Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega with Third Secretary and Vice Consul Alvin C. Malasig met with Prof. Martin Rennert, President of Germany’s largest educational institution for the arts, the University of the Arts, (Universität der Künste-UDK) on 08 August 2019 at the UDK campus in Berlin. Also present at the meeting was Ms. Regina Werner, UDK Director for International Relations.

 

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and President Rennert discussed art and university studies systems in the Philippines and Germany. The Philippine Embassy will continue its engagement with the UDK and discuss possible joint projects in the coming months. END

A lecture on Homo luzonensis, the newly discovered hominid species in the Philippines, was held at Humboldt University (HU) on July 29, marking the launch of a joint Philippine Embassy-HU program to promote Philippine Studies.

The lecture, organized with the support of the Philippine Embassy, UP Alumni Association-Germany, and Philippine Studies Berlin, was delivered by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Armand Mijares, the Filipino scientist behind the recent discovery of Homo luzonensis.

A lecture on Homo luzonensis, the newly discovered hominid species in the Philippines, was held at Humboldt University (HU) on July 29, marking the launch of a joint Philippine Embassy-HU program to promote Philippine Studies.

The lecture, organized with the support of the Philippine Embassy, UP Alumni Association-Germany, and Philippine Studies Berlin, was delivered by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Armand Mijares, the Filipino scientist behind the recent discovery of Homo luzonensis.

According to Prof. Mijares, the discovery adds a new member to the genus Homo, which modern humans are part of. Along with archeological discoveries in other countries in the region, Homo luzonensis, which is estimated to be between 50,000 to 67,000 years old, makes Southeast Asia “an important evolutionary region.”

In her remarks during the event, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega said that the program’s launch is a “proud moment for the Philippines.” It coincides with the 250^th birth anniversary of German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, one of two namesakes of HU, as well as the 65^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Germany.

The Ambassador also highlighted the long history of academic/scientific exchange between our two countries, which goes all the way back to Dr. Jose Rizal’s visit to Germany in the late 19^th century. The Philippines’ National Hero referred to Germany as his “scientific mother country”, where he engaged in various intellectual pursuits, even becoming the only Asian member of the Berlin Anthropological Society.To this day, items donated by Dr. Rizal, such as fabrics and other cultural items, form part of the Berlin Ethnological Museum’s extensive collection of artifacts from different parts of the world.

Ms. Britta Baron, International Department Director, stressed HU’s commitment to the world, adding that “the Philippines is a very special, very remarkable part” of the University’s academic agenda. She expressed appreciation to the Philippine Government “for its dedication in fostering Philippine Studies”.

The program to promote Philippine Studies at HU is funded by a five million-peso Philippine Government grant made possible through the initiative of then Senator and now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Its implementation is being overseen by Dr. Rosa Cordillera Castillo, a Filipino associate professor at HU and active Philippine Studies advocate, under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Vincent Houben, Chair for Southeast Asian History and Society at HU’s Institute of Asian and African Studies.

The joint Philippine Embassy-HU program is composed of a series of projects to be implemented within a three-year period, which include academic conferences, Filipino language courses, lectures, and other similar activities. END

 

Filipino youth string orchestra Pundaquit Virtuosi, led by its Artistic Director Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata and conductor Maestro Ruggiero Barbieri, rounded off its first-ever European concert tour with back-to-back concerts in Berlin.

On July 1, the historic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, along the famed Kurfürstendamm Avenue, played host to Pundaquit Virtuosi’s first concert in Berlin. The event was attended by German audiences and members of the Filipino community, as well as a number of Berlin visitors.

Aside from a repertoire of classic pieces, the concert likewise featured classic Filipino love songs and the group’s rendition of Juan Karlos Labajo’s popular song “Buwan”.

In her remarks before the concert, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Theresa Dizon-De Vega expressed hope that “music and the people who bring it to life will touch hearts, encourage greater understanding, and celebrate both the diversity and connection that music engenders throughout the global community.”

The Ambassador called the church a “fitting venue” for the concert as it “symbolizes our collective desire for peace and understanding among all peoples.” The damaged bell tower is the only portion of the structure left of the original church which was destroyed by aerial bombing during World War II. It now serves as a tangible reminder of the destructive nature of war.

The following day, July 2, the group gave an enthralling special performance at the Embassy, attended by guests of various nationalities. Among the guests were Philippine music luminaries composer Jeffrey Ching, Soprano Andion Fernandez-Ching, and guitarist Lester Demetillo

It was a time of fun learning for the group on their last day in Europe, on July 3. They visited historic and cultural sights in the German capital including the Deutsche Staatsoper and the Berlin Wall Memorial while enjoying traditional German pretzels.

Berlin was the last leg of the group’s first-ever European Tour which also brought the group to Brussels, The Vatican, Bergamo, Milan, Paris, Vienna, Frankfurt am Main, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Fatima, and Alentejo.

The Pundaquit Virtuosi is part of a unique community arts program called Cuerdas Cuadros, a program of Casa San Miguel in San Antonio in the northern Philippine province of Zambales, which has been training youth from the local community in classical music and the arts since 1996.

These children come from simple families from San Antonio, with 20 per cent of its student population coming from the local fishing village of San Miguel. Since its inception in 1996 the program has produced dozens of young musicians who have gone on to forge careers in the music field, pursuing degrees in leading conservatories and colleges in the Philippines, as well as participating in local and international seminars, workshops, tours and competitions.

The group has been heard all over the Philippines, as well as in China, Indonesia, and India (Source: Pundaquit Virtuosi bio). END

Pundaquit Virtuosi tour sites in Berlin (photos: R. Estrella)