PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS BERLIN’S FIRST GLOBAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR

BERLIN, 14 April 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin took part as an exhibitor in the First International Children’s Book Fair, held at and hosted by the Divan Arabic Culture House from from 11 to 13 April 2025. Joining a global celebration of storytelling and cultural exchange, the event featured books in more than 20 languages and a mix of publishers, cultural institutions, and diplomatic missions.

This marked the first-ever Kinderbuchmesse (Children’s Book Fair) organized by the Divan Arabic Culture House, which regularly hosts the annual Arabic Book Fair in Berlin. The new initiative expands the organization’s literary and cultural programming to younger audiences, highlighting the role of children’s literature in fostering intercultural understanding.

In his welcome remarks, H.E. Abdalla Al Hamar, Ambassador of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Divan, speaking on behalf of the Divan Arabic Culture House, underscored the importance of literature in nurturing a more inclusive world. He shared that the theme of the fair, “The Future is Us,” was a tribute to the shared responsibility of shaping a compassionate future through the minds of children.

“Books are a window to the world,” he said. “They allow children to dream without borders. The world we shape must be one of empathy and understanding across cultures. Today, we honor the role of books in sparking curiosity, teaching compassion, and bringing people together.”

The fair gathered embassies and cultural organizations from around Berlin in an effort to make diverse stories accessible to children in Berlin. Through booths filled with books in Arabic, German, English, Tagalog, Turkish, Bahasa Indonesia, Ukrainian,  and other languages, the event showcased literature as a powerful bridge for dialogue, inclusion, and shared dreams.

The Philippine Embassy’s participation reflected its continuing commitment to promoting Philippine culture and literature in Germany, particularly in the lead-up to the Philippines’ role as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) in 2025.

The Embassy’s curated selection of Filipino children’s books offered visitors a glimpse into the richness of Philippine storytelling traditions and the growing body of contemporary literature for young readers. As part of a broader network of cultural exchanges and literary diplomacy, the Embassy’s presence at the Kinderbuchmesse complements ongoing efforts to build interest and momentum for the Philippines’ spotlight year at one of the world’s most prestigious publishing events, while also advancing inclusive, multilingual, and globally engaged cultural dialogue. (END)

 

PHILIPPINE HIGHLIGHTS URGENCY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE AGENDA IN THE PETERSBERG CLIMATE DIALOGUE 2025

Philippine Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga underscored the need to accelerate the implementation of our climate agenda under the Paris Agreement at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD), which was held from 25 to 26 March 2025 in Berlin. 

Secretary Loyzaga proposed increased access and delivery of the best science for localized solutions for those most at risk and the strategic pursuit of broad sources for climate finance along with the establishment of a robust ecosystem that ensures transparency and accountability for the mobilization of private finance.  She likewise urged all parties to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions.

At the sidelines of the PCD, Secretary Loyzaga also met with officials of the German government, the United Nations and other bilateral partners.

PCD 2025 was co-chaired by Germany and incoming COP President Brazil.  The PCD is an annual, high-level political forum aimed at fostering international cooperation and strengthening political consensus on climate action, preparing the ground for the UN Climate Change Conferences.  END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BERLIN ENGAGES FILIPINO ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS IN GERMANY

31 March 2025, Berlin – Around thirty Filipino students, graduates, and professionals in various disciplines in the sciences and the liberal arts participated in a gathering of Filipino academics and professionals hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Berlin on 22 March 2025.  

The participants were affiliated with prestigious institutions, including the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, University of Potsdam, University of Hamburg (Law and Economics), Humboldt University, Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics,  the Hertie School, Musikhochschule Freiburg, Rolls Royce, University of Europe for Applied Sciences, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Senckenberg am Meer Research Institute, and the Universität Freiburg.  

In her welcome remarks,  Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad called on the participants to work together, saying,  “You are part of a growing Filipino academic and professional community in Germany…  We can accomplish a lot if we work together to enhance the people-to-people link between Germany and the Philippines, promote greater cooperation between the two countries, and empower our community. The Embassy views you not just as individual scholars but as a network of potential changemakers – capable of generating ideas, innovations, and initiatives that can help shape a better future for our community and for the Philippines… The Embassy will always be here to support your efforts, but today, it starts with you,”  

The three-hour event provided the participants with an overview of consular and other services and programs of the Philippine Government for overseas Filipinos and updates on the Overseas Voting process for the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections. 

Science and Technology Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah Buendia who joined the event virtually, discussed the Balik Scientist Act, which institutionalizes the Balik Scientist Program (BSP), and shared the program’s successes over the years.  

Three of the participants were given the opportunity to discuss their respective projects and calls for collaboration during the session.  Dr. Ariel Hernandez of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies sought collaboration on his project on Philippine policy innovations on human resources management. 

Former International Atomic Energy Agency executive and President of the Philippine Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES) Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya invited participants to collaborate with PACES and support disadvantaged but outstanding Filipino university students through scholarships in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Prof. Dr. Denise Margaret Matias, faculty member of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development urged participants to serve as mentors or join as mentee under the Filipino Sustainability Scientists academic writing series and to collaborate with the Pinoy Scientists platform of PhilSA Space Science Missions Bureau Director Dr. Reinabelle Reyes. 

A networking session followed with participants exchanging contacts and ideas and discussing projects and future collaboration with each other or with their institutions. (END)

PHILIPPINE ENERGY TRANSITION CONTEXT HIGHLIGHTED IN BERLIN ENERGY TRANSITION DIALOGUE 2025

Philippine Secretary of Energy Raphael P.M. Lotilla shed light on the Philippines’ energy transition initiatives and context in the 11th edition of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) which was held on 18 and 19 March 2025. 

Secretary Lotilla participated in the High-Level Roundtable entitled The Age of Electricity: How Electrification Strengthens Energy Security and served as panelist in the discussion on Intersectional Approaches to Conquer Workforce Scarcity for the Green Energy Transition. He also met with representatives of the German solar and renewable energy associations and officials of energy companies.   

The Philippines aims to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in its power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030, and to 50 percent by 2040.  The Philippine Government has implemented policies to hasten and encourage take up and investments in the RE sector, including allowing up to 100% foreign equity in the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy resources.

The 2024 Climatescope Report by BloombergNEF ranked the Philippines as the second most attractive emerging market for renewable energy investments, underscoring the effectiveness of the Philippines’ comprehensive renewable energy policies, which include auctions, net metering schemes, and tax incentives.

The BETD is an annual conference hosted by the German government that gathers global leaders to advance RE, energy security, and climate goals.