BERLIN, 21 May 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Germany, in partnership with the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin (ZLB), University of the Philippines-Baguio and the Bavarian Academy of Science and Humanities, successfully held “Archipelago Alive: Early Philippine-German Connections Through Ethnology,” an event that brought together approximately 50 participants from the academic, diplomatic, museum, and Filipino community.  The event took place at the Berlin Saal of the ZLB on 21 May 2026 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM, and formed part of the Embassy’s ongoing UPLIFT Series –  a space for community dialogue and engagement on issues that matter to the Filipino diaspora in Germany aimed at fostering Philippine-German ties.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Maria Teresa T. Almojuela said that “Ethnography inspires reflections on identity and community. In our globalized world it is a treasure to know what makes us unique and special, and what carries us forward in our days as a people and as a community. Ethnography is about journeys of discovery, when we peel and behold layers of otherness in those who are different to us and those who came before us, and at the same time, we uncover threads of humanity that bind us to one another.”  This set the tone for the rest of the evening’s conversation.

The program centered on early Philippine-German ethnological connections, followed by the Berlin launch of the 2024 publication “Hunting for Artifacts: 19th Century German Explorers in the Luzon Cordillera”, a collaborative project among Austrian, German, and Philippine universities and museums. The book traces the expeditions of 19th-century German scientist-explorers in the Philippines and documents Philippine cultural artifacts now preserved in various ethnology museums in Germany such as in Dresden, Leipzig, Munich, and Berlin.

Amb. Maria Teresa T. Almojuela delivers her opening remarks (left); attendees of the event at the Berlin Saal of the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin (ZLB) (right).

The evening’s conversation featured presentations from two distinguished scholars, Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores, Professor of Anthropology at the University of the Philippines-Baguio spoke about her experience and discoveries while researching and documenting Cordilleran artifacts in Germany, how these objects were acquired early in the days, and their eventual digital repatriation to the “source communities” and cultural bearers in the Philippines; and Dr. Christopher Kast, Head of Research at the Bavarian Academy of Science and Humanities, shared the specific Philippine collections of German pharmacist Heinrich Rothdauscher from 1873-1883, and discussed the contemporary academic and methodological dimensions of cataloguing these artifacts, shedding light on how the expeditions were conducted and how the resulting collections are being studied and interpreted today.

Top left: Cordillera Germany Organization, e.V.  performs the Hudhud.

Top right: Amb. Maria Teresa T. Almojuela together with Consul Benjamin A. Celedio, Jr. (rightmost), Vice Consul Dana Michelle C. Del Rosario (second from right),  members of the Cordillera Germany Organization, e.V., and Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores.

Bottom row (photos of panelists, from left): Dr. Rosa Cordillera Castillo, Dr. Christopher Kast, Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores, Mr. John dela Rosa, Ms. Ms. Den Argao, Ms. Apricot Maysano, Ms. Mild Hombrebueno, and Dr. Rosa Cordillera A. Castillo.

A panel of reactors brought personal and community perspectives to the discussion. Ms. Apricot Maysano of the Cordillera Germany Organization, e.V. shared poignant reflections as a Cordillera native living in Germany on the significance of the artifacts to her tribe, and how he felt about the presence of some sacred artifacts in Germany.  Academic and anthropologist Dr. Rosa Cordillera A. Castillo, who is also a former coordinator of the Philippine Studies Program at Humboldt University, spoke on the importance of sustaining conversations on Philippine identity in relation to “decolonizing” Philippine colonial artifacts.  Baybayin artist Ms. Den Argao shared her fascination with Philippine artifacts and how this motivates her into promoting Baybayin as a proud Philippine cultural heritage.  Visiting native scholars and PhD candidates Ms. Mild Hombrebueno and Mr. John dela Rosa reflected on their personal insights on the Philippine collections in Germany through their participation in the Spring School organized by the Bavarian Academy of Science and Humanities.

Book Launch and Cultural Performance

The event closed with the official Berlin launch of the 2024 publication “Hunting for Artifacts: 19th Century German Explorers in the Luzon Cordillera,” a collaborative project among Austrian, German, and Philippine universities and museums.  The book was earlier launched in the Philippines in April 2025, and at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2025.

Amb. Maria Teresa T. Almojuela and Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores on the launch of the book, “Hunting for Artifacts” at the Berlin Saal of the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin (ZLB), 21 May 2026.

Following the launch, the Cordillera Germany Organization e.V. capped the night with an evocative performance  of the Hudhud chant, an ancient oral tradition of the Ifugao communities.  This tradition was proclaimed by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2001, and was later inscribed on the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2008.  The haunting, melodic performance of the Hudhud chant offered a living expression of the cultural heritage that was discussed throughout the evening, and was received with deep appreciation by guests.

The event was made possible through the generosity of the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin (ZLB),  and efforts of Dr. Salvador-Amores of UP Baguio and Dr. Kast of the Bavarian Academy of Science and Humanities. –END