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There are people who pass through our lives, and there are people who leave a lasting mark on our hearts. Larry Subido was one of those people.
His passing is not simply the loss of a good friend. It is also the loss of a community leader, a humanitarian, and one of the pioneering Filipino photographers in Vienna who spent years documenting the life, celebrations, struggles, and achievements of the Filipino community.
Larry had been battling an unusual and rare form of cancer. His illness brought difficult days and eventually led to his passing. But Larry’s story should not be defined by the illness that took his life. It should be remembered through the life he lived, the people he loved, the community he served, and the many memories he captured—both through his camera and through his friendships.
A camera that captured a community
For many Filipinos in Vienna, Larry Subido was a familiar face behind the camera.
For years, he could be seen at Filipino community events, celebrations, cultural programs, religious gatherings, and important occasions, camera in hand. He had a remarkable ability to catch every angle of an event, preserving moments that might otherwise have disappeared with time.
Larry was among the pioneering Filipino photographers in Vienna, documenting a community that was steadily growing and evolving.
Through his photographs, he did more than record events. He documented people.
A photograph of a celebration captured more than costumes and performances. It captured friendships. A community gathering showed more than people coming together; it preserved a moment in the shared history of Filipinos living in Austria.
In many ways, Larry’s camera became part of the community’s collective memory.
Long after an event was over, his photographs allowed people to look back and remember where they had been, whom they had met, and the moments they had shared.
That is a legacy in itself.
A pillar of Bantay Bata 163 in Vienna
Larry’s contribution to the Filipino community, however, went far beyond photography.
He was also one of the pillars of Bantay Bata 163 in Vienna, an initiative dedicated to helping Filipino children in the Philippines.
Through his involvement, Larry helped mobilize support and donations for children who needed assistance. His commitment demonstrated another side of his character: behind the camera was a man who cared deeply about people and was willing to use his time and connections to help others.
For Larry, community involvement was not simply about being present at events. It was also about reaching beyond Austria and remembering those who were struggling in the Philippines.
His work with Bantay Bata 163 became part of that commitment.
Helping after Typhoon Yolanda
Larry’s humanitarian efforts were particularly visible following Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which devastated large parts of the Philippines in November 2013.
In the aftermath of the catastrophe, Filipinos around the world came together to help families and communities affected by the disaster. Larry was among those who actively participated in efforts to acquire donations for the victims.
For his involvement in the fundraising and donation efforts, Larry received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Philippine Embassy in Vienna in recognition of his active participation in helping the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
The recognition was an official acknowledgement of something those close to Larry already knew: when people were in need, he was willing to help.
His contribution during that difficult period demonstrated the strength of the Filipino community in Austria and the willingness of individuals like Larry to turn compassion into concrete action.
A final visit
I was privileged to visit Larry during the final stage of his illness. I was among the few people he wanted to see, and that made the visit especially meaningful.
It is difficult to describe what it feels like to sit with a good friend who is confronting the final chapter of his life. At such a moment, words seem less important. What matters is presence—the quiet reassurance of knowing that a friend has come, that someone cares, and that the bonds of friendship remain even when circumstances become difficult.
That visit is something I will always treasure.
I went to see Larry as a friend. I left with an even deeper appreciation of what friendship means.
The woman beside him until the end
Behind Larry’s final journey was a person whose love and devotion deserve special recognition—his wife, Gigy Subido.
Filled with love and devotion, Gigy cared for Larry throughout his illness and remained beside him until the end. Her presence was the quiet, steadfast devotion of a wife and life companion who shared Larry’s journey through the most difficult of circumstances.
In the midst of her grief, Gigy shared a deeply personal farewell on her Facebook page:
“There are no words to describe how deeply he will be missed. He was my husband, my companion, and such an important part of my life. I will always treasure the love we shared and the memories we made together.”
Her words capture a loss that no article can fully express—the loss of a husband, companion, and an important part of one’s life.
But her message also speaks of something that remains: love.
And perhaps that is what makes her final words to Larry so moving.
“Rest in peace, my love. You will remain forever in my heart and I promise I will always be a SUBIDO for life.”
Those words are more than a farewell. They are a declaration that the love and life they shared will continue to live in memory.
A life behind the lens—and beyond it
It is easy to remember Larry primarily as the man with the camera.
But behind that camera was a man who believed in community.
He captured Filipino events, but he also participated in the life of the community.
He photographed celebrations, but he also helped people in need.
He documented the community’s history, while at the same time becoming part of that history.
From his work with Bantay Bata 163 to his efforts to gather assistance for victims of Typhoon Yolanda, Larry demonstrated that community service could take many forms.
His camera gave him a way to preserve memories. His heart gave him a reason to help.
A community loses one of its storytellers
Every community has its storytellers.
Some tell stories with words. Others tell them through music, art, organizing, or service.
Larry told many of his stories through photographs.
He was there when the Filipino community gathered. He saw the smiles, the celebrations, the performances, the religious occasions, the friendships, and sometimes the difficult moments. He caught the moments from different angles and preserved them for others.
Today, those photographs have become more than pictures.
They are pieces of a community’s history.
And perhaps one of the most fitting ways to remember Larry is to look through those photographs and see what he saw: people coming together.
More than the illness
Larry’s battle with cancer was only one chapter of his life.
Before the illness, there was Larry the friend. Larry the photographer. Larry the community leader. Larry the humanitarian. Larry the husband.
There was Larry behind the camera, moving around an event, looking for the right angle.
There was Larry helping raise support for Filipino children.
There was Larry responding when disaster struck the Philippines.
And there was Larry sharing his life with Gigy.
Those are the memories that should remain.
Illness may have taken away his physical strength, but it cannot erase the work he did, the photographs he left behind, the friendships he formed, or the love that surrounded him.
A farewell from a friend
For me, Larry’s final days will always be connected with the privilege of being allowed to visit him.
I am grateful that he wanted to see me.
Sometimes, we think that when we visit someone who is seriously ill, we are the ones giving something—our time, our presence, our friendship.
But sometimes the opposite is true.
Larry gave me a final gift: the opportunity to sit beside him as a friend and to share a moment that I will never forget.
Today, I think of the man behind the camera.
The man who caught the smiles.
The man who preserved the celebrations.
The man who helped children he might never have met.
The man who responded when his fellow Filipinos needed help.
The man who was a friend.
And the husband whom Gigy loved and cared for until the end.
Larry’s camera may no longer be clicking at Filipino gatherings in Vienna, but the images he captured remain. His humanitarian work remains in the lives touched by the assistance he helped provide. His friendship remains in the hearts of those who knew him.
His photographs captured moments. His service created memories. His friendship left a legacy.
And now, it is our turn to remember.
Thank you, Larry, for your friendship, your service, and for helping preserve the story of our community.
To Gigy, may the memories of the life you shared with Larry bring you strength and comfort in the difficult days ahead.
Larry may no longer walk beside you, but the love you shared—and the life you built together—will remain forever part of your story.
Rest in peace, Larry Subido.
You will be missed, remembered, and loved.
- Hector Pascua
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