Zdeněk Thoma is travelling across Asia since the 1960s and as of now he has visited 28 Asian countries, has held 160 photo exhibitions and has published dozens of books. He stayed several months in the Philippines in the 1970s and 1980s and his photographs and articles published in contemporary Czech press gave a glimpse of everyday life of the Filipinos.

The exhibit shows three areas in the Philippines. The first part entitled “People from the City” try to capture the rhythm of Metropolitan Manila, its streets and its contrasts. The second part is about “People from the Mountains” which shares the expeditions of Mr. Thoma in Northern Luzon including the Cordillera Rice Terraces. The third part of the exhibit is drawn from Mr. Thoma’s visit in the idyllic fishing village of Tangke, Talisay town (now a city) in Cebu province.

 

Mr. Thoma’s photography exhibit was made possible through the initiative of Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Jaroslav Olša, jr., in cooperation with Mayor of the City of Litoměřice Ladislav Chlupáč, himself being member of the Knights of Rizal. In the official opening, they were joined by Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Victoriano M. Lecaros.

The city of Litoměřice is well-known in the Philippines as a place visited by José Rizal who has met there his best friend and collaborator, Ferdinand Blumentritt in 1887. Litoměřice hosts also two Rizal and two Blumetritt busts and also a small museum dedicated to Rizal-Blumentritt friendship.