28 June 2015 – Guests from the Czech government, business, and members of the diplomatic corps were treated to a spectacular dance performance by the Leyte Dance Theatre.
“Bayan Ko” was held at the Academy of Music Prague on June 15 and was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Prague through the support of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Performances include “Kasingkil,” a Mindanaoan dance number, “Bailes de Ayer” which includes “Maria Clara” dance, and “Kuratsa” courtship dance, and the famous bamboo pole dance, called “Tinikling”. The last number of the Leyte Dance Theatre was a patriotic performance of “Lupang Hinirang” or Motherland.
Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Victoriano M. Lecaros, before the start of the dance performance, spoke of the generosity of the Czech people and government in assisting victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan and presented the dancers are survivors. He also highlighted the long history of Philippine-Czech relations which dates back from the 18th century when Moravian Catholic missionaries went to the Philippines, which included Jiri Kamel, a Jesuit botanist, to whom the flower Camelia was named after.
Czech Republic Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Tlapa, spoke extemporaneously and stressed the excellent bilateral relations between the Philippines and Czech and referred to the friendship of National Hero Jose Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt, the veneration of the Filipinos to the Infant Jesus of Prague, and the similarities between the two countries.
After the show, Ambassador and Mrs. Lecaros, together with the Embassy personnel and Philippine Honorary Consul-General in Brno Bretislav Skacel, hosted a reception for guests to try Philippine cuisine.
The Tacloban-based Leyte Dance Theatre, led by Artistic Director Jess de Paz, also performed in Poland, Austria, and Switzerland. END
