BURGENLAND, AUSTRIA CELEBRATES PHILIPPINE DAY

 H.E. Amb. Lourdes O. Yparraguirre presenting the Philippines to the Austrian students

and teachers in Stegersbach Hauptschule in Burgenland. Stegersbach Mayor Heinz

Peter Krammer (second from left on the center row) and other city officials listen on.

The Stegersbach Hauptschule, a middle school in Stegersbach, Federal State of Burgenland, Austria invited the Philippine Embassy in Vienna to the school’s celebration of Philippine Day on 06 May 2011.

The school has no Filipino students.  However, the lone Filipino-Austrian bilingual teacher, Mrs. Milagros Peischl, was instrumental in organizing “Philippine Day” as part of the school’s program on “Global Learning”.  The school presented Mrs. Peischl with a certificate of appreciation for her dedicated service and many contributions to the success of the event.

At Stegersbach Hauptschule, Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre presented a slide show about the Philippines: history, government, culture and the arts, and tourism.

During the presentation, Ambassador Yparraguirre took the opportunity to thank the students, teachers and parents for organizing “Philippine Day”. She also thanked the Mayor of Stegersbach, Mr. Heinz Peter Krammer and other city officials for their support for cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Austria.

Following the Philippine Embassy presentation, the students and teachers of Stegersbach Hauptschule performed three (3) Philippine folk dances: tinikling, itik-itik and maglalatik to the delight of the audience, which included Mayor Krammer, Vice Mayor Ernst Friedl, Magister Dr. Gerhard Resch, President of the State School Board of Burgenland, and other school and city officials.

A merienda fare of pancit guisado and turon was served during the program, especially prepared by the students with the help of Mrs. Lilian Zita, a member of the Filipino-Austrian community in Burgenland. Afterwards, Mayor Krammer hosted lunch in honor of Ambassador Yparraguirre and the Philippine Embassy delegation at a traditional Austrian restaurant.

Austrian students dancing Itik-Itik    

Austrian  students dancing Maglalatik

Austrian teachers dancing Tinikling

        
                                                                          Austrian teachers dancing Tinikling