A tribute to Rizal in Prague
After 131 years, national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, returns to Prague. A bust of Rizal was recently unveiled at the foyer of the Czech National Bank headquarters. The bust was created by Filipino sculptor Jose Giroy, apprentice of National Artist Napoleon Abueva.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. and his counterpart, Czech National Bank governor Jiří Rusnok graced the official unveiling ceremony. Also present at the event were the first Czech Ambassador to Manila Stanislav Slavický, Czech Embassy Manila Deputy Head of Mission
Jana Peterková, and representatives from the biggest Czech company operating in the country, Home Credit Philippines, which employs almost 10,000 Filipinos nationwide.
The Rizal bust in Prague was the brainchild of Czech National Bank vice governor Vladimír Tomšík, who teamed up with Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Jaroslav Olša Jr. with an aim to commemorate Rizal´s visit to Prague in 1887. In 1887, Rizal traveled around Europe alongside his friend Máximo Viola and spent four days in Litoměřice (Leitmeritz) where they met Rizal’s closest collaborator, mentor and friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt. Afterwards, they reportedly spent a few days in the Czech capital touring the city, meeting scientists, such as botanist Heinrich Willkomm, with whom Rizal later on collaborated during his exile in Dapitan. While in Prague, it was said that they stayed in Hotel Modráhvězda (Blue Star), which was later demolished to give space for a new building of a national bank headquarters.
As the Czech National Bank stands opposite the famed Art Nouveau Municipal House and the Gothic Powder Tower, which can be seen at the beginning of the Royal Route at the Square of the Republic, Rizal’s bust can now become another must-see spot for tourists to appreciate Rizal’s shared history with Prague.