The Czech Republic takes another significant stride in fostering stronger ties with the Philippines as it announces a substantial increase in the quota for Filipino migrant workers.

“[We are] implementing a new quota for Filipino migrant workers seeking opportunities in the Czech Republic four times higher than last year—from 2,500 workers in 2023 to 10,500 in 2024,” Ambassador Karel Hejč said at the recent THEPHILBIZNEWS’s Embassy Night Year 3 in Hotel Okura Manila.

Aimed at providing more opportunities for Filipinos seeking employment abroad, this quota increase underscores the deepening economic cooperation and mutual trust between the two nations. It also reflects the growing demand for Filipino talent and expertise in the Czech Republic.

Ambassador Hejč thanked THEPHILBIZNEWS for providing a platform to announce this and other significant developments in the Czech-Philippine relations.

“So far, it has been a ‘wild ride’ but a joyful ride that kept us busy and The Philippine Business and News was with us all along the way. Congratulations again and keep up the high standards of your mission!” he told an audience of diplomats, business leaders, and media practitioners.

Czech Republic’s top diplomat in the Philippines said the decision to raise the quota comes amidst a series of bilateral engagements and initiatives aimed at enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries. He mentioned the recent high-level visits, including the historic visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise to Prague, which have paved the way for increased collaboration in various sectors.

In addition to the expansion of the migrant worker quota, Ambassador Hejč said the Czech Embassy in Manila is undergoing major reconstruction and expansion. He said this includes the opening of a new office of CzechTrade, a state agency dedicated to promoting business-to-business relations between Czech and Filipino partners.

The Czech Republic also recognizes the Philippines as a vital partner in environment, defense, and trade.

“In the pipeline for 2024, so far, are the Joint Economic Commission in Manila in July with focus on environment, water management and treatment, and waste management; Joint Commission on Defense and Security in Manila in September; and a working visit of the Speaker of the House of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Mrs. Markéta Pekarová-Adamová with a business delegation, probably in October,” Ambassador Hejč said.

After Duterte’s regime, the state of press freedom in the Philippines has not improved under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to the senior researcher of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch Caloy Conde at the Mindanao leg of the forum series, “Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive: The Case of Percy Lapid.”

“There is a myth going around that things are improving in the Philippines. The myth is being pedaled by the government before the European Union and the United States. I am personally aghast because this is not true. I testified in the European Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Right that they are being lied to,” Conde told over a hundred communication students from Xavier University and University of Science and Technology Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro City.

“On a daily basis, journalists are being harassed on social media and there is red tagging—the favorite weapon of government…People who are red-tagged end up dead or physically injured in many instances—many of them are journalists, activists, civil society critics,” Conde said as a panelist at the forum organized to commemorate the first year of the assassination of popular hard-hitting broadcaster Percy Lapid in Manila on October 3, 2022.

Keynote speaker Atty. Gilbert Andres, chairperson of Advocates for Freedom of Expression-Southeast Asia and a lawyer for the families of those killed in the Ampatuan, Maguindanao Massacre in 2009, said the forum commemorates a gross violation of human rights.

“The murder of a journalist is the most serious kind of censorship there is. That is the ultimate censorship, the murder of a journalist,” Andres said, adding that he hopes that more public discussions on press freedom are organized for students of communication and journalism.

During the open forum, a student asked the panel of speakers, “What is your advice to us future journalists and lawyers when it seems terrifying to enter a career where your life can end with a bullet?”

Roy Mabasa, Percy Lapid’s brother who is also a journalist, said: “Take the challenge…Tell the truth whoever it hurts.” Earlier, in his opening remarks, Mabasa quoted his brother, “Ang pagsasabi ng totoo ay isang tungkulin at di dapat na ituring na katapangan (Speaking the truth is a duty, and should not be considered a courageous act).”

Bobby Timonera, editor in chief of MindaNews and was a subject of military surveillance, said his attitude has always been a little fatalistic. He advised, “Your defense is to write the truth, to be fair and balanced…Always get their side…Getting all sides may not be a protection but fairness, probably [that would make you] safe.

JB Deveza, who teaches development communication at Xavier University, said: “Ako I wonder what kind of life you live if you live in fear. Be accurate, balanced, and fair in your reports. Time and again, these won’t protect if you go against syndicates, interest groups, politicians. But a job needs to be done. When it comes, it comes.”

The series of forums, which kicked off at Silliman University in Dumaguete City last August 26, was organized by the People’s Media Advocacy Asia-Center for People’s Media (PMAA-CPM) and the Mabasa family, with the support of the Czech Republic through its embassy in Manila.

WASTen z.s. is a solid waste management association in the Czech Republic with 30 members composed of different universities, private companies, and research and development organizations.  It has the aim of assisting the government not only in the Czech Republic but also in other European countries in solving the waste crisis and supporting economic growth in the region.

During the conference, members of WASTen z.s. introduced and discussed various Czech technologies and practices on solid waste management, particularly solutions for separating waste, converting waste to energy, and diverting plastic waste into concrete-like material. Presenters also presented the benefits of the technologies and how they can assist the Philippines in overcoming its issues with solid waste management.

A roundtable discussion was also held during the afternoon session, where a knowledge exchange between the Czech presenters and the Filipino audience took place. The conference was attended by Filipino solid waste management stakeholders, including Director William Cuñado of the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Like the Philippines, the Czech Republic has been developing its management of solid wastes over the previous 20 to 30 years. H.E. Ambassador Jana Šedivá of the Czech Embassy in Manila has expressed the Czech Republic’s commitment to working closely with the Philippines in various areas, including finding solutions to the looming waste crisis in the country.

The event in Makati City was the first among the series of conferences on solid waste management prepared by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila and WASTen z.s. The Czech delegation is expected to meet with local solid waste management stakeholders in Davao City on November 23 and in Cebu City on November 25. 

Held at Makati Diamond Residences and gathered local NGOs working specifically for children’s rights to discuss the situation of education in the Philippines especially in time of COVID-19 pandemic.

UNICEF Philippines represented by Mr. Behzad Noubary, Deputy Representative, and Ms. Teresita Felipe, Education Specialist, presented the six-point agenda of UNICEF in addressing the challenges on children’s rights exacerbated further by the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 crisis is a child right’s crisis. Children are affected by the pandemic in various ways which could impede the full realization of their rights. We welcome the partnership with the Czech embassy to highlight this issue and support children’s recovery,” said UNICEF representative Mr. Noubary.

The activity also paved the way to provide an avenue to discuss vital issues on the Philippine education crisis involving the digital divide, accessibility, and accountability where the need to challenge disinformation and disseminate information on the positive and negative impact of re-opening face-to-face classes were emphasized.

“In celebration of the UN Human Rights Day, this tradition of Czech Republic to conduct working breakfast with human rights activists is an opportunity to provide a platform that allows collective discussion and collaborative actions, especially on children’s rights. The Embassy recognizes the importance of highlighting this issue especially that children are one of the vulnerable actors affected by the pandemic,” said Czech Ambassador Mrs. Jana Šedivá.

The event was conducted in commemoration of the 1988 working breakfast held by the French Embassy in Prague that gathered human rights defenders during the communist regime, which has then become a Czech tradition. The breakfast is also held under the umbrella of the UN Human Rights Day celebrated by the Delegation of the European Union and its member states in the Philippines.

About the Czech Embassy Manila

Czech Embassy in Manila is located on Ayala Avenue on the 30th floor of Rufino Pacific Tower. Our headquarters are in Manila, but you can also contact our honorary consulates in Davao and Cebu.

Website: www.mzv.cz/manila Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CzechEmbassyManila

The International Day of the Children is traditionally celebrated in the Czech Republic every first of June. This 2019, in observance of this celebration, Czech Embassy in Manila in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines will bring a sweet treat to children by screening a charming film titled “Angel of the Lord” (Andĕl Pánĕ, 2015) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

A story of love, forgiveness, and the ability to help others selflessly, the film revolves around the adventure of a misbehaving angel, Petronel, who was exiled to winter Earth in order to make at least one sinner better. Yet the task is not easy when Uriah, the devil, is around and Petronel, himself, is scatterbrained. Filled with saints, miracles, angelic jokes, and devious pranks, the movie is meant to bring a heartwarming lesson to children and to young at hearts.

Played by a prominent Czech actor and writer, Ivan Trojan, the film is accompanied by music dedicated to articulate its story. The comedic presentation of this fantasy movie brings a rollercoaster of emotions filled with awe and inspiration as one draws from each of the scenario the values instituted by the movie.

The Czech Movie for Kids in Manila is conducted under the umbrella of Viva Europa, a festival of music and dance held through a series of joint and individual activities of the EU delegation and various EU embassies and cultural institutions aimed to celebrate the friendship of the European Union and the Philippines.

The Czech Embassy in Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines cordially invite kids and their parents or guardians to celebrate this day. It will be screened on 1 June 2019, 2:00 PM at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde (Dream Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines. Registration starts at 1:00 PM. Seating is on a first-come, first serve basis.

The Czech Embassy in Manila commemorated the Liberation Day through a series of concerts featuring the talented young Czech guitarist and composer, Lukáš Sommer. Bringing to the country his music and artistry, Sommer performed his original masterpieces to the diverse Filipino audience, such as students, artists or the members of the diplomatic corps.

Sommer’s performance commenced with a concert at the National Museum of Natural History on 6 May where various cultural enthusiasts, students, government workers, and other private individuals graced his first concert in the country. The concert was a joint project of National Museum of the Philippines and Czech Embassy in Manila to mark the Heritage Month.

Lukáš Sommer also played a solo act and a group act with a Spanish guitarist Alex Alcaraz and a Filipino percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita, at the stage of The Ruins, Poblacion bringing a vibrant and dynamic energy at the EuroPinoy concert held on 7 May. The EuroPinoy concert was organized by the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines together with EU member state Embassies and EU cultural institutions to bridge the ties between the Philippines and EU member states through music.

This was followed by an intimate concert at Palm Grove Rockwell on 8 May to remember the liberation of then Czechoslovakia during the 2nd World War. Members of the diplomatic corps, government, business sector, media, and others shared in this commemoration not only the soothing music of Lukáš Sommer but as well as the taste of Czech beer, Pilsner Urquell.

The tour culminated with a concert at Room Gallery in Puerto Galera on May 10 where Sommer opened “Merge”, an exhibition of paintings of an art group from Mindoro, headed by Wildfredo Rufon and glass sculptures of Czech artists Jiří Pačinek.

Apart from the concerts, Lukáš Sommer also conducted Masterclasses at the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Music and at the International School of Manila on May 6 and May 8 respectively. He also graced the morning show of CNN Philippines, New Day, where he talked about his experience in the country and his influences as a musician.

“It was a heartwarming time spent sharing my music to the Philippines. Aside from the enthusiastic audience, I am also amused of the beautiful nature that the country has,” says Sommer who extremely enjoyed sharing his music with the Filipino audience.

As an outcome of his visit to the Philippines, already back in Prague, Lukáš Sommer will organize in June 2019 a lecture on Philippine traditional and contemporary music by Prof. Jonas Baes, a Philippine composer and lecturer at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Sommer is one of the Czech Republic’s leading personalities in the generation of young musicians who is known for his innovative style of classical guitar combined with the philosophy of yoga and meditation. He studied guitar and composition in the Czech Republic under the mentorship of prominent Czech professors and musicians such as Professor Věroslav Neumann, Professor Ivan Kurz, and Professor Vilma Manová. Apart from composing music, Sommer is also a sought-after arranger of popular music in the film soundtracks of Ondrej Soukup, Michael Kocáb, Oh Yoon Suna, and Johnny Mayer, and has worked with a variety of Czech and international agencies.

See related story:

Viva Europa 2019! The sight and sounds of Czech guitarist Lukáš Sommer enthralls Manila
https://thephilbiznews.com/2019/05/10/the-sight-and-sounds-of-czech-guitarist-lukas-sommer-enthralls-manila/