PRAGUE, Czech Republic – More than 130 years ago, Dr. Jose Rizal came to several cities in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire to meet with his close confidant, Austrian ethnographer Ferdinand Blumentritt.
This important historical encounter eventually became the foundation of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the present-day Czech Republic, which is now in its 50th year.
“One of the last letters that Jose Rizal wrote before his execution was to Professor Blumentritt. [Their] relationship … predates the nationhood of [their respective] countries. It is an important marker for the friendship between Filipinos and Czechs,” Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Eduardo Martin Meñez said.
Nowadays, it is not only Filipino migrant workers and tourists in the Czech Republic who trace Rizal’s footsteps in homage to him. Some Czechs follow the same trail, inspired by the Filipino hero’s patriotism and values.
These Czechs have been introduced to the hero through the Order of the Knights of Rizal, an organization founded in 1911 to honor Rizal and uphold his ideals. It is among the few non-European modern chivalric orders existing today.
The Order’s chapter in Prague has about 50 members, most of whom are Czech nationals. IT professional Štěpán Klokočka, the chapter’s commander, represents the organization at various Filipino events hosted by diaspora groups or the Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic.
He joined the Order in 2008 at the invitation of a Filipino friend.
“A wise person said, ‘The pen can be mightier than the sword.’ There are different ways with which you can fight … [and] sometimes, ideas can change peoples’ minds,” Klokočka said about Rizal’s inspiration to him, referring to a quote by the British playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton. This passage has often been attributed to Rizal, especially because he used the power of words to awaken the Philippine nation during the country’s Spanish colonial era.
A meeting of the Rizal Knights
In late November, Klokočka and his two fellow Rizal Knights met in Brno, a city once visited by Rizal and Blumentritt in 1887. They spoke to us about their recent activities.
For his research endeavors, Professor Petr Kupec from Mendel University in Brno has taken inspiration from Rizal’s work as a scientist. The Czech professor has co-authored papers with Filipino scholars, the latest of which was about the contribution of the festivals in Guimaras to the tourism industry. He has also organized student exchanges between his home institution and Guimaras State University since 2018.
“It was natural for me to start with my professional role as a university teacher. I looked for projects which [could help the transfer] of our knowledge to the Philippines or to bring [students] to the Czech Republic,” Professor Kupec said.
“We had a project supported by the [Czech] Embassy [in Manila], which focused on marking tourist trails and supporting the local community in Negros. Even in this project, students [from the partner institutions] and people from local communities were involved.”
Meanwhile, Philippine Honorary Consul General in Brno Břetislav Skácel has a collection of Philippine maps in his office, which reminds him of the cultural exchanges between the two countries that happened more than a century ago.
“Blumentritt prepared and made beautiful maps of the Philippines. His friendship with Jose Rizal was something very interesting to the whole world. They were able to explain many ideas to each other [which led them] to find friendship. It’s something I like and I would like to continue with [my] activities,” Mr. Skácel said.
Historian and professor Xiao Chua says the connections brought about by the Order show common humanity and interests despite different languages and cultures.
“We get enriched by the Knights of Rizal from the Czech Republic who come to us and introduce something about their country. We also enrich their country by bringing Jose Rizal there and making them go awe with our national hero,” added Prof. Chua, who belongs to the Order’s Sucesos chapter for historians.
Rizal’s relevance today
Rizal’s influence has transcended time and geographical boundaries. It has also inspired people from many walks of life.
Many Filipino diaspora groups, like the all-female organization Las Damas de Rizalistas, hold activities to honor the national hero, including the upcoming Rizal Day commemoration in the Czech Republic.
This year, Las Damas will be laying wreaths at the hero’s bust in Litomerice, the hometown of Blumentritt 70 kilometers north of Prague. The group’s president Analyn Iszwora shares they also plan to volunteer or donate to causes that promote Rizal’s legacy in Czechia.
“Ang pinakamahalagang gawain ng isang Las Damas ay tumulong [sa kapwa Pilipino]. At kung maaari lang sana, kami ay gagawa o magdo-donate para may maitayong bust para kay Rizal dito sa Prague,” she said.
(The most important task of a Las Damas is to help fellow Filipinos. And if possible, we would like to create or donate to construct a Rizal bust here in Prague.)
Meanwhile, Naiza Brazil, a master’s student in the Erasmus Mundus program on European Politics and Society at Charles University, draws inspiration from Rizal’s “emphasis on cultural pride” and “advocacy for education as a catalyst for change”.
“His call for critical thinking and social responsibility influences my approach to engaging in constructive dialogue and addressing societal issues. In essence, Rizal’s invaluable teachings compel me to not only honor my roots and excel academically, but also actively work towards positive change as a Filipino scholar abroad,” Brazil added.
As more Filipinos at home and abroad gather to celebrate the life and works of the national hero, it is essential to look beyond the commemorations and ask why he remains relevant.
“The ideas of Jose Rizal are universal. His genius was something that continues to inspire a lot of people around the world,” Ambassador Meñez said.
“At the 50th anniversary reception on October 5th, the remarks that I delivered referred to a quotation from Jose Rizal [translated from Spanish]: ‘I step into the future with the memory of the past.’ The idea of moving the history, heritage, and destiny of the Philippines forward should always be based on the knowledge and appreciation of the sacrifices of our heroes and the lessons that we learned from our history.”
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Andy Peñafuerte III and Jay-vee Marasigan Pangan are freelance journalists and Erasmus Mundus Journalism master’s degree students based in Prague, Czech Republic.