National Museum receives portion of Berlin Wall for EDSA inspiration

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has officially received a section of the historic Berlin Wall from the German government for its 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that sparked freedom movements worldwide.

A piece of the wall – designated as number 22 in a series of 40 sections – is now on display at the National Museum.

“The piece of wall is a sign that democracy, freedom and peace prevail over dictatorship. It is a token of friendship between Berlin and Manila,” German Parliamentary State Secretary Brigitte Zypries said yesterday.

The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to receive a slab of the Berlin Wall and second in Asia after South Korea.

It will be installed in Rizal Park for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution in February next year.

“This is in remembrance of the EDSA People Revolt, which happened a few years before a peaceful revolution by the people of East Berlin tore down the Berlin Wall that divided Germany,” German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Berlin and Manila shared a similar story in fighting democracy.

“The wall is a symbol of two opposing political ideologies. A symbol of the bond between two nations strengthened by shared values such as democracy,” he said.

Germany is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, which paved the way for the reunification of the country.

The section, measuring 3.65 meters by 1.2 meters, used to be located in Potsdamer Platz, a former rural thoroughfare that was ravaged during the Cold War. Potsdamer Platz now stands as a symbol of urban renewal in Berlin, and is one of Europe’s busiest public squares.

The Philippine embassy in Berlin received the section of the wall from the Berlin Senate Chancellery in December 2014.

Former Philippine ambassador to Berlin Jose Abeto Zaide initially requested for a portion of the Berlin Wall in 2000.

Last year, Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad renewed calls for transferring the wall segment to the Philippines.

In November 2014, the Berlin government agreed to donate a section of the wall to “the citizens of Manila.”

It arrived in the Philippines in July as part of the German embassy’s diplomatic cargo.