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Created: 23 September 2015

Last Updated: 23 September 2015

Award-Winning Filipino Director Maryo J. de los Reyes and Actress Max Collins Wow the Crowd at the ASEAN Film Festival Screening of “Bamboo Flowers” in Prague

Prague, 11 September 2015  --  For the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague, Czech Republic, the Philippine Embassy presented the film “Bamboo Flowers” which drew the crowds on Friday evening, 11 September 2015 with acclaimed Director Maryo J. de los Reyes and actress /star Max Collins lighting up the stage.  The Festival was organized by the

The ASEAN Film Festival is an annual 5-day event showcasing selected films by the ASEAN Committee in Prague (ACP), which consists of the Embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

In his remarks before the screening, Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros acknowledged the special guests from Manila and had them take center-stage to talk about the film.  The Director candidly spoke about the making of the Bamboo Flowers.  He said that the film started with a modest 1.5M Philippine peso grant from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and support of the actors who agreed to lower their talent fees.

The FDCP’s criteria in giving the grant include the proviso that the film must be set in the country side. Mr. de los Reyes, who hails from Bohol province in the Central Philippines, shot the film along the Loboc River and parts of the famed Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier Conservation Area, as well as in their family farm in Bohol.

Ms. Collins, who plays Dolores-- a village lass, eloquently described her character and drew a comparison of her story to the ordinary travails of Filipino youth striving for have a better life and the choices they make along the way.

The 500-seat Lucerna Cinema Theater was nearly filled to capacity, fire regulations permitting. Other than the enthusiastic local Filipino Community, The tudience included including members of the Diplomatic Corps, government representatives, business groups and the Czech movie-going public.  The screening was followed by a simple reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy offering viewers samples Philippine delicacies such as lumpia and palitaw in Prague.  ENDDirector Maryo J.de los Reyes, Ms. Max Collins and Ambassador Vic Lecaros shown with some of the more  than 400 who packed the Lucerna Theatre in Prague.

At the opening program of the film showing of Bamboo Flowers at the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague. Photo shows (L-R) Mr. Marek Polanecky as host, Director Maryo J. de los Reyes, star Max Collins Official, and Philippine Ambassador Vic Lecaros at Lucerna Theatre, Prague.

Ambassador Lecaros gives his remarks at the 4th ASEAN Film Festival’s opening program for the screeening of Bamboo Flowers on 11 September 2015 at Lucerna Theatre.

Director Maryo J. de los Reyes discusses the making of the film Bamboo Flowers at the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague on 11 September 2015 as actress Max Collins looks on.

Actress Max Collins signs autographs for film viewers and fans before the screening of Bamboo Flowers.

Posing at the Barrandov Studios photo wall at the Lucerna Theatre were Director Maryo J. de los Reyes and actress Max Collins with Philippine Ambassador and Mrs. Lecaros, Indonesian Ambassador Aulia Aman Rachman, Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr, Mr. Jakub Zíka and Mrs. Vera Mira Haviarová of Barrandov Studios, and Mr. Marek Polanecky.

Ms. Max Collins, star of the film Bamboo Flowers poses with ASEAN Committee in Prague Working Group members: (L-R)  Counselor Pham Thi Kim Hoa of the  Embassy of Vietnam, Counselor Chuchart Jirojkul of the Embassy of Thailand, Ms. Collins, First Secretary Juan E. Dayang, Jr., of the Philippine Embassy and Second Secretary Fitriyani Riduan of the  Embassy of Indonesia

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Actress Max Collins readily poses with enthusiastic Filipino community members who came to support the Philippine film  Bamboo Flowers at the 4^th ASEAN Film Festival in Prague on 11 September 2015 at the Lucerna Theatre.

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Created: 09 September 2015

Last Updated: 09 September 2015

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP has reminded the public regarding the demonetization of old banknotes belonging to the New Design Series (NDS), as part of BSP's objective to preserve the integrity of the Philippine currency. The NDS Banknotes are being replaced with New Generation Currency banknotes with new and enhanced security features to protect the public against counterfeiters.

Attached is the press releases from the BSP website (www.bsp.gov.ph) whice outlines the timeline for the demonetization of the old banknotes. 

Filipinos abroad, who have in their possession NDS banknotes which could not be exchanged within the prescribed period, may register online starting 1 October 2016 until 31 December 2016 through BSP website. These NDS banknotes may be exchanged with the BSP within one year from date of registration.

Starting 1 January 2014, NDS banknotes that have not been exchanged shall no longer have any monetary value, and are considered demonetized.

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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.