18 November 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Prague reported to the Department that the Embassy witnessed the spontaneous response of Czech citizens to join in relief efforts to help the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. The Czech Republic Government has also sent emergency humanitarian assistance worth 8.7M pesos through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
As of the latest report, the contribution of both the Czech Government and the private sector has reached 32.5 million pesos despite the relatively small size of the Czech Republic’s economy and population.
Philippine Embassy Charge d’ Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Juan E. Dayang, Jr. said that what was most uplifting are the efforts made by Czech citizens offering donations through various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have opened public collections and aid through various media outlets and via SMS, namely: the People in Need Foundation, Caritas Czech Republic, ADR, and the Red Cross.
CDA Dayang also met with Mr. Jakub Licka, Caritas Czech Republic Secretary General to express appreciation for their efforts in helping typhoon victims. Caritas Czech Republic has collected around 3 to 4 million pesos. Caritas representative Ondrej Suchanek is now in Manila to coordinate relief efforts with Caritas Philippines. CDA Dayang intends to meet with the People in Need Foundation, the largest and most respected aid agency in the Czech Republic to express the Embassy’s appreciation.
The Filipino community in the Czech Republic, numbering to more than 500 Filipinos, has also mobilized themselves to raise funds.The Filipino Czech Association (FCA) led by its President Marison Rodriguez has also launched a fund-raising campaign for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and encouraged Filipinos in the Czech Republic to be involved. Lily Chu, a Prague-based Filipina stage actress has also joined the efforts by donating all the proceeds of Prague Shakespeare Company’s stage play Cymbeline slated on November 18.
The business sector has also contributed in raising funds. The Philippine-Czech Business Council (PCBC), led by Philippine Honorary Consul-General Bretislav Skacel in Brno, has also started a fund-raising campaign. Teleplan, the biggest employer of Filipinos, numbering to 58 employees working as engineers and technical operators near Prague, has also raised funds to help the typhoon victims. One of its employees, Rosalie Muni, lost her mother as a result of the typhoon. After the Holy Mass sponsored by Teleplan for the victims of the Typhoon Yolanda on November 13 at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague Church, the Embassy gave Ms. Muni a condolence letter and small donation from the Philippine Embassy staff.
Park Hotel Prague’s General Manager Monika Hilm also informed the Embassy that it will host a charity dinner on November 28 in partnership with the People in Need Foundation. The City of Prague has also given a donation to the typhoon victims through the same foundation.
The Philippine Embassy expressed its appreciation for the spontaneous acts of generosity of the Czechs and the Filipino community to help the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. The Embassy opened the book of condolences for the typhoon victims from November 14 to 15 at the Chancery and sponsored a Holy Mass at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague Church on November 17 for the diplomatic corps, members of the Filipino community and friends. END