Czech by blood, Filipino by heart

“Usapang Payaman” Radio Program at DWIZ 882 with Hosts and Editors of Pilipino Mirror Eunice Calma, Susan Cambri Abdulhalli, and Guest Host, Riza Zuniga with Guest Pavel Vondra, a Czech Journalist from Prague.

On his 10th visit to the Philippines, he accomplished one meaningful trip to Bongao, Tawi Tawi and other towns like Tandubas and Simunul, and Bud Bongao, a mountain in Bongao.

Pavel Vondra, a Czech journalist and Editor and Head of Audio from Seznam Zprávy, shared how peaceful Tawi Tawi is, in his first radio guesting in “Usapang Payaman” at DWIZ 882 last August 25, 2024.

He said, “A lot of people have this misconception about Tawi Tawi. It is not a dangerous nor a poverty-stricken place.”

Through Tawi Tawi, Islam was brought to the Philippines and Sheik Karim ul-Makhdum, an Arab Trader, established the oldest surviving mosque in the Philippines in 1380. “It is an important place in the history of the Philippines,” said Vondra.

He has been to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato, and Marawi after the siege but has not reached Tawi Tawi then. The photographs of Tawi Tawi were so interesting that Vondra decided to visit but his family and friends were discouraging him to go.

Vondra was thankful for meeting the Mayor of Simunul, Wasilah T. Abdurahman and the Vice Mayor of Tandubas, Salih Rahiema. The LGU officials made sure that he was safe during his stay in Tawi Tawi.

“I will be the first one to tell the world how beautiful and peaceful the province of Tawi Tawi,” Vondra said.

Philippine Provinces

Vondra is not new to the Philippine rugged terrain and marine life for 24 years. He was truly interested in cultural heritage and biodiversity in the country.

He kept coming back for more places to explore, more historical facts to unearth, and more cultural heritage to see.  He has visited several provinces in the northern part of Luzon: Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Isabela, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.

Whether there was a writing assignment to cover or not, he monitored electoral campaigns and elections in the country; other exciting places he visited in Central and Southern Luzon were: Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Batangas. He climbed Mt. Makiling four times already.

The list would not be complete without the provinces in Bicol: Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur; in the Visayas: Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Bohol, Neg­ros Oriental and Negros Occidental, Panay, Guimaras, Iloilo, Aklan, and Boracay. The majestic Mayon Volcano remained on top of Vondra’s list of favored destination in Bicol Region.

Other exciting places he visited were: El Nido, Taytay and Puerto Princesa in Palawan; in Min­danao: Dapitan, Davao City, Mati, Iligan City, Ge­neral Santos, Kiamba in Saranggani, Lake Sebu, Camiguin and Zambo­anga.

Vondra has visited a total of 45 provinces but plans to see other places like Biliran and Siargao in the future.

History of the Philippines in Czech Language

Vondra was inspired to write a book about the History of the Philippines because there is no publication written in Czech Language. The concept for the project began in 2006.

To begin with, there were many historical links between the Philippines and Czech Republic, he was fascinated with the famous friendship of Ferdinand Blumentritt, who was born in Prague, and Dr. Jose Rizal.

The two countries were connected through Habsburgs Empire, it includes Austria, Czech Republic, other countries in Europe, and Spain, since Spain colonized the Philippines. Czech Republic was colonized by Germany.

Another link that Vondra mentioned is Georg Joseph Kamel, a Jesuit Missionary, botanist pharmacist, and naturalist from Czech Republic who produced the first comprehensive accounts of flora and fauna in the Philippines. Kamel as a pharmacist, established the first Botica in Manila.

Vondra shared one significant part of the history between Czech and the Philippines. The “Usapang Payaman” Radio Hosts and Pilipino Mirror Editors and Heads, Ms. Eunice Calma and Ms. Susan Cambri listened attentively about Vondra’s narrative that there were 14 Czechoslovakian Volunteers who helped the Philippines fought for freedom during the Japanese occupation.

The Czechoslovakian heroes, together with Filipino and American soldiers suffered hardships during the historical World War II Death March from Samal, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.   The Czech Republic marker is located at the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.

The links in the past were of prime consideration why Vondra pursued his research and writing of the history of the Philippines.

The book was released in June 22, 2016 and published by Libri in its “Short History of the States” series.

Vondra may be Czech by blood but he is a Filipino by heart,  the Philippines is his second home.

RIZA ZUNIGA