Last 7 & 8 November, the GPCCI celebrated German-Philippine connections through its flagship event, Mabuhay Germany™ in BGC Central Square. This year's theme, “In High Spirits", perfectly encapsulated the energy and excitement trade fair goers had as they enjoyed exploring the exhibitor booths and event programs.
With enamored performances from students of the German European School Manila (GESM), the fair officially opened with remarks from GPCCI President, Ms. Marie Antoniette "Maan” Mariano, who highlighted the significance of Mabuhay Germany and expressed her excitement towards the eventful 2-day fair. This was followed by a special message from His Excellency Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Ambassador of Germany to the Philippines, who talked about the partnerships between Germany and the Philippines. DTI Secretary Hon. Cristina Aldequer-Roque also shared a special message emphasizing Germany as a valued partner for bilateral relations. To officially welcome visitors to the fair, a toast and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held by esteemed Guest of Honors:
- GPCCI Executive Director Mr. Christopher Zimmer,
- GPCCI President Ms. Maan Mariano,
- H.E. Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke,
- DTI Secretary Hon. Ma. Cristina Aldequer-Roque,
- OSAPIEA Usec. Hon. Joee Guilas,
- ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez.
- DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac,
- DMW Usec. Hon. Jainal Rascul Jr.,
- OWWA Administrator, Hon. Patricia Yvonne Caunan,
- DFA Assistant Secretary, Hon. Rhenita B. Rodriguez
- GPCCI Vice President Mr. Tristan Arwen Loveres,
- GPCCI Board Director Dr. Christian Scheld,
- GPCCI Senior Vice President Mr. Stephan Schmitz,
The guests were given a tour of the exhibit where they experienced engaging activities, garnered company freebies, and even tasted German & Filipino cuisine. To better engage visitors, a passport activity served as their guide to roam around Central Square and visit every booth – especially with a chance to win raffle items! (Check if you won a raffle prize here)
While both days featured timely and enlightening events, Day 1 visitors were treated to an acoustic performance of the GESM students. Consequently, exhibitors and special guests were invited to an Exclusive Brunch catered by the German Club Manila, Brumms Quality Wines, Virginia Food Inc., Lanson Place Mall of Asia, and Makati Diamond Residences. Great food ensured new connections were made. One highlight of the 2-day fair was the panel discussions. The first day panel focused on "Strengthening German-Philippine Relations", and featured Ambassador Pfaffernoschke, GIZ Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt, BOSCH Philippines' Paolo Duarte, ARTA's Sec. Ernesto Perez. The second day engaged attendees through “Powering Responsible Progress with Digitalization and AI", with Deutsche Bank's Ms. Maripaz Paragas, TUV Rheinland's Ms. Dian Suprapto, and Schaeffler Philippines’ Mr. Jay Durante.
Another well-attended program was the Karrieremesse or Job Fair, with “Opportunities in Germany” being the theme for the first day, and "Advice for First Time Jobseekers” on the second day. This was attended by students from Academic Partners such as TUP, FEU Manila, UE, and DLS-CSB. Students and fresh graduates alike were advised on their future careers by experienced representatives from both the public and private sectors. Additionally, interesting brand talks were held by BOSCH Philippines, Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, and fleuresse® by North-Diamond. From the latest industry innovations to ensuring you are free from CKD, they imparted invaluable knowledge to the trade fair visitors.
In the evening, the much-awaited Table Football Tournament commenced where the audience cheered loudly for their teams. GPCCI Executive Director, Mr. Christopher Zimmer kept the energy high all throughout with his commentary.
Congratulations to our winners, where each team was given temporary team names:
- Gold: Borussia Mabuhay (H.E. Dr. Andres Pfaffernoschke and Ms. Katharina Bandelow)
- Silver: Biercelona (Mr. Ahron Zebedee Daffon and Mr. Klaus Buecheler)
- Bronze: PPT United (a German father & son volunteer tandem from the crowd)
All our medalists were awarded exclusive merchandise from BVB Borussia Dortmund.
The nights hit its peak with the announcement of raffle winners and a dynamic performance by Kosmikskala, who lit up the room with German and English Classic hits. The excitement carried onto the Karaoke Night, where guests eagerly stepped up to the mic.
As the two-day trade fair concluded, the joy of celebrating German-Philippine ties was felt throughout. Many discovered the wonders of German innovation, connected with new business and career opportunities, savored flavorful German dishes, and ended the evenings on a musical, high-spirited note. We look forward to meeting you again at Mabuhay Germany 2027!
Mabuhay GermanyTM 2025 is organized by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), supported by the German Embassy in Manila. The event is also sponsored by the following:
- Star Pavilion Sponsor – Bosch Philippines
- Sun Sponsors (Premium Sponsors) - Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, North Diamond & Fleuresse
- Job Fair Partners – B. Braun Medical Supplies, Deutsche Bank, ProRecognition Philippines, ZAMA Philippines
Mabuhay GermanyTM 2025 is engaged by various exhibitors as follows:
- Premium Exhibitors - BAUER Foundations Philippines Inc., BDO Unibank Inc., TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc.
- Exhibitors - AllianzPNB Life Insurance Inc., Birkenstock Philippines, CloudConsole Inc., De La Salle College of Saint Benilde – School of Diplomacy and Governance, FLS Group Philippines Inc., Ernst Klett Sprachen GmbH, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Philippine Office, GIZ Philippines, Häfele Philippines, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V., Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Maschinen & Technik, Inc. (MATEC), PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Manila Representative Office, Schaeffler Philippines, Inc., Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc., Triple Win Programme (GIZ)
- Hansel und Gretel Haus (Kids’ Corner) - German European School Manila (GESM)
- Food Concessionaires – Brau Bass Beers, Brotzeit Phils., Brumms Quality Wines Inc., DALI Everyday Grocery, German Club Inc., King Bugchi, Lucullus Philippines, Virginia Food Inc.
- Exclusive Brunch Supporters: German Club Manila, Brumms Quality Wines, Virginia Food Inc., Lanson Place Mall of Asia, and Makati Diamond Residences
- Raffle Sponsors – Adidas Philippines, All Transport Network, Inc., BASF Philippines, Dr. Shiba Philippines, El Rio y Mar Resort, Grand Hyatt Manila, Häfele Philippines, Härle Philippines, Lamy Philippines, Magkaisa Creative Space Inc., PPI Pazifik Power Inc.
- Special Tournament Prizes - BVB Borussia Dortmund
- Supported By – German Embassy Manila, Goethe Institut Manila
Our media partners for the event are Art+ Magazine, iMPACT Magazine, and Manila Standard.
