The Philippine Overseas Labor Office under the Philippine Embassy in Berlin invites our OFWs in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Russia, Czech Republic and Poland to a webinar “Tahanan ng Bagong Bayani – OFW Housing” on 05 September 2021 at 10:AM CEST/4PM Phil.Time via ZOOM! Register now at https://bit.ly/3yLZRp9 “
Asia-Pacific ambassadors and senior diplomats with Thuringia Minister-President Bodo Ramelow in Erfurt. (photo courtesy of TSK/Jacob Schroter)
21 July 2021 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin joined 16 other Embassies from the Asia-Pacific region in the second edition of the Ambassadors in Dialogue (AiD) economic mission to the states of Thuringia and Bavaria on 13-15 July 2021. Organized by the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV), AiD is a platform to provide opportunities for closer engagement among Asia-Pacific countries and leading German companies. PE Berlin was represented by Minister and Consul Gerardo P. Abiog.
The delegation first visited Thuringia where they were welcomed by Minister-President Bodo Ramelow who noted the growing engagement between his state and several Asia-Pacific countries in the areas of investment and educational cooperation, as well as the open business climate provided by Thuringia. This was followed by a networking session with some of the state’s leading start-up enterprises in the technology and manufacturing sectors. The delegation also called on the Lord Mayor of Erfurt, Andreas Bausewein, at the city’s historic town hall. The following day, the AiD group visited two of the most important investment facilities in the state, the IHI Charging Systems International (producers of turbo chargers for European automobile manufacturers) and N3 Engine Overhaul Services which performs overhaul of Airbus aircraft engines.
The AiD delegation visiting the engine testing facility of N3 in Thuringia. (photo courtesy of OAV)
The second leg of the mission began with a visit at the Bavarian State Chancellery in Munich were delegation was greeted by Bavaria Minister-President Markus Söder, followed by a meeting with Bavaria Minister of State Dr. Florian Herrmann. Later in the afternoon, the group was welcomed by Brainlab AG CEO and Founder Stefan Vilsmeier at his company’s headquarters, who gave the delegation a personal tour and briefing on Brainlab’s various technological products in the field of medical surgery. The mission was capped with a networking dinner hosted by BMW AG at its exhibition center and events hall. END
Brainlab CEO and Founder Stefan Vilsmeier presenting his company’s thrust for the 21st century.
For our Kababayans affected by the extreme weather conditions in Germany particularly in the Rhineland Palatinate, Saarland, and North Rhine-Westphalia areas which are the hardest hit, please observe extra precautions and monitor the latest bulletins in your localities.
For updated information on weather developments you may check the German Weather Service or Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) at https://www.dwd.de/EN/Home/home_node.html
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt which covers the affected areas may likewise be reached through its Assistance to Nationals no. at +4915153546841 and hotline no at +49 151 62487425 while the Philippine Embassy in Germany located in Berlin may be reached via Emergency No. +491735215703 and +49 173 4217750
Thank you and keep safe.
15 July 2021, Berlin – Humboldt University (HU), one of the largest universities in Europe, through its Advancing Philippine Studies Program and in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Berlin held an online panel discussion entitled “Habi: Weaving Philippine Textiles’ Future,” on 14 July 2021 with guest speakers Deputy Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Loren Legarda and Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores of the University of the Philippines-Baguio and the Museo Kordilyera. The discussion was one of the best attended sessions co-organized by the Philippine Embassy this year with over 140 participants eager to learn more about the textile weaving culture of the Philippines.
Dr. Salvador-Amores shared with the audience how cultural revival of weaving and production of textiles is taking place in the Cordillera Region of the Philippines through the Cordillera Textiles Project or CordiTex, a multi-disciplinary research approach in analyzing textile production and how this tradition can be made sustainable in contemporary times. It is the goal of advocacy projects like CordiTex, which brings together cultural studies and technology, to empower weaving communities and sustain the critical cultural practice of weaving.
Deputy Speaker Legarda, one of the most vocal and active champions of Philippine cultural preservation, shared efforts by the Philippine legislature and other institutions in the promotion and preservation of Philippine weaves and weaving culture. The Deputy Speaker focused on the production of pineapple fiber-sourced weaves more popularly known in the Philippines as piña and piña-seda (pineapple silk) to illustrate the urgent need to preserve and sustain Philippine weaving traditions and production.
She spoke of the need for convergence in the efforts of legislators like herself, in pushing for responsive legislation and the effective implementation of sustainable programs by all stakeholders in the entire weaving process. She emphasized that it literally takes an entire community of advocates and practitioners to realize this and in the process engender cultural preservation and identity, promote sustainable practices, institutionalize fair trade practices, provide livelihood, and cultivate Filipino artistry.
Deputy Speaker Legarda also showed photos of more than a century old Philippine artifacts, including piña items and Philippine weaves, donated by Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal and now housed at the Berlin Ethnological Museum.
Likewise present at the talk were Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel, Prof. Dr. Vincent Houben of Humboldt University’s Institute for Asian and African Studies, and Dr. Rosa Cordillera A. Castillo of Humboldt University and Program Director for the Advancing Philippine Studies Program who served as session moderator.
Advancing Philippine Studies at HU aims to advance and promote Philippine and Filipino studies through various academic and research platforms. The program is made possible through the efforts of Deputy Speaker Legarda who facilitated the program grant, Humboldt University, and the Philippine Embassy in Berlin. END