Filipinos in Austria mark 80 years of Philippine–Austrian relations with Mass, exhibit and lecture
The Philippines and Austria marked the 80th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in Vienna this month with a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Stephen's Cathedral on 17 October, a VIC Club Filipino art exhibit at the Vienna International Centre and an online lecture by historian Ambeth Ocampo.
On 17 October 2026, the Philippines and Austria marked the 80th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a Eucharistic celebration at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, bringing together members of the diplomatic community and the Filipino community in Austria, Austrian News reported.
The Mass was presided over by Bishop Franz Scharl of the Archdiocese of Vienna and concelebrated by Filipino priests serving under the Archdiocese. The Austro-Philippine Society said Filipina soprano Maria Isabel Zavala sang Mozart's Laudate Dominum. A simple reception followed at the Bishop's Residence beside the cathedral.
October's anniversary events in Vienna
| Date | Event | Venue | Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7–16 October | Ties That Bind art exhibit | VIC Restaurant Exhibition Area, Vienna International Centre | VIC Club Filipino |
| 15 October | Online lecture "Exploring Early Philippines–Austria Historical Relations" | Online, 6–8 p.m. Vienna time | Philippine Embassy in Vienna, University of Vienna and Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs |
| 17 October | Thanksgiving Mass | St. Stephen's Cathedral | Philippine Embassy in Vienna |
Ties That Bind at the United Nations in Vienna
The Vienna International Centre, commonly known as the UNO-City, is one of the United Nations' four official headquarters worldwide and hosts people from more than 125 countries, Austrian News noted.
VIC Club Filipino presented Ties That Bind: 80 Years of Philippine–Austrian Diplomatic Relations – Art Exhibit 2026 as part of the year-long anniversary celebration. It opened on Wednesday, 7 October, at the VIC Restaurant Exhibition Area of the United Nations in Vienna and stayed on display until 16 October, with paintings, photography, fashion and the traditional Filipino craft of bobbin lace. The exhibitors were:
- Bobbin lace art: Roxane Leidenfrost
- Fashion design: Zandrine Kocjan
- Painting: Nancy Olea, Imelda Papai, Sarah Jozelle Rojas, Alyssa B. Semana and Edward Joshua Gatpandan
- Guest artist: Minda Marie Cabrera
- Photography: Henri Manzano Abued and Günter Leidenfrost
A lecture on early historical links
The Philippine Embassy in Vienna organised the online lecture with the University of Vienna's Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology and Austria's Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. The lecture, by Professor Ambeth R. Ocampo, the Senator Gil J. Puyat Professor of History at Ateneo de Manila University and a Distinguished Professorial Lecturer at De La Salle University, was scheduled for Thursday, 15 October 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. Vienna time.
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- The Philippines and Austria marked the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations with a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna on 17 October 2026.
- Bishop Franz Scharl presided over the Mass, which was concelebrated by Filipino priests serving under the Archdiocese of Vienna.
- VIC Club Filipino's Ties That Bind art exhibit ran at the VIC Restaurant Exhibition Area of the United Nations in Vienna from 7 to 16 October.
- The Philippine Embassy in Vienna organised an online lecture by historian Ambeth R. Ocampo on early Philippines–Austria historical relations, scheduled for 15 October.
Official sources
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