PH Embassy in Vienna Celebrates 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations With Slovenia

Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas delivering remarks during the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Slovenia Reception (photo from Vienna PE)

LJUBLJANA 16 October 2023 - The Philippine Embassy in Vienna hosted a reception on 11 October 2023 in Ljubljana to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment 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.

In their remarks, both Philippine Non-Resident Ambassador to Slovenia Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas and MFEA Secretary-General Cvelbar Bek acknowledged the many milestones of Philippine-Slovenian cooperation in the last 30 years, including recent high-level government contacts, and expressed optimism in the future of bilateral relations especially in view of the Slovenia’s decision to open a career consulate general in Manila soon.

One of the main highlights of the reception was the Filipino hors-d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Margarita Fores who flew all the way from Manila for the occasion. The reception menu featured the innovative take of Chef Fores on traditional Filipino cuisine and ingredients, with guests feasting on chicharon curls with garlic mousse and adobo flakes, barquillos cylinders with chive mousse duet and etag crisp or Capiz bihod, tuna kinilaw ukoy with chili peppers and tuba vinegar, lumpia sotanghon crystal with bangus tinapa and Ilokos vinegar and pulot dipping sauce, seafood laing on pandesal, and boneless inasal inasluman soup shot with batwan and cherry tomatoes.

The event was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Vienna in close cooperation with Philippine Honorary Consul to Slovenia Srečko Debelak. As of 30 June 2023, there are 365 Filipinos in Slovenia. END

Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas and Honorary Consul Srečko Debelak welcoming the guests (photo from Vienna PE)

Guests during the reception (photo from Vienna PE)

Chef Margarita Fores and Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas (photo from Vienna PE)

Slovenian Secretary-General Ambassador Renata Cvelbar Bek delivers a message during the program (photo from Vienna PE)

For more information, visit https://www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.at  or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustria/,  https://www.twitter.com/PHLinAustria  or https://www.instagram.com/phinaustria/