PH Embassy in Prague  and CZ Embassy in Manila Co-host’s the launching of “Literatura ng Pilipinas” issue of PLAV Literary Magazine 

Cover of the Plav Magazine’s “Literatura ng Pilipinas”

Prague – Philippine Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros with Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr. cooperated in launching a special issue of the literary magazine “PLAV”  which features Philippine literary works -- translated into the Czech language and co-edited by Silvie Mitlenerová and Ambassador Olša.  The launch, which was held at 6:00 PM on 31 August 2015 at the České Centrum (Czech Center) in Prague, also coincided with the celebration of Philippine National Hero’s Day. 

The affair was attended by dozens of guests from the Diplomatic Corps, by government officials, artists, business groups and members of the Filipino community.  Special guest was Czech Foreign Affairs Junior Deputy Minister Jaroslav Ludva, former ambassador to the Philippines, whose translation of Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios appears in the magazine.  He came wearing his Knights of Rizal barong tagalog.  During the program, a Pilipino translation of Czech poet Jaroslav Seifert’s work was also read aloud.

In his remarks, Mr. Lecaros warmly welcomed the guests and made an introduction of the Rizal-Blumentritt Trail in Litomerice, Czech Republic, which revisits the 1887 visit of national hero Jose Rizal to Litomerice

The launch was followed by a reception which offered Philippine delicacies such as polvoron brought by Ambassador Olsa from Manila, lumpia, bistek tagalog canapes and calamansi limoncello, which were served together with special select wines from the Czech Republic.

The “Literatura ng Pilipinas” issue of Plav (www.svetovka.cz), which was made possible through the initiative of Amb.  Olša and supported by Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino, contains short stories by Philippine classic writers F. Sionil Jose (Graduation), Nick Joaquín (May Day Eve) and, one of the precursors of the literature in the Philippines, Pedro Paterno (La dalaga misteriosa y el puente del diablo).  Contemporary literature is represented by short stories Wild Water by Crystal Koo (from the anthology „The Farthest Shore“, ed. Dean Francis Alfar and Joseph Nacino), Harinuo´s Love Song by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz (from “Alternative Alamat“, ed. Paolo Chikiamco) and Man of Letters by Marc Gaba (from “Maximum Volume“, ed. Dean Francis Alfar and Angelo R. Lacuesta).

The special issue also contains a very small selection of poems by Rio Alma, José Rizal, Joel M. Toledo and Enrique Villasis, accompanied by samples of Philippine poetry written in Chinese by Go Bon Juan and Grace Hsieh-Hsing Lee. It also features an interview with Virgilio S. Almario, Chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, and a bibliography of Czech and Slovak translations of Philippine literature by Jaroslav Olša, Jr. and Charlene Balaan. END

Mrs. Melissa Lecaros recites a poem by Czech poet & Nobel Laureate Jaroslav Seifert entitled “Sinful City” in Pilipino while two Czech gentlemen recite in the Czech language a work of Filipino National Artist Virgilio Almario.

Clockwise: Retired Ambassador and Mrs. Jaroslav Olša, Sr., parents of Amb. Olša, Jr. join guests, Manila-based Czech Ambassador Olša delivering his remarks, First Secretary and Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr. with Plav’s Editor Silvie Mitlenerová showing the Plav magazine issue, Mrs. Melissa Lecaros and Cultural Attaché Gracia Perenyi with guests.

Former Czech Ambassadors in full force at the launch of the PLAV Literary Magazine and the introduction of the Rizal-Blumentritt Trail in Litomerice. (L-R) PH Ambasssador Vic Lecaros,  former CZ Ambassadors Stanislav Slavicky, (now) Junior Deputy Minister Jaroslav Ludva, Josef Rychtar, current Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr., and First Secretary and Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr.