GOVPH

LEGARDA DELIVERS PH STATEMENT IN COP25, URGES DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO FULFILL COMMITMENTS TO PARIS AGREEMENT

MADRID, Spain – Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda delivered the Philippine Statement at the High-Level Segment of the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Madrid, Spain, where she serves as Head of the Philippine Delegation.

Legarda urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments to the Paris Agreement by leading deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions and providing finance and investments for innovative adaptation solutions in local communities.

“The latest science tells us that our options to survive and thrive are swiftly diminishing. So in this COP, let us finish the work at hand, “the Paris rulebook.” The urgency of action, unequivocally, is most pronounced today than ever. United climate actions must now happen in an ambitious scale, scope, and speed,” Legarda said.

“The committed climate finance of at least 100 billion dollars by 2020 and every year thereafter for the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries must now materialize, beginning with the immediate replenishment of the Green Climate Fund,” Legarda added.

Legarda said that the Philippines has exhibited climate leadership and commitment to act on the climate emergency. She cited landmark climate legislation, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Renewable Energy Act, Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, National Protected Areas Act, Green Jobs Act, and the recent Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, as well as the country’s increase of excise tax on coal importation.

As a parliamentarian for the past two decades, Legarda also mentioned that she has led innovative policy and strategy development for climate action, including the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction in the government’s annual national budget.

“The Philippines, constrained as we are in means and capacities, has been doing all it can to make a difference in responding to the global climate emergency. It is in this context that we urge the developed country Parties to rise to the 1.5 climate challenge and uphold climate justice,” Legarda said.

“The time for action has long passed. Now is the time to catch up. Now is the time to translate words into actions. As we end the year to welcome a new one—the year Paris Agreement will be fully enforced—let the era of procrastination, inaction and apathy end as well. Let this end present a new beginning for humanity—a new chance to rise to the climate challenge, this time with a renewed commitment and a stronger resolve,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda thanked the people of Spain for co-hosting COP25 and expressed her confidence to the Chilean Presidency to deliver on the higher ambition and faster action that the 1.5 Paris goal requires of the global community.

Legarda is a UNEP Laureate, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, and Member of the Governing Board of the Green Climate Fund.

RIZAL ARTWORK EXHIBIT AT THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN FRANKFURT SPURS REFLECTION ON PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO

9 December 2019 – In commemoration of the 123rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt today opened an art exhibition entitled “Rizal, the Hero of the Filipino People,” at the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal area. The art exhibit features a total of 24 Rizal artworks by renowned Filipino artists Rene Robles, Ronna Manansala and Robert Lavides.

Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the exhibition which will run until 31 January 2020. She was joined by the exhibit’s curator, Mr. Klaus Hartung, Consultant of Transwing Art Gallery.

In her remarks, Consul General Austria-Garcia encouraged the Filipino-German audience to take the opportunity to revisit the life and work of the national hero through the artworks of the three featured artists. She expressed hope that the exhibit will arouse reflection on Rizal and allow the people to pay tribute to the national hero. “I hope that the pieces of art on display could stimulate thoughtful conversation and understanding of our national hero and provoke us to put Rizal’s ideals into action,” Consul General Austria-Garcia said. She thanked Mr. Hartung for raising the consciousness of the German public to the ‘genius’ that was Rizal.

Rene Robles is an internationally acclaimed artist and a recipient of various awards and distinction both in the Philippines and abroad. He is credited as the founder of “assertionism”, an art movement asserting the power of art to transform and transcend. His works have found their way into the collections of His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, and former US President Bill Clinton, among others.

‘Artivist’ Roberto Lavidez, on the other hand, is a narrative painter who candidly tackles socio-political issues ranging from oppressiveness of colonialism to the continuing complicity of corrupted institutions and injustices. Lavidez teaches art to reflect history and writes poetry as well.
Meanwhile, Ronna Manansala is the granddaughter of the Philippines’ national artist in visual arts, Vicente Manansala. Initially, Ronna’s art paid homage by interpreting his grandfather’s style that departed from rural idylls of Fernando Amorsolo. Ronna chose female themes of mother and child, Virgin Mary, gossiping women and stayed close to her famous grandfather’s style that departed from analytical cubism or the intentional breaking down of subject into near abstract form. As she moves to new styles, she has opted to use bold colors and sure brushstrokes in the broader concept of cubism that is unmistakably her own.

The Rizal artwork of the featured artists are part of the collection of Transwing Art Gallery. The gallery has a collection of Filipino visual art, which includes old and contemporary masters as well as promising artists, especially those who are self-taught. The Gallery has been present in the Philippines since 1995 through Transwing Consulting Company, managed by its president, Mr. Klaus Hartung.
The artworks complemented the existing rare Rizaliana furniture items currently on exhibit at the Consulate’s exhibition area which include a mirror and table, cabinet, cupboard, dresser and bed. It is believed that Rizal finished his novel “Noli Me Tangere“ using the table that is displayed. The Consulate presented its video production entitled, “Rizal and His German Connections” during the event. The video features Rizal’s life and times in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld in the spring of 1886.

The event was attended by art patrons, German Rizalistas and the Filipino-German community members, as well as other Frankfurt-based expatriates. It was capped with a reception featuring Filipino delicacies and Rizal wine. END

CONSULAR OUTREACH IN BONN, GERMANY

The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany held its fifth consular outreach mission for this year in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia last 7 December. The one-day event which was held at the Elohim Center in Bad Godesberg was conducted in coordination with Father Rodel Liguid, Filipino Community in Bonn, Elohim Community, Sacred Heart Group and Tropa ng Kabataang Pinoy. The outreach team led by Consul Rogelio Villanueva, Jr., provided passport, notarial, civil registry and other consular services. Mr. Rene Mangune of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) attended to labor-related concerns and accepted applications for OWWA membership.

Fiesta Celebration of the Filipino Parishioners at the Church of St. Leonard

Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia, who was accompanied by her spouse, Mr. Rico Garcia, attended the fiesta celebration of the Filipino parishioners at the church of St. Leonard’s today, 8 December. The celebration, held annually, always coincides with the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

During the homily by the Monsignor who is now based in Ireland, he underscored the Filipinos’ strong faith, love for Blessed Mother Mary and admirable community spirit.