Speech of Qatar Emir at Munich Security Conference, by QNA

Wazzup Pilipinas!

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani delivering a speech in the opening session of the Munich Security Conference.


HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani participated Friday in the opening session of Munich Security Conference, which takes place in the city of Munich in the Federal Republic of Germany in the presence of a number of Their Excellencies leaders of states and governments and heads of participant delegations.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani then delivered a speech in the opening session of the Munich Security Conference.

The transcript of the speech read as follows:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to address this distinguished audience. Germany is an especially appropriate venue for a meeting to discuss the present-day global order, and the threats to it. A nation that stands for the values of freedom and the rule of law, Germany is also a major pillar for the European Union, seen by many as a bastion of coexistence and trans-national cooperation.

While all of us are aware of the challenges facing the European Union, we in the Middle East and Im sure this is true elsewhere see the EU as proving that peaceful coexistence and collective prosperity are possible in the aftermath of horrific conflicts.

As a body, the EU demonstrates that a union can establish shared security based on mutual interests, even amongst people who tore themselves apart in war. Like it or not, Brexit is an example of a peaceful resolution of differences. No diplomatic ties were cut, and no blood was shed. There is a lesson here for us in the Arab region.

The European Union provides a framework for regional governance, and the peaceful arbitration of disputes. This framework is sorely needed in the Middle East. Today, many governments and international powers act with impunity, without regard for human rights. The lack of accountability for good governance is widespread. It's no wonder that people are losing hope individuals who would otherwise have stood trial for war crimes against their own people are possible candidates in presidential elections!

An audience such as yourselves must be able to see why many people, even entire nations, are losing faith in international accountability. They think arguably right that many of the global mechanisms for conflict resolution, and the maintenance of rights have been paralyzed and sidelined.

My region provides many examples:

Palestinians since the Nakba, seventy years ago; the situation in Syria, Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan and Yemen. The suffering of people in my region may appear distant to an audience in Munich, but the waves of refugees make these injustices a European concern. And the darkness of terrorism now casts a shadow on the entire world.

Suffering and injustice pave the way for terrorism to flourish. Evil actors will twist religious dogmas to poison the minds of desperate people. Extremist religious doctrines pose an undeniable challenge to all of us. They exist in every culture, and the Islam has no monopoly on them. It is clear that we are obliged to combat religious extremism. But, having said that, attributing violent terrorism to extremist ideologies is too simplistic. It does not explain why violent extremism has become a major threat in my region, while extremist ideologies can be found anywhere.

Strong Philippine Cinema Delegation Present at 68th Berlinale

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Filipino filmmakers and films are well-represented this year at the Berlin International Film Festival with films in competition and filmmakers participating in the Berlinale Talents and Co-Production Market.

Lav Diaz’s “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw” (Season of the Devil) is an official entry to the Main Competition while “Babylon" directed by Keith Deligro is competing at Berlinale Shorts. “Manila Scream Expanded” by Roxlee is also featured at the Forum Expanded Section. Meanwhile, four (4) participants are at Berlinale Talents - Pam Reyes, Anthony Falcon, McRonald Nacario, and Leeroy Lee. Bradley Liew and Bianca Balbuena's Motel Acacia is also featured at the Co-Production Market. 

"Once again, Philippine cinema is recognized and represented at this prestigious Festival. It makes us proud that the efforts and talents of our filmmakers are affirmed by the international audience," said Chairperson and CEO Liza Dino.  

Director Lav Diaz, winner of Silver Bear Alfred Bauer prize at the 2016 Berlinale,  “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery)” comes back with a 234-minute film, this time, a Filipino Rock Opera that shows the life in a remote village in the Philippines during the Martial Law. Director Keith Deligero’s, “Babylon” is a 20-minute short film about two young girls who travel through time to assassinate a small town dictator to revise history but ended up with a weird mixed-up adventure with a talking chicken, a videoke machine from the future, a set of violent triplets and prank calls from the 90s, only at Barangay Babylonia. Manila Scream Expanded combines three recent short films by Philippine underground filmmaker Roxlee, Manila Scream, Yours Trolley, and Slicing Art. The film and its maker and protagonist take us on an idiosyncratic journey through the streets of Manila. It is set to screen on February 20 and 23.

FDCP will be hosting the Philippine Night at Berlin on February 21 in celebration of the Filipino delegates and as opportunity to interact and network with international film commissions, festival programmers, and distributors. 

​The 68th Berlin International Film Festival runs until February 25, 2018 in Germany. 

Toblerone and Cadbury Own Valentine’s Day with Love-Filled Activities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

How Mondelez Philippines won our hearts with two exciting Valentine’s campaigns

The long-held tradition of gifting chocolates during Valentine’s Day has endured through the years. But for global snack company Mondelez Philippines, and its powerhouse chocolate brands Cadbury Dairy Milk and Toblerone, celebrating Valentine’s went beyond the gift and the taste. The two brands owned Valentine’s Day this year through imaginative and bold experiences for consumers. 

“We take Valentine’s Day very seriously, it is our chocolates’ biggest day of the year!  Valentine’s presents the opportunity not only to have more consumers taste our products but also to have more imaginative gifting options for family and friends through Toblerone.

Cadbury Dairy Milk on the other hand will allow you to express your feelings in more creative and diverse channels through unique experiences. And what better way to own this romantic holiday than by celebrating with two campaigns for our two chocolate brands.” says Arlene Amante, Mondelez Philippines Brand Manager for Chocolates.

The two well-loved chocolates brands had unleashed several out-of-the-box campaigns for Valentine’s Day. People are familiar with the delicious taste of Swiss-made chocolate Toblerone with its honey and nougat bite.

But for this year, the gift of Toblerone offered much more than deliciousness – it came with the opportunity to imaginatively and thoughtfully show love.  From Toblerone came the engaging campaign to help consumers give creatively caring gifts: The Valentine’s Blank Pack.

This has the iconic Toblerone pack on one side, amazing and one-of-a-kind illustrations from local artists on another, and a blank space on the third side which consumers can use to personalize their gifts. This was accompanied by many other Valentine experiences and opportunities including a mini art exhibit event which showcased the artwork and the artists behind the sleeve designs, mall booths and an online portal where consumers can be like Van Gogh and customized their packs as well as awe-inspiring billboards which also showcased the consumers’ customized packs. Indeed, love and Toblerone was all around Valentine’s Day.

Cadbury Dairy Milk also launched its biggest Valentine event in the Philippines to date. Featuring the brand’s limited edition Valentine’s Pack with the customizable heart tag, an exciting event held right on Valentine’s Day became a must-go destination for the holiday.

“We believe that one of the best schemes on how to express love is to show it in a big way,” adds Amante. “Last Valentine’s Day, we offered our smooth and chocolatey Cadbury Dairy Milk bars with the limited edition heart tag. But beyond the delicious chocolate, we offered an entire event where consumers can express their feelings in a bold way – the ‘Say It with Cadbury Love out Loud’ event!”

Held at the Bonifacio High Street in Taguig and participated in by hundreds of consumers, the Love out Loud event offered two eye-catching ways to express feelings.

The first was through Cadbury Dairy Milk’s very first Valentine installation – the “Love Arc.” Rivalling Paris’ Pont des Arts love locks bridge, the Cadbury Dairy Milk “Love Arc” was filled with hundreds of the brand’s heart tags with special messages from the consumers themselves.

Still part of the Love out Loud event was the brand’s first-ever interactive “Love Out Loud Wall.” With the high-tech step of scanning the messages on the Cadbury Dairy Milk heart tag, the messages could then be projected and interacted with using the digital “Love Out Loud Wall.”

“Valentine’s Day may have been one day – but with Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk’s out-of-the-box experiences, consumers were able to become more imaginative and thoughtful in their gifts and expressed their love out loud!” says Amante.