PH Guest of Honour opens at Frankfurt Book Fair; Legarda reclaims Rizal’s legacy, declares literary power on global stage

October 14, 2025

The 77th Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 in Germany officially opened on Tuesday, October 14, with the Philippines as Guest of Honour (GOH). Senator Loren Legarda gave a keynote speech that highlighted history, inspired cultural pride, and showcased the strength of Philippine imagination to the global literary community.

Legarda’s speech traced the revolutionary journey of Dr. Jose Rizal through Germany, his studies in Heidelberg, his poetic reflections along the Neckar, and the completion of Noli Me Tangere in Wilhelmsfeld.

“It was not arms […]

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Keynote Message of Senator Loren Legarda | Frankfurter Buchmesse Opening Ceremony | Tuesday, 14 October 2025 | Frankfurt, Germany

October 14, 2025

Imagine growing up being told that your national hero, the one who sparked the liberation of your people from more than three centuries of colonization, was not a warrior with a sword but a writer with a pen.

Ours was a medical doctor, a poet and novelist, in the name of Dr. José Rizal, who made imagination his sharpest weapon. His words carved hope where despair had reigned, dignity where oppression had prevailed. For that imagination, he was executed in 1896, […]

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Legarda files “Last Mile Schools Act” to strengthen access to education in the country’s most underserved areas

October 13, 2025

Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, has filed Senate Bill No. 1412, or the Last Mile Schools bill, which seeks to bring quality education to children living in the country’s most geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas (GIDCA).

The proposed measure institutionalizes Last Mile Schools under the administration of the Department of Education (DepEd), serving learners in remote and underserved areas, including Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs), consistent with the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act […]

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Legarda’s visionary work brings Filipino imagination to the global stage at Frankfurt Book Fair

October 13, 2025

The wait is finally over. From October 15 to 19, the Philippines will make history as the Guest of Honour at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 in Germany, the oldest and largest book fair in the world, an international trademark, and a model for cultural events. The country has joined the fair since 1998, but this is its first time as Guest of Honour, a rare distinction that puts Filipino creativity at the center of global literary conversations.

The path […]

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Legarda – Indigenous Peoples serve as pillar of nation

October 9, 2025

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Month this October, Senator Loren Legarda paid tribute to the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to the country’s cultural heritage, national identity, and sustainable development.

“The Philippines is home to scores of ethno-linguistic groups, many of which have maintained their unique pre-colonial cultures and practices. This is not a mere point of pride, but it represents a wealth of knowledge we can depend on for the future,” Legarda said.

“We have long regarded IPs as the […]

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