Amb. Dizon-De Vega, Fr. Jun De Ocampo, and Community members at the Independence Month event (all photos by Berlin PE)

The Filipino Community of Bayernallee in Berlin held a simple but meaningful commemoration of the 122^nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 21 June 2020.

The event was highlighted by a Misa ng Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving Mass) officiated by the head of the Filipino Chaplaincy Fr. Tranquilino “Jun” De Ocampo, SVD. In his homily, Fr. De Ocampo encouraged the Filipino Community to continue to be brave in the face of challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mass was followed by a formal turnover and appreciation ceremony to the Team of The Migrant Newsletter which won the print category as Best Newsletter for the Migration and Advocacy Awards of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) which was earlier awarded in December of 2019 in Manila.

Accepting the award was Vincent Valiente, Editor of The Migrant Newsletter. Witnessing the turnover was the head of the Publishing team of the newslette, Fr. De Ocampo and other members of the production team.

A special part of the event was a tribute to the late Editor-in-Chief and leading light of The Migrant, Alan Valdez, who passed away earlier this year after a lingering illness. The Valdez family was represented by Alan’s wife Eve.

Certificates of appreciation were likewise given to The Migrant staff, contributors, and resource persons.

In addition, both the Filipino Community of Bayernallee and the Philippine Embassy presented certificates of appreciation to the Embassy’s ATN Officer Jovencio P. Catbangan to cap several decades of public service this month.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega shared with the Filipino Community members the theme of this year’s Philippine Independence Month commemoration towards a free, united, and safe nation. She likewise thanked all the frontliners and those providing essential services who continue to face numerous challenges on a daily basis. Finally, she expressed her gratitude to the community for adhering to public safety rules and for being living embodiments of the spirit of Bayanihan during a challenging period. END

Fr. De Ocampo gives out a Certificate of Appreciation to the Philippine Embassy, Berlin for its support for The Migrant Newsletter

Top Left :Amb. Dizon-De Vega delivers an Independence Day message; Top right Mr. Vincent Valiente received the CFO Migration and Advocacy award; Bottom smaller audience this year due to strict social distancing requirements in Germany

19 June 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin and members of the Knights of Rizal and Ladies for Rizal paid tribute to the life and work of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, the 159^th anniversary of his birth.

The occasion was marked by a simple wreath-laying ceremony at Dr. Rizal’s former apartment at Jägerstrasse 71, in the center of Berlin, where our National Hero finished his novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Germany had a special place in the heart of Dr. Rizal. He once referred to it as his “scientific mother country,” where he was immersed in various intellectual pursuits and maintained close friendships with German scientists. He also traveled along the Rhine, admiring the beauty of towns and cities along the river.

Amb. Dizon-de Vega and Knights of Rizal member Gerhard Müller offer a wreath at the historical marker at Jägerstrasse 71 in Berlin.

Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega recited Rizal’s Spanish-language poem, Canto de Viajero (Song of the Traveler) as part of the ceremony. National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s English translation was read by Consul Catherine Rose G. Torres.

The Ambassador drew parallels between the events in the life of Dr. Rizal and the health crisis that the world is currently facing. She shared that an elated Dr. Rizal wrote the poem in 1896 after he was granted permission by Spanish authorities to volunteer as a medical practitioner in Cuba. At that time, the Spanish colony was in the midst of a revolution and yellow fever epidemic.

Amb. Dizon-de Vega (left) and Consul Torres recite Rizal’s El Canto de Viajero.

The Ambassador said that the poem’s words ring true today, which speak of a desire to be part of a larger community and to be of service.

Dr. Rizal’s was unable to fulfill his Cuba mission after he was ordered deported to the Philippines to face charges of rebellion and other crimes against the state. He was executed at Bagumbayan (present-day Rizal Park) on December 30, 1896. END

Baybayin Class Lakbay photo courtesy of Tofu Creatives.

A virtual Baybayin Learning Party, held last May 30, marked the culmination of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin’s celebration of National Heritage Month this year.

Baybayin was one of the indigenous scripts used in the Philippines prior to the introduction of the Latin alphabet during the Spanish colonial era.

The class included lessons on the history of Baybayin and on reading and writing the script’s 17 characters. Forty-six participants from Germany, other European countries, and the United States (US) were able to write a two-sentence paragraph at the end of the 90-minute class. Lucky participants also won a Baybayin name art courtesy of Tofu Creatives.

In her remarks before the class, Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega expressed appreciation for the organizers’ passion in preserving such an important element of our culture.

US-based artist/singer-song writer Nityalila Saulo and Illustrator Desiree Llanos Dee of Tofu Creatives (www.tofucreatives.com) served as class facilitators.

The class was organized by Tofu Creatives, in collaboration with the Embassy and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Germany e.V., headed by Ms. Jennifer Lynne Fadrigo-Hankammer.

Month-long celebrationLuisenstrasse 16, 10117 Mitte, Berlin, Germany TL. +49 (0) 30 864 950 5010 http://philippine-embassy.de/Top photo: Participants show words in Baybayin characters that they wrote. Bottom left photo: Participants learn how to write in Baybayin. Bottom right photo: Samples of Tofu Creatives’ Baybayin Name Art. (images courtesy of Tofu Creatives)

Despite restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Embassy was able to mount a special celebration of Filipino culture and heritage.

Aside from the Baybayin Learning Party, full-length film, “I’m Drunk, I Love You” (courtesy of TBA Studios); a documentary on Baybayin; a news segment on the Filipino people’s Austronesian heritage; and Carlo Vergara’s musical, “Kung Paano ako naging Leading Lady” (courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines) were featured on the Embassy Facebook page (@PHinGermany) as part of the month-long celebration. END