ASEAN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN VIENNA

05 November 2007 –   The Philippine Embassy in Vienna reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that a colorful evening reception capped the year-long event of the ASEAN’s 40^th Anniversary Celebration in Vienna. A Committee composed of various ASEAN Embassies with diplomatic representation in Vienna which includes Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines graciously hosted the event held at the famous Kursalon on 30 October.

The cultural programme featured a wide array of ASEAN traditional songs and dances from the aforementioned ASEAN countries.

The Filipino dance troupe of the UN Office in Vienna performed Philippine folklore which drew rapturous applause. Vienna-based soprano Christiana Serafin, and Wiener Staatsoper resident tenor Allan Lacuin touched the audience hearts with a repertoire of Philippine Kundiman songs.

Other performances were the much-applauded dances of Thailand’s Ram Sat Chatri, Indonesia’s Tari Piring or Sumatran saucer dance, and the uptempo Joget from Malaysia. The Republic of Vietnam contributed an indigenous instrumental performance featuring the Dan Bau, and a mini-fashion show illustrating the national dress, the Ao Dai.

Shown between performances are displays of photographic images of famous ASEAN tourist destinations and Southeast Asian scenes, annotated by Vienna-based Knight of Rizal and poet Camilo Antonio, which left the audience entranced with the diversity of ASEAN cultures. 

The programme’s culmination was a medley of ASEAN folksongs, and Ryan Cayabyab-penned ASEAN Song of Unity, rendered by the ASEAN Ambassadors and Ladies Circle of Vienna (ALCV), to the accompaniment of the Indonesian Embassy’s resident Gamelan Angklung.