DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-515-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             22 June 2006

FILIPINO CULTURE TAKES CENTER STAGE DURING COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES
 OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY 2006 IN VIENNA 

22 June 2006 – The Philippine Embassy in Vienna reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Filipino talent and culture took center stage during the commemorative activities it organized in cooperation with the Filipino Community in Austria to celebrate the 108th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. 

Ambassador Linglingay F. Lacanlale said that  the celebrations kicked off with the Filipino Community Ball, a Philippine-style staging of a Viennese cultural tradition, which was held on June 10 at the Millennium Event Centre in Vienna's 20th District. Speaking at the event, Ambassador Lacanlale invited the Filipino community to reflect on Filipino patriots' sense of common purpose in pursuit of freedom, and to allow this same spirit to guide their projects and initiatives in the Philippines. The Ambassador urged Filipino-Austrians to pool their resources and talents together, noting that such an approach could only magnify the impact of their contributions to the realization of the Philippines' development goals. 

Dr. Ursula Struppe of the Municipal Department for Integration and Diversity (Magistrat 17), represented the City Government of Vienna.  She lauded Filipinos in Austria for their contributions to Austrian society and for exemplifying Vienna's ideals of foreign integration. Also taking part in the celebration as special guests were Finance Undersecretary Tan Roberto B. Tan and Finance Assistant Secretary Jeremias Paul, who were visiting Vienna for the 40th Meeting of the Chairmen and Coordinators of the Group of 77. 

The Filipino Community Ball marked the first time in years that the event was overseen by a Philippine Independence Day Committee (PIDC), which was revived by the Philippine Embassy in the interest of fostering closer cooperation among Filipino community organizations. 

On 12 June 2006, the Philippine Embassy hosted the annual Independence Day Reception for the diplomatic corps and Filipino community leaders at the Radisson SAS Palais Hotel in Vienna's 1st District.  Serving as the Diplomatic Reception's highpoint was a much-applauded performance of classic opera arias and Filipino kundiman numbers by Vienna-based Filipino classical artists, in the person of lyric spinto soprano Christiana Serafin De Ocampo, tenor Abdul Candao, and virtuoso pianist Aries Caces. The event was also a celebration of Filipino cuisine, as guests were treated to well-known Filipino gastronomic treats such as adobo, okoy, and lumpiang sariwa. 

Leading guests for the second consecutive year was Austrian Federal Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat, who again used the occasion to laud Filipino healthcare workers and their contributions to the Austrian healthcare system. Also present was State Secretary Eduard Mainoni of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology. 

Earlier in the day, Ambassador Lacanlale led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in observing Philippine Independence Day with a solemn flag-raising ceremony at the Chancery. END

 
/jay