On 11 June 2026, PACES gathered with the Filipino community at Vienna’s Rathauspark for its traditional Floral Offering Ceremony, commemorating the 128th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. This year’s celebration carried special significance, as three milestones converged in a single occasion.
PACES marked its 10th anniversary, and for the first time organized the event jointly with ENFiD Austria (European Network of Filipino Diaspora) and Babaylan Austria (led by Carmen Pacaigue). The gathering became a visible expression of unity among Filipino organizations in Austria and a reminder that the community achieves more when it works together.
The Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon was ENFiD Austria Chairperson Marizel Rojas — herself a former PACES President — whose dual role as host and co-organizer beautifully embodied the spirit of collaboration that defined this year’s event.
The ceremony opened with an Invocation by Maria Lourdes Soto Reininger, PACES President from 2018 to 2020, setting a tone of gratitude and reflection. Soprano Maria Isabel Zavala then led the community in the national anthems of both the Philippines and Austria — her voice ringing out across Rathauspark in what would be the first of several performances that afternoon.
The celebration also coincided with the 80th anniversary of Filipino-Austrian relations, a friendship that has deepened across generations as Filipinos have established roots in Austria and contributed meaningfully to its social, cultural, and economic life.
At the heart of the ceremony stood a living symbol of that shared history: the Catalpa tree in Rathauspark, planted in 1998 and now 28 years old. The Catalpa was not chosen by accident. Its leaves are heart-shaped — a quiet emblem of the compassion and warmth that Filipinos carry with them wherever they go — and a mature tree spreads wide, casting generous shade over all who gather beneath it, much as the Filipino community spirit has extended itself to embrace new homes, new neighbors, and new beginnings. The tree commemorates the recognition of Filipinos as an established migrant community by the City of Vienna, and as far as is known, it remains the only tree in this central public park dedicated to an ethnic community. Like the Catalpa itself, the Filipino presence in Austria has grown steadily — rooted deeply, reaching widely, and offering shelter to those who come after.
In her welcome address, PACES President Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya emphasized the significance of gathering each year beneath the Catalpa tree — not only to commemorate Philippine independence, but also to honor the generations of Filipinos who helped build community life in Austria. The tree serves as a living witness to that journey, connecting past and present while reminding everyone of the responsibility to nurture the roots that earlier generations planted.
Philippine Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo Bernas echoed these reflections in her address, speaking in German about the Catalpa tree as a symbol of friendship, belonging, and the enduring ties between the Philippines and Austria. She expressed her appreciation for the collaborative work of the organizations in putting up the event, saying “Thank you all for raising the profile of Filipino-Austrians and showing how well our community is integrated here. Indeed, you have contributed much to the growth of the social, economic, and cultural life in Vienna."
Before Mag. Peter Hacker took the floor, Missy returned to perform Gaano Kita Kamahal, pulling at the audience’s heartstrings with a declaration of love and longing that felt entirely at home in that outdoor gathering of people far from the country of their birth.
Marizel Rojas then introduced the afternoon’s guest speaker, Mag. Peter Hacker, Executive City Councilor for Social Affairs, Public Health and Sports of the City of Vienna — describing him as a particular favorite at major Filipino community gatherings, especially those involving the nursing and medical professions. Mag. Hacker praised Missy Zavala for her exceptional renditions of both national anthems and spoke with warmth and genuine admiration for the Filipino community’s contribution to the fabric of Austrian society.
His address carried considerable depth when he reflected on the meaning of the 80th anniversary of bilateral relations. He noted that the friendship could not be longer, for a sobering reason: it has also been only 80 years since the establishment of a democratic Austrian Republic — itself the hard-won outcome of a history in which Austria bore real responsibility. His willingness to speak plainly about that history, and to frame the bilateral anniversary within an honest reckoning, was striking in its humility. He then turned to the Philippines’ 128 years of independence — not merely a revolution, he observed, but a sustained, ongoing effort to preserve what was won. In a world where freedoms are once again under pressure, he rallied those present, in the name of the City of Vienna, to continue that fight. He said he comes to gatherings like these to express his admiration for every Filipino who has had the courage to leave home, build a new life in Austria, and give generously to the society that received them.
The Floral Offering that followed was one of the most moving moments of the afternoon. Members of the community who had been present at the tree’s planting twenty-eight years ago were invited to step forward and lay flowers at its base. As the Couples for Christ Choir sang Kanlungan — a song about the passing of time and cherished memories — the moment bridged generations, bringing the story of both the tree and the community into sharp, tender focus.
Babaylan Austria’s dancers then delighted the audience with a vibrant cultural performance, bringing color, movement, and pride to the afternoon. The Our Lady of Sorrows Singers added their voices to the programme before the celebration moved toward its close.
The afternoon ended as it could only end — with everyone singing together. Missy Zavala invited the whole gathering to join their voices in Bayan Ko, a song whose longing for a free and beloved homeland resonated deeply with every person present beneath the Catalpa tree. It was a fittingly communal close to what had been, from first note to last, an afternoon held together by music, memory, and shared purpose. A commemorative photo brought the formal programme to a joyful end.
Since its founding in 2016, PACES has supported 21 young Filipinos through STEM and vocational scholarships, helping create educational opportunities and break cycles of poverty for families in the Philippines. PACES is also proud to have been granted Austria’s Donation Tax Relief Certificate, allowing supporters to maximize the impact of their contributions.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Filipino community in Austria!
Read other reports and view photos of this event:
Catalpa Tree Floral Offering Celebrates 128th Philippine Independence Day and Enduring Philippine-Austrian Friendship
A Legacy of Freedom and Unity: The Meaning of the 128th Philippine Independence Day Celebration and the Filipino Spirit in Austria
By: Sonia Zerrudo, Secretary, PACES Executive Board
Photo credit: Mag. Hector Pascua
