By: Poppy Mynard
The Philippines Ambassador commended the thriving bilateral relationship between the Czech Republic and his home country at AAU’s latest Meet The Ambassadors series.
Eduardo Martin R. Meñez, who has been an ambassador since 1991, also advised students interested in diplomatic careers to benefit from the political climate in Prague and establish their networks.
“Since I arrived in Prague, there have been many high-level visits,” said Meñez. “In less than two years I am happy to say that this is the golden age of our bilateral relations.”
Meñez dedicated most of his lecture on the importance of migration between both countries.
He attributed the labor migration program as the catalyst for such a strong relationship, highlighting that the number of Filipino migrants in the Czech Republic had increased by 10,400 by the end of 2024.
“It really felt like there was no one here before,” said Gabrielle Flavier, a Filipino International Relations student at AAU. “It’s always nice to have a community outside of home.”
Although Western European countries like Spain, Italy, and England have statistically received more Filipino immigrants, the Czech Republic is growing in popularity due to the employment gaps historically vacated by Ukrainian, Slovakian, and Vietnamese workers.
“I don’t think that the growing Filipino community in Prague has made an impact on the Czech Republic,” said Flavier. “We are still so scattered that we don’t seem as relevant as, for example, the Vietnamese.”
The Meet The Ambassador events are coordinated by Chairman Gerald Power and international relations student Giacomo Piffaneli, offering student insights into the trade and networking opportunities for future career development.
“These events give an insight into what it is like to be an ambassador,” said Piffaneli. “Many students here wonder what it is like and it’s good to get advice and tips from a diplomat.”
