Legarda reconnects Rizal’s anthropological legacy through digital exhibition at Frankfurt Book Fair

Senator Loren Legarda celebrated the completion of a twelve-year cultural mission by launching a digital exhibition of ethnographic objects that Dr. José Rizal once donated to German scholars. Legarda first saw the collection in 2013 at the Berlin Ethnological Museum. It includes textiles and artifacts like a Bagobo blouse, a Manobo jacket, and a Mandaya abaca baby carrier. Rizal gave these items to Dr. Adolf Bastian while he was in Europe.

“This was Rizal not only as a writer, but as […]

Legarda reclaims Filipino voice at launch of Impressions of an Archipelago in Frankfurt

On October 16, in Frankfurt, Germany, Senator Loren Legarda spoke about the lasting strength of Filipino identity and the value of working together. She made these remarks at the launch of Impressions of an Archipelago: Spanish Travellers and Writings on the Philippines, which took place during the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair.

Legarda began by recalling the Philippines before colonization, describing it as a nation known for trade, governance, and rich languages.

“Long before the first […]

Legarda celebrates the launch of Sensible Form by Patrick Flores: A Testament to Philippine Thought and Global Dialogue

At the heart of the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, Senator Loren Legarda joined cultural luminaries in launching Sensible Form: Essays by Patrick Flores, a collection that reaffirms the power of Filipino scholarship to shape global conversations on art, meaning, and memory.

The book’s author, Patrick Flores, also serves as curator of the Philippine Pavilion, the centerpiece of this historic role, where his vision and interpretive approach shape the country’s cultural presence on the world […]

Legarda honors Rizal’s legacy at launch of German translations of Noli, El Fili

Senator Loren Legarda honored the lasting wisdom of Dr. Jose Rizal at the launch of the German editions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which took place during the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair held from October 15 to 19, 2025.

Speaking before an international audience, Legarda expressed gratitude to Suhrkamp Verlag, Morio Verlag, and the translators and scholars who brought Rizal’s seminal works to German readers.

“Rizal continues to speak to the world, not […]

Legarda reflects on shared heritage at Hunting for Artifacts Launch

Senator Loren Legarda joined the launch of Hunting for Artifacts: 19th Century German Explorers in the Luzon Cordillera, a new book introduced as part of the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair 2025.

In her speech, Legarda spoke about the lasting connections between the Philippines and Germany and highlighted the value of preserving culture through shared curiosity and respect.

“In the intricate weave of our history, there are moments when cultures intersect, reshaping the way we view […]