04 November 2013 – The Philippine Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic, together with the Department of Asian Studies of the Metropolitan University in Prague (MUP) conducted a seminar entitled, “Czech-Philippine Relations at 40: Unique History, Promising Future,” on October 18 at the MUP premises.
The seminar highlighted the 40-year milestone that the Philippines-Czech relations have attained through unique historical and cultural connections, which even date back to a hundred years or more, to the friendship of Dr. Jose Rizal and Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, to the first Czech Jesuit priests in the Philippines, and to the shared devotion to the Sto. Niño. At the same time, the seminar examined how bilateral relations can be further strengthened through mutually beneficial economic relations.
The Embassy’s Chargé d’affairés, a.i. (CDA), Dr. Juan E. Dayang, Jr., delivered the opening remarks in front of over 50 participants, consisting of Czech university students, members of the Czech academe, members of the diplomatic corps in Prague, representatives from Czech government agencies, representatives from the business groups led by the Philippine-Czech Business Council, and members of the Filipino community.
In his remarks, CDA Dayang noted that the seminar was significant “first, because we are celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations, second, the significance of the first ever cooperation of the Embassy and a Czech University, and third, that it comes at an auspicious time when Philippine-
Czech relations are expanding.”
Dr. Tomáš Petrů, Head of the MUP’s Department of Asian Studies, chaired the first panel of the seminar on “Cultural and Historical Connections” with Dr. Stanislav Slavický, the first resident Czech Ambassador to the Philippines, and Dr. Helena Stejskalova, a historian from the Museum of České Budĕjovice, as the resource speakers.
Dr. Slavický spoke on the “Unique Historical Aspects of Czech-Philippine Relations,” focusing mostly on the shared influences of Catholicism on Filipino and Czech culture. According to Dr. Slavický, it is because of Catholicism that Filipinos and Czechs share such a zealous devotion to the Sto. Niño and that Czech Jesuits, such as Fr. Kamel, a famous botanist who documented Philippine flora and fauna, interacted with Filipinos during the early years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. In addition, Dr. Slavický mentioned that Filipinos and Czechs also share a love for freedom which was evident when Czech soldiers valiantly fought alongside their Filipino counterparts against the Japanese in Bataan during World War II. These same soldiers also suffered and endured the horrible and infamous Bataan Death March with the Filipinos.
On the other hand, Dr. Stejskalova’s presentation on “Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt (1853-1913): Reflections on the Death of a Noted Philippine 
Scholar in Spanish-Language Newspapers” provided documentary evidence on the friendship of Rizal and Blumentritt. In the absence of her husband, Dr. Ales Stejskal, also a historian, she also presented the “Reflections of the South-East Asian Region in the Central European Reporting System of the 16th Century” wherein she noted that, as early as the 16th century, references to the Philippines and to South East Asia were already evident in the Central European Reporting System.
CDA Dayang chaired the second panel entitled “Mutual Economic Relations: Present and Future.” Director General (DG) Lilia B. De Lima of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), who was in Prague from October 17 to 18 as part of PEZA’s European Investment Road Show, delivered a presentation on opportunities for Czech investors in Philippine economic zones. She also responded to questions raised by the audience. Meanwhile, Philippine Honorary Consul General (HCG) Břetislav Skácel delivered a speech on the Czech Perspective on Doing Business in the Philippines also as part of the second panel.
In closing, CDA Dayang said that this year is particularly significant for Philippine-Czech relations as the two countries have signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Finance of the Philippines and the Czech Ministry of Finance, as well as, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education, Science, and Sports. He said that it is important to note that the conclusion of these Agreements will further enhance bilateral relations and that more bilateral agreements are slated to be signed, including those on trade and investments and defense.
After the seminar, the Embassy hosted lunch for PEZA DG De Lima and the speakers, followed by a business roundtable, organized by Consul General Skácel, with the members of the Philippine-Czech Business Council and DG De Lima to discuss business prospects between the Philippines and the Czech Republic. END