PASCH schools would be among the celebrants today, October 3, of the German Unification Day. PASCH is an acronym for 'Partner Schools for the Future,' which in German is 'Schulen: Partner der Zukunft' — a global network of more than 2.000 schools in 120 countries that maintains a close relationship to Germany and the German language. As part of the worldwide PASCH family, the students and teachers actively participate in local and global activities. In the Philippines, three schools are officially recognized as PASCH members by the Federal Republic of Germany and supported by the Goethe Institut (GI) — the New Era public high school in Quezon City and two private schools — the International Section of the German-European School in Paranaque and Liceo de Cagayan University High School in Cagayan de Oro City. (https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/spr/unt/efd/pas/pai.html) PASCH students learn German language skills, are involved in cultural exchange, and receive educational resources; teachers receive professional development awards in the German language, and the school is a part of a global network.

German Unification Day. German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is significant to PASCH schools, held annually on October 3, marking the FDR's unification anniversary. [German unification day 2024 - Search (bing.com)] As our source informs, today's festivities of modern Germany recall 'when the Federal Republic of Germany and the Democratic Republic of Germany united to create one single, federal Germany on October 3, 1990.' This 2024 Unification Day 'falls on a Thursday, making it a potentially long weekend if people take off Friday, October 5.' Many spend the day off, rest from work, and stay with their families. Being a public holiday, German Unity Day has big public celebrations organized and celebrated annually with a 'ceremonial act and a citizens' festival (Bürgerfest).' (German Unity Day in Germany in 2024 | Office Holidays) Fittingly, the first-ever Unity Day host city was the previously divided capital of Berlin presiding over the Bundesrat in the respective year (a sequence determined by the Königstein Agreement).' After Bonn in 2011, Frankfurt, in 2015, was the second non-state capital to host the celebrations. Both cities are significant in German political history (Bonn was the former capital of West Germany, and Frankfurt was the place of the Frankfurt Parliament of 1848–49). The annual celebrations are 'hosted by a major city, usually the state capital. In recent years, the main celebrations were hosted in Potsdam, Kiel, Berlin, Mainz, Dresden, and Frankfurt. Celebrations include: 'speeches by politicians and other leaders, concerts, communal meals, food and culture presentations from Germany's regions and fireworks. The celebrations are festive, welcoming and safe. Many mosques in Germany are open to the general public on October 3.' [German Unification Day 2024 - Search (bing.com)] 'This is an initiative to stimulate contact between Muslims and non-Muslims to emphasize the role that Muslims played in forming modern Germany. German Unity Day is a public holiday in Germany; schools, post offices, banks and many businesses are closed. Nearly all stores are closed. However, a few may be open in some city areas, such as bakeries, petrol stations and stores at railway stations, airports and near highways. Public transport services may run as usual, at a reduced service or no service, depending on where one lives or intends to travel. There may be some disruption to traffic around large celebrations.'