The Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, recognized the artwork of Ms. Maria Luz Vrana for the 2023 Desk Calendar “Juan and Culture” at the Embassy on 10 February 2023.

Chargé d’affaires Indhira C. Bañares expressed the Embassy’s appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Vrana, an active member of the Filipino community in the Czech Republic for more than seven years now, for her contribution to the success of the project and to propagating Philippine art and culture.

Ms. Vrana’s “Mano Po, Pa” is a 7.5” x 9.4” watercolor and ink piece of art that honors the respectful gesture of Filipinos towards their parents and elders in the family which remains an ingrained practice among Filipinos to this day.

The ‘Juan and Culture’ project, which aims to showcase Philippine art and culture, received many entries from Filipinos across the world. END