Installation of the Rizal Portrait at Grand Hotel to Mark the Rizal Heritage Trail in Brno, Czech Republic
Rizal Day celebration in Brno, Czech Republic led by Chargé d’ affaires, a.i. Juan E. Dayang, Jr. with Philippine Honorary Consul-General Břetislav Skácel, Knights of Rizal Prague Commander Štěpán Klokočka, Grand Hotel’s Darina Rygrová, Filipino community members in Brno and Filipino hotel guests.
08 January 2018 BRNO — The Philippine Embassy in Prague led the celebration of Rizal Day on 30 December 2017 at the Grand Hotel Brno with the installation of a modern portrait of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal at the Grand Hotel Brno, to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the visit of Dr. Jose Rizal in Czech Republic. Rizal stayed at the Grand Hotel Brno on 19 May 1887 after a visit to Litoměřice to meet Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt and Prague from 13 to 20 May 1887.
The modernist painting of Rizal by acclaimed artist Rene Robles was installed at the Grand Hotel Brno located at Benešova 605/18, 602 00 Brno-střed, opposite from the Central Station in the second largest city in the Czech Republic. The painting was donated by the artist through curator Virgilio Cuizon, a Filcom leader based in Essen, Germany.
The installation led by Embassy Chargé d’affaires Juan E. Dayang, Jr. was witnessed by Mr. Břetislav Skácel, Philippine Honorary Consul-General in Brno, Mr. Štěpán Klokočka, Knights of Rizal Prague Chapter Commander, Grand Hotel proprietress Mrs. Darina Rygrová, members of the Filipino community in Brno and Filipino hotel guests.
In his message, Consul Dayang, who is the deputy commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal in Prague, espoused Rizal’s legacy in Philippine-Czech relations, his love of country, service to the community, and promotion of human freedom and the brains of the Philippine Revolution led to the birth of the first democracy in Asia in 1898. He thanked the management of Grand Hotel Brno, the Philippine Consulate-General in Brno, the Knights of Rizal, the Filipino community in Brno for their contribution to the excellent Philippine-Czech relations as the two countries celebrate its 45 years of diplomatic relations in 2018.
Consul Dayang said that “having a marker of Rizal at the Grand Hotel is significant as Brno is included in the Rizal Heritage Trail in the Czech Republic declared by Order of the Knights of Rizal Supreme Council in 2008. The Rizal Trail in the Czech Republic includes places visited by Rizal in the Czech cities of Litoměřice, Prague and Brno.
Brno is the second largest city and commercial and industrial capital of the Czech Republic. The Philippine Consulate General headed by Honorary Consul General Skácel is located at Raubova 6, Brno. END
For more information, visit www.praguepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/philembprague/
The Rizal portrait by acclaimed modern artist Rene Robles was provided by curator Virgilio Cuizon of Essen, Germany to promote Rizal’s life and works in the Czech Republic. (Photo by Miloš Svoboda)
Officers and Members of the Knights of Rizal Prague Chapter holds a copy of the original painting presented by Chargé d’affaires, Juan E. Dayang, Jr. to Philippine Honorary Consul-General Skacel Břetislav Skácel of Brno.
In 1887, Rizal stayed at the Grand Hotel located at Benešova 605/18, 602 00 Brno-střed, which was established in 1870 is one of the most famous meeting points in Brno. It located in the historic center of Brno close to the main railway station. (Photo by Jed Dayang)