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From Designer to Diplomat
My unlikely road to becoming a career diplomat, with Roots & Wings along the way Whenever someone finds out what I did before entering the foreign service (or whenever I tell my old branding or screenwriting clients why I can’t take on new projects any more), there tends to be a surprise in the inevitable reaction—namely, “How did that happen?”—that I find daunting to satisfy. The simple answer is that my mother-in-law saw an ad for the 2019 exams and thought I might be a goo

Marthy Angue
Jan 249 min read


Three Filipino Books Launch in the Czech Republic
An official press release from the Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic 22 October 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Czech Republic, in partnership with Anglo-American University (AAU) in Prague ( https://tinyurl.com/3drn7eea ) and in cooperation with the National Book Development Board, organized the official launch of three books written by Filipino authors recently translated into the Czech language: The Uninvited Guests from Bikol (Nezvani hoste z Bikolu), written by

Roots and Wings
Jan 241 min read


Filipino-Germans Eager to Reconnect Heritage Via CFO's YouLeaD program
By the Commission for Filipinos Overseas (CFO) HANAU, Germany — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) received strong interest from Filipino-Germans in its Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) Program, which helps young Filipinos abroad reconnect with their heritage. At the “Ugnayan sa Germany 2025: Liwaliw” cultural forum, co-hosted by the CFO and the National Book Development Board (NBDB), many participants—especially Filipino mothers—asked about YouLeaD’s requirem

Roots and Wings
Jan 242 min read


Presidential Awardee Cuizon Pledges Support for CFO Cultural Programs
Press Release from Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Presidential awardee and Filipino community leader Virgilio “Ver” Cuizon has committed to support the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) by serving as a resource person for its Virtual Sentro Rizal–Educational Series. His pledge was made during a meeting with CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II and artists from his group, KUNST Filipino. Commission on Filipinos Overseas Secretary Dante "Klink" Ang II recently met wi

Roots and Wings
Jan 241 min read
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Guarding the kiss
Text by Betsy Jance von Atzigen Images by Frances Ledesma, Chris Uy, Betsy von Atzigen Filipino-American NHS surgeon Frances Samantha...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Aug 26, 20225 min read


Becky Torres & Marizel Arambulo meet up with Rawmags founder & publisher Rachel Hansen
Text by Rebecca Torres Images by Marizel Arambulo From left: Roots & Wings Rachel Hansen, Becky Torres and Marizel Arambulo Where do you...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Aug 12, 20223 min read


Common Diversities. Junge Filipin@s im deutschsprachigen Raum
“Books are the testimonies of our time. As writers, we portray the realities in the stories and give them life through our words. They...

Ralph Chan
Jul 2, 20226 min read


PamPinay wearable Art
of Pamela Gotangco, Zurich & Christian Belaro, London Text by Betsy von Atzigen, images by PamPinay At a recent meeting in Bern with...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Jun 24, 20221 min read


Behind the brand Ligaya Apparel
Christel Joy Gaño Ligaya Apparel is a clothing brand officially launched in 2022 to raise awareness of Filipino culture, through Tagalog...

Ralph Chan
Jun 24, 20224 min read


Artist Jojo Jimenez spotlighting Mindanao's Lumad tribe
Joselito “Jojo” Tolentino Jimenez is an artist born in Obando Bulacan, Philippines. His artworks and masterpieces are known to depict the...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Jun 19, 20222 min read


Para Sa Bayan. For my Motherland.
Reflections & images by Stella Sait, UK When does one become patriotic? During war? During disasters? Or when you are away from your home...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Jun 18, 20222 min read


Thousands celebrate at the KFFN Philippine Independence Day Picnic in the Netherlands 2022
Text by Rhea Topacio-Rogacion Image courtesy of LHR Photography for Kalayaan Fiesta Foundation in the Netherlands After 3 years of...

Roots and Wings
Jun 18, 20222 min read


124th Philippine Independence Celebrations in Norway
Images and text courtesy of the Philippine Embassy, Oslo At the GALA NIGHT, Saturday 4th June led by Philippine Ambassador to Norway...

Roots and Wings
Jun 13, 20223 min read


Gabi ng Kundiman
Gloria Hernandez-Grejalde, Moscow “Gabi ng Kundiman” kicks off Kalayaan 2022 celebration at Philippine Embassy in Moscow. A night of...

Gloria Hernandez Grejalde
Jun 10, 20223 min read
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