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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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Historical Churches in Manila
words and images by Gloria Hernandez Grejalde Dig into Manila’s rich historical past. Travel back in time as you walk through the aisles...

Gloria Hernandez Grejalde
May 29, 20244 min read


No other place like Jerusalem
Text and images by Betsy von Atzigen It is no coincidence that this year’s Christian Easter, Jewish Passover and Muslim Ramadan are...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Apr 8, 20231 min read


Women for Positive Changes
On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, UK Text and images by Myla Arceno, MCSP Myla Arceno, 2nd from right March is a very special...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Mar 29, 20232 min read


"Quezon's Game" Screened at ASEAN+3 Film Festival in Prague
by Rebecca Urbančík Garcia Quotes from the Philippine Embassy in Prague The ASEAN+3 Film Festival in Prague was officially launched on...

Rebecca Urbančík Garcia
Nov 11, 20223 min read


Sebastian Eviota, first full-blooded Filipino in the world's smallest army
By Betsy von Atzigen, Switzerland Sebastian Eviota, 3rd from right, among the 2022 recruits of the Pontifical Swiss Guard - Päpstliche...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Sep 2, 20223 min read


ART for a Cause
Part of your purchase of Victor Cantal's Art for a Cause sends Filipino students to Laura Vicuña vocational/technical schools in Palawan...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Sep 1, 20221 min read
Rawmags celebrates 124th National Day
Betsy von Atzigen, Editor in Chief The 12th of June ushered the 124th Philippine Independence Day celebrations nationwide. But with over...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Jun 15, 20221 min read


“Recuerdos de Filipinas – Felix Laureano”
A testimony important not only to Filipinos but all those who love Asia
and what the countries were like a a century earlier.

Maris Gavino
Nov 5, 20212 min read


RIZAL at 160: a Filipino Feat in Britain
Text by Junart Kim S. Nieva United Kingdom Jose Rizal, Philippine national hero, would have turned 160 years old this year. Although it...

Junart Kim S. Nieva
Aug 15, 20213 min read


JUST WHERE ARE WE?
Text by Nita H. Umali, Manila, Philippines 1946 Reprinted with permission In 1946, at the age of 23, Nita H. Umali posed a question -...

Nita Herrera-Umali Berthelsen
Aug 15, 20213 min read
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