Czech Ambassador joins 1st Bikol Book Festival and cultural Pilgrimage
czech Ambassador Jana Šedivá joined the Ateneo de naga University, national Book Development Board (NBDB), and savage Mind: Arts and Books, along with the local government units of naga, Baao, Buhi and Pili for the weeklong celebration of the 1st Bikol Book Festival and cultural Pilgrimage held from April 17 to 21, 2022.
the three-day visit from April 17 to 19 of the ambassador was filled with activities celebrating the literary culture of the Bicol region. Ambassador Šedivá honored and offered flowers to the graves of poets and novelists: Dr. Maria Lilia F. realubit, socorro Federis tate, and Luis Dato.
the festival also re-launched the exhibit on czech comics, titled “Meanwhile, Elsewhere: A century of czech comics,” which was first displayed at the national commission for culture and the Arts Gallery in Intramuros, Manila on 2018. this was unveiled during the inauguration of Kamarin Art Gallery in naga city, and revealed how comics was a vehicle to discuss critical issues in the czech republic.
During the opening of the gallery, the guests were welcomed by a dramatic reading of the excerpt of RUR: Rossum Universal Robot, a play written by czech playwright
Karel Čapek. The performers were Businessmirror columnist tito Genova Valiente, Victor John Loquias, tess consulta and Delia Enverga Volante. cecilia V. de Asis, Vice Mayor of naga city, and Atty. Marion Eloisa Escueta Legacion, wife of the city Mayor, were present during the launch.
As part of the cultural pilgrimage, Ambassador Šedivá visited the Municipality of Buhi and met with Mayor Marivic solano and their youth constituent who introduced the woven products, wood sculpture, and rich culture of Buhi. A dialogue with local writers from the Bicol region, the Embassy of the czech republic, and the NBDB to encourage writers and creatives to pursue their dreams of publication was also conducted in Buhi.
AMBASSADOR Šedivá delivered a message during the A Night for Peace and Freedom in Pili, camarines sur