SOCIETY 384

AMBASSADORS
PHILIPPINES
A reliable partner
In talk with SOCIETY, the Philippine Ambassador to Austria, H.E. Evangelina
Lourdes Bernas, spoke about her objectives for her five-year term in Austria, the
highlights of bilateral relations, the role of women in Philippine society and the
foreign policy of her country.
INTERVIEW BY MAG. GERTRUD TAUCHHAMMER
Since June 2023, you are accredited Ambassador of
the Philippines to Austria. This is your first ambassadorial
post — how did you prepare for it? And
what are your main objectives for your term here?
I have wanted to represent my country as a diplomat
since I was a child. I was exposed to the international
peace conferences my grandfather would
be invited to in the 1980s as an elder statesman
and by then a former President of the Philippines
(Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines
in 1961-1965) and our conversations at the dinner
table would always be about what was going on in
the world. My background is in international relations,
with a Master’s Degree in Foreign Service
from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign
Service in Washington, DC, USA. When my mother
48
was President (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President
of the Philippines 2001-2010),
I worked with one of our former
Foreign Ministers (Roberto
R. Romulo, himself the
son of Carlos P. Romulo who
was President of the United
Nations) for almost a decade
on international trade matters.
I was also the Head of Policy
for a regional marine environment
program for the
World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF) that covered six countries.
Prior to my posting to
H.E. Evangelina Lourdes Bernas and
Austria, I was the Chair of the
Gertrud Tauchhammer
Board of the National Museum
of the Philippines which was
responsible for about 16 museums and archeological
sites nationwide. For me, it was also important
that my husband was always supportive of my
career goals, especially since we are raising a son
who is now in middle school. I think that all my
experiences prior to coming to Austria will help me
manage both my multilateral and bilateral duties
here, since I also represent the Philippines to the
United Nations and other International Organizations
in Vienna, as well as to Croatia, the Slovak
Republic, and Slovenia apart from Austria.
On my objectives during my term of five years
here, I would like to raise the profile of the Philippines
as a reliable partner in trade and economic
development and as a prime location for
investment. We also have many Filipino workers
here, particularly in healthcare and in the tourism
industry, and I would like to make sure that they
are able to continue contributing to the economy
of their host country (whether in Austria, Croatia,
Slovak Republic, or Slovenia) while enjoying the
protection of their rights and well-being.
The Philippines is also known as a bridgebuilder
in the international community, where
we are active participants in nuclear disarmament
activities, in the promotion of the peaceful
uses of nuclear energy and technology, and
in the advancement of a rules-based international
order.
In 2021, the Philippines and Austria celebrated
75 years of diplomatic relations — what were the
highlights in the history of Austria-Philippines
relations?
In December this year, we are also celebrating
50 years since the establishment of a Philippine
Embassy in Vienna with a resident diplomat. It has
also been 50 years since the first Filipino nurses
came to Austria under an agreement between our
two countries.
Another highlight of PH-Austria Bilateral Relations
was the establishment of the Philippine
Embassy in Vienna in December 1973. It was the
former Secretary of Foreign Affairs H.E. Domingo
L. Siazon Jr.,then serving as Chargé d’Affaires
(1973-1979), who opened Vienna PE and became
the first resident Philippine Ambassador to Austria
(1980- 1986).
Furthermore, the Philippines and Austria celebrated
the 75 th anniversary of the establishment
of bilateral relations in October 2021. However, the
activities to commemorate this milestone, including
a diplomatic reception, were either migrated
online or postponed to a later date due to COVID-
19 restrictions/measures in Austria.
Moreover, there were numerous high-level visits
from both sides, the last one being the visit
of Philippine Space Agency Director General Joel
Joseph Marciano to participate in the 66 th Session
of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (31 May-09 June 2023).
Economic-wise, in 2022, Austria ranked as
Philippine’s 40 th biggest trading partner (out
of 231), 31 st largest export market (out of 213)
and 43 rd import partner (out of 216). On top of
that, Philippines exports to Austria increased by
25.75% from US$ 107.14 million in 2021 to US$
134.73 million in 2022.
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