Category: People and Places

Vienna, Austria – October 28, 2025 — The Global Save Life Foundation is set to light up Vienna this Halloween with its annual Spooky Halloween Costume Party, an evening of frightful fun with a heartwarming purpose. The event will take place on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Salvatorianerplatz 1, 1100 Vienna, starting at 5:00 PM (17:00 Uhr). Guests are invited to don their creepiest, funniest, or most creative costumes for a night filled with music, dancing, spooky treats, and community spirit. The highlight of the evening will be a Best…

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Vienna, Austria — October 2025 – More than a dozen Filipinos joined the culmination activity of the Month of the Holy Rosary at the Parish of the Heart of Jesus in Vienna’s 21st District, adding their voices to a solemn celebration that carried an international tone and a powerful message of peace. The event, held on Sunday evening, brought together parishioners in prayer and song. Reflecting the diverse community spirit of the parish, one of the Rosary stations was prayed in English, while several hymns were also sung in the…

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The Filipino community in Austria warmly welcomed Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac during a special “Kumustahan with Sec Hans” gathering held in Vienna. The event brought together overseas Filipinos, community leaders, and migrant advocates for an open and meaningful dialogue. Filipinos shared their experiences, challenges, and suggestions on how government programs could further support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. In response, Secretary Cacdac outlined the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) major initiatives, including the agency’s ongoing digitalization efforts, expansion of the OFW Hospital’s services, the AKSYON Fund for…

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Morning in Lucca: Where History Lives Within the Walls Our Tuscan journey began beneath a soft morning sun as we set out for Lucca, one of Tuscany’s best-preserved treasures. Enclosed by its magnificent Renaissance-era walls, Lucca feels like a step back in time. Once an independent republic, the city still carries an air of quiet dignity — its cobbled streets lined with elegant palazzi, shaded courtyards, and quaint cafés. As we walked along the wide tree-lined ramparts, our guide unfolded Lucca’s fascinating story — from its Roman roots to its golden age…

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Vienna, Austria – The Philippines established itself as a global leader in ethical and strategic labor migration governance during the recently concluded 10th Vienna Conference. It received widespread international praise for its comprehensive, innovative, and rights-based approach to managing overseas labor. In a high-level panel titled “Armchair Conversation: Migration as an Engine of Development in Countries of Origin – What Is Needed?”, Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) discussed with representatives from governments, international organizations, and civil society. He highlighted the Philippines’ strong and…

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We started our day early, leaving the hotel at eight in the morning with sleepy smiles and coffee still warming our hands. The sky was already gray, a sign of the rain that would follow us for most of the day. Our route took us along the 22 kilometers of the Versilian coast, one of the most beautiful stretches in Tuscany. As the bus rolled out of Viareggio, our tour guide began to tell us about the town’s history. Once a small fishing village, Viareggio grew into a famous seaside…

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Our day began early in Lido di Camaiore with a quick breakfast before setting out on our much-anticipated day tour to Cinque Terre. The morning air was fresh, and the excitement among our group was contagious. After breakfast, we boarded the bus, and our friendly tour guide led us toward La Spezia, sharing bits of history and fun facts about the region along the way. From La Spezia, we caught the train to Vernazza, one of the most picturesque villages of Cinque Terre. The short ride offered stunning views of…

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On October 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., the Parish of Leopoldau joyfully celebrated World Church Sunday with a vibrant and heartfelt Mass. The celebration, filled with music, prayer, and cultural unity, reflected the true spirit of the Universal Church. It was actively organized by the parish’s youth group and youth leaders, who not only animated the liturgy but also engaged the community through a small fundraising initiative. At the end of the service, they offered fair trade chocolate pralines and “Happy Blue Chips” for sale. The proceeds from this meaningful…

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Vienna, October 2025 — In a noteworthy showing of Filipino cinema on the global stage, two films by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz are part of this year’s Viennale festival lineup, drawing attention to themes of colonial legacy, personal trauma, and historical reckoning. Films in Focus Magalhães (Magellan)Diaz’s latest epic, Magalhães, is a sweeping historical drama and international co-production (Portugal, Spain, France, Philippines, Taiwan).At about 160 minutes, the film probes the roots of colonial violence by retracing the 16th-century expedition of Ferdinand Magellan—including his invasion of Cebu and the consequences for…

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