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Children’s Czech Day at Museo Pambata

It was an especially exciting day last May 12, 2011 as the Czech Embassy Manila hosted CZitsirya III : Children’s Czech Day at Museo Pambata. Far-away Czech Republic was brought closer to our special guests from Dagdag-Dunong Foundation as they engaged in an afternoon of singing, dancing, storytelling, and film from the heart of Europe.

Ms. Monika Kazdova, Third Secretary and Consul, opened the festivities with an informative presentation on the seasons, food, and popular sports of the Czech Republic. A 10-minute film screening of popular Czech cartoon series, The Adventures of the Mole (Krtečkova dobrodružství), followed which was a real treat for our young audience ranging in age from 6 to 12 years old.

The children were then tasked to create their best impressions of the two main characters of the cartoon, Mole and Mouse, in a clay moulding competition.

The highlight of the afternoon was a musical storytelling adventure led by women & children’s rights advocate and independent film actress Ms. May-i Fabros, accompanied by Manila rock bassist, Mr. Macky Macaventa. Together, they weaved an enthralling experience of fun and adventure as the children sang, acted, laughed and ‘traveled’ their way with Mole, as he made his way around the globe in search of a cure for his sick friend, Mouse.

The story is a Filipino language adaptation of Czech children’s book “How Little Mole Made Mouse Well Again. Punctuating several parts of the story was a feature song written in Filipino especially for this occasion to the tune of Mĕla Babka, a well-loved Czech children’s nursery rhyme. With the children singing along, the musical merrymaking continued with two representatives from the Czech Embassy Manila leading partners in dancing the Mazurka.

Humming to the tune of Mĕla Babka, our young guests went home with a little piece of the Czech Republic that day.

The European Union Cultural Group in Manila presents this annual children’s festival to celebrate the founding of the European Union and to highlight the friendship and partnership between the European Union and the Philippines. CZitsirya III : Children’s Czech Day is part of the week-long festival of European children’s films, literature, arts & crafts, music and games under VIVA EUROPA 2011.