Prague, Czech Republic
March 14, 2024

Wrapping up the first day of his visit to the Czech Republic, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos graced a state dinner at the Prague Castle.

Hosted by President Petr Pavel and First Lady Eva Pavlova, the occasion celebrated not only 50 years of formal diplomatic relations but the rich history of people-to-people and socio-cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Czech Republic as early as the 17th century.

Among these meaningful connections are the arrival of the first Jesuit missionaries and scientific expeditions to the Philippines, the famed friendship and special bond between Dr. Jose P. Rizal and Czech Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, and the heroism of Filipino and Czech soldiers fighting side-by-side during the Second World War.

In April last year, President Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Petr Fiala led the book launching of ‘Kaibigan-Pratele: Czech-Philippine Cultural and Diplomatic Dialogue’, a collaborative effort of various Filipino and Czech contributors and editors highlighting the rich history of cultural and diplomatic exchanges, during the Prime Minister’s visit to Manila.

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