30 German and Filipino companies exhibited their products and services in a record number of 40 booths for a whole weekend in Bonifacio High Street. Countless interested visitors stopped for a business talk or chat and had fun while playing the exhibitors’ games of the Mabuhay Germany Scavenger Hunt. Especially the give-aways enjoyed great popularity.

The event started with a spectacular Grand Opening on Friday, October 7, hosted by the adorable Sandra Seifert. View the theme setter here. After the welcome remarks by Reiner Allgeier, President of GPCCI, Ma. Laarni Cayetano, Mayor of Taguig, and newly assigned German Ambassador Dr. Joachim Heidorn, the audience witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Taguig and the City of Freiburg, which was the highlight of the evening. With this agreement, the two cities aim to promote cooperation on various social, technological and environmental programs, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, climate change adaptation, disaster preparation, city planning, and improvement of the public transport system. It was initiated by Robert Bosch Inc. Philippines and proudly facilitated by GPCCI.

A three-day entertainment program for the whole family was organized by GPCCI and some German institutions such as the German Embassy, the German Development Corporation (GIZ), the German European School Manila, the Goethe Institut Manila and the German Alumnis in fantastic team work. A big variety of German food was provided by eight concessionaires, who took great care of the physical well-being of the visitors.

Two symposiums, one organized by GIZ, one organized by the Goethe Institut Manila, tackled very interesting topics and provided a big amount of well-researched and well-presented information. The professionally organized Job Fair was a good platform to connect GPCCI member companies to qualified employees.

The 2^nd edition of our table football competition tied working colleagues closer together and led to more “Winning Moments”. The Embassy Eagles (Tina Rast of German Embassy with her husband Tobias Rast of German Club) were the skilled and lucky winners. “Winning Moments” was also the topic of our Photo Competition in which more than 40 people participated. Have a look at the winning picture on our GPCCI facebook page!

We were very proud to host two world-class German jazz bands this year for the first time since the existence of Mabuhay Germany! The musicians from Germany are all young professional graduates of the Music Academy in Cologne/Germany, who are all members of Germany’s Youth Jazz Orchestra and who have won several national and international music awards. The Hot Brownies presented an astonishing program on Friday evening during the Grand Opening. The WiLLiT Blend band gave the crowd an insight in a special kind of German jazz style on Sunday afternoon and had a spectacular jam session with the Vince Lahorra Quartet, a Filipino jazz band. The Sunday program had started with a Catholic Mass, followed by a performance by the German European School Manila kids in the morning.  The Bloomfields, a Filipino Beatles cover band which performed on Saturday evening in the main tent, was, beyond any dispute, again a crowd drawer. DJ Chris Myk knew how to make those people who still had energy left dancing the night away. It was charming DJ Scarlet of Radio 99.5 RT who hosted the Saturday party night.

The Hot Brownies and The WiLLiT Blend were brought to you with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office and the Goethe Institut München e.V.

Have a look at the complete Program flyer and visit us on Facebook to undertake a virtual trip through Mabuhay Germany 2011 by having a look at the numerous pictures.

Check out the latest press releases and media activities:

…August 4, 2011 – Thought Haven
…September 18, 2011 – Manila Bulletin
…September 21, 2011 – Radio Station Wave, 89.1
…September 22, 2011 – Philippine Star
…September 22, 2011 – Business World
…September 25, 2011 – TV show on GNN: “Philippines uncut” with Buddy Cunanan (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5)
…September 30, 2011 – Philippine Star
…October 3, 2011 – Manila Bulletin
…October 4, 2011 – Unlimited Grub Grabs
…October 5, 2011 – Charity Event in the German Club at 7pm
with the German jazz band, the Hot Brownies
…October 5, 2011 – Jam Session in “The Collective” at 11pm
with the German jazz band, the WiLLiT Blend, and a Filipino DJ
…October 8, 2011 – Azrael’s Merryland
…October 8, 2011 – Digital Journal
…October 8, 2011 – Flickr
…October 8, 2011 – Joyride
…October 8, 2011 – Tumblr.
…October 9, 2011 – Cool Mom An2nette
…October 9, 2011 – Rose of Sharon
…October 10, 2011 – Live and Leisure

THANK YOU MABUHAY GERMANY 2011 COMMITTEE

GPCCI would like to say a very, very warm and happy THANK YOU to all helpers that made Mabuhay Germany 2011 be such a successful event! We know that you put in a great amount of energy and the organization caused you quite some grey hairs. But we think that it was worth it:  You did an amazing job!!!

The Mabuhay Germany Committee (to the right of Sandra Seifert): Reiner Allgeier, Nadine Fund, Sylvia Beck, Tina Rast, Jeanette Morales, Roland Odenthal, Brenda Baylon, Vanessa Legaspi, Dr. Volker Steigerwald, Richard Susara, Carmina Barcelon, Ethel Concepcion, Leah Gatchalian, Jay Block and Gino Garcia.

A special thanks also to Outbound Asia Inc., our valuable and reliable production partner, and to Outbound Communications, our precious partner for press work!