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Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina A. Bernas was joined by Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives from various diplomatic missions, Filipino international civil servants, and members of the international community at the opening ceremony of the “Hope & Endeavor: A Tribute to the United Nations at 80” event on 12 December 2025.
12 December 2025, Vienna – The Philippines marked the end of a defining year in its multilateral engagement by paying tribute to the United Nations 80th Anniversary and to the Filipinos who have contributed to its work across generations.
The Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna held an exhibit titled, “Hope & Endeavor: A Tribute to the United Nations at 80” at the Tech Gate building in Vienna. The exhibit highlighted the commitment of the Philippine government and its people to multilateralism and to translating international cooperation into practical outcomes for peace, security, and development.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas spoke of the Philippines’ long tradition of multilateral leadership. She recalled the legacy of Filipino diplomat Carlos P. Romulo, citing his warning that “atomic energy is too serious to be treated as an incidental phase in the battle of propaganda,” and his call to “save humanity while there is still time” as a reminder that the opportunities and risks associated with nuclear technology continue to demand responsible international action. She honored the late Domingo L. Siazon Jr., whose work as UNIDO Director General in advancing industrial development, technical cooperation, and inclusive multilateralism continues to serve as a benchmark for management and service in Vienna.
Ambassador Bernas also dedicated the exhibit to key partners from the diplomatic community in a year marked by the Philippines’ successful leadership in key international issues such as sovereign equality at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the international effort to recognize nuclear applications at the NPT Review Cycle, and the successful adoption of the budget of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). “As the Philippines looks to deepen its contributions to global governance, we engage more actively in the shared responsibility of promoting international peace, security, and development–here in Vienna at the IAEA Board of Governors, UNIDO Industrial Development Board, CTBTO Working Group A, and with your support, at the UN Security Council,” she said.
The exhibit featured the launching and display of A Journey of Hope & Endeavor: 80 Years of the Philippines in the United Nations commemorative publication by the Department of Foreign Affairs; the “Hope & Endeavor” artworks curated from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas collection; the PhilPost commemorative UN stamp; and the Pioneers of Multilateralism: Stories from the United Nations at 80 e-publication of the profiles of Filipinos serving/who served at the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna.
The exhibit was attended by around 100 officials from International Organizations in Vienna, the Filipino community, and the diplomatic corps, including the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Australia, Cuba, Honduras, Kuwait, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yemen. Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Ms. Fatou Haidara was also present.
The digital features of the exhibit can be accessed here:
Hope and Endeavor Commemorative Publication Link: https://729d06fc.flowpaper.com/AJourneyofHopeandEndeavor/#page=62
Pioneers of Multilateralism Link: https://un80ebook.my.canva.site
- Press Release and Pictures from the Philippine Embassy, Vienna
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