Category: People and Places

In memory of the biblical Three Wise Men who worshipped the Infant Jesus by  bringing him gold, frankincense and myrrh, and according to an old tradition, children  dress up as the Three Wise Men and move from house to house after Christmas, announcing The Gospel message. The Carol Singing Campaign is organized by  Jungschar/the Catholic Children’s Movement. Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. Being aware of the responsibility  this entails, the Carol Singers ask people for donations as a sign of solidarity. The engagement of the little…

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by Sarah Jozelle Magistrado ROJAS Vienna, 29 December 2021 Complying with the CoViD-19 protocol for in person gatherings, the Philippine Embassy (PE) in Austria, headed by the recently arrived Consul General Ivan Frank M. Olea, organized the biggest face to face meet up with members of the Filipino community since the pandemic started in March 2020: the Commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr Jose Rizal and Christmas Get Together on 29 December 2021 at its premises in Ares Towers, Donau City Straße 11, 1220 Vienna. The…

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by Sarah Jozelle Magistrado Rojas Embassy of the Philippines in Austria, Vienna, 27 December 2021 Nine days after taking office as Chargé d’ affaires a.i. (CdA)/ Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the Embassy of the Philippines in Austria, Consul General Ivan Frank M. Olea was welcomed by the members of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora Austria (ENFiD-Austria) in an online Christmas Celebration on 27 December 2021 via zoom. At this virtual event, ENFiD-Austria Chairwoman, Maria Zelda “Marizel” Rojas, delivered a presentation on ENFiD-Austria, describing its raison d’etre, accomplishments…

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Dr. Jose Rizal is widely celebrated as a martyr in the Philippines. He was executed by the Spanish Army on Dec. 30, 1896 after being allegedly  to a national secret society. Although Rizal never had connections with secret society, he had published books educating the general public of the Spanish colonial authorities in power at the time. Two books in particular angered the Spanish elite, “Noli me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo.” The Filipino Community in Austria brought a great sense of remembrance  on December 29, 2021 at the Philippine Embassy…

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Austria’s Footballer of the Year 2021 is David Alaba. The Real Madrid player prevailed in the election conducted by the APA among the twelve Bundesliga coaches with 44 points clearly ahead of Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg/25) and Christoph Baumgartner (Hoffenheim/8). For Alaba, this is the eighth time in total that he has been voted Footballer of the Year, making him the superior record holder. According to the Austrian Presss Agency, Alaba is very grateful for the title. “My thanks go to everyone who voted for me, but also to…

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A Filipino group headed by the Bicol Society in Austria trailed to the famous  Silent Night Chapel in the western part of Austria. In 1818, the song “Silent Night, Holy Night” was heard for the first time in the St. Nikola Church in Oberndorf near Salzburg. Today, the “Silent Night Chapel” stands on that very spot. It is a popular destination all year round. Oberndorf is located about 20 kilometers north of the city of Salzburg. It has gained worldwide fame as the “Silent Night Parish”. Joseph Mohr worked here…

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Thomas (not his real name) is 26 years old and works in a restaurant. Although the young man has been vaccinated twice, he contracted Covid-19 a few weeks ago. Here, he talks about his experiences with the disease, how he is doing today, and why even young people should not take the disease lightly. Austrian Press: How are you doing at the moment? Thomas: Oh, thank you. I’m actually doing quite well again. I have phases during the day when I feel pretty good again, but especially at the end…

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The Director General Heinz Habe of the European Police Association (EPA), together with  Mr. Hermann Kroiher, United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna Secretary General (UNCAV SG) and EPA Director for International Affairs and Public Relations met the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna for a courtesy call.  EPA Director General Heinz Habe presented to the First Secretary & Consul Ma. Carmela Teresa Cabreira, and Third Secretary & Consul Patricia Milla the works of EPA in Europe particularly in Austria. The meeting with EPA  and  Philippine embassy  officials was in conjunction…

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With a special action, Carinthian militia soldier John Patrick Platzer not only shows heart, but also wins the hearts of his fellowmen. Since 2019, his initiative has been helping those in need. In the fall of 2019, the 32-year-old John Patrick Platzer founded the initiative “Soldiers with Heart” for children and young people. It started with a fundraising campaign for the SOS Children’s Village in Moosburg. Platzer and his comrades did not let up and continued their fundraising initiatives, in which professional and militia soldiers from all over Austria participate,…

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