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Consulate General of the Philippines, Frankfurt

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Coordinates: 50°7′16.81″N 8°40′19.44″E / 50.1213361°N 8.6720667°E / 50.1213361; 8.6720667
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Consulate General of the Philippines in Frankfurt
Konsulado Panlahat ng Pilipinas sa Frankfurt
Generalkonsulat der Philippinen in Frankfurt
Map
LocationFrankfurt
AddressGrüneburgweg 16-18
Coordinates50°7′16.81″N 8°40′19.44″E / 50.1213361°N 8.6720667°E / 50.1213361; 8.6720667
Consul GeneralMarie Yvette L. Banzon-Abalos
Websitefrankfurtpcg.de

The Consulate General of the Philippines in Frankfurt is a diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines in Germany, representing the country's interests in Hesse. It is located on the first floor of the Westend Carree complex along Grüneburgweg in the Westend-Nord district of Frankfurt, near the main campus of the Goethe University Frankfurt. Although the current consulate dates from 2019, the Philippines also maintained a previous consulate in Frankfurt between 2009 and 2012.

History

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The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt was first opened on March 4, 2009,[1] taking over from a previous honorary consulate.[2] Initially operating from offices along Friedrichstraße up the street from the present-day Consulate, and with career diplomat Romeo Manalo serving as its first Consul General, the mission replaced the Bonn extension office of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin.[1] Manalo was subsequently succeeded by Raul M. Santiago Jr. as Consul General.[3]

After a massive expansion of the Philippines' diplomatic presence abroad during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in 2010 Senator Franklin Drilon questioned the need for embassies in countries with small Filipino communities, including a number of countries in Europe, and called for a review of the Philippines' diplomatic presence worldwide.[4] This would lead to the closure of ten posts under Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III, and ultimately to the closure of the Consulate on July 31, 2012.[5] The closure was not without controversy: in March 2012, some 100 people held a 1-kilometer (0.62 mi) long march in cold weather to protest the Consulate's closure.[6] Led by local resident Victoria "Vickie" Villar, protesters called on President Aquino to reconsider his position and downsize rather than close the mission entirely, especially as it would be too inconvenient for the Filipinos living in the Consulate's service area to go to Berlin, some 800 kilometers (500 mi) away, and with Villar herself instead demanding the closure of the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon.[7] Villar also wrote to the Philippine Daily Inquirer to ask for the Consulate to remain open,[8] and a petition was also organized alongside similar movements in other affected countries, with more than 2,000 signatures being collected from both Filipinos and Germans.[6]

While the Consulate remained closed, relations were conducted through a service office of the honorary consulate in Stuttgart, headed by Gerhard Ziedler, honorary president of Dekra's board of directors,[9] with Loredanna Hess serving as consul in Frankfurt.[10] However, both were closed indefinitely on December 19, 2016 owing to Ziedler's retirement,[11] with those needing consular services being advised to proceed directly to the Embassy.[12] Both posts reopened the following year with the appointment of new honorary consuls.[11]

By 2018 the Philippine government had begun considering reopening the Consulate, with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano announcing that it would reopen as part of an expansion of the country's diplomatic presence under Aquino's successor, Rodrigo Duterte.[13] The Consulate provisionally reopened in October 2018,[14] and it fully reopened for consular services on January 15, 2019.[15] Initially operating from another building within the Westend Carree complex on Gervinusstraße,[15] it moved to its permanent location – an 800-square-meter (8,600 sq ft) space – on May 16, 2019.[16]

Staff and activities

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The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt is headed by Consul General Marie Yvette L. Banzon-Abalos, who assumed the position in December 2021.[17] Prior to becoming Consul General, Banzon-Abalos, a career diplomat, most recently served as the DFA's executive director for strategic communications,[18] and prior to that served as Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Oslo.[19]

Currently, the Consulate's jurisdiction covers seven states in southern Germany, with some 15,000 Filipinos living within its service area.[15] Since it reopened, it has participated in a number of activities to promote ties between the Philippines and Germany. Its efforts in promoting economic ties between the two countries include supporting the participation of Filipino businesses at local trade fairs,[20] while promoting cultural ties by facilitating the creation of a Philippine studies program at the Ruhr University Bochum,[21] showcasing Filipino art,[22] and encouraging Filipinos living within its jurisdiction to be active in patronizing and supporting Filipino culture, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the arts.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "New RP consulate general opens in Frankfurt". GMA News and Public Affairs. March 4, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Garcia, Becky (March 12, 2006). "It's good to be home". The Manila Times. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Cruz, Isagani (May 28, 2009). "Frantic in Frankfurt". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  4. ^ Ager, Maila (October 20, 2010). "Review sought over number of RP embassies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Del Callar, Michaela (September 4, 2012). "DFA shuts down five overseas posts, with five more to close this year". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Buenafe, Danny (March 14, 2012). "Pinoys protest closure of Frankfurt consulate". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Gross, Jessica (February 10, 2012). "PH urged to retain posts in Germany, Spain, Sweden". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Why consulates are important to overseas Filipinos". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 17, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "Der Honorargeneralkonsul für Baden-Württemberg und Hessen" [Honorary Consul General for Baden-Württemberg and Hesse] (in German). Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines for Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Kontakt" [Contact] (in German). Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines for Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "New Philippine Honorary Consuls in Germany" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin. November 3, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Bürozeiten" [Office Hours] (in German). Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines for Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  13. ^ Rocamora, Joyce Ann L. (March 15, 2018). "Cayetano vows 'improved' passport system by mid-2018". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Cruz, Neni S.R. (October 13, 2018). "Impossible without government support". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "PH Opens Consulate General in Frankfurt" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. January 18, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "PCG Frankfurt Welcomes Consular Applicants to New Chancery" (Press release). Philippine Consulate General, Frankfurt. May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  17. ^ "NINE DAYS TO CHRISTMAS: TRADITIONAL FILIPINO DAWN MASSES CELEBRATED IN FRANKFURT" (Press release). Philippine Consulate General, Frankfurt. December 16, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "Philippine foreign affairs chief issues expletive-laced tweet over China sea dispute". Marianas Variety. May 5, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "New Honorary Consul General in Helsinki Sworn In" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. June 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Tenorio Jr., Bum D. (March 15, 2020). "Faith keeps Ambiente afloat". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Cruz, Maricel (October 19, 2019). "Legarda pushes cultural diplomacy". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Nisay, JT (October 29, 2020). "From gallery walls to web pages: Art exhibits find new ways to present visual escapes". BusinessMirror. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  23. ^ Mabasa, Roy (December 8, 2020). "PH consulate in Frankfurt leads event featuring performing arts". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
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