The Czech Embassy in Manila commemorated on Monday Philippine national hero Jose Rizal's 162th birth anniversary.
The embassy remembered Rizal's friendship with Czech-born Ferdinand Blumentritt, which can be likened to the current relationship between Prague and Manila.
Blumentritt, who studied the Philippines extensively, became one of Rizal's closest confidants.
He also translated a chapter of Rizal's first book, Noli Me Tangere, into German and wrote the preface to Rizal's second book, El Filibusterismo.
"Today, we honor the legacy of Rizal and celebrate his friendship with Blumentritt—a special bond that we treasure and nurture to this day," the embassy said.
The embassy has a tradition of commemorating Rizal's birth anniversary. In 2021, it partnered with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC), Philippines Navy (PN), and the Philippines National Police (PNP) in holding a wreath-laying ceremony at Noli Me Tangere Garden in Rizal Park, where his bust is located.
The embassy also unveiled its plans to launch a commemorative plaque remembering the friendship of Blumentritt and Rizal.
Rizal's friendship with Blumentritt was also documented in a book recently launched by the Czech embassy about Czech's ties with the Philippines: Kaibigan - Přátelé: Czech-Philippine Cultural and Diplomatic Dialogue.