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Consul General Ivy Banzon Abalos today met with Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky to explore avenues for cultural and literary collaboration, paving the way for deeper ties between the Philippines and the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. Renowned for its iconic fairy tales, Hanau offers a vibrant platform to showcase the Philippines’ rich literary traditions, including its folktales, legends, and contemporary works, in the lead-up to the country’s Guest of Honour role at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair. Discussions highlighted Philippine presence in the city’s prominent cultural events, as a prime venue to introduce Filipino stories to German audiences. This collaboration seeks to celebrate the universal power of storytelling, bridging cultures and fostering deeper connections through shared literary heritage. END

Nature’s Legacy, an award-winning Cebu-based manufacturer that produces innovative materials for use in a broad range of applications, attracted the interest of German and other European businesses at the Sustainable Materials Conference & Expo held on 13-14 November 2024 in Köln, Germany.

Nature’s Legacy featured its NUCAST and NATURESCAST materials – the first, a patented reengineered recycled paper composite, and the second, a material made from rescued agro-forest debris held by a proprietary water-based binder, both of which provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional but finite materials such as stone, wood, and steel to create designs and products for various construction, design, architecture, and industrial applications using what would otherwise have been organic waste materials. The interest of many European companies in the innovative sustainable materials from Cebu shows that Filipino ingenuity and Filipino sustainable materials can complement the sustainability trajectory of German and European businesses.

The Sustainable Materials Conference and Expo, Europe’s largest free-to-attend event for renewable and circular materials and manufacturing solutions, was held in tandem with the Sustainable Chemicals Conference & Expo and the Plastic Waste Free World Conference & Expo to form Cologne’s Sustainable Industry Week and provide visitors with the opportunity to source new solutions across the entire supply chain to meet the growing demand for sustainable and circular products.

(On the left: Nature’s Legacy demonstrates its NUCAST material and how it may be combined with other waste products to produce different textures and applications.

On the right: Nature’s Legacy co-founders Pete and Cathy Delantar with Philippine Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos at the Nature’s Legacy booth at Köln Messe). (END)

As part of its continuing information campaign for the Filipino-German communities under its jurisdiction, the Philippine Consulate General held an info session on Dual Citizenship and Pag-IBIG services in St. Winfried Church in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia. Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva, Jr. led the team composed of Consul Cecille Joyce Lao together with Ms. Marivic Agot, Area Head Pag-IBIG and Ms. Mylene Lontoc, Pag-IBIG Milan. The event in Bonn was made possible with the support of Father Rodel Liguid, Filipino chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Cologne and the council of leaders. END

Congratulations to the members of the Team Philippines bowling team for bagging the major awards during the ASEAN in Frankfurt Bowling Tournament 2024. The 4-member Philippine team composed of Deputy Consul General Rogelio Villanueva Jr., Eric Garcia, Adam Rosete and Rico Fajardo obtained the Highest Series – Overall for the group category followed by Malaysia and Indonesia. Mr. Adam Rosete was awarded the Highest Series – Overall for individual category while Mr. Rico Fajardo took home the Most Valuable Player award for garnering the Highest Score in a single game.

Competing teams from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the one-day tournament held in Bowling World in Frankfurt. Aside from the competition, the event included bowling fun games for the ASEAN countries including Cambodia. Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos joined the ceremonial throw along with the other Consuls General to officially open the games and boost the morale of the team. The event was made possible through the active support of the Filipino community in Frankfurt and bowling coordinator Mr. Ernesto “Nestie” Catibog, president of B.V. Pinoy Frankfurt e.V. END


Fresh from their celebrated appearance at the Philippines Guest of Honor FBM 2025 Kickoff Program in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld, the Philippine Madrigal Singers continued their tour with a breathtaking performance on Sunday, 3 November at St. Ignatius Church in Frankfurt. Known for their world-class harmonies, the choir captivated the audience, showcasing the beauty and depth of Filipino music. Their performance not only filled the church with awe but also highlighted the cultural richness that the Philippines brings to the international stage. The Madrigal Singers’ tour marks an inspiring chapter in the celebration of Filipino talent and heritage in Germany. END

  1. PHILIPPINES DISPLAYS DEPTH AND DIVERSITY OF ITS CULTURAL AND LITERARY TRADITIONS DURING GUEST OF HONOUR KICKOFF EVENTS IN HEIDELBERG AND WILHELMSFELD
  2. PHILIPPINES EMBRACES GLOBAL LITERARY STAGE AS THE NEXT GUEST OF HONOR AT FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR
  3. Philippines Set to Shine at 2024 Frankfurter Buchmesse, Poised for 2025 Guest of Honour Spotlight
  4. SAN LORENZO RUIZ DE MANILA FIESTA BRINGS TOGETHER FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOGNE