The return of Austria’s National Day Reception and the International Bazaar Foundation’s annual shopping event

This year, it feels like we have everything back. After the long hiatus that was the pandemic, which put everything in limbo, 2022 has felt like we are experiencing the return of certain freedoms and opportunities. A sense of normalcy has come creeping back as restrictions have eased and we are allowed to gather and interact with other human beings in the flesh. It feels new but familiar, which makes everything even more exciting.

Austria’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Johann Brieger, and his wife Mme. Roswitha arrived in Manila two months ago, quite the opportune time with just enough to plan a huge national day event and get to know their new home a little better.

I mention it in this column quite often but events such as a national day celebration are a huge part of a diplomat’s work. It’s not the only thing diplomats do, of course, but showcasing your country, your people, and your culture at your biggest reception of the year is one of the more visible and immediately rewarding aspects of the job.

Exactly two weeks after Ambassador Brieger presented his credentials, the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila turned into a slice of Austria. We got a taste of what it would be like to attend a ball in Vienna, thanks to music from the Manila Symphony Orchestra and young, Filipino dancers performing a couple of waltzes throughout the evening. A huge backdrop for photo-taking featured picturesque Halstatt, one of my personal favorites as far as small, European towns go. It has such a dramatic flair to it as a place where mountains meet the water.

In his speech, Ambassador Brieger talked about the enduring friendship between Austria and the Philippines and how currently, the rule of law, which helped his country rise from the ashes of World War II, is being trampled on “by the unprovoked aggression of Russia in Ukraine.” Brieger added that it has brought a ripple effect felt around the globe through high energy prices, inflation, and supply chain disruptions. Such turmoil is even disturbing food security in vulnerable countries around the world.

“It is times like these when friends stand together, both as nations and as people, and join hands to overcome adversities,” he said. “This is something Austria and the Philippines have done for a very long time, dating back to the well-documented fraternal friendship between your very own hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and the Austrian scholar Ferdinand Blumentritt.” The latter is a staunch supporter of Philippine independence in the 19th century. Brieger also touched on the noble gesture made by former President Manuel Quezon who welcomed 1,600 Jews from Europe during the height of World War II. Most of them were from Austria, escaping Nazi persecution.

“In fact, a man named Herbert Zipper, born and raised in Vienna, who studied at the Viennese Academy of Music from 1923 to 1928, came to the Philippines in 1939 to seek refuge and eventually became one of the first conductors of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the very orchestra with us tonight to grace this event with their musical performances,” he beamed.

With 76 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Austria, various fields are also being added to the list of things the two countries share. “With the embassy’s science diplomacy project, the bilateral cooperation on the convergence of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts and culture was moved to another level and can impact the future of education and skills development in the Philippines,” he added. The friendship between the two countries has also extended in the health sector with the Philippines providing much-needed healthcare professionals into the Austrian healthcare system.

‘Herbert Zipper, born and raised in Vienna, who studied at the Viennese Academy of Music from 1923 to 1928, came to the Philippines in 1939 to seek refuge and eventually became one of the first conductors of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.’

The ambassador also shared how his country has reopened for tourism and is now ready to welcome Filipino tourists once more. While the wiener schnitzel, the kaiserschmarrn, and the sacher torte were excellent at the Pen, nothing beats having all of those for lunch while overlooking the Hallstätter See on a sunny day.

The IBF’s International Bazaar returns!

Another thing we’re getting back this year? The International Bazaar Foundation’s (IBF) annual embassy-powered bazaar, one of the most awaited shopping events in Manila. After all, it only happens once a year when embassies gather and bring products from their countries to sell, some of which are not available in the Philippine market yet. It’s also conveniently timed, just weeks before Christmas.

“Certainly, there is a great deal of excitement surrounding the return of the bazaar after a two year hiatus caused by pandemic,” said IBF chairperson Pamela Louise Manalo, wife of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. “Just last week, we held a general meeting with participants from the embassies and the Philippines’ best exhibitors. There were around 40 countries interested in participating and we are still negotiating with others who have expressed an interest to join us.”

On Nov. 20, the doors of the World Trade Center will open once again to welcome shoppers as early as 8 a.m. Proceeds will go to various beneficiaries supported by the IBF. The Spouses of Heads of Mission (SHOM) headed by Riitta Laakso (Finland) is also collaborating with the IBF to mount the event, consolidating the funds that will be distributed to beneficiaries.

The IBF was founded by Angela Ramos, the mother of former President Fidel V. Ramos, back in 1966. It has since granted more than 500 scholarships over the years and currently has 55 active scholars. It also supports livelihood projects for distressed communities and victims of calamities.

Photos from the Austrian Embassy.