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On Sunday, 19 January 2025, the Filipino community in Vienna gathered at the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy Church in the 10th District to honor the Sto. Niño and celebrate the vibrant Sinulog Festival. The annual event, organized by the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy and the Kapunongan ng mga Bisaya sa Austria (KBA), showcased Filipinos’ rich spiritual and cultural heritage in Austria.
The celebration began with a solemn Holy Mass officiated by Vienna’s Auxiliary Bishop Franz Scharl, with Filipino priests as co-celebrants. The Auxiliary Bishop blessed the devotees’ Sto. Niño images and icons emphasise the significance of the child Jesus in Catholic devotion. Addressing the congregation, Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna highlighted the event’s importance in preserving Filipino Christian beliefs and cultural traditions. She described it as an anchor for the Filipino diaspora, sustaining and inspiring their faith while fostering community solidarity.
The ceremony’s highlight was the ritual Sinulog dance performed after the Eucharistic celebration. Devotees, holding their Sto. Niño icons, danced in unison to the beat of drums, chanting, “PIT SENYOR!” The rhythmic two-step-forward-one-step-backward movement symbolized their collective expression of faith and gratitude to the Sto. Niño.
Following the religious rites, the festivities continued with a cultural program hosted by the KBA group. A simple lunch was served, allowing the attendees to share a meal together in the spirit of fellowship.
The program featured a series of dance performances, showcasing participants in vibrant, intricately designed costumes. The dancers moved to the lively rhythm of drums and native gongs, vividly portraying the historical roots of Sinulog and the diverse regional expressions of devotion to the Sto. Niño from different parts of the Philippines. These performances transported the audience back to the Philippines, reminding them of home while celebrating Filipinos’ shared identity and unity in Austria.
The Sinulog Festival, which originated in Cebu, Philippines, commemorates the introduction of Christianity to the Filipino people. It is centered on devotion to the Sto. Niño is believed to be a miraculous icon gifted by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In Vienna, the festival has become a bridge between the homeland and the diaspora, preserving Filipino traditions and passing them on to future generations.
The event celebrated faith and was a vibrant reminder of Filipino culture’s enduring strength and adaptability. For many attendees, it was an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, celebrate their shared history, and find comfort in the community.
As the chants of “PIT SENYOR!” echoed through Vienna’s 10th District, the Sinulog Festival reaffirmed the unwavering devotion of Filipinos in Austria and their determination to preserve their spiritual and cultural heritage, even thousands of miles from home.
- hector pascua
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