The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

LVP-PR-14-2022 – Masungi Georeserve wins in the 2022 UN SDG Action Awards

The Philippines’ Masungi Georeserve Project was conferred the Inspire Award during the 2022 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Action Awards held in Bonn, Germany on Sept. 27. The Action Awards recognized Masungi’s efforts in transforming watersheds to fight deforestation through geotourism. It also commended Masungi for its public engagement and creative storytelling, as well as the dedication of its activists, rangers and environmental defenders.

In accepting the award, Masungi trustee Billie Dumaliang thanked the UN and the UN SDG Action Campaign for the honor and recognition of the work of Masungi rangers and team, as well as their allies, partners, and the entire community who have helped the project endure.

Aside from Masungi, the Philippines also had another finalist in the UN Action Awards’ 2022 edition. Former Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy of Cauayan, Isabela was among three finalist in the Changemaker category, for his work in transforming his town to a smart city which was one of the pioneers in using UN ESCAP’s National Expert SDG Tool for Energy Planning (NEXSTEP) methodology to develop a Sustainable Energy Transition Roadmap.

From left to right. Minister Gerardo Abiog of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, Ms. Billie Dumaliang and Ms. Ann Dumaliang of Masungi Georeserve, Ms. Mitzi Jonelle Tan of the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines and former Cauayan Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy. (Photo courtesy of Masungi Georeserve).

The UN SDG Action Awards are a signature program of the UN SDG Action Campaign and since 2018, the Awards have been identifying and celebrating changemakers across the world who have been re-thinking ways to drive progress towards the 2030 Agenda. For this year, the Awards received 3,000 applications from 150 countries, from which the panel of judges selected some of the most impactful SDG initiatives of 2022. Among the judges for this year is Ms. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Convenor of the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines.

Other winners in the Awards were Ecuador’s SUPvivors SAY NO MORE for the Mobilize Category, Cyrus’ Cyprusinno for the Connect Category and India’s Ms. Srishti Bakshi for the Changemaker Category.

 

LVP-PR-13-2022 – “Pag-usapan Natin: Family Life in Germany” discusses marriage, divorce and separation under German law

11 September 2022, Berlin — The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, Ban Ying e.V. Coordination and Counselling Center and the Philippine Community in Berlin held a discussion on marriage, divorce and separation under German law. 

Entitled Pag-usapan Natin: Family Life in Germany, the information session seeks to strengthen knowledge among the Filipino community, particularly marriage migrants, on German family law.   Ban Ying e.V. is a coordination and specialist advice center on women’s issues and advocates for the rights of migrant women who have experienced violence, exploitation or human trafficking.

The main speaker, family law expert Atty. Maria Wilken, provided information on the rights and obligations of spouses under German law, entitlements during a divorce or legal separation, and the attendant issues of residency permits, child custody and violence against women. Atty. Wilken was assisted by Ban Ying’s Ms. Krisanta Caguioa-Moennich, Linguistic and Cultural Mediator and Dr. Babette Rohner, social worker. 

In her remarks, Charge d’affaires Lillibeth Pono stated that the activity was in line with the third pillar of Philippine Foreign Policy, or the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of Filipinos abroad.  It is also aligned with the Embassy’s Gender and Development Program, which seeks to empower Filipino marriage migrants in Germany with accurate information on German law.  Lastly, she reminded the Filipino community that the Embassy stands ready to assist any Filipino in need. 

The information session was a response to an observation that some Filipina marriage migrants in Germany are not aware of German laws governing family life.

Statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo on the 6th Anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration

Statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo on the 6th Anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration

12 July 2022

Today we commemorate the 6th anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration. More than a historic milestone whose value lies in its commemorative significance, we recall 12 July 2016 as the day that affirmed to the community of nations that the rule of law prevails, and that stability, peace and progress can only be attained when founded on a rules-based legal order on the oceans, as it should be everywhere else. 

The Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions on the West Philippine Sea. 

The year 2022 is also the 40th anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS. UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. There is no recourse to general international law on matters comprehensively covered by the UNCLOS. Compliance with UNCLOS, which represents a delicate balance of the rights and obligations of all States Parties, in its entirety is key to ensuring global and regional peace and the fair and sustainable use of the oceans. 

The Award, an affirmation of UNCLOS’ dispute resolution mechanisms, not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but is an inspiration for how matters should be considered – through reason and right – by states facing similarly challenging circumstances. 

It authoritatively ruled that the claim of historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’ had no basis in law and is without legal effect. 

It upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone. 

It affirmed that certain actions within the Philippines’ EEZ violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and were thus unlawful; that large-scale reclamation and construction of artificial islands caused severe environmental harm in violation of international conventions; that the large-scale harvesting of endangered marine species damaged the marine ecosystem; and that actions taken since the commencement of the arbitration had aggravated the disputes. 

These findings are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive as they are indisputable. The Award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories. At the same time, we welcome the support of a growing list of countries for the Award. 

The Award benefits the world across the board. We do not see it as directed at any other country, near or far. We see it as it should be seen: as favoring all which are similarly situated by clarifying definitively a legal situation beyond the reach of arms to change. It puts this aspect of international law beyond the limit of prescription. 

And so we say once again: the present that we need and the future that we want is a peaceful South China Sea. The Philippines is committed to this for as long as it exists. END 

LVP-PR-12-2022 – PH Embassy in Berlin & the Filipino Communities of Northern Germany Celebrate Kalayaan 2022

PH Embassy in Berlin & the  Filipino Communities of Northern Germany Celebrate Kalayaan 2022

 

Members of the Filipino Community in Northern Germany pose for a “family photo” with the Philippine Embassy Team.

09 July 2022, Hamburg – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin held its first “Piyestahan sa Hamburg” in cooperation with the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG) on 09 July 2022 at the Katholische Akademie Hamburg (KAHH).

The event was an extension of the Kalayaan 2022 celebrations in Berlin and would be the first event hosted in Hamburg by the Philippine Embassy since 2019.  It  was a get-together to celebrate 124 years of Philippine Independence and,  at the same time, to provide the venue to strengthen the fellowship and the spirit of “Bayanihan” among the different Filipino communities in northern Germany.

The Piyestahan followed  the screening of and discussion on the Filipino Film “Verdict,” which narrates the story of a victim of domestic violence, a wife and mother,  who is fighting for justice.    

In her remarks, Chargé d’affaires a.i.  Lillibeth V. Pono, emphasized the role of  PH women-heroes in the past,  in our struggle for independence –  like Tandang Sora, Gabriela Silang and Josefa Llanes Escoda.  She said that women of present times  should continue to play their role in nation-building and  in safeguarding  the country’s independence. 

During the activity, Embassy presented the FFONG with a certificate of appreciation for their continued support of the Filipino-German community in Northern Germany and in promoting the interests of the Philippines in the region.  

FFONG President Corazon Entapa receives certificate of Appreciation from Chargé d’affaires Lillibeth V. Pono

As in the traditional Piyestahan, the event was a showcase of Filipino dishes (i.e. lechon, lumpia, empanada, siopao, hopia, a  variety of Philippine desserts)  and,   of Filipino talent – as Filipino performers entertained the community with their songs. END.

Showcased were Filipino dishes and the lechon was the centerpiece.

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Phone: +49 (0) 30 864 95 00
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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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