14 November 2013- The Philippine Embassy in Prague reported to the Department that the  Embassy witnessed the spontaneous response of the Czech citizens to join in relief efforts to help the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.  The Czech Republic Government has also sent  emergency humanitarian assistance worth 8.7M pesos through the Philippine National Red Cross.  

As of the latest report, the contribution of both the Czech Government and the private sector has reached 32.5 million pesos despite the relative small size of the Czech Republic’s economy and population.

Charge d’ Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Juan E. Dayang, Jr. said that what was most uplifting are the  efforts made by Czech citizens offering donations through various Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have opened public collections and aid through various media outlets and via SMS, namely: the People in Need Foundation, Caritas Czech Republic, ADR,  and Red Cross.

CDA Dayang also met with Mr. Jakub Licka, Caritas Czech Republic Secretary General to express appreciation for their efforts in helping Typhoon victims.  Caritas Czech Republic has collected around 3-4 million pesos. Caritas representative Ondrej Suchanek is now in Manila to coordinate relief efforts with Caritas Philippines.   CDA Dayang intends to meet with the People in Need Foundation, the largest and most respected aid agency  in the Czech Republic to express the Embassy’s appreciation.

The Filipino community in the Czech Republic, numbering to more than 500 Filipinos, has also mobilized themselves to raise funds.The Filipino Czech Association (FCA) led by its President Marison Rodriguez has also launched a fund-raising campaign for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and encouraged Filipinos in the Czech Republic to be involved. Lily Chu, a Prague-based Filipina stage actress has also joined the efforts by donating all the proceeds of Prague Shakespeare Company’s stage play Cymbeline slated on Monday, 18 November 2013.

The business sector has also contributed in raising funds. The Philippine-Czech Business Council (PCBC), led by Philippine Honorary Consul-General Bretislav Skacel in Brno, has also started a fund-raising campaign.  Teleplan, the biggest employer of Filipinos, numbering to 58 employees working as engineers and technical operators near Prague, has also raised funds to help the typhoon victims.  One of its employees, Rosalie Muni, lost her mother as a result of the typhoon.  After the Holy Mass sponsored by Teleplan for the victims of the Typhoon Yolanda on 13 November 2013 at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague Church, the Embassy gave Ms. Muni a condolence letter and small donation from the Philippine Embassy staff.

Park Hotel Prague’s General Manager Monika Hilm also informed the Embassy that it will host a charity dinner on 28 November 2013 in partnership with the People in Need Foundation. The City of Prague has also given a donation to the typhoon victims through the same foundation.

The Philippine Embassy expressed its appreciation for the spontaneous acts of generosity of the Czechs and the Filipino community to help the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The Embassy opened the book of condolences for the typhoon victims from 14 to 15 November at the Chancery and sponsored a Holy Mass at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague Church on Sunday, 17 November 2013, for the diplomatic corps, members of the Filipino community, and friends.

12 November 2013– Philippine Embassy CDA Juan E. Dayang, Jr. discuss relief efforts of Caritas Czech Republic in the Philippines for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. CDA Dayang is shown  with Caritas Czech Republic Secretary General Jakub Líčka and  Megan King at the Caritas Czech Republic’s office in Prague together with Philippine Embassy staff, Libuse Polivkova (not shown in photo).

13 November 2013- Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr. with Fr. Lancy, Petr Pešek, Human Resource Manager of Teleplan, Jeanette Cueto of the Filipino-Czech Association  and Teleplan Filipino employees pose for picture after the Mass at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Consul Dayang shared with the group the outpouring of support of the Czech citizens and government in the relief efforts in the Philippines to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

13 November 2013--A Holy Mass was organized by Czech company Teleplan, which employs 58 Filipinos, at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus of Prague for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. The altar of the miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague is shown in the background.

14 November 2013-The Philippine Embassy in Prague opened a book of condolences at the Chancery on 14-15 November 2013. Several members of the diplomatic corps in Prague came to express their support.