LECTURE ENTITLED CHALLENGES OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPASTICITY

November 17, 2017

Left to right: Rowena A. Hernandez, Maria Cecilia G. Estrella, Milagros Antonio-Kropp, Christian Barkow (behind) Minister and Consul Donna M. Rodriguez, Dr. Thomale, Third Secretary and Vice-Consul Alvin C. Malasig, Nelma J. Casas, Mylah Ann C. Rubio, Amor P. de Asis-Del Mundo and Lourdes Marie Reyes

In line with the 39^th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin invited Dr. Med. Ulrich-Wilhelm N. Thomale to conduct a lecture entitled “Challenges of Acute and Chronic Care for Children with Spasticity.

The lecture covered neurosurgical treatment possibilities for different challenges in acute and chronic care of cerebral palsy and spasticity. As a preventive measure in cases with hydrocephalus it is important to optimize the treatment for normalization of brain water (cerebral spinal fluid, CSF) circulation in order to avoid long term consequences of brain damage. Modern endoscopic and shunt techniques were described. As treatment options to enhance motor function of spasticity, the minimal invasive technique of “selective dorsal rhizotromy“ (SDR) was explained to enhance the patient’s state of mobility.

During the meeting, the Embassy personnel and Dr. Thomale discussed the possibility of cooperation in terms of medical exchanges between the Pediatric Neurosurgery Department of Charité Hospital and a counterpart hospital in the Philippines in the field of pediatric neurosurgery.

Associate Professor Dr. Thomale has been the Head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Charité University, Department of Medicine since December 2014. He specializes in congenital malformations, neuroendoscopy, brain tumors, and hydrocephalus. He is the representative of the Section for Endoscopic Neurosurgery, neuronavigation and Intraoperative Imaging of the German society of Neurosurgery. He was a research and clinical fellow at the Pediatric Neurosurgery, John Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, USA in 2007. He attended medical schools at the Universities of Tübingen, Vienna, and Berlin. He has published more than ninety (90) papers and book chapters, and has been invited to more than 100 various international conferences and neurosurgical courses.END

SENATOR LEGARDA PUSHES PH ADVOCACY IN UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN BONN

November 17, 2017

Senator Legarda delivering the keynote address at the COP23 side event, “Innovative Climate Finance Strategies and Instruments by and for Climate Vulnerable Countries,” organized by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF)

Senator Loren Legarda is leading efforts to once again bring to the fore the Philippines’ climate change advocacy at the ongoing 23^rd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.

She heads the Philippine Delegation to COP23, composed of officials from Philippine Government agencies handling climate change-related issues, together with Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman of the Climate Change Commission.

The representatives of various countries, including the Philippines, are currently drawing up a comprehensive rule book that would facilitate the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change from 2020 and beyond.

Senator Legarda leads the discussion with the Philippine delegation on cross-cutting issues related to climate change.

Active involvement

“The Philippines’ active involvement in this year’s climate talks signifies our steadfast commitment to realize the principles that we have championed in the Paris Agreement, which we ratified early this year. This is yet again a manifestation of our commitment to climate justice—to make the developed and industrialized countries answer for contributing the most to global warming and climate change—as well as a testament of our solidarity to the call for greater and more ambitious global climate action,” Senator Legarda said.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, for her part, welcomed the country’s strong participation in COP23. “We are glad to welcome all our delegates, led by Senator Legarda and Secretary De Guzman, to Bonn. In the past few days, they have been engaged in a series of fora and workshops which are, of course, crucial in the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement,” the Ambassador said.

Together with other leaders and climate change experts, the Senator also had the opportunity to spell out the Philippines’ commitments and strategy on climate change on the sidelines of COP23.

National Adaptation Plan

During the side event, “Championing NAPs – Advancing National Adaptation Plans,” Senator Legarda shared that the Philippines has made significant progress in the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with the enactment of the “Climate Change Act of 2009” (Republic Act 9729), which mandates the updating of the National Climate Change Action Plan.

National Adaptation Plan Champions, Senator Legarda and Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu of Tonga.

RA 9729 was principally sponsored and authored by Senator Legarda who chairs the Senate Committees on Climate Change, Foreign Relations, and Finance.

The Senator called for scaled-up, continuous, predictable, and adequate financial support for adaptation.

“Adaptation is at the very core of the Philippines’ climate change strategy. Like any other climate vulnerable country, we should be able to realize our full capacity to adapt to climate change. We have been championing for a more pronounced commitment from developed countries to finance adaptation in climate negotiations, as part of our demand for climate justice,” Senator Legarda said

For her efforts, the Senator was named NAP Champion by the UNFCCC Secretariat last November 13, alongside Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu (Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States) – a development welcomed by the Philippine Embassy.

“We are very proud that Senator Legarda was named NAP Champion, which recognizes her tireless efforts to push for decisive action on the issue of climate change, both domestically and in the multilateral arena,” Ambassador Thomeczek said.

Mr. Youssef Nassef, UNFCCC Adaptation Committee Director, noted that the designation of Senator Legarda and ‘Utoikamanu as NAP Champions is “the first in the process of UNFCCC,” signifying the urgent need to promote the importance of resilience and facilitate linkages with external contexts to climate change adaptation.

1.5 degree Celsius-limit

In her keynote address at the forum, “Innovative Climate Finance Strategies and Instruments by and for Climate Vulnerable Countries,” Senator Legarda assured the Philippines’ international climate allies that the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) would be compatible with the 1.5 ˚C-limit in the rise of global temperatures prescribed by the Paris Agreement.

“We continue to pursue a development path consistent with 1.5 degrees not only because we know it is the best way to protect our people and climate, but also because we know it will also spur economic growth. More than just transitioning our energy sector to clean energy-powered economies, the race to 1.5˚C-compatible economies presents to the ambitious an opportunity to transform development itself,” the Senator said.

Invest in mitigation

Senator Legarda pitched for additional investment in climate change mitigation at the forum, “Asia-Pacific Climate Action: Making Finance Flows Consistent with a Pathway Towards Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-resilient Development for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.”

“We need to foster a policy environment that will raise the participation of the financial sector in low-carbon investments needs. One strategy could be to identify the best mix of lending instruments to attract low-carbon investments,” Senator Legarda said.

She likewise mentioned that she filed a proposed measure to establish environmental units in every banking institution. This will assess and ensure that projects, subject to financing applications as well as collateral offered as security, comply with Philippine environmental laws. She also stressed that climate action makes good development sense.

Filip+Inna founder shares work with indigenous artisans at Philippine Embassy in Berlin

November 16, 2017

As part of its Gender and Development (GAD) program and its advocacy of Philippine design and social enterprise, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin hosted on 13 November a conversation with Filip+Inna founder Lenora Luisa Cabili under its Coffee with Creatives series. Filip+Inna is a decade-old homegrown fashion brand that works with indigenous groups in the archipelago by creating contemporary clothing and accessories that use their traditional embroidery, weaving, and beadwork.

Ms. Cabili shared the brand’s journey with the more than twenty, mostly women guests who attended the talk. Ms. Cabili noted that the brand has deep roots in Mindanao, with her mother hailing from Basilan. Her mother also danced with the Bayanihan dance company, further deepening her and her siblings’ appreciation for Philippine culture. Later, she would also join the dance company herself.

Ms. Cabili also narrated her adventures searching for and working with artisans in far-flung places. Currently, the brand works with up to twenty indigenous groups, and Ms. Cabili has five more groups she plans to work with in the near future. Asked if she was open to working with more groups, Ms. Cabili laughed. “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said enough, we’ve got a good number, only to be unable to say no when I’m approached by new groups wanting to partner.”

Most of Filip+Inna’s artisans are women, who have been able to make a living from their traditional skills into a good livelihood with the help of the brand. Not only does Ms. Cabili ensure that they are paid well—the artisans are often paid on a per-stitch basis, she also gives them significant leeway to use their skills and creativity. Usually, she simply provides them with the materials, such as threads and fabric, and gives them free rein to use their imagination in doing their embroidery and stitchwork.

One of the guests asked if Filip+Inna would be open to adjusting the design of its products to cater to German tastes, which tend to be more muted and subdued than Filipino preferences. “You’ve anticipated our design thrust for next year,” Ms. Cabili replied. “In Filip+Inna’s early years, we used a lot of embroidery because we wanted to make a mark. Now that we’ve done that, we’re open to exploring new design directions.”

Filip+Inna founder Lenora Luisa Cabili shared the brand´s journey with more than twenty guests who attended the talk at the Philippine Embassy.

Filip+Inna is at the vanguard of a growing movement of social enterprises in the Philippines that are reviving indigenous and artisanal traditions. Earlier this year, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin also invited Ms. Rosal Lim of Rurungan sa Tubod Foundation to talk about their venture’s efforts to equip and employ women from poor fishing communities in Palawan with pina weaving skills and technology. END

PALAWAN ARTISTS IN FOCUS

November 14, 2017

Artists Nil Sencillo (extreme left) and Mike Garcia (extreme right) with Amb. Thomeczek (second from right) and CCP President Arsenio Lizaso (second from left).

Vividly colorful paintings and moving sculptures of artists Mike Garcia, Mario Lubrico, Elordie Mesac, and Nil Sencillo, all homegrown talents of Palawan, are now on display at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin. Dubbed, “Art, Nature & Culture of Palawan,” the exhibit features artworks that depict the natural beauty and ethnological treasures of the province.

“Filipinos are very proud of Palawan because of its exceptional natural beauty. We are even prouder of the province’s people, who have been excellent stewards of their environment, and who are themselves very creative. We consider the province as a model for sustainable tourism. We are happy that through the beautiful works of these four artists, Palawan’s beauty and our responsibility to protect this natural treasure have once again been brought to our collective consciousness,” Ambassador Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek said.

The event was made more special by the attendance of no less than Mr. Arsenio Lizaso, President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Mr. Lizaso congratulated the artists for successfully mounting the exhibit – their first in a major world capital. He also took the opportunity to inform both Filipino and foreign guests of the mandate and major initiatives of the CCP in support of Filipino artists.

“Art Nature & Culture of Palawan” is open for public viewing until November 23, Monday through Friday (0900H-1100H and 1300H-1600H). Interest individuals are requested to set an appointment by sending an email to culture@philippine-embassy.de. END