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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

Arah Sales-Gaillard: From Makati Girl to Owner of the Majestic Hotel

A story of courage, faith, and never forgetting your roots By Dennis Manaay, Country Editor, France, and Margo Calderero Le-Lain “Trust in your dreams, have courage in your heart, and remember that your business address is wherever you choose to stand at any given time - Arah. Arlibeth 'Arah' Sales-Gaillard is a proud Filipina who proves that our kababayans can thrive anywhere in the world while keeping our values close to heart. The fourth of five children from a simple Maka

Dennis Mana-ay

Jan 213 min read

When the Archipelago Spoke

The Philippines as guest of honour at the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 There are moments in a nation’s history when it steps beyond its borders and encounters itself anew through the eyes of the world. In October 2025, the Philippines experienced such a moment as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurter Buchmesse—the world’s most influential book fair. For one luminous week, the archipelago stood at the centre of global imagination. The Philippine presence in Frankfurt was more than

Cipriano De Guzman Jr. – The Filipino Baritone®

Jan 24 min read

Santa’s Real Home

The heart of Christmas beats in Finland Forget the arguments about the North Pole—Finland doesn’t need to guess. Here, they know where Santa lives. He’s a true Arctic local, known as Joulupukki, and his home is buried deep in the snowy wilderness of Lapland, where pine forests glow with frost and reindeer tracks crisscross the endless white. The Secret Mountain Every Finnish child grows up knowing the legend: Santa’s real home is hidden in Korvatunturi, a faraway mountain who

Anne Tafalla

Dec 29, 20253 min read

When Light Finds Its Way

Christmas in Luxembourg and the Filipino spirit that refuses the cold Photo courtesy of Luxembourg City Tourist Office Luxembourg in winter feels like a painting — soft lights brushing centuries-old quarters, the crisp air humming with stillness, and Christmas markets glowing beneath a crown of northern stars. Yet amid the calm and cold, the Filipino community brings its own constellation into this small country: one made of song, generosity, and gatherings that warm the sea

Cipriano De Guzman Jr. – The Filipino Baritone®

Dec 29, 20253 min read

Holiday Warmth in Wales

The deep meaning behind Welsh Christmas When I first arrived in North Wales in 2001, I had no idea how this laid-back, sheep-filled countryside celebrated Christmas. Growing up in the Philippines—especially in the barrio, and in a big family where money was always tight—we didn’t have the luxury of writing Christmas lists or expecting mountains of presents. With my father as a farmer and our priority simply getting food on the table, celebrations always came second. That was

Jonathan Pico

Dec 29, 20254 min read

From the Nobel Prize to the Advent Star

A Christmas celebration in Sweden Adventstar: The shop window of Ljusexperten in Linköping, Sweden displays electric advent candles and stars of Bethlehem. (By Lars Aronsson/LA2 via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC SA 1.0) For me, there are four very important highlights in the Swedish Christmas celebration. It is something that I have adapted, loved and enjoyed since I arrived here in the early 80s. Lighting the Advent Star. The classic advent star has four stearin candl

Rachel Hansen

Dec 18, 20253 min read

A Christmas Box Every Day

The Mullets bring joy across Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Philippines For millions of Filipinos working abroad, Christmas is a season of joy mingled with longing—a time when homesickness hums louder than carols. Yet in a quiet warehouse in Belfast, Manolito and Maria Luisa Mullet have turned that longing into love. Through MGM Cargo Limited, they make sure Christmas reaches Filipino homes across the Philippines—one balikbayan box at a time. Inside their warehouse, the s

Hilda Arenas

Dec 18, 20254 min read

Alive Beneath the Northern Lights

An Icelandic night to remember There are night skies—and then there are nights when the sky breathes. Here in Iceland, under this vast Arctic canvas I’ve come to know so well, the aurora borealis doesn’t just appear; it moves with intention. Even after years of living here, every single display still catches me off guard. The sky opens, and suddenly, I’m five years old again, staring up in disbelief. The phenomenon The northern lights might look like magic, but they’re born f

Mildred Manuel-Vidarsson

Dec 18, 20253 min read

Her Excellency: A Legacy of Strength and Diplomacy

Ambassador Irene Susan Barreiro Natividad on leadership, legacy, and the Filipino spirit in Germany We have crossed paths on many occasions, and anyone who has met her would instantly recognize the radiant smile of this charming lady, gracious, warm, and effortlessly welcoming to all. In the quiet strength of her voice and the clarity of her purpose, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Irene Susan Barreiro Natividad embodies a legacy that extends far beyond diplomacy. As the six

Maria Renker

Dec 16, 20254 min read

Philippine Books to Take World Stage at 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair

by Commission on Filipinos Overseas The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world’s leading publishing event. (Photo by Lawija via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-4.0) Filipino literature is about to make its grandest entrance yet on the global stage. The Philippines is set to become the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest and most influential publishing event in the world. In an episode of The Chairman’s Report aired on Friday, Commission on Filipinos

Roots and Wings

Oct 15, 20254 min read

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