Czech Republic eyes Iloilo education ties

Ambassador Jaroslav Olša Jr. of the Czech Republic at Cinematheque Centre Iloilo during the “Magnificent Black and White: Czechoslovak New Wave Cinema of 1960s”.

ILOILO CITY – The Czech Republic is eyeing educational ties with this city and province of Iloilo, the educational center for Western Visayas region.

“We are interested in increasing [educational] cooperation,” Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša Jr. told the Manila Bulletin at the sidelines of a black and white Czech film festival.

Education is one of the areas of cooperation the Czech Republic embassy in Manila is exploring to foster closer ties between the two nations.

Olša particularly mentioned that linkages have started after he met with officials of University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UP Visayas) and Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U).

Olša also mentioned that six Czech universities are sending a delegation to the European High Education fair next month in the Philippines.

“This will be a forum for the Philippine universities to meet their Czech counterparts. They may find ways to establish exchange programs for students and professors,” Olša added.

Olša was in Iloilo for the “Magnificent Black and White: Czechoslovak New Wave Cinema of 1960s” at Cinematheque Centre Iloilo, which is managed by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

The September 13-16 screenings at Cinematheque featured four films and a documentary including Loves of a Blonde, one of the earlier movies of Oscar-winning director Miloš Forman.

Meanwhile, Olša lauded the thriving community of Ilonggo filmmakers.

SOURCE: Iloilo City Government

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