President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) and Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala give a joint press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
MANILA, Philippines — Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Monday that his government was considering giving Filipinos more opportunities to migrate to his country for work.
Fiala issued the statement in a joint press briefing with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after their bilateral meeting in Malacañang.
“We also highly appreciate the Philippine system of recruiting workers for work in other countries. Czech companies are very satisfied with Philippine citizens. We are discussing the possibilities to expand migration for work,” he said.
Fiala also recalled his country’s relationship with the Philippines, which he said had been existing for a long time even before the two nations entered bilateral ties.
“Jose Rizal and Czech Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, they’re friends long before that. Our soldiers also defended Manila side-by-side during the Second World War. And I’m proud that the Czech people have the Philippines win their freedom,” Fiala said.
Fiala is in the Philippines for a three-day official visit, the first European head of state to come here since Marcos assumed the presidency last year.
“[The] Philippines is the starting point of my 10-day Asian tour. It shows that your country and your region are very important to the Czech Republic,” he said.
Marcos welcomed Fiala to Malacañang with Philippine troops giving him arrival honors.
They then proceeded to the Reception Hall, where the European leader signed the Palace guestbook, a tradition among heads of state and other high-ranking officials visiting Malacañang.
Marcos later hosted an official dinner for Fiala.
Cultural, diplomatic exchanges
In time for the official visit of the Czech prime minister, Marcos launched a book highlighting the cultural and diplomatic exchanges between the Philippines and the Czech Republic.
The book, titled “Kaibigan-Přatelé: Czech-Philippine Cultural and Diplomatic Dialogue,” is a collaborative effort of various Filipino and Czech contributors and editors, under the initiative of Ambassador Jana Šedivá.
“I hope that all the work and effort poured into this publication makes it not only an informative tool for everyone who is interested in the rich history of cultural and diplomatic exchanges between our two countries but that it serves also as a symbol of the friendship amongst our people,” Marcos said in his speech during the launch.
“I believe that it is only fitting that the launching of the book happens during the visit of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala to Manila, so he can witness, as we continue to foster and strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and the Czech Republic,” he added.
Marcos said, though formal relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic were only established in 1973, the book documents the rich history of people-to-people and socio-cultural exchanges between the two countries as early as the 17th century.
The book covers events from the arrival of Jesuit missionary and taxonomist Georg Josef Kamel, after whom the camellia plant was named after, to the warm friendship between Rizal and Blumentritt, who was born in Prague, to the recollections of Czech diplomats and journalists who lived in Manila.
According to Marcos, the book stands as proof that the Filipinos and Czechs consider each other as přátelé — or friends.
The Philippines and the Czech Republic commemorate this year the 50th year anniversary of their bilateral relations.