15 July 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Vienna reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that it has initiated the formal launching of the ASEAN Ladies Circle-Vienna (ALCV), which was warmly welcomed by ASEAN diplomats assigned in Vienna.

Like its counterparts in capitals and diplomatic circles across the globe, the ALCV brings together female ASEAN diplomats and nationals, as well as the spouses of male ASEAN diplomats, in an organization that seeks to foster camaraderie and fellowship within the ASEAN community in Vienna; to acquaint the public with ASEAN; and to promote the culture, peoples, and attractions of the individual ASEAN member countries. The ALCV will also be undertaking charitable activities and projects for beneficiaries in Southeast Asia.

To date, Vienna is host to five ASEAN diplomatic missions, which include the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Madame Concepcion Garcia hosted at the official residence on 14 June 2005 the formal launch and induction of the ALCV’s first batch of officers with a cultural program and cocktail reception.   Elected officers were Madame Concepcion G. Garcia (President), Indonesia's Mme. Yulita Sarnodra Swiridjaja (Vice President); Malaysia's Mme. Isdina Izaidin (Secretary I); Indonesia's Mme. Nonai Inkiriwang (Secretary II) and Thailand's Mme. Fa Charanasomboon (Treasurer).

Also inducted were Mme. Aglaja Kyrle (wife of Amb. Dr. Johannes Kyrle, Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs) as Honorary President; Mme. Jean Scherk (wife of Amb. Nicholas Scherk, Head of the Asia-Pacific Department of the Austrian Foreign Ministry) as Honorary Chairperson; and Philippine Honorary Consul Prof. KR Wnltraud Steinbock, as one of the organization's Consultants.

The ACLV has already lined up a series of activities for 2005-2006, with the ASEAN Day on 8 August (ASEAN's founding anniversary) as the central event of its calendar. Other proposed activities include a fund-raising event; ballroom dancing lessons, a bowling competition, a group excursion, as well as other cultural and recreational activities.

The formation of the ACLV was the initiative of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna and Madame Garcia, spouse of Ambassador Victor G. Garcia III.  Ms. Garcia was elected as the first Filipina President of the United Nations Delegations Women's Club in New York in 1982. She also established the ASEAN Ladies Circle of Los Angeles in 1991, while Ambassador Garcia was serving as Philippine Consul General in that city.  END
 

/jay