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“Sea Major Project” Band: The Rhythmic Pulse of the Filipino-Austrian Diaspora
Music has always been the bedrock of Filipino culture, serving as a powerful medium of expression and a creative bridge for people from all walks of life. From the legendary ‘90s era of the Eraserheads and Rivermaya to modern icons, such as Lola Amour and Ben&Ben, The evolution of Original Pinoy Music (OPM) has solidified a vibrant band culture. Today, this influence has traveled across continents, inspiring the Filipino diaspora in Europe to craft their own unique musical id

Anton Miguel De Vera
2 days ago3 min read


TernoCon: Palaro Reimagines Filipino Heritage Through Play and Innovation
Filipino heritage took on a renewed sense of energy and possibility as SM Supermalls, Bench, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) presented TernoCon: Palaro, the latest special edition of the country’s leading platform for modern Filipiniana. Held at the FIFA-certified MOA Sky Football Pitch, the event transformed a sporting venue into a dynamic runway — signaling a deliberate shift toward freshness, movement, and creative freedom. The show was a refreshing take o

Donna Patricia Manio
6 days ago2 min read


Baybayin: The Script That Refuses to Be Forgotten
Before the Spanish arrived. Before colonisation rewrote our history. Before we were taught to write in any alphabet other than our own — there was Baybayin. This issue, we are proud to feature two remarkable perspectives on this ancient yet enduring Filipino script. They come from two different voices, two different experiences, and two different parts of the world — and yet they arrive at the same powerful truth: Baybayin is not a relic. It is a living, breathing act of iden

Hilda Arenas
Apr 136 min read


Sweet Buns, Bursting Plates, and Ashes: How Lent Begins Differently in Iceland
Across much of the Christian world, Lent arrives quietly. The mood turns reflective. Ashes are pressed onto foreheads. Fasting begins. But in Iceland, the road to Lent is anything but subdued. Before the solemnity comes celebration — three spirited days filled with cream puffs, salted meat, singing children, and centuries-old customs that blend Nordic flair with Christian tradition. While many countries slide gently into the penitential season, Icelanders charge toward it

Mildred Manuel-Vidarsson
Apr 133 min read
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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


Up Close and Personal with Ambassador Teddy Locsin
His diplomatic career followed decades in media and government Honourable Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. is Ambassador of the Republic of the...

Myla Arceno
Jun 5, 20255 min read
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