Although there have been some sporadic forms of ties between
Filipinos and Austrians for over a century now, Philippine
immigration to Austria started to become statistically significant only
in the early 1970’ s. In line with the Marcos regime’ s policy of labor
exportation, several batches of nurses were sent to Austria in response
to the Austrian government request for health workers. Also duri
ng
this period, catholic missionaries and priests in the island of Panay
sponsored a considerable number of young diligent residents in their
search for employment in Austria. Today, after 4 decades, Filipinos here in Austria are unofficially
estimated at 35,000, making up roughly 3,5% of the Austrian
population with migrant background (Source: Statistics Austria, last
updated on 13 August 2010). The demographic
trends show an accelerating increase in numbers and qualitative
differences emerging among the different immigrant waves and the
different generations (1st, 2nd, 3rd). Viable working relationships among various Filipino organizations
that focus on accomplishing common goals based on shared values
have developed through time. The fruits of these partnerships have
ripened and there is now the felt need to bring together the migrant
Filipinos in Austria in the spirit of barangay (community) and
bayanihan (mutual assistance and mutual caring). A physical core
area, a barangay center, that would serve as a center of gravity for
Filipinos in Austria is imperative for the effective and efficient
realization of this goal. Aside from cultivating transnational ties and obligations with the
Philippines, the establishment of a barangay center will also enhance
the Filipino community's integration in Austria. As observed by Rauer
(2008:88): in order to be recognized in the public discourse, the
associations have to present the minority as ethnically and religiously
homogeneous. Only such self-ethnicizing, as well as the self-definition
as a minority, enables the associations to formulate their claims of recognition.
