I have this habit of listening intently and looking around to see how many people are audibly singing the Lupang Hinirang at another country’s National Day event. I’ve been attending diplomatic events for a decade now and I always notice that we Filipinos—despite having the claim-to-fame that we’re a country of singers—prefer to quietly stand with our right hand over the heart. “We’re also a self-deprecating nation so maybe we just don’t want to upstage the ones organizing the event,” a Filipino diplomat once told me with a cheeky smile.

She has a point. Leave it to Filipinos to make sure everyone is comfortable and having a good time.

So despite being tone-deaf and armed with the knowledge that my lack of talent can’t possibly make anyone uncomfortable, I started singing a little louder and I’m happy to report that I haven’t been alone this past year or so. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who got a little jealous seeing the Irish sing theirs so loudly at their own events. Theirs is always so patriotic and heartfelt and I wanted to feel that for my own country too. It’s hard not to feel patriotic with the lyrics that came from a Jose Palma poem. 

Imagine my surprise when I looked at the stage of the recently-held Czech National Day event to see their chargé d’affaires Dalibor Mička singing along to the Lupang Hinirang with their guest of honor, the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Undersecretary Charles Jose. “That’s impressive! I don’t think he missed a word!” I told friends from the diplomatic corps after the speeches were over. Every diplomat will agree that national day celebrations tend to take on similar formats so it’s the little details like this that I look for and how diplomats talk about the relationship between our two countries.

That night, we weren’t just celebrating the Czech Republic’s 105th year of independence but our diplomatic relations with this central European country which began half-a-century ago. “Nawa’y maging masaya at makabuluhan ang pagtitipon natin ngayong gabi (I hope tonight is happy and meaningful),” Mička said in his speech, which highlighted the embassy’s activities and the long-standing relationship Filipinos and Czechs have, from early scholars and priests to Jose Rizal’s friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt, and to the arrival of Bata shoes in the country and how 14 Czechs living in the Philippines fought side by side with Filipino soldiers in World War II. 

 “Our two nations are vibrant democracies, born of non-violent revolutions, becoming inspirations to the rest of the world that change can be achieved through peaceful means,” said Usec. Jose in his speech. The CzechRepublic is home to about 5,000 Filipinos, warmly welcomed by the locals, along with their cultural contributions.

Guests enjoyed a Czech and international spread, prepared by Raffles executive chef Bela Rieck, who has been praised by Czech cultural officer Maroš Martin Guoth for creating the best Czech bread dumplings in Manila. After trying it with goulash that evening, I couldn’t agree more. Czech beer was present too, of course, with Pilsner Urquell an easy crowd favorite. Na Zdravi!

Spain’s Fiesta Nacional

The Spanish ambassador’s residence is one of the most beautiful diplomatic homes I’ve ever been to here in Manila, so I love it that they always use it for their own events. One of the first few times I found myself there was when Queen Sofia of Spain visited the Philippines in 2012.

I remember taking note of the beautiful, mauve walls and how the home with its sprawling garden is just so elegant. Not much has changed since then when it comes to its look but the residence has been impeccably maintained. Even the tapestry showing the symbol of Spain looks like no time has passed since that evening.

Ambassador Miguel Utray welcomed his guests on Oct. 12, with everyone led to the lanai and the garden. “The Philippines has in Spain and in the European Union a faithful partner and ally that remains committed to its agenda and social economic or social economic development,” said the ambassador in his speech.

DFA Undesecretary Eduardo de Vega also spoke at the event, thanking Spain for the enduring friendship and support in international fora. He also shared how the Philippines’ bilateral trade with Spain has increased by 17.4 percent since 2021 and how it remains to be a favorite destination among Filipino travelers from Europe.