BERLIN, Germany — Philippine Ambassador to Germany Delia Domingo Albert participated in a ceremony to welcome back here the "United Buddy Bears" after traveling around the world to promote Germany.
The United Buddy Bears representing 141 countries are a symbol of tolerance, international understanding, and peaceful co-existence. The bear also represents the city of Berlin. Each bear represents a particular country and painted on by an artist. The Philippine bear which had a monkey-eating eagle painted on it was designed and done by artist Pierre Patricio.
The bears are sold at auctions in aid of child relief projects from time to time. In Berlin, the proceeds from the next auction will be in aid of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) project "Schools for Africa" to enable children of Africa to receive school education leading to a future free of poverty.
The Buddy Bears are not only a work of art but they are also a symbol of the unity of humanity and the rich diversity of cultures and traditions, and convey a political message.
At the opening ceremony, Minister for Development Policy and Economic Cooperation Heidemarie Wieczorsrek-Zeul stressed that the exhibit of the Buddy Bears is at a special historical site in Berlin.
It was the site where the Nazis attempted, on May 10, 1933, to symbolically obliterate the thinking of various writers, politicians, artists, and philosophers forever by burning their books. The place is also one of the landmarks for the Berlin World Cup.
The Buddy Bears are on exhibit here until July 31 and will travel to Vienna, Austria; Jerusalem, Israel; Cairo, Egypt; Beijing, China; Cape Town, South Africa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and St. Petersburg, South Africa.