This Czech is a Philippine war hero

To give up one’s life for one’s Motherland is selfless, and valiant. But it is not uncommon valor, for many have offered themselves in the altar of patriotism.

But to volunteer to offer one’s life for a country that isn’t one’s own — for a calling greater than oneself —  is sublime. It is uncommon valor.

 Fourteen Czechoslovaks were part of the 1942 Bataan Death March in the Philippines, which was then under American rule. According to online sources, most of them came to the Philippines as workers of the Tomas Bata shoe factory while others were part of the Czechoslovak honorary consulate. During World War II, they voluntarily joined the defenders of the Philippines and seven of them “sacrificed their lives for the liberty of this country.”

According to accounts of the horrific march wherein some 60,000 to 70,000 prisoners of war (POWs) were forced to walk from Bataan to Tarlac, 18,000 Filipinos and about 650 Americans perished. The march was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime.

Few know that the Czechs were the only other nationals that volunteered en masse and took part in the defense of the Philippines alongside the Filipino and US troops during the Japanese Occupation. Their memory is preserved with a special memorial at the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.

Here is the story of Karel Aster, the last remaining Czech survivor of the Bataan Death March, as shared by the Czech Republic’s Embassy in Manila.

Aster recently marked his 97th birthday. Born on May 15, 1920, he is, to this day, the last living survivor among all the Czech defense volunteers who took part against the Japanese invasion during World War II.

Aster was awarded the Medal of Victory and the Medal of Defense in recognition of his honorable civilian combat service in the Philippines by the order of the Secretary of National Defense in 2015. The Gratias Agit Award, which is the highest civilian award bestowed by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs to acknowledge prominent personalities who have committed themselves to work for the benefit of society, for the promotion of friendship among nations and for the promotion of the Czech Republic in the world, was awarded to Aster in 2014.

Aster’s resolve to defend the Philippines was “formidable.”

“Karel Aster’s motivation to join the army immediately after the Philippines was bombed in order to stop the advancing armies was formidable,” said Jan Vytopil, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila.

In a long letter dated Nov. 10, 1945, Aster detailed his experience as a volunteer in the US Army Service in Manila and as a prisoner of war. He also depicted in his memoirs the fate that met other Czech volunteers — seven of whom tragically died either in the Bataan Death March or in the Japanese captivity. “The conditions were so terrible it is hard for me to describe them,” he wrote in the letter to his parents.

“We no longer behaved as human beings and the only thing that helped us survive was one’s instinct for self-preservation. It shows the human can endure more than most animals,” he wrote further.

 The Czech Embassy in Manila is extremely proud of their countrymen’s heroism in the Philippines.

“Every year, it is the honor of every Czech Ambassador to pay his tribute to these courageous compatriots, whose names stand alongside their Filipino and American brothers-in-arms,” Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša Jr. noted.

The fallen Czechs in battle are remembered by a memorial in the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac beside the Philippine Scouts and US Memorial. No other nationalities are represented here.

Aside from the bond we share with the Czechs because of many Filipinos’ devotion to the Sto. Niño of Prague, the uncommon valor exhibit by the Czech volunteers during World War II is another unbreakable bond between the Philippines and the Czech Republic.

Filipino student Top 6 at Young Chef Olympiad in India

Jasmin Castillo Buensalida of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde finished sixth in the recent 3rd International Young Chef Olympiad in India.

Over 50 students from around the world flocked to India to compete in the YCO, an annual global tournament for youthful talents in the culinary field.

Jasmin represented the Philippines, accompanied by chef Sabrina Gan, an instructor of the college’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM).

Buensalida was named one of the 10 finalists and finished sixth overall.

The YCO, organized by India’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), tests the skills of the participants, as well as introduces them to an international network of celebrity chefs and industry professionals. Originally launched in 2015 as an all-India tilt, it now sees young apprentices worldwide who battle it out in three rounds of grueling challenges.

Entrants cooked pre-selected dishes for three elimination rounds. Only the competitors with the highest cumulative scores advanced to the finals. The participants traveled to New Delhi, Bangalore, Pune and Kolkata, for the cities hosted one segment each.

“Time management was the most challenging task of the competition,” Buensalida said. “Even if you presented the best dish, but you finished beyond the time limit, then you lose points. There should be an organized workflow, so that everything runs smooth. Proudly, I trained for each round under time pressure. That’s why when it was the actual competition, I finished minutes ahead.” (You may e-mail me at [email protected].)