A decade ago, a handful of Filipinos in Vienna did something characteristically Filipino: they saw a problem, felt it personally, and decided with their own resources and very great hearts to do something about it. That something became PACES on 12 May 2016. The Philippine-Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES) convened its General Assembly on 8 May 2026 at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, celebrating ten years of investing in the futures of Filipino youth and showing no signs of slowing down.
Under the direction of its President, Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya, PACES enters its second decade stronger, having recently registered updated statutes with the Vienna Landespolizei and securing a Donation Tax Relief Certificate from the Austrian Finanzamt as of 16 March 2026, making all donations to PACES eligible for tax relief under Austrian law.
Dr. Gerardo-Abaya set the tone for the general assembly with a welcome address that was in equal parts gratitude and momentum. Outside the administrative milestones undertaken with the guidance of legal and tax adviser Mr. Wolfgang Allichhammer Managing Director of DrAllichhammer&Co, it was her vision for continuity that awoke everyone’s spirit.
“We have expanded our set of Officers, and welcome new members as we consciously work for continuity by preparing new leaders and successors,” she said. And perhaps most poignantly, she closed with a reminder of what animates the whole enterprise:“Ours is an organization that Acts to Serve with Passion: PACES–Passion in Action for Service.”
Starting Strong, Staying Stronger
The assembly was graced by First Secretary, Consul and Acting Deputy Head of Mission Ms. Candy Cypres-Bauzon, who delivered a message of wholehearted institutional support on behalf of Her Excellency Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas. Also representing the Philippine Embassy at the event was Vice-Consul Ms. Chryzl Sicat.
Speaking warmly of the partnership between the Philippine Embassy and PACES, she affirmed: “We at the Embassy fully support the advocacy that education, especially STEM education, holds the key to driving progress in an era defined by the urgent realities of climate change. We look to PACES as a vital partner in strengthening the bonds between the Philippines and our Austrian communities through cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and scientific dialogue.”
She also emphasized the importance of the moment, tied to the 80th Anniversary of Philippine and Austrian relations, expressing hope that the partnership with PACES would continue to yield activities that celebrate and elevate Filipino excellence on the world stage.
Acting Deputy Head of Mission Cypres-Bauzon closed her message on a warm note, that PACES at the rate it was going, had no business stopping at ten, and that a hundred years was not entirely out of the question. Somewhere between the chuckle and the applause, the room seemed to decide that sustaining this mission for the long haul was not ambition.
It was an obligation.
Twenty-One New Scholars and a Widening Vision
Perhaps the most tangible measure of PACES’ growth are its scholars. As the Director of its Education Programme, Dr. Efren Abaya highlighted the organization’s four batches of scholars—21 in total—comprising 14 university graduates and current students in STEM fields and 7 in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, or TVET, a programme piloted successfully in the 2nd half of 2024 at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati.
Partnerships with Don Bosco Cebu and Don Bosco Nueva Ecija have formalized the future TVET pathways, with the Nueva Ecija cohort selected from hundreds of applicants in agriculture.
As President Dr. Gerardo-Abaya noted, each graduate carries a ripple effect:
“For each graduate, we can count that 4 to 5 family members are positively impacted.”
A Decade in the Making
It fell to PACES founding member and Past President Malou Reininger to bring the assembly back to the beginning as she shared the organizations’ 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.”
A full story is available on this website in the article, “PACES: A Journey of Faith and Compassion “
In an organization that runs on passion and community trust, the financial report by Treasurer Angelo Camarata and the internal audit by Auditor Mary Ann Sevilla also became a reassuring reminder that PACES runs on sound financial practices as much as it does on good intentions.
New Officers, New Energy
The General Assembly also saw the induction of new incoming officers:
- Secretary of the Board: Sonia Zerrudo
- Assistant Treasurer: Alessandra Parco
- Auditor 2: Nelia Lobrigo
All were inducted by the Acting Deputy Head of Mission, signaling a graceful passing of the torch. Dr. Gerardo-Abaya, who offered her continued service as President for the 2026–2028 term, spoke of leadership as a garden to be tended, root by root, into the next generation of PACES stewards.
The complete list of current officers can be found in the About Us section.
At the meeting, three new PACES members were introduced to the general assembly composed of PACES members, donors and supporters.
Looking Ahead
True to its character as an organization that treats culture, faith, and advocacy as one indivisible mission, PACES has a full calendar ahead. Supporters can watch out for these events:
- May 16: 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Mass and the launch of a monthly Rosary Crusade for the Philippines
- June 11: Catalpa Tree Flower Laying Ceremony at the Rathaus park
- September TBA: Participation in the PAMANA Parade and events
- November 7: Fundraising concert: Symphony of Grace and Hope
A decade is a long time to keep believing: in young people, in education, in a strong community that refuses to look away. And still, PACES does not look like an organization catching its breath. In fact it looks like one that has only just found its stride. The Filipino youth it champions did not ask for the circumstances they were born into, but thanks to PACES, more of them will have the tools to go beyond these circumstances entirely.
That, more than any certificate or milestone, is worth celebrating.
For more information about PACES, donations and its scholarship programmes, visit www.paces-stem.org
— By Pamela Eyre Victoria Lira*
- Hailing from Leyte, Pamela is presently an Erasmus Mundus Scholar pursuing a double master’s degree in Copernicus Digital Earth at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, specializing in Geocommunication and Geovisualization. A passionate climate leader, she co-founded Sponge City for SEA and Project KARTAng Isip, the latter exhibited in Queens, New York. She has earned recognition in several national and international writing competitions and has become part of prestigious programs hosted by UN Geneva, St. Gallen Symposium, Oxford Smith School etc.More info about the author on her website: https://pevrlira.me/
