Mp-tec Set to Invest in the Philippine Renewable Energy Market

October 4, 2012

Berlin. 4 October 2012. Founder and CEO of German solar system integrator and project developer Mp-tec GmbH & Co KG, Michael Preißel, announced yesterday the company’s intention to invest in the Philippines, as part of the long-term plans to expand in the international market.

Mp-tec CEO Michael Preißel (third from left) and Director for Sales Dr. Patrik Fischer (fourth from left) welcome Philippine Embassy attache Armand Mahinay, PTIC Commercial Counselor Jose Antonio Buencamino and First Secretary Adrian Cruz.

The message was conveyed to First Secretary Adrian Cruz and PTIC Commercial Counselor Jose Antonio Buencamino, during their visit to Mp-tec’s headquarters in Eberswalde, just 50 kilometers from Berlin, Germany, on 25 September 2012.

Following a brief presentation of the company’s profile and global trade partners, the Philippine embassy officials were toured around the company’s production site by Mp-tec Director for International Sales Dr. Patrik Fischer where a demo-installation of a photovoltaic tracking system and the refueling station of an electric car, including a solar carport, were presented.

In his visit to Manila in May, 2012, Mr. Preißel observed the Philippines’ “European-friendly” tendencies and regarded the country as geographically well-positioned to serve as Mp-tec platform for the Asian market. He is optimistic about the Philippine market as he notes the tremendous potential and opportunities of renewable energy (RE) in providing win-win solutions to the country’s energy demand and consumption. He is confident in establishing links with the various stakeholders (i.e., developers, local communities, and national government) as they forge partnerships with Mp-tec in the technical field and in joint venture arrangement especially in difficult and remote off-grid locations.

PTIC Commercial Counselor Buencamino (left) rides the electric-powered car driven by Mp-tec CEO Michael Preißel. The car was “refueled” by Mp-tec’s high-quality solar carport.

Mr. Preißel identified Solarus Partners and SunAsia Energy as Mp-tec’s strategic partners in the Philippines. He sees positive outcomes from the synergy of the companies, where each entity shares the talents, and financial resources which will guarantee good yield and performance from the sun.

Mp-tec is a solar company specializing in the development and manufacture of application-oriented, premium solar power, solar heat and assembly systems. It is considered a pioneer of the industry and is one of the leaders in the development and manufacture of photovoltaic, solar power and assembly systems in Germany.

The company is a member of the prestigious Solar Region Berlin-Brandenburg Association and received numerous awards for a number of cutting-edge products, which include the DEKRA-certified Quick-Line assembly system and the “skytrap plus” hemispherical tracking system. (END)

PHL Embassy conducts OAV Mobile Outreach in Essen

October 4, 2012

Essen. 4 October 2012. A team from the Philippine Embassy in Berlin led by Minister Mardomel Celo D. Melicor successfully conducted overseas absentee voter (OAV) registration for the 2013 national elections and provided mobile consular services to the Filipino community in Essen and other areas in North Rhine Westphalia and Hesse on Saturday, 22 September 2012.

The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Essen (PHC Essen) headed by Consul Heinz-Peter Heidrich provided invaluable support for this activity which took place in the spacious Conference Hall at the 14th Floor of the Bank im Bistum Essen (BIBE) building.

Consul Heidrich welcomes Minister Melicor and the outreach team to the Bank im Bistum Essen.

Consul Heidrich, who is the CEO of the BIBE, was at hand to welcome the team and see to the smooth operation of the outreach. Aside from providing the venue, PHC Essen provided the team with drinks, refreshments and meals so that they could work without interruption from 8 am to 4 pm. In behalf of the team, Minister Melicor thanked Consul Heidrich for his generous support.

Ms. Milagros Wandelt, Consular Assistant of PHC Essen, with the help of her daughter Maria, managed the queueing of the applicants and ensured order during the activity. Filipino community leader Mr. Ver Cuizon covered the event for ABS-CBN TV Balitang Europe.

The Mobile Outreach Team poses for a photo in front of Bank im Bistum Essen which houses the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Essen. From left: Ms. Maria Wandelt,; Mr. Armand Mahinay; Mr. Joel Pangilinan; Mr. Mario Simbulan; Ms. Melinda Hernais; Ms. Lianna Judith Sale; Minister Mardomel Melicor; Ms. Milagros Wandelt; Ms. Flordeliza delos Santos; and Ms. Rosemarie Ramos.

Other members of the Embassy’s mobile team to Essen included Ms. Flordeliza Delos Santos, Ms. Lianna Judith Sale, Ms. Rosemarie Ramos, and Mr. Armando Mahinay. The remaining staff of the former Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Ms Melinda Hernais, Mr. Mario Simbulan and Mr. Joel Pangilinan, travelled to Essen to assist in processing the applicants and preparing them for the data capture phase

With the assistance and support it experienced, the mobile team was able to serve all applicants by 3:30 pm, and depart Essen promptly for Berlin as scheduled. Berlin is about 6 hours away from Essen by car.

The mobile team was able to register 65 overseas absentee voters, process 78 e-passport applications and provide 11 other consular services. END

Philippine artists pitch in to restore historic pipe organ in Berlin

September 7, 2012

Berlin. 7 September 2012.

Renowned Filipino musical artists Dr. Abelardo Galang II and Mr. Jonathan dela Paz Zaens perform at a benefit concert held at the Pauluskirche (St. Paulus Church) in Berlin, Germany on 01 September 2012 for the restoration of the pipe organ of the historic church.

Filipino Bass-Baritone Jonathan dela Paz Zaens and pianist Dr. Abelardo Galang II perform before a packed audience with their rendition of classic European and Philippine songs. (Photos by Mr. Irwan Farjansjah)

The church hall has been the site for performances and recordings by renowned pianist-conductor Daniel Barenboem, tenor Dietrich Fischer-Diskau, and cellist Jaqueline du Pre decades ago.

Ambassador Natividad poses with Mr. Cornelius Häußermann, Cantor of the Orgelbauverein Pauluskirche.

The concert was organized by Mr. Cornelius Häußermann, Cantor of the Orgelbauverein Pauluskirche, an organization of parishioners and local government officials. The event was graced by the presence of Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad.

Demonstrating his extensive talent in classical music across several languages (German, English, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Cebuano), Filipino Bass-Baritone Zaens performed excerpts from European masters Hasse, Händel, Brahms, Strauss, Rossini and Donizetti. Mr. Zaens also featured Filipino kundiman songs in his repertoire to present a taste of Filipino musical tradition.

Ambassador Natividad and members of the audience eagerly wait for the benefit concert to begin.

Accompanying Mr. Zaens is the highly-accomplished Filipino pianist, Dr. Abelardo Galang II, whose excellent piano performances of the European and Philippine pieces blended harmoniously with the robust voice of Mr. Zaens.

The package of German, English, Filipino and Visayan songs was very much appreciated by the mostly German audience. The audience found the poetic narrations delivered in the German language by the Ambassador’s daughter, Alexandra Natividad, and young Filipino-German pianist Manuel Pronath, even more charming.

In the early 70s, the Johannes Klais Orgelbau GmbH in Bonn undertook a two-year restoration work on the bamboo organ of Las Piñas. This benefit concert was an opportunity for the Philippines to help in return in the restoration of a historic pipe organ in Germany, and a way to express Philippine appreciation for this mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Embassy continues to support such musical performances as part of the Embassy’s public and cultural diplomacy efforts. END

Pioneering Exchange Program between German and Philippine Universities launched

September 3, 2012

Berlin. 3 September 2012. – The first batch of seven students from the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences will begin their exchange program with Silliman University in Dumaguete City for the winter semester of 2012-2013.

“This student exchange signals closer cooperation in the field of education,” Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad said upon handing the students’ documents to Professor Dr. Axel Bader, who handles the program for Ingolstadt University.

Prof Bader, who teaches external accounting and international taxation at the Ingolstadt University, called on Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, to discuss Philippine-German cooperation in the field of education and to finalize the documents required of the visiting students.

The two universities have agreed to cooperate in admitting exchange students, enabling German students at Ingolstadt to spend their foreign guest semester at Silliman, and Silliman students to study for a semester in Ingolstadt. The German students will attend full credit courses at the College of Business Administration and the College of Computer Studies in the second semester of this school year.

Ambassador Natividad briefed Professor Bader on the developments in the Philippine educational system, including alignment to the Bologna process such as the K+12 school system. They also discussed the possibility for German students to undergo practicum in the Philippines, with the German dual system of education, particularly that of the Ingolstadt University, as a model, as well as scholarships for Philippine students to Germany.

According to Professor Bader, the Philippines, which is considered one of the so-called emerging markets, is an interesting destination for business students. Prof. Dr. Bader also thanked Ambassador Natividad for the Embassy’s active support for the pioneer exchange students, especially facilitating documentary requirements for their academic applications at Silliman University.
The Philippine Embassy in Berlin supports closer academic cooperation as part of its cultural diplomacy efforts. It was also instrumental in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Manila Times College and the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (Goethe University) in 2011.

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The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

Mp-tec Set to Invest in the Philippine Renewable Energy Market

PHL Embassy conducts OAV Mobile Outreach in Essen

Philippine artists pitch in to restore historic pipe organ in Berlin

Pioneering Exchange Program between German and Philippine Universities launched

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