The New Officers of the Ilonggo Community in Austria have been inducted into office by Charge d‘Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, Hon. Ivan Frank Olea.
Charge d’Affaires Ivan Frank Olea welcomed the newly elected officers at the Philippine Embassy Hall and at the same time expressed his gratitude to the outgoing officers for serving the objectives of the Ilonggo Community in Austria during the past years.
„It is my pleasure to be with you this afternoon. I wish to congratulate the newly elected officers and commend the previous ones who have actively promoted the welfare and interest of Filipinos here in Austria. We are confident that under the guidance of the newly elected president, the group will continue to carry out worthwhile projects, programs, and activities of this organization,“ Olea said.
Hon. Ivan Frank Olea acknowledged ICA for embracing its mission to promote and preserve a rich cultural heritage here in Austria.
„The embassy looks forward to the Ilonggo Community in Austria‘s continued partnership to support the projects of the Embassy. Together let us raise the profile of the Filipinos and the Filipino people by promoting our rich cultural traditions,“ Olea said.
The Ilonggo Community in Austria is one of Austria’s oldest community/regional groups. This year ICA will celebrate its 34th Anniversary. The organization is proud to contend that one of the pillars and pioneers of this group is Ambassador Noel SERVIGON (a proud Ilonggo himself). Ambassador Servigon served as Consul and Third Secretary in Vienna in late 1990.
Bong Segura, who served as ICA’s president and former Chairman of the Council of Filipino Associations in Austria, related that ICA is a group of Ilonggo-speaking individuals. The group has also adopted members from other regions.
„We have been an active member of the Council of Filipino Associations in Austria (CFAA) for some years and have been participating in events/activities of the Filipino Community and those organized by the Embassy. For the last 34 years, we have been organizing events and trips all over Europe. Through these activities, we have raised funds that we managed to assist some of our Kababayans here in Vienna who were in need and our Kababayans back in the Philippines, especially during calamities,“ Segura said.
“The Ilonggo Community in Austria supports now and then our fellow kababayans in the Philippines, affected by typhoons. We feel responsible here in Austria to assist the needy,“ Boy Torres, a former ICA President, commented.
- Hector Pascua/picture: Bong Segura
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