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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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NAYUME RIISE TAKAHASHI
Commercial Pilot (Captain), and Le Cordon Bleu Grand Meny Chef "Be the best of whatever you do in life, and be kind to one another" It is not every day that one meets a lady who is both a Commercial Pilot (Captain), and a Grand Diplôme Chef from the College of Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu Paris! Both are very demanding, expensive careers, requiring years of study, dedication and training. So, who would not be mesmerized when meeting Nayume -Filipina-Japanese, who is exactl

Luz Bergersen
Mar 233 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


David Kaufman Stone
David Kaufman Stone is a contemporary artist of Filipino-Spanish descent whose work spans abstract painting, photography, mixed media, and sculpture. Educated at De La Salle University's College of Saint Benilde in Manila and a postgraduate of the University of Oxford, he brings a rare combination of academic rigour and creative freedom to everything he makes. Beyond the canvas, Kaufman is the founder of one of the Philippines' most respected architectural stone companies — a

Maria Renker
Mar 235 min read


Art, Heart, and Heritage: Margo Calderero-Le Lain's Grand Palais Triumph
A Filipina artist brings home and hope to the heart of Paris PARIS — During Art Capital 2025, the Grand Palais witnessed something extraordinary. From February 12 to 15, amid hundreds of international artists, one Filipina stood out — not just for her art, but for her heart. Margo Calderero-Le Lain had transformed one of France's most prestigious venues into more than an exhibition. On February 13, the event began in the afternoon with a special conference at the Philippine E

Dennis Mana-ay
Mar 213 min read


Cipriano “Zip” De Guzmán Jr., the Filipino Baritone, Shines on the World Stage
An Opera Singer, Chorister and Music Educator Hailing from one of the oldest cities in Metro Manila, Pasig, Philippines, Cipriano “Zip” De Guzmán Jr. grew up with music in his soul. At age 16, he joined the church choir in Pasig. When he was studying Communication Arts in college, he mustered all his courage and worked with passion by joining The University of the East Chorale which gave him an opportunity to sit-in during the rehearsals of the famous Madrigal Singers. In 2

Feds Infante Murray
Mar 217 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


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
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