A brief history of PACES as recounted by Maria Lourdes Reininger, a former president, on the occasion of PACES’ upcoming 10th anniversary in May 2026.
Every story has a beginning. As PACES, the Philippine-Austrian Cultural and Educational Society, moves toward its 10th anniversary in May 2026, it seems only appropriate to sit down and look back at the events, people and places that makes up the story of PACES.
There is a lot to tell. After all, it is a story that started as a vision and yet have prevailed, progressed, touched lives and — ten years on –remains a visible and living reality.
A Beginning Rooted in Vision
It was the early months of 2016. Then Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson was recruiting members of the Philippine community in Austria to start an organization that would support talented but financially challenged Filipino university students of science in the Philippines.
It was with some hesitation that I accepted a dinner invitation of Ambassador Collinson at her residence, arranged by a longtime friend of mine, Gina Villanueva-Weinzierl. I had early on realized the problems faced by Filipino organizations in Austria. There were approximately 30,000 Filipino migrants and their families living in Austria in 2016, and yet more than 30 Philippine-Austrian organizations already existed, mostly regional in nature. So I felt that another new Filipino organization, even with a unique vision would require some gigantic efforts to succeed.
Fragile Beginnings
Even today, I continue to harbor feelings of amazement and wonder at how this organization, founded by dedicated members of the Philippine-Austrian community, survived the initial travails of a newly founded organization in Vienna.
Little did I know then that PACES would pave the way to a consciousness that was a novelty at that time: one that would eventually be the source of energy and inspiration for its progress and growth.
The Founding Circle
My earliest recollections of PACES include meetings with dedicated Filipinos in Vienna who formed the earliest committee. Then Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Vienna, Magister Thomas Hohenberg, a practicing lawyer in Vienna, was the first president of the newly established organization.
He drafted the Statutes of PACES, which was ratified by six members meeting at the Marriott Hotel on Vienna´s Ringstrasse. Those present at this first meeting included Magister Thomas Hohenberg; Drs. Jane and Efren Abaya; Gigi Vuzem, then Consul-General in Austria; Sulpicio Confiado and his wife Precie; Nilsa Fischer; and Heinrich Irmfried Reininger, my husband and stalwart supporter.
At this meeting, the first officers were elected — Thomas Hohenberg as President, myself as Vice-President, Priscilla Ramos-Confiado as Secretary, Nilsa Fischer as Treasurer, Dr. Efren Abaya as Scholarship Committee Chairman, and Dr. Jane Abaya as Auditor. Soon after, Nilsa and I registered PACES with the Vienna Police (Landespolizeidirektion Wien) with a founding date of 12 May 2016, and opened a bank account.
At a reception at the Philippine Embassy, we were formally sworn into office. PACES was born.
The Community Takes Notice
Ambassador Collinson continued to support the fledgling organization. At a reception held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Philippine independence in June 2016 at the Palais Coburg in Vienna, PACES was formally introduced to the public. She further strengthened her support by appointing Philippine Embassy Attache Ayesha Bahjiin as the Embassy’s coordinator for PACES.
Science as a Mission
To promote its twin aims of supporting science as a vehicle for progress and development and supporting education initiatives in science and technology, PACES organized the first in a series of lectures on 18 September 2018 with talks by Dr. Carlo Arcilla, head of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and Dr. Teodoro M. Gatchalian, Assistant Secretary of the Philippine’s Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The lecture was a joint initiative of PACES and the Philippine Embassy in Vienna. These two distinguished speakers shared their expertise with attendees including leaders from the Austrian and Philippine communities, and officers of the United Nations in Vienna.
An Unexpected Turn
The beginnings, however, were still far from smooth. A few months later, the first elected president of PACES stepped down for personal reasons. I was elected President, unaware that this was only the start of a difficult climb. With typical optimism and faith in our purpose, I proposed and organized our next anniversary event, a fund-raising reception at the Arcotel Kaiserwasser hotel in Vienna with the cooperative efforts of Evelyn Ziegler and Nilsa Fischer.
The next set of officers were sworn in by the rector of the Augustinerkirche, Pater Matthias Schlögl, OSA, during this festive occasion.
See web article: https://www.paces-stem.org/2018/05/paces-induct-new-set-of-officers-for-2018-2020/
Strength Through Partnership
The main activities during my term of office were directed towards fund-raising and increasing the membership of PACES. Another major effort in July 2020 was the creation of a bank account in cooperation with a charitable organization, Jugend Einer Welt, that is affiliated with the Don Bosco parish organization. This would enable Austrian taxpayers to make tax-deductible donations to PACES. The success of this effort was a result of negotiations led by Gina V. Weinzierl, VP External Affairs, Marizel Rojas, VP Internal Affairs, Heinrich Reininger, PACES Special Adviser, and myself.
During this period, a partnership with CFC ANCOP in the Philippines was established with the help of Precie Confiado and Dr. Efren Abaya. ANCOP would become our administrative and spiritual arm in the Philippines. Its cooperative work with PACES has, through the years, proven to be a great blessing to our organization. It not only provided values training and guidance to the scholars, it also took care of the administrative tasks and monetary distribution to the scholars. This partnership has become a cornerstone of PACES´ work in educational scholarships.
Also during this period, the tradition of the Catalpa Tree Flower Offering–a celebration of the arrival of the first Filipino migrants in Austria, their integration and Philippine-Austrian friendship–was revived.
STEM Scholarships Are Born
The first PACES scholars were interviewed and chosen in June 2017 during my term of office. It was a heart-rending experience to hear of the travails of these university students. Hearing of these difficulties goaded us towards more concentrated efforts to support students in STEM, an acronym meaning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
We launched a fund-raising campaign with the slogan #10forSTEMS linking donations to the cost of two cups of Mélange coffee in Vienna to appeal to the charity of the Philippine and Austrian populations.
Our earlier activities and fundraisers were Karaoke evenings sponsored by the Augustinian parish in Vienna, led by our spiritual director, Mag. Pater Matthias Schlögl, OSA, birthday celebrations as fundraisers instead of the traditional gift-giving, and scientific lectures held at the Philippine Embassy.
Leadership in a Time of Crisis
Ms. Marizel Rojas, an active member of the Filipino community in Austria, took over the reins of PACES after my three and a half years of presidency. Marizel, who was one of the original founding members, capably supported our early fundraising efforts. Despite the COVID restrictions imposed in Austria that started in 2021, she organized videoconferencing campaigns and meetings, as well as informative lectures.
She continued the Catalpa Tree offerings at the Rathaus Park, and succeeded in inviting Vienna’s Mayor/Governor, Dr. Michael Ludwig to join our celebration as guest of honor, welcomed by then Philippine Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad. Marizel exerted herculean efforts to continue PACES’ work in Austria particularly during the COVID period.
A Digital Voice for PACES
The website of PACES (www.paces-stem.org) was created beginning in 2017 and served as a vital bridge to reach out effectively and in a timely manner to the community in Austria and to the world. Subsequently, PACES moved into Facebook and Instagram, expanding the messaging of PACES on social media.
A New Generation of Leadership
Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya, former Director at an international organization based in Vienna, took the oath of office as president of PACES in May 2024. Her efforts in reaching out to the international and Philippine-Austrian communities in Vienna continue to be recognized through the various concerts and symposia she has organized. Under her leadership, PACES has continued to fluorish.
A piano concert in June 2024 featuring renowned Filipino pianist, Dr. Raul Sunico was the first collaboration between PACES and the Philippine Embassy on a cultural activity.
A concert in November 2025 called “A Symphony of Hope” showcased Filipino artists in Vienna and raised funds for PACES STEM scholarships.
Her team of new officers provide strong support. They are Priscila Ramo-Confiado, VP Internal Affairs; Nilsa Fischer, VP External Affairs; Angelo Camarata, Treasurer; Alessandra Parco, Secretary; Manuel Ortega, Auditor; Dr. Efren Abaya, Education Programme Director; Rodolfo Quevenco, Communications Officer. Former Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Sulpicio Confiado was appointed as Chief Strategist, and is also the current head of PACES’ Philippine Office. Subsequently added to the current PACES team are Mary Ann Sevilla, Auditor; and Nelia Lobrigo, Membership Coordinator.
Expanding to Technical and Vocational Training
In 2024, PACES expanded its educational programme to add Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This programme supported seven scholars from Palawan to train for 15 months at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, completing their studies in February 2026.
An Unfinished Story
Every story has an end — but not for PACES.
PACES continues its work through the faith, compassion and dedication of its selfless members, donors and supporters. Over the past ten years, three batches of STEM scholars from different regions in the Philippines completed their university studies— some with honors, while others hurdled professional licensure examinations. In its tenth year, PACES has graduated a total of eleven STEM graduates.
And the journey continues. New batches of deserving STEM and TVET scholars will be added in the years to come. Thus the story that began with a vision continues to live on in every scholar; in every act of generosity; and in every hope fulfilled.
Congratulations and happy 10th anniversary, PACES!!
— By Maria Lourdes Soto Reininger
Note: The Author gratefully acknowledges the helpful editing by Dr. Efren Abaya and Rodolfo Quevenco, for understanding that fact reporting and literary style go hand in hand.
