PARTICIPANTS TO COURSE ON PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERSHIP VISIT EMBASSY

16 June 2025 – Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad welcomed Director Ma. Antoniette P. Aristoza of the Plenary Affairs Bureau of the Senate of the Philippines and twenty-five (25) participants to an International Learning Course (ILC) on Public Policy and Public Sector Leadership during their visit to the Embassy. 

The course was developed by the Development Academy of the Philippines’ (DAP) and The Hertie School in Berlin and forms part of the Emerging Leaders’ Track of the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) Program.   It seeks to expose the participants to Germany’s best practices and strategies in evidence-based policy-making, legislation, governance, and leadership;  identify new trends and competencies required from legislative staff/officers and public policy managers; and compare the different approaches and challenges of the legislative process between the Philippines and Germany.

Director Gilbert Lumantao of the DAP’s Policy Research Office outlined for the Ambassador the CBILLS-ILC’s objectives,  while Minister Mary Luck Hicarte presented an overview of PH-DE bilateral relations to the participants.     

Commemorative notes issued for the 70th anniversary of Philippine-German relations were given to the participants as a souvenir of their visit to Berlin.  

127TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC COMMEMORATED BY FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BERLIN

14 June 2025 – Filipinos from Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden and Goslar joined the Philippine Embassy in commemorating the 127th Anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence at the Sentro Rizal in Berlin on 14 June 2025.  

The simple commemoration included the singing of the Philippine National anthem,  a panalangin para sa bayan led by Father Simon Boiser of the Philippine Catholic Community Pastoral Council of Berlin, Sister Mary Ann Heinze of Jesus is Lord and Brother Edward Taduran of the Christ Commission Fellowship – Berlin, and messages from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo,  and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.  The event’s highlight was Mr. Hari Antonio King’s passionate declamation piece on Philippine heroes and the symbolism of the Philippine Flag.  

In her remarks, Ambassador Irene Susan B. Natividad highlighted the importance of safeguarding the freedoms that Filipinos enjoy today.  “Tuwing Hunyo, tumigil po tayo nang panandali, magnilay-nilay at magpasalamat sa kalayaang ating tinatamasa ngayon na ipinaglaban ng ating mga bayani at ninuno.  Pangalagaan po natin ito para sa susunod na mga henerasyon,  na nawa’y patuloy na makapamuhay nang malaya, mapayapa at matiwasay.”   

During the commemoration, the Embassy took the occasion to present a plaque of appreciation to Mrs. Lourdes Mueller (posthumous) and her husband, Mr. Gerhard Mueller,  for their invaluable contribution to  people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Germany.  Mr. and Mrs. Mueller played host family to countless visiting Filipino artists and scholars for many years, and was active in the activities of the Filipino community and the Knights and Ladies of Rizal.  

A Filipino breakfast with the community capped the event. END

 

FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BERLIN KEEPS SANTACRUZAN ALIVE

2 June 2025 – Under fair skies  on a Sunday, the Santacruzan was kept alive by the Filipino community in Berlin with the traditional mass and procession around Heilig Geist Church.   

Fr. Simon Boiser, S.V.D., Pastoral Head of the Catholic Community in Berlin, celebrated the Holy Mass and led  the community in a procession with  children dressed as angels and members of the community as sagalas parading under colorful floral arches and holding items to symbolize the virtues and the communities and historical figures they represent. 

After the procession, the community was treated to a program of dance numbers and invited for the usual salo-salo.