The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

FILIPINO PINK SISTERS IN GERMANY RECALL PRESIDENT CORY’S HEROISM AND SPIRITUALITY

Berlin, 19 August 2013 –  Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad headed an outreach mission to the convent of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters in Bad Driburg in Höxter district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on 05 August 2013.  There she met six Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, all of them Filipino nationals, and among them was 90-year old Josefina Marasigan (known to all as Mother Mary Aurora).

Mother Mary Aurora is a well-loved and highly respected elder among the Pink Sisters, and she used to provide spiritual guidance to the late President Corazon Aquino on such critical junctures in Philippine history, including the EDSA Revolution and in the latter’s momentous decision to run for president.

As she narrated her own personal history to Ambassador Natividad, Mother Mary Aurora traced her roots to one illustrious national hero. She is the grand-daughter of Marcelo H. del Pilar, a Filipino revolutionary propagandist whose writings helped shape and inspired Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan.

Mother Mary Aurora has been staying in Germany for 39 years, devoting her life of prayer and commitment as the best service to contribute towards the building up of mankind in peace, justice, and love.

The other nuns who availed of the Embassy´s consular outreach service were: Sister Mary Renee (Remedios Balansag); Sister Mary Adoracion (Hope Lovitos); Sister Mary Joan (Joanne Sabater), Sister Mary Rosary (Lorna Bibal), Sister Mary Salvacion (Francisca Milagros Sanchez) and Sister Fiat Maria (Carmelita Legaspi).

The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, more commonly known as the ‘Pink Sisters’ live a contemplative life, focusing on the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. (END)

Philippine Ambassador Receives Distinguished Award, Keeps NDCP Golden Flame Ablaze

09 August, 2013 Manila – Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe R. Natividad was conferred the singular “Distinguished Award” during the “Gabi ng Alumni” on the occasion of the 50th National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Founding Anniversary and Alumni Homecoming at the Le Pavillion Metropolitan Park, Pasay City.

The award was conferred in recognition of the Ambassador’s “distinct achievement as a leading practitioner in national security administration particularly in the field of international relations and in upholding the College’s tradition of excellence, strategic thinking and professionalism which she exemplified with utmost consistency in all her endeavors thereby heaping added honor and prestige to the National Defense College of the Philippines.”

Ambassador Natividad joined other illustrious NDCP alumni awardees such as former President Fidel V. Ramos and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay who were recipients of the Panday Golden Achievement Award. In keeping with the 50 years of the NDCP, the theme for the celebration was “Keeping the Golden Flame Ablaze.”

President Benigno S. Aquino III, in a written message, stated that “the NDCP and its alumni community have been a positive force in the Philippines’ continuing march towards democracy, peace, and stability. Cutting across bureaucracies, and sectors in society, the wide and strong network of NDCP graduates remains an active component and example of national solidarity: strengthening our collective efforts to revitalize our institutions, encouraging meaningful public discourse, and fostering harmony in the Philippine polity.”

Vice President Binay, currently head of the NDCP Alumni Association, gave the keynote address during the occasion. In his message, the Vice President stated that  “NDCP and its graduates continue to be at the center and forefront of collective initiatives to ensure that important knowledge and skills are imparted to the country’s future leaders, both in public and private sectors.”

Ambassador Natividad completed her Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) with honors at the NDCP in 1999. In August 2007, she was also conferred the Outstanding National Defense College of the Philippines Alumnus Award by the NDCP Alumni Association. She is part of the MNSA Regular Class 33 under Dr. Clarita Carlos, the first lady civilian President of the NDCP, with Admiral (ret.) and NTC Commissioner Abraham Abesamis, the Class Mayor.  END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR RECEIVES KARLSRUHE SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AWARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES

Berlin – Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad addressed an audience of international political, business, and finance leaders at the Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards Ceremony as the guest of honor at the City Hall of Karlsruhe, Germany last 4 July 2013. The international event was attended by, among others, former EU Commissioner and Foreign Minister of Austria Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup who welcomed the participants from all over the world.
Ambassador Natividad also received an award for the Development Bank of the Philippines in recognition of their innovative finance services in implementing its loan program. Two other Philippine institutions were recognized for innovative and sustainable financing – Land Bank of the Philippines and Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc.
The city of Karlsruhe presented three awards: Best Innovation in Sustainable Financial Product & Services, Outstanding Sustainable Project Financing and Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement. Development banks from India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka won the main awards.  The awards night was the highlight of the two-day Global Sustainable Finance Conference 2013: People, Planet, Prosperity which brought together international political, business, and finance leaders for an intensive discussion on innovative investments in climate and environment protection.
During the Conference, there were presentations on small and medium-sized enterprises; project financing; sustainable and low-carbon economies; sustainability as a factor in finance strategies; environmental change as it relates to sustainable development; and sustainable technologies.

In her speech, Ambassador Natividad recognized the Global Sustainable Finance Conference  as an excellent platform for dialogue and business networking in the field of sustainable finance and investments. She also acknowledged the work of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) under the leadership of its President and CEO Mr. Gil Buenaventura.

“I should give credit where credit is due: to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the innovative people behind their “Water Revolving Fund”. I would not be here now without their excellent work,” the Ambassador said.

The Ambassador also cited the pivotal role of the DBP in the quest for sustainable and inclusive growth in the Philippines.

“It is one of the first banks in our country to integrate environmental considerations in all aspects of its operations. The DBP’s thrusts are in line with the investment priorities plan of His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III which encourages greater investments in green projects, infrastructures, and renewable energy. As in the past, the DBP is contributing to the outstanding economic growth of the Philippines this year.”

The Ambassador also expressed her admiration for Karlsruhe as “Green City” of Germany – as a model for sustainable development and stated that there is a great potential for cooperation between the Philippines and the entire Technologie Region Karlsruhe.

“There are areas where our interests converge. At over 92 million strong, the Philippines has a population dividend that can potentially help address yours skills shortage and at the same time facilitate skills transfer to us. We want to invest in our human capital and partner with an innovation and technology leader, such as Karlsruhe. We only need the proper mechanisms to facilitate this mutually-beneficial exchange, ” she stated.

The call for closer cooperation was well received by Lord Mayor Mentrup.

In closing, the Ambassador congratulated the organizers of the first Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards and the Lord Mayor for the successful gathering and urged further cooperation towards a sustainable future. – END-

Philippine Embassy Berlin Conducts Consular Outreach in Hamburg

Berlin.  The Philippine Embassy in Berlin composed of Consul Adrian Cruz, Ms. Melinda Hernias, Ms. Nors de Ramos, Ms. Lota Fajardo and Mr. Armand Mahinay conducted a mobile consular outreach service in Hamburg on 29 June 2013 in cooperation with the Federation of Filipino Organisations in Northern Germany e.V. (FFONG).

For the first time, the consular team coordinated with the Filipino volunteers the implementation of a pre-registration system to manage the flow of consular applicants.  Majority of the Filipinos that appeared at the one-day outreach came from Northern Germany (covering Hamburg, Bremen and Niedersachsen areas).  The outreach was held at the premises of MA Transworld GmbH, which is owned and operated by Ms. Mila Antony.  MA Transworld GmbH provides convenient and reliable remittance services to the Philippines through their partnership with Landbank of the Philippines and Metrobank.

The consular team facilitated during the one-day outreach a total of 68 e-passport and travel document applications, 24 authentication and notarials and civil registry applications and three visa applications. In addition to these consular services, the team also offered legal consultation and advice for former Filipinos who are interested to acquire dual citizenship.

Ms. Corazon Entapa, the new president of FFONG, was on hand to assist the Embassy mobile team and supervise the pre-registration with the assistance of the hardworking staff of MA Transworld GmbH.  The other officials of FFONG who came to assist the mobile team on the day of the outreach were Mr. Ofring Sale, Ms. Nenita T. Malke, Ms. Conchita Heitmann, Ms. Divina Martens, Ms. Josefina Ocampo, Ms. Nilva Hensel, Mr. Avelino de Lima, Ms. Vangie Meinecke and Ms. Josie Pertl.  The mobile team also received the support of the following volunteers: Ms Teona Ochs, Ms Vivien Ochs, Ms Teresita Thomsen and Ms Fanny Stockmann.

The mobile outreach is part of the Philippine Embassy’s efforts to bring its consular services closer to Filipinos residing in different parts of Germany. The next outreach will be held at the Philippine Honorary Consulate in München on 13 July 2013.  (END)

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CONTACT US

Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 30 864 95 00
info@philippine-embassy.de
(General Inquiries only)
For Consular-related Queries please send directly to the respective email addresses below)

Assistance to Nationals (ATN) / Emergency Hotline: +49 (0) 173 421 7750
(Please help us keep the line free for those with real emergencies. Do not call this number for regular inquiries.)

Consular Hotline: +49 (0) 173 521 5703 (For queries on Consular Services)

Email Addresses:

Passport
(passport@philippine-embassy.de);

Authentication, Notarial, and Legalization
(authentication@philippine-embassy.de);

Visa
(visa@philippine-embassy.de);

Civil Registry
(civilregistry@philippine-embassy.de);

Citizenship
(Renunciation; Re-acquisition/Retention) (citizenship@philippine-embassy.de);

Other Consular queries
(consular@philippine-embassy.de)

Opening Hours
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(Except on Philippine and German holidays)

 

Philippine Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

For OEC and Verification of Employment Contracts of Balik-Manggagawa in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia:

Mobile: +49 17681317465 (WhatsApp);
email: mwo.germanyoec@gmail.com

For accreditation of Agency and Direct Hires in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia:

Mobile: +49 15229021623 (WhatsApp/Viber)
email: germany@mwoberlin.com

For OWWA membership, welfare, and labor case assistance:

Mobile: +49 152 2823 8085 (WhatsApp)
email: owwamemb@gmail.com; mwo_berlin@dmw.gov.ph

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