The Filipino Channel (TFC) ABS-CBN premiered Star Cinema´s latest romantic comedy offering, “Just the 3 of Us” on 7 May 2016 at the Delphi Theater in Berlin.  The film starred back-to-back Metro Manila Film Fest Best Actress Jennylyn Mercado and the so-called “undisputed king of rom-com” John Lloyd Cruz, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

John Lloyd was Uno Abusado, an ambitious and driven airline pilot.  His plans were derailed after a drunken one-night stand with CJ Manalo, played by Jennylyn Mercado. Weeks later, CJ revealed that she was pregnant with Uno´s baby. This unforeseen circumstance forced them to face their responsibility under the same roof until a proper paternity test was done.  During the wait, they fell in love.

With this TFC@theMOVIES international screening debut, Filipino fans in Berlin were in for a treat as the rom-com flick was shown days apart from its Philippine premiere.

ABS-CBN Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Subscription Sales and Operations Head Mr. Arnie Garcia, thanked the Philippine Embassy in Berlin for its support and assistance in promoting the event.  ABS-CBN EMEA Managing Director Ms. Kai Rodriguez announced the premiere of more new Filipino films in Germany and announced the next in the pipeline, a Piolo Pascual movie, “Love Me Tomorrow”, targeted to hit the Berliner screen in June 2016.  Ms. Rodriguez also invited the audience to TFC´s upcoming show dubbed as “One Kapamilya Go” to be held on 19 June 2016 at the  Mitsubishi Theater in  Düsseldorf.  The show will feature Kapamilya stars Bea Alonzo, Enchong Dee, Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, Matteo Guidicelli and Pooh. The Embassy was represented by Second Secretary and Consul Rona Beth Goce who encouraged the audience to continue to support Philippine cinema in Germany.  END

The Dom Forum filling up to capacity prior to the screening.

30 April 2016, Berlin –  The Sentro Rizal Film Festival made its debut in Germany with Ida del Mundo’s period piece, K’na the Dreamweaver, at the Dom Forum in the center of Cologne.  It was followed by nearly simultaneous screenings of Jerrold Tarog’s acclaimed bio-epic Heneral Luna at the Film Forum in Cologne and Enzo William’s historical action drama Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo in the Rio Filmpalast in Munich.

The Dom Forum was filled to capacity for the Film Festival’s opening on 28 April 2016.  At the reception afterwards, Consul Rona Beth Goce introduced Sentro Rizal and its role in promoting Philippine arts, culture and language through its branches overseas while Artikulo Uno’s Project Associate Celina Peñaflorida fielded questions about the making of K’na the Dreamweaver.

The organizers from the Filipino Community in Cologne showcasing traditional weaves during the reception for K’na the Dreamweaver

The showing of Heneral Luna on 30 April 2016 attracted a crowd of more than 200 attendees with some coming as far away as the Netherlands.  During the post-screening Q&A, one of attendees commented that „Having this film in Germany is important for Filipinos living abroad not to lose track of our history…“

Philippine Ambassador Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek acknowledged the role of the Filipino community organizations for the success of the Sentro Rizal Film Festival in Germany as she welcomed the crowd to the screening of Heneral Luna.

Philippine Ambassador (second from right) with Consul General Heinz-Peter Heindrich, a.h. (third from right), Consul Rona Beth Goce (fourth from left), Ms. Celina Peñaflorida from NCCA (rightmost) with members of ENFID-Germany

Artikulo Uno’s Project Associate Celina Peñaflorida answering questions after the film screening of Heneral Luna

Left Photo: Audience prepares to watch Bonifacio at the Rio Filmpalast in Munich. Right Photo: Members of Filipiniana, e.V., organizers of the Bonifacio film screening, pose in front of the movie theater with Minister and Consul General Donna Rodriguez (standing second to the right).

In Munich, Minister and Consul General Donna Rodriguez thanked the more than 130 Filipino and German viewers who attended the film screening of Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo. She took the opportunity presented by the film showing to encourage the Filipino community to participate in this year’s presidential elections through Overseas Voting, and introduced the “Lakbay-Aral” or “Reisen Bildet” Program of the Embassy and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) for 2^nd generation Filipino-Germans.

Local Filipino organizations promoted and organanized the film showing in their cities with the support of the Philippine Consulates in Bavaria and North Rhine Westphalia.

The Philippine Catholic Community of Cologne (philippinische katolische Gemeinde Koeln) led by Mrs. Carol Lachica Berntgen mobilized community groups to show K’na the Dreamweaver in Cologne. Cooperating were the Katolisches Bildungswerk, Friends e.V. and Babaylan Germany e. V. The European Network of the Filipino Diaspora (ENFID) Germany took the lead with Heneral Luna.  In Munich, the Filipiniana e.V. München brought together the Filipino community for the screening of the Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo. – END.