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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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Summer heat & hot flavours
Summer 22 Editorial by Betsy What a sizzling, dizzying summer that was! The hottest I’ve ever experienced in Europe with temperatures...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Sep 3, 20222 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


Rawmags Social Entrepreneurship Project: Laura Vicuna Women’s Development and Training Center
Becky Torres with Sr. Guia Asperen, FMA, Philippines The Laura Vicuna Women’s Development and Training Center in Victorias City, Negros...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Apr 8, 20221 min read


Moments of Discernment: Coronavirus reflections from around the world
Roots & Wings Editor in Chief Betsy von Atzigen collected these thoughts on the coronavirus crisis from Filipinos living around the...
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Apr 15, 20215 min read


Letter from the Editor: Easter Crowns a Corona Crisis
Easter 2020 comes at a time when most of us have had the chance to sit in quiet reflection, surviving an unprecedented and excruciating...
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Apr 15, 20211 min read


When a mirror begins to break
A mirror is not just an ornament we use to check our own image Because it symbolizes a lot of things to us... Sometimes it reflects our...

Community
Apr 15, 20212 min read


Magellan at World's End
"On March 16, 1521," or so the song went, "the Philippines was discovered by Magellan." A catchy mnemonic, to be sure. Problematic? Even...
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Apr 15, 20218 min read


Career Corner: Social remittances of lifelong learning, personal development and mentoring
As I walk this path towards my retirement in six years, after completing 24 years of long-term employment with the United Nations Office...
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Apr 15, 20211 min read


Pope Francis visits Sweden: A Personal Journey
Last autumn, my husband and I were some of the hundreds of Filipinos who journeyed from far and wide to attend the ecumenical celebration...
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Apr 15, 20211 min read


Connecting with Betsy von Atzigen, ENFiD Chairperson
Roots & Wings Editor in Chief Ms. Rachel Hansen discusses the latest thrusts of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora with ENFiD...
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Apr 15, 20217 min read
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