broader network of cultural exchanges and literary diplomacy, the Embassy’s presence at the Kinderbuchmesse complements ongoing efforts to build interest and momentum for the Philippines’ spotlight year at one of the world’s most prestigious publishing events, while also advancing inclusive, multilingual, and globally engaged cultural dialogue. (END)

 

PHILIPPINE HIGHLIGHTS URGENCY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE AGENDA IN THE PETERSBERG CLIMATE DIALOGUE 2025

Philippine Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga underscored the need to accelerate the implementation of our climate agenda under the Paris Agreement at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD), which was held from 25 to 26 March 2025 in Berlin. 

Secretary Loyzaga proposed increased access and delivery of the best science for localized solutions for those most at risk and the strategic pursuit of broad sources for climate finance along with the establishment of a robust ecosystem that ensures transparency and accountability for the mobilization of private finance.  She likewise urged all parties to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions.

At the sidelines of the PCD, Secretary Loyzaga also met with officials of the German government, the United Nations and other bilateral partners.

PCD 2025 was co-chaired by Germany and incoming COP President Brazil.  The PCD is an annual, high-level political forum aimed at fostering international cooperation and strengthening political consensus on climate action, preparing the ground for the UN Climate Change Conferences.  END