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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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First Filipino Russian Order of Friendship
A woman who loves reading about Russia, Armi Lopez Garcia has been fascinated by the country’s rich history and culture since she was...

Gloria Hernandez Grejalde
Apr 15, 20213 min read


Filipina at the Helm of COVID-19 Mass Testing
A true-blue Filipina hardly 5 feet (1.50m) tall and nothing short of genius, is leading a team of researchers at an illustrious...
Elizabeth von Atzigen
Apr 15, 20213 min read


Scholars in Spain
José M. Torres from the Department of Civil Law of the University of Malaga (UMA), and Professor Ruben Balane, well-versed in Filipino...
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Apr 15, 20212 min read


Bending without Breaking: Best Book at the MAM Awards
Bending without Breaking: Thirteen Women’s Stories of Migration and Resilience earned the Best Book title at the MAM Awards in 2019....
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Apr 15, 20211 min read


In Their Words: Filipino Frontliners in the UK Conquering the COVID pandemic
Below, I’ve connected with 5 Filipino doctors, nurses, and care workers, asked them about the most trying situation experienced in the...
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Apr 15, 20214 min read


Community Development: OFSPES, AAALSE, NATCCO Webinar Series
Building Wealth While Helping the Community A win-win kind of investment for the OFWs is an investment in a cooperative. Why? Because...
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Apr 15, 20211 min read


First Filipino Face for BMW
Terence Alcantara is a 100% pure Filipino model born and based in London. He is amongst a very few active proud Filipino male models...
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Apr 15, 20211 min read


Education Program for Pinoy Migrants: Empowering Overseas Filipinos as Agents of Change and Transfor
Roots and Wings RAW Editor Betsy von Atzigen chats with Tina Liamzon: When I think of Tina Liamzon, I think of one who has been...
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Apr 15, 20216 min read


Halo-Halo in Hungary: The Story Behind Budapest's Barako Kávéház
"Hungarians don’t know what this is," said Esther, the teenage barista of Barako Kávéház in Budapest, when I asked her for a halo-halo.
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Apr 15, 20213 min read


Jennifer Fergesen’s Global Carinderia wins MAM Award
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas recently recognized Jennifer Fergesen (Roots & Wings Bureau Editor, Iceland) with a Migration...
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Apr 15, 20211 min read
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