top of page


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
Search


A Conversation with a Creative Entrepreneur
Roots & Wings sat down for a quick chat with Cindy Wong, founder of 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing House. Words by Michellan Sarile...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Jan 31, 20224 min read


Filipina serial entrepreneur brings Filipino food to the Swedish table
Text & photos by Katrina Larida Meet Lorielle Phillips (former Lorielle Fajardo Barlis), a Personal Chef, serial entrepreneur and...

Ma. Katrina Larida
Jan 25, 20224 min read


Eve's Art
Sketching a lifetime into a dozen secret books Story by Lily C. Fen, Zurich Art by Evelyn Steiner, Lucerne What if one woman had sketched...

Lily C. Fen
Jan 25, 20222 min read


AURORA BOREALIS - The Northern Lights
When a hobby became a passion By Joseph B. Bantolo, Norway I came to Kirkenes 20 years ago, late spring of April 2002 when the midnight...

Joseph B. Bantolo
Jan 23, 20225 min read


Of balikbayan boxes, culture and memories
Jeffrey Cabuay, France Drawing by Zivi Alagao, 9* I could never forget when Christmas time arrived. We received these giant boxes all...

Jeffrey Cabuay
Jan 17, 20224 min read


Home for Christmas
Marthy Angue, Manila Drawing by Alexander Fulcher*9, Vienna In 1521, the eastern and western ends of the world met on an island chain in...

Marthy Angue
Jan 16, 20223 min read


Have a Merry and Inclusive Christmas
Ralph Chan, Vienna Drawings by Adrian Wetzlmaier, 8 Austria* and Chili Ada, 11 Philippines Christmas is here, a time to gather with loved...

Ralph Chan
Dec 17, 20215 min read


Christmas in Vienna: Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz
Text & images by Anton Miguel De Vera, Austria The Wiener Christkindlmarkt Am Rathausplatz Christmas is coming, the bells are ringing,...

Anton Miguel De Vera
Dec 16, 20213 min read


Dreaming of a white Christmas
Rica & David Abbott, Champery Switzerland Christmas is our favourite time of year. Every Christmas is special. It’s the season of love...

Rica & David Abott
Dec 15, 20211 min read


Savoring Filipino Delicacies at the Bern Fernweh Festival
Text & images by Monette Bichsel, Switzerland Multiple chatters in Tagalog, punctuated with high-pitched laughter, bounced off the...

Monette Bichsel
Dec 13, 20213 min read
bottom of page