The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

Viewing category: Political

Philippine Ambassador Receives Distinguished Award, Keeps NDCP Golden Flame Ablaze

09 August, 2013 Manila – Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe R. Natividad was conferred the singular “Distinguished Award” during the “Gabi ng Alumni” on the occasion of the 50th National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Founding Anniversary and Alumni Homecoming at the Le Pavillion Metropolitan Park, Pasay City.

The award was conferred in recognition of the Ambassador’s “distinct achievement as a leading practitioner in national security administration particularly in the field of international relations and in upholding the College’s tradition of excellence, strategic thinking and professionalism which she exemplified with utmost consistency in all her endeavors thereby heaping added honor and prestige to the National Defense College of the Philippines.”

Ambassador Natividad joined other illustrious NDCP alumni awardees such as former President Fidel V. Ramos and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay who were recipients of the Panday Golden Achievement Award. In keeping with the 50 years of the NDCP, the theme for the celebration was “Keeping the Golden Flame Ablaze.”

President Benigno S. Aquino III, in a written message, stated that “the NDCP and its alumni community have been a positive force in the Philippines’ continuing march towards democracy, peace, and stability. Cutting across bureaucracies, and sectors in society, the wide and strong network of NDCP graduates remains an active component and example of national solidarity: strengthening our collective efforts to revitalize our institutions, encouraging meaningful public discourse, and fostering harmony in the Philippine polity.”

Vice President Binay, currently head of the NDCP Alumni Association, gave the keynote address during the occasion. In his message, the Vice President stated that  “NDCP and its graduates continue to be at the center and forefront of collective initiatives to ensure that important knowledge and skills are imparted to the country’s future leaders, both in public and private sectors.”

Ambassador Natividad completed her Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) with honors at the NDCP in 1999. In August 2007, she was also conferred the Outstanding National Defense College of the Philippines Alumnus Award by the NDCP Alumni Association. She is part of the MNSA Regular Class 33 under Dr. Clarita Carlos, the first lady civilian President of the NDCP, with Admiral (ret.) and NTC Commissioner Abraham Abesamis, the Class Mayor.  END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR RECEIVES KARLSRUHE SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AWARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES

Berlin – Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad addressed an audience of international political, business, and finance leaders at the Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards Ceremony as the guest of honor at the City Hall of Karlsruhe, Germany last 4 July 2013. The international event was attended by, among others, former EU Commissioner and Foreign Minister of Austria Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup who welcomed the participants from all over the world.
Ambassador Natividad also received an award for the Development Bank of the Philippines in recognition of their innovative finance services in implementing its loan program. Two other Philippine institutions were recognized for innovative and sustainable financing – Land Bank of the Philippines and Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc.
The city of Karlsruhe presented three awards: Best Innovation in Sustainable Financial Product & Services, Outstanding Sustainable Project Financing and Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement. Development banks from India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka won the main awards.  The awards night was the highlight of the two-day Global Sustainable Finance Conference 2013: People, Planet, Prosperity which brought together international political, business, and finance leaders for an intensive discussion on innovative investments in climate and environment protection.
During the Conference, there were presentations on small and medium-sized enterprises; project financing; sustainable and low-carbon economies; sustainability as a factor in finance strategies; environmental change as it relates to sustainable development; and sustainable technologies.

In her speech, Ambassador Natividad recognized the Global Sustainable Finance Conference  as an excellent platform for dialogue and business networking in the field of sustainable finance and investments. She also acknowledged the work of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) under the leadership of its President and CEO Mr. Gil Buenaventura.

“I should give credit where credit is due: to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the innovative people behind their “Water Revolving Fund”. I would not be here now without their excellent work,” the Ambassador said.

The Ambassador also cited the pivotal role of the DBP in the quest for sustainable and inclusive growth in the Philippines.

“It is one of the first banks in our country to integrate environmental considerations in all aspects of its operations. The DBP’s thrusts are in line with the investment priorities plan of His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III which encourages greater investments in green projects, infrastructures, and renewable energy. As in the past, the DBP is contributing to the outstanding economic growth of the Philippines this year.”

The Ambassador also expressed her admiration for Karlsruhe as “Green City” of Germany – as a model for sustainable development and stated that there is a great potential for cooperation between the Philippines and the entire Technologie Region Karlsruhe.

“There are areas where our interests converge. At over 92 million strong, the Philippines has a population dividend that can potentially help address yours skills shortage and at the same time facilitate skills transfer to us. We want to invest in our human capital and partner with an innovation and technology leader, such as Karlsruhe. We only need the proper mechanisms to facilitate this mutually-beneficial exchange, ” she stated.

The call for closer cooperation was well received by Lord Mayor Mentrup.

In closing, the Ambassador congratulated the organizers of the first Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards and the Lord Mayor for the successful gathering and urged further cooperation towards a sustainable future. – END-

Berlin PE and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Celebrate “Philippines on the Rise”

Berlin PE and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Celebrate “Philippines on the Rise”
with a Panel Discussion-Concert featuring Noel Cabangon

Berlin.  The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, in close cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNS), featured a unique panel discussion-concert on the “Philippines on the Rise”, with a formidable panel composed of Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, FNS Country Director and former European Parliament member Jules Maaten, journalist Marites Vitug, and acclaimed singer Noel Cabangon.

Ambassador Natividad welcomed the audience and set the tone for the discussions by highlighting the economic outlook for the Philippines, a nation on the rise. She noted the robust  GDP growth at  7.8% which outpaced all other ASEAN member states in the first quarter of 2013 and the recent investment grade ratings. The Ambassador also emphasized that bilateral relations with Germany is at its most robust, with high level exchanges at the ministerial level.

Mr. Maaten, referred to by Ambassador as a “true friend” of the Philippines, spoke of the gains reaped under the good governance reforms in the first three years of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Noting his foundation’s affiliation with the Liberal Party, Mr Maaten also spoke of the sustainability of the Philippines’ rise, in the context of the results of the recent midterm elections and the outlook for 2016, the next presidential elections. He also enjoined Filipinos to regard more highly of their country and recognize the remarkable economic growth ushered by the good governance reforms of the President.

Ms. Marites Vitug also gave an assessment of the first three years of the Aquino Administration and spoke of the work that remains to at hand. She mentioned some of the important bills that form part of the administration’s reform package which President Aquino will present at the opening of the next session of Congress set on 22 July.  She also responded candidly to questions on political dynasties in the Philippines.

Central to the panel discussion was the marked improvement in the electoral system especially in the recent elections and the concern for institutionalizing clean elections, good governance and eradication of corruption. Issues on the political maturity of the electorate and the need for education were also raised.

To these, the Ambassador emphasized that education is the key. A more educated population will be able to vote in a more rational way. On poverty alleviation and the huge education gap at tertiary level due to the prohibitive cost of education, the Ambassador stressed that the Embassy is intensively working with Germany on cooperation on the dual system of vocational education.

The panel discussion ended with patriotic songs from Noel Cabangon which delighted the audience. END

Berlin PE hosts Vin d’ Honneur to commemorate 115th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence

Philippine Embassy in Berlin hosts Vin d’ Honneur to commemorate the 115th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin hosted a Vin d’ Honneur on the occasion of the 115th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence at the Deutsche Bank in Berlin on June 11.  The Atrium of the Deutsche Bank was the venue of choice, as the bank has become of one of the leading transaction banks in the Philippines, with significant investments in technology, through the establishments of the Deutsche Knowledge Services, a center for finance, global business services, and information technology. Deutsche Bank official Mr. Bernhard Deppisch gave welcome remarks and spoke of the robust economic outlook for the Philippines.

The event, celebrated with the theme “Kalayaan 2013: Ambagan tungo sa Malawakang Kaunlaran” (Freedom 2013: Contributing Towards Inclusive Development), drew in representatives from the diplomatic corps, the German federal government, the business community, and leaders of Filipino organizations based in Germany. High ranking officials, led by Ambassador Clemens von Goetze, Director-General for Asia of the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) also graced the event.

Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad opened the event with her National Day message. The Ambassador, speaking in both German and English, reflected on the year’s theme and said, the Philippine Embassy is “fully in line with the President’s Social Covenant with the people… (the Philippine Embassy) is a steadfast partner in reinforcing and reinvigorating our diplomatic relations with Germany – raising it from the stupor of the previous decade and pushing it to even greater heights in strategic sectors.” Noting the importance of relations with Germany, the Ambassador said: “Germany, an innovation, research, and education world leader, is a strategic partner for the Philippines as it pursues inclusive growth through investments in our human capital.”

The Ambassador called on Germany, as well as the Overseas Filipinos present in Germany, to continue to expand investment and to encourage entrepreneurship and human capital development in the Philippines.  As the Philippines and Germany look towards the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Philippines and Germany are exploring new avenues of cooperation in developing a maritime strategic alliance and exporting aspects of Germany’s vocational education system to the Philippines.

The celebration was capped with Filipino cultural presentations from Kontragapi and home-grown Embassy talents Mylah Rubio and husband Jose Mari. The cultural numbers were received with much applause from the enthusiastic audience. (END)

CONNECT WITH US

CONTACT US

Luisenstrasse 16, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 30 864 95 00
info@philippine-embassy.de
(General Inquiries only)
For Consular-related Queries please send directly to the respective email addresses below)

Assistance to Nationals (ATN) / Emergency Hotline: +49 (0) 173 421 7750
(Please help us keep the line free for those with real emergencies. Do not call this number for regular inquiries.)

Consular Hotline: +49 (0) 173 521 5703 (For queries on Consular Services)

Email Addresses:

Passport
(passport@philippine-embassy.de);

Authentication, Notarial, and Legalization
(authentication@philippine-embassy.de);

Visa
(visa@philippine-embassy.de);

Civil Registry
(civilregistry@philippine-embassy.de);

Citizenship
(Renunciation; Re-acquisition/Retention) (citizenship@philippine-embassy.de);

Other Consular queries
(consular@philippine-embassy.de)

Opening Hours
Consular Section
Mon – Fri – Fri 09:00H – 16:00H
(Except on Philippine and German holidays)

 

Philippine Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

For OEC and Verification of Employment Contracts of Balik-Manggagawa in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia:

Mobile: +49 17681317465 (WhatsApp);
email: mwo.germanyoec@gmail.com

For accreditation of Agency and Direct Hires in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Russia:

Mobile: +49 15229021623 (WhatsApp/Viber)
email: germany@mwoberlin.com

For OWWA membership, welfare, and labor case assistance:

Mobile: +49 152 2823 8085 (WhatsApp)
email: owwamemb@gmail.com; mwo_berlin@dmw.gov.ph

Recent Stories