Filipin@ Communities in Austria: Barrio Fiesta Sa Vienna 2013

Abstract

On July 22, 2013, the Austrian-based Filipino4 communities got together on ATV Lie- sing Sportplatz in order to celebrate the annual Fiesta in Vienna. In the Philip- pines, the term barrio describes all rural sub-units of municipalities that lie outside the poblacion (municipal center) as well as any sub-units of some smaller cities (Ro- mani, 1956). As Ramon Reyes, a Philippine native, described during the event, barrio fiesta could be translated as 'neighborhood party':In the Philippines, people love to gather together to enjoy these festivals that celebrate anything from weddings to holidays. No matter who you are or where you come from, everyone is welcome as a guest and active participant. (Ramon Reyes quoted in Barrio Fiesta in Vienna, 2011)As mentioned in this quote, there are various occasions for such get-togethers. In the case of the Viennese Fiesta, it is to commemorate the Philippine Indepen- dence from Spain in 1898. According to the Council of Filipino Associations in Austria, which organizes the event in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy, the Fiesta in the Austrian capital is supposed to be the biggest one outside the Philippines. With approximately 100 participating organizations and almost 6,000 participants from all over Austria, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, Germany, and Italy, this seems likely.The Filipino's account for 12,025 registered persons in Austria, representing the biggest group of South-East Asian migrants. Official data of Statistik Austria (2011a) shows that in 2011, 7,522 persons who held an Austrian citizenship but were born in the Philippines (2,160 male and 5,326 female) and 4,506 (1,895 male and 2,611 fe- male) Philippine citizens were registered in Austria (second-generation not included). The strong presence of female migrants is related to the international migration of (mainly female) Philippine nursing staff to Austria since the 1960s. Later on, family re- unification as well as marriage-related migration had an impact. With 8,517 persons, the majority of the 12,025 so-called Pinoys5 are living in Vienna (Statistik Austria, 2011b). For most of the Philippine migrants, social ties and networks play a vital role in their occupational and private life, which is also reflected in the high number of Philippine associations and organizations. The strong organization in associations is a quite specific criterion of Filipino migrants compared with other South-East Asian communities in Austria. While some of the organizations stand for regions of origin of their members (e.g. Igorot-Cordillera Austria) or target areas (e.g. Philippine As- sociation in Niederosterreich [Lower Austria]), others represent interest groups (e.g. Filipino Basketball in Wien [Vienna]; Philippine Nurses Association-Austria) or reli- gious organizations (e.g. Vienna Christian Center - Filipino Fellowship). According to an information website for Filipino Overseas Workers (OFW), there aremore than fifty (50) organizations, clubs and associations of Filipinos or Filipino-Austrians - organized along either regional, ethnic, professional or religious lines, many of which maintain excellent coopera- tive and consultative ties with the Embassy and are actively supporting the Embassy in projecting a posi- tive image of the Philippines through regular activities and projects. (Pinoy OFW, 2011)Hector Pascua (2012) summarizes the essential function of these various groups and the Fiesta in particular as follows:These wonderful occasions bring us together. We need to set aside our differences and think as one people, one nation! This sense of unity, of having common heritage should continue to keep Filipinos in Austria together. It is this sense of community that will allow us to face the tremendous challenges con- fronting our lives as Filipinos living in a foreign land.Considering the importance of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, it is hardly sur- prising that the event started with a field mess celebrated by a Philippine priest and accompanied by a church choir. …