Category: People and Places

Ms. Amina Rasul Bernardo, President of the Philippine Center for Islam Democracy, accepted the Intercultural Achievement Award in the media category from the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna on 10 October 2023 for the “She Talks Peace” podcast. “She Talks Peace” is a podcast series highlighting women peacebuilders worldwide’s role in bringing lasting peace and security to their communities. It is hosted by Ms. Rasul Bernardo, who served in the cabinet of President Fidel V. Ramos as National Youth Affairs Adviser and Chair of the…

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The shortage of skilled nursing staff in Austria is precarious. Local staff or workers from EU member states cannot cover this shortage in the medium and long term. This emerging shortage of skilled nursing staff throughout Austria paved the way for Filipino nurses to work in healthcare institutions in Austria. On October 4, 2023, the  PH Embassy in Vienna, led by Ambassador Evangeline Arroyo-Bernas, in cooperation with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Milan, welcomed another batch of Filipino healthcare professionals to Austria. It was in October 2022 when…

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On October 11, 2023, in Ljubljana, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna held a reception to mark the 30th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Slovenia. The reception was attended by key officials from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) led by Secretary-General Renata Cvelber Bek, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, business leaders, and representatives of the Filipino community in Slovenia. The MFEA Secretary-General Cvelbar Bek and the Philippine Ambassador to Slovenia, Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas, acknowledged in their…

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The Shahnameh Sports and Cultural Association conducted a volleyball competition with the slogan “Integration and Acceptance” on September 23 in Vienna. The event began at 8 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m.At the opening program, the “Shamameh Sports and Cultural Association” presented itself and its future activities. Mr. Peter Florin of the Vienna City Council delivered an inspirational speech, while the ribbon cutting was initiated by Mr. Aliullah Shujaei, Chairman of the Shahnameh Association. This competition featured 16 teams from various countries, including Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine,…

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With flowers, songs in Tagalog and prayers for peace, devotees honored Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag on October 1, 2023, at the Filipino chaplaincy with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. “We believe that the Blessed Mother is the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the mother of the Word incarnate and the mother of the whole world,” one of the devotees commented. “I have been a devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary since I was a little child. And I believe that whenever Mama Mary whispers something…

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In front of numerous church dignitaries and the faithful, a solemn Mass for creating 21 new cardinals occurred in Rome on Saturday. Eighteen of them are allowed to participate in a papal election because they have not yet reached the age of 80. During the ceremony, the pope presented the new cardinals with their decree of appointment and the red biretta as headgear. After this round, more than two-thirds of the cardinals eligible to participate in a conclave will have been appointed by Pope Francis. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem,…

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The Philippine Volleyball League opening day in Austria (PhiVA) was conducted on September 16, 2023, at the Rundhalle, Steigenteschgasse, 1220 Vienna. Four youth teams—Pinoyrelax Acers, Hotshots, Igorot Warriors, and Lotus Impact—and four adult teams—NBS, Volleybee, Beng Bros, and Vienna Dream Team—participated. After singing the Philippine National Anthem, an introductory prayer was given for God’s Supreme guidance to all teams, parents, and everyone supporting the club and the league. Four volleyball players still playing with Shamama Sports and Kultur Verein served as match officials. A motivational speech from Johann Fabits, a…

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Bicolanos and devotees in Austria commemorated on September 16, 2023, the annual fluvial procession on board MS Tegethoff, a passenger’s vessel, along the Danube River from Vienna, Austria, to Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, in honour of their regional Patroness, Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The Bikol Society in Austria and the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy in Vienna are leading the celebration. The almost six-hour early morning trip from the dock of the Schiffahrtszentrum in Vienna to the pier of Bratislava is a re-creation of the Lady’s voyage from the Naga Cathedral, where…

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The Filipino Visual Artists in Austria participated in the United Nations Painting Exhibition held on September 13–15, 2023. Agenda Humanity 3: Arts for Peace is the theme of the vernissage. The United Nations Art Exhibition featured artworks created by Gerry de Guzman, President of the Filipino Visual Artists in Austria. The group staged their first-ever Painting Exhibit in Vienna on June 6 to 10, 2023. The event was held in the halls of Wasserturm Wienerberg, Windternstrasse 3, 1100 Vienna. Many art enthusiasts from the Filipino community and the Austrian audience…

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