German Parliamentarian Visits New Philippine Embassy in Berlin

July 16, 2019

Member of Parliament Sabine Weiss and Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega discuss Philippine-Germany Relations at the new Philippine Embassy in Berlin

German Bundestag Member and Health State Secretary Sabine Weiss visited the new Philippine Embassy building in the Mitte District of Berlin today, 16 July.

Ms. Weiss, who has undertaken charitable projects in the Philippines, primarily in building school houses in Pangasinan for over 25 years, relayed to Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega her great affection for the Philippines and its people. The German member of Parliament mentioned in particular the great benefit to Germany of the entry of very professional, kind, and caring Filipino nursing professionals. Ms. Weiss said that she will help ensure that Filipino nurses will continue to be treated fairly in their workplaces in Germany,

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega expressed appreciation for Ms. Weiss’ kind words and re-affirmation of her commitment to help in further strengthening Philippine-German relations. The Ambassador invited Ms. Weiss to continue her close engagement with the Embassy and with her contacts in the Philippines. END

Amb. Dizon-De Vega and Ms. Weiss have an exchange of tokens at the Embassy (photos by Berlin PE)

Philippine Embassy in Berlin Brings Consular Services to Hamburg

July 15, 2019

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega (center) with the Consular Outreach Team, Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz, and Filipino Community volunteers

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin conducted a Consular Outreach Mission at the Kleiner Michel Parish Hall in Hamburg on 13 July 2019. The Outreach Team was headed by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega with Vice Consul Marie Chris Chieng, Vice Consul Mina Lim-Ganzon, Mr. Ruben Atienza, Ms. Rowena Hernandez, and Mr. Renante Estrella. Joining the mission was Labor Attaché Atty. Delmer Cruz.

The Team rendered 121 consular services including passport applications, civil registration, visa applications, and legalization of documents. Over 35 clients availed of one-on-one counselling services from the Philippine Embassy and Labor Attaché Cruz throughout the day-long services.

The Outreach Team was assisted by Filipino Catholic Mission (PKM), Filipino community leaders and volunteers from different associations based in Hamburg and nearby areas and Rev. Fr. Simon Boisier of the parish.

Mrs. Lalaine Dela Cruz, a Filcom leader and volunteer, welcomed the Outreach Mission as it brings services closer to Filipinos who live a considerable distance from the Philippine Embassy in Berlin and makes the application process for consular matters more convenient, “Filipinos in this area really anticipate the holding of an outreach mission by the Embassy every year”, she added.

An estimated 1,600 Filipinos reside in the Hamburg area with additional populations based in nearby the areas of Kiel, Bremen, Rostock, and Lübeck. In addition, hundreds of Filipino seafarers pass through the port of Hamburg on a daily basis.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega thanked the public, the Parish, the PKM, and the Filipino Community volunteers for their invaluable assistance in the Outreach Mission. The Philippine Embassy in Berlin will conduct additional missions in other parts of Germany for the remainder of the year. END

Applicants availing of the new 10-year validity Philippine passports

Processing of applications continued throughout the day at the Outreach Venue (all photos by Berlin PE)

EMBASSY LAUNCHES ‘TRABAHO, NEGOSYO, KABUHAYAN’ IN HAMBURG

July 15, 2019

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega talks about the role of Overseas Filipinos in nation-building.

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin and its attached agencies, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-Berlin) and the soon-to-open Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO-Berlin), held the inaugural Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) seminar in Germany in Hamburg on 13 July, alongside the Embassy’s Consular Outreach activity at the Kleiner Michel Parish.

The TNK is a joint initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that aims to help realize the country’s Ambisyon 2040: Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay by increasing opportunities for decent work and livelihood for everyone, including overseas Filipinos.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega kicked off the seminar, which drew more than 30 attendees, with an overview of the Philippine government’s priorities, policies, and programs and the role of Overseas Filipinos in realizing these. She cited the theme of this year’s Independence Day celebration, “Tapang at Malasakit,” and its relevance in guiding efforts to contribute to nation-building.

Chef Lazaro “Larry” Galicia then delivered a testimonial about getting into the food business, drawing on his experience running Larry’s Bar and Restaurant in Lübeck, one of the longest-running and best-reviewed Filipino food establishments in Germany. His sharing set off a spirited discussion with the seminar participants on the challenges of promoting Filipino food abroad, especially Filipino diners’ proclivity to compare Filipino restaurants’ fare to their own home cooking.

Chef Larry Galicia shares his experiences running a Filipino restaurant in Lübeck.

Jumping off from Chef Larry’s experiences, Commercial Counselor Althea Antonio talked about the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship, and outlined different business models that Overseas Filipinos can consider, such as franchising, startup ventures, e-commerce, and agri-tourism. She noted that more than 1,000 DTI Negosyo Centers have been set up all over the country to support new businesses. She encouraged the seminar participants, however, to do a self-analysis on which line of business would be most suitable for them, before taking the leap. Alternatively, family members of overseas Filipinos could be encouraged to invest remittances from overseas in business ventures.

Ms Kristine Wiesner, a Filipino based in Hamburg who has worked with a German renewable energy company, then gave a presentation about opportunities to invest in energy projects in the Philippines. She noted that renewable energy projects that help bring electricity to off-grid communities can be particularly rewarding, not only in the financial sense, but also in terms of its contribution to sustainability and social uplift.

Commercial Counselor Antonio notes the need to go beyond using remittances for consumption.

Atty. Delmer Cruz of DOLE and Ms. Kristine Wiesner deliver presentations during the TNK Seminar (all Photos by Berlin PE)

Incoming Labor Attaché to Germany Atty. Delmer Cruz rounded off the event with a briefing on the services offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), including its provision of livelihood loans and assistance to Overseas Filipinos with eligible business plans.

The Embassy, together with PTIC-Berlin, POLO-Berlin, as well as the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, intends to roll out the TNK program to other cities in Germany with sizeable Filipino communities. (END)

Philippines Recognized as Leader in Sustainable Financing

July 12, 2019

DBP President and CEO Emmanuel Herbosa and DBP officials receive the bank’s award from Mayor Frank Mentrup and Mr. Arshad Rab as witnessed by Ambassador Dizon-De Vega

The Philippines received accolades as one of the leading lights in the Sustainable Financing sector at the Global Sustainable Finance Conference and Awards Ceremony jointly organized by the City of Karlsruhe, Germany and the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD) from 11-12 July 2019 in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The Sustainable Finance Conference brings together senior members of the international Finance Community to exchange views and share experiences in financing and investments towards developing inclusive, green, and sustainable economies.

The following Philippine institutions and organizations were recognized by the City of Karlsruhe and the EOSD for their outstanding work in promoting Sustainable Financing: The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Landbank of the Philippines (LBP), and ASKI Group of Companies.

DBP and Landbank were two of the major award winners for the Conference. DBP was given the country award for its pioneering programs on Sustainable Financing while Landbank received recognition for Outstanding Sustainable Finance Project.

ASKI was awarded a Certificate of Merit for its Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement for incorporating sustainability principles in its corporate strategy and business processes.

Senior officials of the aforementioned institutions were on hand to receive their awards from Lord Mayor Frank Mentrup of Karlsruhe and Mr. Arsdhad Rab, CEO of EOSD with Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-de Vega witnessing the awards conferment.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega speaking on the Philippine experience in Sustainable Financing emphasized that the Philippines endeavors to maintain an enabling environment for sustainable financing to flourish in order to ensure inclusive growth across the country.

The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) and the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc., both from the Philippines, were also represented at the Conference.

During the course of the two-day Conference, speakers from the PH included Mr. Emmanuel G. Herbosa, DBP President and CEO, Mr. Jesus V. Hinlo, Director of Landbank, and Mr. Octavio B. Peralta, ADFIAP Secretary General. Other keynote speakers at the Conference were Karlsruhe Mayor Mentrup, and State Secretary for Finance of the Federal State of Baden-Wurttemberg Dr. Gisela Splett. END