Objekt des Monats
Jedes Objekt in der Sammlung des Deutschen Auswandererhauses erzählt eine ganz persönliche Auswanderungs- oder Einwanderungsgeschichte. In dieser Rubrik stellen wir Ihnen jeden Monat ein anderes Objekt vor – eine Fotografie, ein Dokument oder ein persönliches Erinnerungsstück.
January 2026
When Esperanza Relatado García arrives in Germany from the Philippines in 1984, she experiences snow for the first time.
Photo, 1984
Short biography
When Esperanza Relatado García is born in 1959 in the Philippines, she receives her name for a reason: her mother is named Fe, and her twin sister is called Caridad. Translated, the three names together mean Faith (Fe), Love (Caridad), and Hope (Esperanza), which correspond to the theological virtues of the Prophet Paul. Esperanza’s twin sister dies as a small child. She herself grows up as the youngest child in a strictly Catholic household. Contrary to her own interests in pursuing a career in the medical field, she follows her father’s wish and attends a home economics school. As a young woman, she becomes involved in the political resistance against the Marcos regime. Worried about her little sister, her siblings who are already living abroad encourage her to leave the Philippines in 1984.
Historical context
Since 1965, Ferdinand Marcos has been ruling the Philippines. He is democratically re-elected in 1969. When another re-election seems unlikely, Marcos declares martial law in 1972. His regime restricts civil rights, and opposition members are persecuted. The state is transformed into a dictatorship. Corruption and increasing social inequality burden the people who do not belong to the regime elite surrounding Marcos. In the 1980s, social resistance grows, in which Esperanza also participates. Two years after Esperanza leaves the Philippines, the regime is overthrown.
36 winters later: Esperanza Relatado García in Bremerhaven, 2021. This portrait can be found on the facade of the new building of the German Emigration Center.
Significance of the object
For Esperanza, moving to Germany represents a significant change not only in her social and political environment but also in the climate. The Philippines has an average annual temperature of about 26 to 27 degrees Celsius, with temperatures rarely falling below 18 degrees, resulting in minimal temperature variation throughout the year. There are two seasons: a rainy season and a dry season. In contrast, temperatures in Germany vary greatly across the four seasons. Upon her arrival at the end of November 1984, Esperanza experiences snow for the first time: “I can’t describe it. (…) It’s a mix of genuine joy because I can touch what I’ve only seen in books or movies. But it’s so cold!” Even years later, Esperanza still misses the warmth of the Philippines. However, she has felt at home in Germany for a long time.
Do You Also Have …
… a story of emigration or immigration in your family that you would like to share with the German Emigration Center together with the related objects and documents for its collection? Then please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau by phone at +49 471 / 90 22 0 – 0
or by e-mail at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de