top of page


PACE: A New Vision for Cultural Exchange in Europe
Submitted by Maria Antonia Bosa Van Espen-Boonen, Belgium How a volunteer-driven organization is bringing Philippine arts and culture to the mainstream—one collaboration at a time. For Louise Baterna, preserving Philippine culture is not simply about remembering the past—it is about building bridges for the future. She believes Filipinos in Europe can share their heritage while becoming active participants in the communities they now call home. In a multicultural city li

Community
1 day ago8 min read


Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda’s Enduring Mission of Service
“Reflections on diplomacy, partnerships and his continuing commitment to Filipinos in Europe” As he approaches the final bend of his diplomatic career, Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda is far from thinking of retirement. His office at the Philippine-owned property in the heart of Brussels is in constant motion. His agenda is full, hopping from board meetings and official visits to community gatherings. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippin

Louise Baterna
5 days ago8 min read


Igorot Community UK Sports Festival 2026
The Igorot Community UK had its Sports Festival 2026 recently. It was a full-circle cultural immersion experience that brought a strong and established group of Filipinos in England who preserve their Igorot heritage with remarkable determination. The event was packed with sportsfest fun and the evening program ran with the Little Mr and Ms Igorot UK Sportsfest 2026 pageant. According to Mimi Mili, one of the creators of JhermiNATION and Filipino Market Events London who at

Feds Infante Murray
Aug 201 min read


The Filipino Spring Fair: "Kantahan, Kainan, Kultura"
London - On 23 May 2026, JhermiNATION Events, Filipino Market Events London, and Filipino Thrive UK marked the third year of the Filipino Spring Fair: " Kantahan, Kainan, Kultura" which celebrates Filipino culture, community, and entrepreneurship. The fair was held at St. John's Church in Nottinghill, London. The annual event is fuelled by the curators' passion and purpose to bring communities together, support local Filipino businesses, celebrate culture, and promote Filip

Feds Infante Murray
Aug 152 min read
Search


Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda’s Enduring Mission of Service
“Reflections on diplomacy, partnerships and his continuing commitment to Filipinos in Europe” As he approaches the final bend of his diplomatic career, Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda is far from thinking of retirement. His office at the Philippine-owned property in the heart of Brussels is in constant motion. His agenda is full, hopping from board meetings and official visits to community gatherings. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippin

Louise Baterna
5 days ago8 min read


Building Bridges Through Work and Solidarity: Philippine Ambassador Joins JHL’s Filipino Night in Helsinki
On January 21, 2026 in Helsinki, the spirit of community and solidarity took center stage as Philippine Ambassador to Finland Domingo Nolasco attended Filipino Night, an event organized by the Finnish Trade Union for Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), Finland’s largest union representing workers in the public and welfare sectors. The gathering celebrated not only Filipino culture, but also the shared values that bind workers and communities across borders. In his remarks, Amba

Anne Tafalla
Mar 232 min read


His Excellency Enrico T. Fos
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary t o the Kingdom of Norway & Iceland "Honour, Competence & Commitment to Serve" Roots & Wings Magazine is honoured and proud to feature in this first quarter issue, the highly respected, admired, and awarded His Excellency ENRICO T FOS, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines, to the Kingdom of Norway, and the Republic of Iceland. Now in his fifth year in current post, Ambassador

Luz Bergersen
Mar 2112 min read


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


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


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


Department of Migrant Workers Reaches Out to OFWs in Finland Through Town Hall Meeting
by Anne Tafalla, Helsinki, Finland Filipinos in Finland had the chance to speak directly with officials from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) during a town hall meeting held on September 14, 2025, at Vipusentie 19, Helsinki. The event was organized in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Finland. The town hall gave Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) a space to share their stories — from everyday struggles to bigger challenges — so the DMW can better understand thei

Roots and Wings
Oct 15, 20251 min read


The Diplomat Who Brought Home Back
How Ambassador Daniel R. Espiritu’s 35-year journey from Cold War battlegrounds to Dublin's Georgian streets rewrote the rules of modern...

Hilda Arenas
Oct 3, 20258 min read


Ambassador Patrick A. Chuasoto Presents His Credentials to His MajestyCarl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
The newly appointed ambassador previously served as Chargé d’Affaires at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C by the Philippine...
Philippine Embassy Stockholm
Jun 6, 20252 min read
bottom of page