Filipinos Bring Barrio Fiesta to Austria

The Filipino Community celebrates mass before the festivities begin. (Vienna PE/PM photo)

VIENNA 01 August 2018 – The Filipino Community came out of the woodwork during the annual celebration of the Barrio Fiesta in Vienna, organized by the Council of Filipino Association in Austria.

The event was attended by the Filipino Community throughout Austria, and even attracted those from Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The temperate weather proved to be a good backdrop to the celebration of all things Filipino.

During the event, Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad gladly remarked how she finds it hard not to pine for the Philippines, given the strong showing of nationalism by the Filipinos in Austria.

“Whatever the roots of the Barrio Fiesta, both pre- and post-Hispanic occupation times, we have, indeed made it uniquely ours. And nothing can underscore more the sense of camaraderie, a strong suit the Filipinos are known for, than the celebration of community,” Ambassador Natividad said. 

The Barrio Fiesta opened with a Eucharistic celebration. Later in the day, a parade of banners of the different associations followed.

The official program began with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem led by the Philippine Embassy Vienna Chorale, who also later dedicated the song “Tagumpay Nating Lahat” to the Filipinos as a way to inspire them, and send across the message that the triumph of one is the triumph of all.

The Embassy used the occasion to introduce its new logo through the shirts worn by its officers and staff—the Embassy’s logo, placed at the center of an atom in the colors of the Philippines at the front of the shirt, and the hashtag #AghamAtDiplomasya printed at the back.

The new logo is emblematic of the mission and vision of the Embassy to establish itself as the Philippine Foreign Service’s science diplomacy center. 

The Embassy also made use of the occasion to hold a mobile overseas registration where Filipinos, who were hard-pressed to travel to Vienna, were given the opportunity to register and take part in their guaranteed right to suffrage. END

The Philippine Embassy in Vienna, led by Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, poses for a group photo. (Vienna PE/PM photo)

The Philippine Embassy Vienna Chorale leads the singing of “Lupang Hinirang,” and dedicates the song “Tagumpay Nating Lahat” to the Filipinos in attendance. (Hector Pascua photo)

The Ambassador leads the overseas voting team in answering queries of and assisting Filipinos with their overseas registration. (Vienna PE/PM photo)

For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippine-embassy.at or @pevienna on Twitter.