Left photo: Ambassador-designate Dizon-de Vega leads the Philippine Embassy Santacruzan contingent.

The celebration of National Heritage Month was marked by the Filipino community with a traditional Santacruzan procession last May 26 in Berlin’s Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district.

The Catholic celebration commemorates Roman Empress Helena’s finding of the true cross, enriched with elements of Filipino culture and society, such as the inclusion of the indigenous, non-Christian Aetas and the Reyna Mora (Muslim Queen).

In her remarks during the event, Ambassador-designate Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega underscored the message of inclusivity which the Santacruzan conveys and the openness of Filipino society. She also expressed appreciation for the youth’s participation and the community’s efforts to keep their Filipino heritage alive.

The Ambassador led the Philippine Embassy contingent in this year’s procession, which included Ms. Carolyn Ramoran-Malasig as Reyna Banderada (Queen of the Banner), the character that heralds the arrival of Christianity.

The event was organized by the Filipino community led by Fr. Jun de Ocampo, SVD, and was participated in by first and second generation members of Filipino-German families who took the role of various religious and historical figures.

Churchgoers and Embassy personnel gathered for an open-air salu-salo after the event and enjoyed home-cooked Filipino dishes and desserts that were on offer. END

Ambassador-designate Theresa Dizon-de Vega welcomes guests to the screening at the Sentro Rizal (photo by AC Malasig)

The Philippine Embassy and Sentro Rizal Berlin celebrated National Heritage Month with a special screening last May 23 of Ida Anita del Mundo’s “K’Na, The Dreamweaver.”

 Set in picturesque Lake Sebu in South Cotabato province, the story revolves around the character K’Na, a young T’boli princess who is caught between love and her duty to her community.

The film brought front and center the life and culture of Mindanao’s T’boli people, especially their weaving practices. Dubbed as “dreamweavers,” T’boli women are known for the t’nalak cloth whose intricate designs are believed to be the products of dreams.

Ambassador-designate Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega personally welcomed the audience made up of individuals from the diplomatic corps, academe, media, arts scene, and the expatriate and Filipino communities.

In her remarks, the Ambassador thanked the audience for joining the Embassy in celebrating National Heritage Month, as well as the unique way of life of the Philippines’ indigenous communities that is little known to the outside world.

The audience expressed appreciation for the rare opportunity to take a closer look at T’boli culture. They were pleasantly surprised to know that the Philippines is even more culturally and linguistically diverse than they previously thought.

Guests from the Akademie Mode und Design, one of Berlin’s major fashion design schools, who were into sustainable fashion were particularly impressed with the t’nalak, some of which were on display at the Embassy lobby.

Completing the cultural experience, the audience enjoyed Filipino empanada and rice cakes, and three lucky guests received special handcrafted prizes from the Philippines.

The screening was made possible through the cooperation of Director Ida Del Mundo, Producer Clodualdo Del Mundo, Executive Producers Eduardo Rocha, Fernando Ortigas, and Vincent Nebrida, and screenwriter and film scholar Gil Quito.

The event was capped by an engaging discussion led by Ambassador Dizon-de Vega on the film and the cultural milieu on which it was based. END

T’Nalak and T’boli brass items on display at the Philippine Embassy Lobby-Gallery (photo by AC Malasig)