3 July 2012- On the occasion of the 114th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence, the Embassy and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines in Vienna hosted two art exhibitions in Vienna and launched the new tourism slogan at the Philippine Independence Day Ball.
On June 23, the Embassy and the Mission hosted the Vernissage of the Art Exhibition by Philippine contemporary visual artists at the Museum of Young Art (MOYA) in Palais Schönborn, Vienna.
Artworks of three distinguished Filipino visual artists, Rafael Cusi, Rene Robles, and Aris Bagtas, were displayed at MOYA until June 28.
The Vernissage was attended by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna, academics, business community and leaders of the Filipino community in Austria.
On June 25, the Embassy and the Mission hosted the opening of "Impressions: An Art Exhibition of Paintings" by Manuel D. Baldemor at the lobby of the Vienna International Center (VIC), home of the United Nations Offices in Vienna.
Manuel Baldemor's "IMPRESSIONS" is a revisit of his mural at the VIC Rotunda entitled "Pasasalamat" depicting the cultural and religious traditions of the Filipinos.
The mural is one of the few international artworks in the entrance hall of the VIC and was unveiled by former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos in 1999.
The event was also attended by the members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, academics, businessmen and leaders of the Filipino community in Austria.
The 39 art pieces were displayed until June 29.
In her remarks in both exhibitions, Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre said that "the Filipino nation has found a renewed sense of purpose to defend the rights and freedoms that we have earned and to strengthen the democratic institutions and processes that have guided our way of life".
Aside from the art exhibitions, several other events were held in June to celebrate the Philippine National Day. Some of these included the following:
- The Independence Day celebration hosted by members of the Filipino community working in the United Nations Offices in Vienna, Vienna International Centre on June 12.
- The Annual Philippine Independence Day Ball organized by the Council of Filipino Associations in Austria (CFAA) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Philippines in Vienna, Marriott Hotel on June 16.
- The Independence Day celebration hosted by the Filipino-Slovenian community held in Bled, Slovenia on June 17.
The launching of the new marketing slogan of the Department of Tourism (DOT), "It's More Fun in the Philippines", was also held during the Independence Day Ball. END
