CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

December 15, 2017

The messages of Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Christ, are the sincere wishes we send to our dear kababayans in Germany, to our dear German friends, to our friends and loved ones all over the world:

JOY, PEACE, LOVE, HOPE!

And with hearts full of thanks for all that were and all that will still be, may 2018 be filled with the joy and love of this season, with more grace and blessings!

“Hark, a herald voice is calling,

Through the shadows of the night,

Cast away the dreams of darkness

Christ descends with heavenly light..”

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

December 8, 2017

Filipino community in Berlin come together for annual Christmas party

December 6, 2017

(L) Filipino Chaplain Fr. Jun de Ocampo, together with the Philippine Pastoral Team, led the lighting of this year´s Christmas Cake. (R) Minister and Consul General Donna M. Rodriguez represented the Embassy and delivered the welcome remarks before 300 guests.

Christmas came early for the Filipino Community in Berlin as they celebrated the annual “Paskong Pinoy” Christmas party last December 2 at the Nostalgie Festsäle. The organizing committee led by the Pastoral Team and Filipino Chaplain Fr. Jun de Ocampo, welcomed some 300 Berlinoys and their guests from nearby cities to a night filled with good food and music.

In her remarks during the event, Minister and Consul General Donna Rodriguez mentioned how the Christmas season has always held a special meaning for Filipinos both at home and abroad. She encouraged everyone to keep in mind the true reason for the celebration, which is the birth of Jesus and His promise of eternal redemption.

(Clockwise from top left) (1) Jomar Rubio, Eladio Pamaran, Kevin Orteza and Rico Villavert crooned a beautiful arrangement of Ryan Cayabyab´s “Munting Sanggol”. (2) Santa Rey de Paz gave gifts to children in attendance. (3) The Filipiniana Dance Group presented folk dances. (4) Jomar and Mylah Rubio sang Jose Mari Chan´s “Christmas in our Hearts”. (5) The Papuri Shalom Choir serenaded the crowd with Felipe de Leon´s “Payapang Daigdig”. (6)The Loved Flock and CFC-FFL presented modern and ballroom dances.

The Filipiniana Dance Group, the Loved Flock and Couples for Christ (CFC-FFL) presented folk, modern and ballroom dance numbers, while the Papuri Shalom Choir, Kevin Orteza, Eladio Pamaran, Rico Villavert, Jomar and Mylah Rubio regaled guests with Christmas songs. Rey de Paz, meanwhile, surprised the crowd by dancing as Santa Claus with his elves and then later giving goodie bags to kids. END

UNDERSECRETARY LACANLALE VISITS BERLIN FOR THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE NEW EMBASSY BUILDING IN CHARITÉSTRASSE

November 21, 2017

Following the successful acquisition of a property in the central district of Berlin where the new building for the Philippine Embassy will rise, Undersecretary Linglingay F. Lacanlale travelled to Berlin on 27 October 2017 to grace the ground-breaking ceremony for the new chancery.

Property acquisitions abroad for the Philippine Government have been the recent thrust of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Undersecretary Lacanlale said during the ground-breaking ceremony that the new chancery in Berlin, a turn-key project, can serve as the model for property acquisitions not only in Europe but for other Foreign Service Posts.

Usec. Linglingay F. Lacanlale (front row, second from left) and Amb. Melita S. Sta. Maria Thomeczek (front row, third from left) with the rest of the group

Actual construction started in January 2017. Foundations have been laid and the basement and ground floors have taken shape. On 27 October, the Undersecretary inspected the site marked by a ceremonial laying of cement on the foundations followed by throwing of coins. Father Simon Boiser, SVD, Filipino Chaplain of the Fil-Catholic community in Hamburg did the customary blessing of and prayers for the building.

Usec. Lacanlale and Amb. Thomeczek with Father Boiser and the rest of the group

Also present during the ceremony were Ambassador Melita S. Sta. Maria Thomeczek, Minister and Consul Donna M. Rodriguez, Ms. Milagros Antonio-Kropp, Ms. Ma. Cecilia Estrella, Ms. Lourdes Marie Reyes, Ms. Maria Flordeliza Tuiza (assistant to the Undersecretary) and representatives of Zielconcept Charitéstrasse GmbH & Co. headed by its owner, Mr. Willmar Lorenz, Mr. Ingo Lindner (Project Manager), and Mr. Florian Hoyer (Architect).

The Ambassador earlier hosted a luncheon to mark the event. “We are happy that the Philippine Embassy will finally have a place of its own in Berlin. We hope to see the completion of the construction and the final move-in before the end of 2018. It will take a little time. But construction is on time and we are also meticulously planning the interiors well. In the end, we will have a place to be truly proud of”, she said. -End-