By Monsi A. Serrano
Notwithstanding the ongoing strong and flourishing economic ties of Czech Republic and the Philippines, Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Jana Šedivá traced back the deep relations between the Philippines and Czech Republic and started even before our diplomatic relations became official 49 years ago.
Ambassador Šedivá revealed interesting facts about the long relationship between her country and the Philippines during the celebration of the Czech Republic’s National Day dubbed as “Beer Night” at Blueleaf, Taguig City, last September 23.
As early athe s 17th and 18th centuries, there were several prominent Czech personalities who settled in the Philippines like Georg Joseph Kamel, the first biodiversity scientist in the Philippines. Kamel wrote the first Philippine record of flora and fauna and established the first pharmacy in the Philippines. Then there is Pavel Klein, also a Czech Jesuit, and Czech-born Tadeáš Hanke, who are both botanists and nature scientists. Also the brave Czech defenders of Bataan who fought alongside the Filipino and American soldiers during the Second World War. Then the celebrated friendship of Czech-born Ferdinand Blumentritt and Philippine National hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
The Czech envoy pointed out that even in the absence of established formal diplomatic relations between Philippines and Czech Republic, there was already a strong tie that binds between us.
Ambassador Šedivá also shared that the Czech Republic took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union last July, and that means that the Czech Presidency comes at a time when not only Europe but the whole world including Asia and Pacific are facing a massive crisis of was caused by Russia.
She also said that the irresponsible decisions taken by Vladimir Putin require collective efforts, the effort of each one of us. She noted that like Czech former President Václav Havel who articulated responsibility in its deepest sense, that is, the one that goes beyond our “political architecture” and extends to the rest of the world.
Ambassador Šedivá said, “We still don’t know how to put morality ahead of politics, or science, and economics. We are still incapable of understanding that the only genuine core of all our actions if they are to be moral is responsibility. Responsibility of each one of us.”
In closing, the Czech envoy expressed profound gratitude to the Filipino people and the Philippines, for our stand in this war on the fair and rightful side with them in the EU.
“We are grateful for your support. I believe that if each one of us is responsible for our deeds, the world would be truly better,” she concluded.
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