Indigenous Filipinos Share Personal Experiences in Berlin, Seek Support to Preserve Way of Life

Indigenous Filipinos and Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega Dizon-De Vega (fourth from right) with Federal Foreign Office Southeast Asia Division Head Stefanie Seedig (fifth from right) and Philippine Desk Officer Dr. Nicola Gotthardt (fifth from left). (Berlin PE photo)

BERLIN 21 October 2019 – An eight-member delegation of various indigenous tribes in Mindanao made a brief visit to Berlin on 25 September 2019 to seek the support of the international community and Filipinos abroad in preserving their unique way of life.

In a forum organized by the Embassy, the indigenous persons led by Datu Nestor Apas of the Laingan Manobo tribe recounted their painful experiences as unsuspecting pawns in a long-running communist insurgency. Members of the audience expressed solidarity with our indigenous brethren and promised that they would share the information with their family members and friends.

The group, accompanied by Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, met separately with members of the Bundestag’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by Green Party member Renate Künast, and officials of the German Federal Foreign Office.

The German officials expressed appreciation for the firsthand information provided by the group. They also signified their willingness to look into the diversion of foreign aid by bogus organizations, which support the perpetration of further violence against civilians and public servants in the Philippine countryside. END

Members of the Indigenous Peoples’ delegation share their personal stories during the Embassy forum. (Berlin PE photo)

Indigenous Peoples’ Group with Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega meet with members of the ASEAN Parliamentary Friendship Group, headed by Renate Künast at the German Parliament (Bundestage). (Berlin PE photo)

Indigenous Peoples presents Ms. Renate Künast with a token of friendship. (Berlin PE photo)

For more information, visit  https://www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.de or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.