16 December 2015 – Through the leadership of its First Chair, Mrs. Anita Nowack, KinderhilfePhilippinene.V. held the 14th Deutsch-PhilippinischerKulturabend for the benefit of the Educational Research and Development Foundation (ERDA), an NGO based in the Philippines. The benefit concert was produced in cooperation with the RegionalverbandSaarbrücken through its president and one of the foundation’s patrons, Mr. Peter Gillo. The event was held at the SchlossSaarbruecken in the presence of 100 guests.
For more than 20 years, KinderhilfePhilippinen has raised funds for ERDA, which was founded in 1974 by Fr. Pierre Tritz, a Lorrain-born Jesuit. ERDA’s projects are aimed at providing out-of-school youth and street children access to education. These children are provided with financial and material assistance to enable them to continue their schooling.
The evening’s guest of honor, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the foundation and her gratitude for the generosity of its patrons. “I would like to express my appreciation for KinderhilfePhilippinen’s outstanding achievement. You promote not only Filipino cultural opportunities but also improve the lives of many Filipinos. To help children in need is a very noble undertaking. To help ERDA of Father Pierre Tritz is one way of doing it.” She capped her remarks by highlighting the renewed vigor in Philippine-German relations with the two countries celebrating the 61st anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations this year. Ambassador Sta. Maria-Thomeczek gave the audience a brief overview of the Philippines and its people and invited them to visit the Philippines.
Fr. Tritz’s remarks were delivered by Claude Villeroy de Galhau, second Chair of the KinderhilfePhilippinene.V.
Prof. Dr. Sandro Keller gave an overview of the developments regarding ERDA-Kinderhilfe projects in Manila. The foundation’s First Chair Anita Nowackcapped the event by thanking participants and guests for their valuable contributions.
This year’s Kulturabend featured the choral artistry of the Schülerinne und Schüler der Musik-AG des Otto-Hahn-Gymnasiums and the Yellow Submarine Project from Saarbruecken. Powerful renditions of solos and duets were presented by Tenor Charles Robin Broad and Filipino talents Mylah Rubio (Cultural Attaché) and Jose Mari Rubio. The Pilipinas Cultural Dance Troupe regaled the audience with colorful Philippine dances.
The event has grown into a major charity affair in the Saarland cultural calendar since its inception in 1993. END