Deputy Speaker Legarda Legarda and Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores are Featured Speakers on Philippine Textiles at Humboldt University

15 July 2021, Berlin  –  Humboldt University (HU), one of the largest universities in Europe, through its Advancing Philippine Studies Program and in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Berlin held an online panel discussion entitled “Habi: Weaving Philippine Textiles’ Future,” on 14 July 2021 with guest speakers Deputy Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Loren Legarda and Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores of the University of the Philippines-Baguio and the Museo Kordilyera. The discussion was one of the best attended sessions co-organized by the Philippine Embassy this year with over 140 participants eager to learn more about the textile weaving culture of the Philippines.

Dr. Salvador-Amores shared with the audience how cultural revival of weaving and production of textiles is taking place in the Cordillera Region of the Philippines through the Cordillera Textiles Project or CordiTex, a multi-disciplinary research approach in analyzing textile production and how this tradition can be made sustainable in contemporary times. It is the goal of advocacy projects like CordiTex, which brings together cultural studies and technology, to empower weaving communities and sustain the critical cultural practice of weaving.

Deputy Speaker Legarda, one of the most vocal and active champions of Philippine cultural preservation, shared efforts by the Philippine legislature and other institutions in the promotion and preservation of Philippine weaves and weaving culture. The Deputy Speaker focused on the production of pineapple fiber-sourced weaves more popularly known in the Philippines as piña and piña-seda (pineapple silk) to illustrate the urgent need to preserve and sustain Philippine weaving traditions and production.

She spoke of the need for convergence in the efforts of legislators like herself, in pushing for responsive legislation and the effective implementation of sustainable programs by all stakeholders in the entire weaving process. She emphasized that it literally takes an entire community of advocates and practitioners to realize this and in the process engender cultural preservation and identity, promote sustainable practices, institutionalize fair trade practices, provide livelihood, and cultivate Filipino artistry.

Deputy Speaker Legarda also showed photos of more than a century old Philippine artifacts, including piña items and Philippine weaves, donated by Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal and now housed at the Berlin Ethnological Museum.

Likewise present at the talk were Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel, Prof. Dr. Vincent Houben of Humboldt University’s Institute for Asian and African Studies, and Dr. Rosa Cordillera A. Castillo of Humboldt University and Program Director for the Advancing Philippine Studies Program who served as session moderator.

Advancing Philippine Studies at HU aims to advance and promote Philippine and Filipino studies through various academic and research platforms. The program is made possible through the efforts of Deputy Speaker Legarda who facilitated the program grant, Humboldt University, and the Philippine Embassy in Berlin. END

Rizal @160 Commemorated in Germany

PH Embassy in Germany participates in activities commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Philippines’ national hero (photos by Berlin PE)

21 June 2021, Berlin – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin commemorated the 160^th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal with the Philippine and global premiere of the documentary film “Finding Rizal in a Time of Barriers”, a project envisioned and conceptualized by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and executed by a team composed of Deputy Speaker Legarda, award-winning Director Floy Quintos and Light Vision Films, the Department of Foreign Affairs, The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, and the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega likewise joined Deputy Speaker Legarda and other special guests for the Pre-Launch Program and Press Conference before the airing of the documentary.

The Embassy also held a simple wreath-laying ceremony to mark Rizal’s birth anniversary with guests from the Knights of Rizal and Ladies for Rizal. END

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE THANKSGIVING MASS AND APPRECIATION EVENT HELD IN BERLIN

 Filipino community members gather for a Misa ng Pasasalamat

14 June 2021, Berlin – The Filipino Community of Bayernallee in Berlin with the support of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin held a simple but meaningful commemoration of three important events on 13 June 2021: the 123^rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence; 35^th Anniversary of the Philippine Community at Bayernallee in Berlin, and the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

The event was highlighted by a Misa ng Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving Mass) officiated by the head of the Filipino Chaplaincy under the English-speaking group of the Archdiocease of Berlin, Fr. Tranquilino “Jun” De Ocampo, who in his message expressed gratitude that the Filipino Community in Berlin remained strong and resilient throughout the pandemic.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega shared with the Filipino Community members the theme of this year’s Philippine Independence Month commemoration on the spirit of freedom in unity and national healing. She likewise thanked all the Filipino-German community frontliners and those providing essential services who continue to face numerous challenges on a daily basis. She likewise conveyed her deep appreciation to the community for their support during her stint in Germany which is coming to a close.

Fr. Jun De Ocampo, Amb. Dizon-De Vega, and Ms. Veronica Boensch, Pastoral Team Coordinator

The Filipino Community of Bayernallee presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ambassador B. Dizon-De Vega to thank her for her dedication and care for the Filipino community in Germany, and to cap a fruitful and eventful tour of duty.

Social distancing, health and safety measures were ensured throughout the duration of the event. END