CzechMate in Prague (part 1)

(PART 1)
17 years after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, I paid a visit to Czech Republic…

I was a sophomore at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in Iloilo City when the events that were unfolding in Central Europe brought me to a turning point. Those events influenced me in making a hard decision: of rejecting Communism, of parting ways with a very close friend who had completely embraced it and had persistently encouraged me to do the same.

It was in December of 1989 when the Velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia had succeeded. A month before that, weeks of civil unrests in East Germany led to the fall of Berlin Wall. The reunification of East and West Germany followed.

I wished my friend understood me. How can I try this ideology when Europe had already rejected it? The Berlin wall had collapsed. The Czechoslovakians revolted and freed themselves. Two years later, the mother country of Communism collapsed when in December of 1991 the Soviet Union fell.

After we parted ways, I did not see my close friend in the University again. He became a full time insurgent, living in the mountains of Iloilo. I heard that he took the task of lecturing the recruits.

A year later, I graduated from the University. The UP College of Management proved to be effective in harnessing my business skills. I joined the corporate world. Six years later, I became a Capitalist, running my own logistics outfit. I partnered with a new found friend.

I worked so hard to make our business venture a success. Events happening in the world worked on our favour. Philippines has opened its doors to Globalization. I saw enormous amount goods coming in and out of the country. Good for our business. One day I woke up realizing that we are already running a company with 45 names in our payroll. Tough.

It was in the second half of 2006 when I decided to visit Prague with my business partner, the place where the Velvet Revolution took place. I have to thank the Czechs for opening my eyes, for helping me chose a path. For if not from them , I could be in the mountains now fighting for a cause or worse, I’m already six feet below the ground. (with part 2)