The Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan Dr. Andrzej Lesicki and Philippine Ambassador to Poland Ms. Patricia Ann V. Paez enter the Aula Lubranskiego together for the opening of the “Cavatina: An Evening of Philippine Music and Poetry” - one of the two events held in celebration of the 119th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

 

In his remarks, AMU Rector Dr. Lesicki cited the similarities in the histories of Poland and the Philippines which both struggled valiantly against foreign colonial rule to regain independence.

 

Amb. Paez thanked the Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) for the establishment of the first-ever Philippines Research Hub in Poland. She expressed her gratitude to Rector Dr. Andrzej Lesicki for his strong support and to AMU’s faculty members Dr. Aleksander Mikolajczak and Dr. Rafal Dymczyk, as well as to Dr. Clarinda Calma - the triumvirate behind this initiative - which was officially launched during the event. Dr. Clarinda Calma (2nd from left) translated Amb. Paez’s remarks into Polish. Ms. Ewa Kolanus (extreme left) emceed the program’s proceedings in Polish.

 

During the piano concert, Mr. Krzysztof Bzdziel rendered seven “kundiman”  pieces, mostly the compositions of Nicanor Abelardo, namely: “Nasaan ka Irog,” “Cavatina,” “Kundiman ng Luha,” “Mutya ng Pasig,” and “Bituing Marikit.” His repertoire also included Mike Velarde’s “Dahil sa Iyo” and Lucio San Pedro’s “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan.”

 

Seasoned theatre actor Mr. Zbigniew Grochal recited the Polish translation of “Mi Ultimo Adios” - “Moje Ostatnie Pozegnanie”. The translation was done by the Director of the Philippines Research Hub Dr. Aleksander Mikolajczak.

 

Dr. Aleksander Mikolajczak and wife (2nd row, from the left) during the “Cavatina: An Evening of Filipino Music and Poetry;” also in photo is former Vice Minister for Higher Education and Rector of AMU Prof. Stefan Jurga (1st row, left).

 

Guests at the elegant Aula Lubranskiego during the “Cavatina: An Evening of Filipino Music and Poetry”

 

Amb. Paez mingling with the guests during the reception

 

L to R: Assistant to the Ambassador for Economic and Cultural Diplomacy Mr. Oskar Groblewski, Amb. Paez (center) and Ms. Katarzyna Hadas who edited a book entitled The Best and Brightest Come Home: The Impact of the Erasmus Mundus Programme on its non-European Master’s Graduate.

The book featured seven Eramus Mundus scholars who included Dr. Evelyn Lacson, an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) from Bacolod City, Philippines. She was the first graduate in the Philippines with a European Master’s degree in Bioethics. Erasmus Mundus “is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education which promotes the European Union as a worldwide centre of excellence in science and teaching.” It provides EU-funded scholarships for nationals from non-European countries.

 

Representatives from Lezno with Amb. Paez ; also in photo are Ms. Ewa Kolanus (extreme right) and Dear Dr. Tomasz Mizerkiewicz (2nd from right)

 

Amb. Paez with Dr. Rafal Dymczyk (3rd from left) during the reception

 

Dr. Mikolajczak (2nd from right) and other guests during the reception

 

A reporter from TVP interviewing Amb. Paez

 

Another interview with a different TV station

 

L to R: AMU Vice Rector Prof. Bogumila Kaniewska, Rector Dr.Andrzej Lesicki, and Ambassador Paez signing the guest book at the Rector’s office

 

L to R: Dr. Clarinda Calma, Vice Rector Prof. Bogumila Kaniewska, Rector Dr. Andrzej Lesicki, Amb. Paez and Dr. Rafal Dymczyk

 

L to R: AMU Rector Dr. Andrzej Lesicki, Amb. Paez, and former Vice Minister for Higher Education and Rector Dr. Stefan Jurga

 

L to R: Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Philology Dr. Tomasz Mizerkiewicz, Amb. Paez, Dr. Clarinda Calma, Dr. Aleksander Mikolajczak, and Dr. Rafal Dymczyk at the Dean’s office

 

Mr. Maciej Dymczyk  (center, holding a box) volunteered his help in the preparations for the Independence Day celebration.

 

Dr. Mikolajczak narrating the Philippines’ struggle for independence against foreign colonial rule as a way of introducing the film “Heneral Luna” to Polish students

 

Film showing of “Heneral Luna”

 

Polish students received CDs of Philippine “kundiman,” the Polish version of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brochures, and Philippine dried mangoes

 

 

 

 

            The first-ever Philippines Research Hub in Poland was officially launched during the celebration of the 119th Anniversary of

the Declaration of Philippine Independence at the Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) in Poznan.

 

            Two events were held at the AMU in celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

 

            First, was the afternoon showing of the film entitled Heneral Luna. Prof. Aleksander Mikolajczak introduced the film to Polish

students by giving a short narration about the Philippines’ struggle for independence against foreign colonial rule. The Embassy

also distributed flyers which had a synopsis of the film and a bio-profile of Philippine hero Gen. Antonio Luna.

 

            In partnership with the Philippines Research Hub and the AMU, the Embassy presented “Cavatina: An Evening of Filipino

Music and Poetry” at the Aula Lubranskiego of the university’s Collegium Minus.

 

            In his remarks, AMU’s Rector Dr. Andrzej Lesicki highlighted the importance of the Philippine Independence Day celebration

and cited the parallelisms between the histories of the Philippines and Poland.

 

            Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez thanked Rector Dr. Lesicki for his strong support for the establishment at the AMU of the

first-ever Philippines Research Hub in Poland. She lauded its professors, namely, Dr. Aleksander Mikolajczak and Dr. Rafal

Dymczyk, as well as Dr. Clarinda Calma for this initiative. She said that the Philippines Research Hub will undoubtedly strengthen

the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Poland. Amb. Paez also thanked the university officials for their cooperation in

co-organizing the celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

 

            The evening’s event featured the music of Nicanor Abelardo (1893-1896) and a recital of the Polish translation of Dr. Jose

Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” (“Moje Ostatnie Pozegnanie”).

 

            Mrs. Ewa Kolanus, who served as emcee, gave a brief introduction about Philippine “kundiman” and presented short

biographies of Mr. Nicanor Abelardo and Dr. Jose Rizal.

 

            Mr. Krzysztof Bzdziel, a young Polish pianist, rendered seven “kundiman”  pieces, including five compositions of Nicanor

Abelardo, namely: “Nasaan ka Irog,” “Cavatina,” “Kundiman ng Luha,” “Mutya ng Pasig,” and “Bituing Marikit.” His repertoire also

included Mike Velarde’s “Dahil sa Iyo” and Lucio San Pedro’s “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan.”

 

            Seasoned theatre actor Mr. Zbigniew Grochal recited the Polish translation of “Mi Ultimo Adios” (“Moje Ostatnie

Pozegnanie”). Dr. Jose Rizal’s poem was translated into Polish by Dr. Aleksander Mikolajczak.

 

            Ambassador Paez was also interviewed by two TV stations which also provided media coverage for the evening event.

Capping the celebration was a reception for at least 200 guests who represent the cross-section of Polish society from the

government, business, media, academic and NGO sectors.

 

            The Embassy gave the Polish version of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brochures, CDs of Philippine “kundiman,” and

promotional packets of Philippine dried mangoes to Poles who participated in the two events to commemorate Philippine

Independence.

 

         The AMU opened on 07 May 1919 and since 1955, has carried the name of Poland’s national poet Adam Mickiewicz.