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Created: 03 September 2015

Last Updated: 03 September 2015

Philippine Embassy Officials Join the 2nd Regional Conference of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD), Malta from 1 to 2 August 2015

Malta - Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros and First Secretary & Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr. of the Philippine Embassy in Prague attended the 2^nd European Regional Overseas Filipino Conference from 01 to 02 August, 2015 at St. Paul’s Bay, Malta which was organized by the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD).  The opening day was graced by no less than Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca as special guest speaker.

Other than administering the oaths of office of the new ENFiD officers, Mr. Lecaros spoke on what Filipino communities in Europe can and cannot expect from their embassies and consulates.  For his part, Mr. Dayang acted as a panel speaker on the very first day on the topic: “Filipinos in Europe:  Social Remittances and Cultural Diffusion”.

Other Philippine government officials in attendance included Secretary Imelda Nicolas of the Commission on Filipino Overseas; Mr. Alex Padilla, President & CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Consul-General Senen Mangalile of the Philippine Embassy in London and Consul-General Robespierre Bolivar of the Philippine Embassy in Brussels.  Mr. Mangalile made a presentation about the ongoing battle against Human Trafficking while Mr. Bolivar spoke on the situation in the West Philippine Sea.   Messrs. Lecaros and Dayang also introduced the Rizal-Blumentritt heritage trail in Litoměřice, Czech Republic to the participants.

This latest ENFiD conference saw the presence of 108 delegates from Filipino communities in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, plus Israel.  

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Ambassador Lecaros shakes hands with Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at the opening of the 2nd Regional Conference of ENFiD in Malta.  Photo also shows Secretary Imelda Nicolas of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Consul General Senen Mangalile of the Philippine Embassy in London and Consul General Robespierre Bolivar of the Philippine Embassy in Brussels.

Malta President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca with Philippine government officials and officers of ENFiD

First Secretary and Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr., of the Philippine Embassy in Prague presents his paper on “Filipinos in Europe:  Social Remittances and Cultural Diffusion”  with Mae Cayir, a Filipina based in Austria who works for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.

Ambassador Vic Lecaros (left) administers the Oath of the newly elected Board Members of the ENFiD. (L-R) Gene Alcantra, (UK); Marison Rodriguez, (CZ); Leonor Vintervoll (Norway);   Romulo Sabio Salvador (Italy); Vanda Marie Brady (Ireland); Cheryl Sevegan (Israel);   Elizabeth von Atzigen (Switzerland);  Rachel Hansen (Sweden) and  Virgilio Cuizon (Germany).

Guests and participants in a light moment at the conclusion of the 2nd Regional Conference of ENFiD.

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Created: 03 September 2015

Last Updated: 28 September 2015

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.

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Created: 27 August 2015

Last Updated: 27 August 2015

4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague Announces the 2015 Selection of Films

from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam

 ASEAN Committee in Prague announces the 2015 selection of films for the 4th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague at the Press Conference on 26 August 2015 at Lucerna Theater. L to R: Indonesian First Secretary Mr. Wahono Yulianto, Philippine Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros, Malaysian Ambassador  Mrs. Nadzirah Binti Osman, Thai Ambassador Mr. Narong Sasitorn, and Vietnamese Amb. Mr. Truong Manh Son.

ASEAN Committee in Prague with Barrandov Studio Executive Ms. Mira Haviarova  and Mr. Marek Polanecky, Partner/Coordinator of the 4th ASEAN Film Festival in  Prague doing the ASEAN handshake.

Prague--The  ASEAN Committee in Prague (ACP) announced the official 2015 selection for the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague at the Press Conference on Wednesday 26^th of August at 11:00 am at Lucerna Theatre in Prague.

The ACP, which consists of the Embassies of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam selected the following films to be screened for free from  8 to 12 September at 6:00 pm at Lucerna Theatre:

 This year’s patron is Czech film maker and international actor Petr Jákl, who has starred in some Hollywood films like XXX,  Alien vs. Predator, and Euro Trip, and Bad Company.

 The 4^th ASEAN Film Festival has partnered with Barrandov Studios, the largest film studio in Europe and often referred as the "European Hollywood" or "Hollywood of the East”. Barrandov Studios were used in movies such as Mission Impossible, The Bourne Identity, Casino Royale, Prince Caspian, among others. Famous director Roman Polanski declared that  Barrandov is the “world's best studio”.

Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros also announced that film director Maryo de los Reyes will be at the screening of Bamboo Flowers and if things go as planned, “lead actress Max Collins will also be at the screening” of the film on 11 September2015.

For this year’s Festival, Vietnam Airlines will raffle off two tickets to Vietnam. ASEAN cuisine will also be served at a reception that will follow the free screening of the films by the five ASEAN Embassies. END

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Created: 25 August 2015

Last Updated: 25 August 2015

Mario J. de los Reyes’ Film “Bamboo Flowers” at  the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague from 8 to 12 September 2015

Prague—  The Philippine Embassy in Prague presents Maryo J. de los Reyes’ “Bamboo Flowers” at the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in  Prague (AFFP) on September 11, 2015 with the support the Film Development Council of the Philippines according to Philippine Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros.

The event is organized by the ASEAN Committee in Prague, which consists of the Embassies of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.  The AFFP, which is on its 4^th run, promotes  cultural understanding between the Czech Republic and ASEAN member countries through films that showcase the ASEAN region’s values, identity, and culture. Admission to the screenings is free.

 “Bamboo Flowers” is a film by Maryo J.  de los Reyes which revolves around the lives of people in the province of Bohol in the Central Philippines.  The movie depicts stories of young people struggling to hurdle their family’s financial difficulties, of young love, their hopes and ambitions.  

The film also showcases the lives of people in Bohol having to grapple with the influx of tourists and the demands of modernity that challenge their traditional thinking and way of life.

The symbolism of bamboo flowers is that they grow on trees that are in their final stages  of life towards their eventual demise. Director de los Reyes, a native of Bohol, points out how old traditions are eroded by new ones introduced by lifestyle shifts, urbanization, and technology.

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