Historical Ties, Closer Cooperation with Czech Republic Cited During Kalayaan 2018 Celebrations
Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Dr. Juan E. Dayang Jr. delivers his opening remarks during the Filipinská Fiesta with the Filipino community, at the Philippine Embassy in Prague grounds on 17 June 2018. (Prague PE photo)
PRAGUE 25 June 2018 — The Philippine Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic commemorated the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence on two occasions: one held on 17 June 2018 for the Filipino community; and another on 18 June 2018 with the National Day reception for the diplomatic corps.
Filipinská Fiesta
On its second year, the Filipinská Fiesta was celebrated at the Embassy grounds on Sunday, 17 June, with the participation of the Filipino community in Prague. The event started with the singing of the Philippine national anthem, and the reading of the messages of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano.
Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Dr. Juan E. Dayang Jr. delivered his opening remarks highlighting Philippine-Czech relations, and focusing on Rizal’s journey in the Czech Republic with the launching of the Rizal Heritage Trail in Prague.
The event featured Filipino food items which were offered for sale to the guests. Among the traditional food items for sale were pork barbeque, bistek tagalog, embutido, lumpiang shanghai, pancit and various native desserts, as well as Filipino beverages such as Philippine mango juice, sago’t gulaman and mais con hielo.
Filipino talents in the Czech Republic provided enterntainment with song and dance performances. The community also joined in the karaoke singing which lasted until 4 in the afternoon.
Children were also treated to fun games including “Bring Me,” “Trip to Jerusalem” and the “Pabitin,” a traditional Filipino game where kids need to jump and grab the prizes hanging in a squared-bamboo stick. Games for the young at heart were also prepared participated in by the adults, such as “Catch a Cookie,” “Shake it Baby,” and “Pitik Relay,” a modified version of the “Pitik Bulag,” where a participant covers one eye while turning around for three times before running to flick the cap from a bottle.
The Filipinská Fiesta provided the venue for the Filipino community to get together, showcase their talents, and promote camaraderie. The event also provided a venue for local Filipino vendors to showcase and promote their products.
The Embassy hopes to continue with the celebration of the Filipinská Fiesta next year.
Top photo: Filipino food items for sale includ Bistek Tagalog, Embutido, Pork Barbeque and many more
Bottom photos: Kids and the young at heart alike had fun playing games, “Trip to Jerusalem” and “Pabitin” (Prague PE photo)
Diplomatic reception
On 18 June, a traditional diplomatic reception was held for the diplomatic community in Prague, joined by high ranking officials of the Czech Government, Ambassadors and diplomats and invited Filipino community members.
Charge d’affaires, a.i. Dr. Juan E. Dayang Jr. with Deputy Minister Martin Smolek of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, during the diplomatic reception on 18 June 2018. (Prague PE photo)
The event was opened with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem by Mr. Bryan Gandola, a finalist of the Czech version of American Idol “Superstar 2018”, and the Czech national anthem sung by Ms. Princess Roll.
Charge d’Affaires Dayang delivered his welcome remarks and highlighted the Philippine-Czech relations citing histotical roots, including the Czech Jesuit missionaries in the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal’s friendship with Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, and the Czech war heroes during the WWII.
The Charges d’Affaires also mentioned three main commonalities between the Czech Republic and the Philippines: the Sto Niño or the Infant Jesus of Prague (in the Czech Republic) and of Cebu (in the Philippines); the colors and design of their respective flags; and the similar peaceful transition of government by comparing the EDSA People Power Revolution in the Philippines and the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic.
Consul Dayang further said that bilateral relations between the two countries have become more vibrant not only in the field of political and security cooperation but also in the cultural and economic fronts such as in the area of people-to-people relations, and the Czech government’s legislation to attract 1,000 skilled workers to the Czech Republic anually.
After Consul Dayang’s speech, Deputy Minister Matin Smolek of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic gave his remarks, reiterating the enhanced bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as citing the friendship of Rizal and Blumentritt.
Over 100 guests attended the event, which included ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic community, Czech officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Trade and Industry, and some members of the Filipino community.
Consul Dayang was assisted by Honorary Consul General Břetislav Skačel of the Philippine Consulate General in Brno and Ms. Susan “Toots” Ople, and Senator and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople in receiving the guests. END
For more information, visit www.prague.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCzechRepublic
Members of the diplomatic corps and other Czech government officials listen to the remarks of Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Dr. Juan E. Dayang Jr. and Deputy Minister Martin Smolek. (Prague PE photo)
Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Dr. Juan E. Dayang Jr. with Honorary Consul General Břatislav Skačel and Ms. Susan “Toots” Ople. (Prague PE photo)