Czech envoy recites Rizal’s ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’ from memory

The Czech ambassador to the Philippines recited Dr. Jose Rizal’s last poem, "Mi Ultimo Adios," from memory at the unveiling of a marker at Fort Santiago in Manila, celebrating the friendship between the two countries.

It took Ambassador Jaroslav Ludva a month to memorize "Mi Ultimo Adios," and he recited it during the commemoration of the 110th anniversary of friendship between Rizal and Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt last March 20.

The poem, comprised of 270 Spanish words, was written by the national hero on Dec. 29, 1896, the eve of his execution.

Present at the unveiling of a marker of "Mi Ultimo Adios" in the Czech language were Rizal’s two grandchildren, Asuncion Lopez-Rizal Bantoc, 92, and her sister Carmen Lopez-Rizal Consunji, 90.

Bantoc said she was grateful for the tribute given to their grandfather. "Whoever they may be, I am going to give them a big hug."

Ludva, who only assumed the topmost diplomatic post for the Czech Republic in the Philippines last September, managed to memorize the poem despite his hectic schedule.

"I tried my best. It was difficult because it was too long, but I finally managed. This is to honor Dr. Jose Rizal. You see, I also have two loves, one is the Spanish language and poems."

Even Senate President Franklin Drilon, one of three senators at the event, was "very impressed" by the tribute.

"Not many of us, even during our college days, could memorize ‘Mi Ultimo Adios,’" he said. Also present were Senators Edgardo Angara and Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

The ambassador, accompanied by visiting Czech Senate President Premysl Sobotka and his delegation, officially opened the exhibit Monday night at the Rizal Shrine in Intramuros, highlighting the immortal friendship between Rizal, an optometrist by profession, and professor Blumentritt.

Austrian Ambassador Herbert Jager said that while Blumentritt is now regarded as a Czech citizen, he was still technically an Austrian citizen at the time he met Rizal because the country was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

"I am happy that we are sharing with our Czech friends the personality of Blumentritt because he was actually an Austrian citizen at that time and it is a great event," added Jager.

The 44-year-old Ludva admitted he was also responsible for translating the poem to the Czech language for inclusion on the marker, a job that only took him two days to complete.

"It is definitely my task as ambassador to the Philippines to promote the two wonderful heroes from both sides. Everybody knows Jose Rizal in the Philippines, while a lot of people know Blumentritt but they do not know where he is from. So my task is to promote Blumentritt here and to promote Rizal in the Czech Republic, and maybe promote Blumentritt as well because he is only well known in his hometown," he added.

The bond between friends was so great that the day before Rizal was killed, he decided to write a letter to his friend Blumentritt, an ethnologist from Leitzmeritz, Bohemia (now called Czech Republic) along with the "Mi Ultimo Adios."

Drilon said, "The unveiling of the marker symbolizes two things. First it seals in immortality the deep friendship between the Philippines and the Czech Republic. Second, it is a permanent stamp that would guide our two countries in working together to pursue the vision of Dr. Rizal and Dr. Blumentritt on human rights, independence and love for country."

He credited Blumentritt for encouraging the national hero to finish his two books "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," which catalyzed the 1896 Philippine revolution.

The embassy of Czech Republic will be setting up exhibits this year showcasing the friendship between its two citizens, Rizal and Blumentritt, with the hope that it would also strengthen the relationship between the people of these two countries.

Early this month, they opened an exhibit showcasing the two great thinkers and donated the image of the Santo Niño de Praga to the St. John the Baptist in Rizal’s birthplace Calamba City in Laguna. In June, the exhibition will be transferred to the University of the Philippines in Quezon City in time for a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rizal Studies Program.

By the end of September, the University of Baguio, in close partnership with other academic institutions, will hold a conference dedicated to the importance and influence of the two men. Their last leg will be in Dapitan City on Dec. 29.