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PROPHETIC The front cover of
Robot Unibersal ni Rossum (R.U.R.) by Karel Čapek, in Filipino. Illustrations by John Sherwin Acampado. Book design by Ryan Cuatrona
In an era defined by fast-moving digital transformations and technological innovations, little did everyone know that a hundred years ago, a Czech playwright named Karel Čapek had a prophetic vision of a sub-human life capable of performing the work of humans. He called it robot.
To commemorate the centennial of the world
robot, the Czech Embassy in Manila in cooperation with Ateneo de Naga University Press has issued the translation of
R.U.R., a drama by Karel Čapek in Filipino, where the world
On May 1, we observed Labor Day, an annual holiday in most countries dedicated to championing workers’ rights. In the Philippines, Labor Day this year also marked the centennial of the word “robot” with the launch of the Filipino translation of Rossumovi Universal ni Roboti, better known by its acronym R.U.R., by Czech playwright Karel Čapek. The translation was a project of the Czech Embassy in Manila and the Ateneo de Naga University Press.
The three-act play premiered at the Czech National Theater in Prague on Jan. 25, 1921. Within two years, it made its way to London and New York. On television, it holds the honor as the oldest sci-fi program to have been broadcast, debuting 83 years ago on BBC. R.U.R. has been translated and performed in more than 30 countries.
Launch Poster of the R.U.R. book (Embassy of the Czech Republic)
R.U.R, a play involving a factory that builds artificial people who would become servants to humans, had its inaugural staging at the Czech National Theatre on January 25, 1921, and has since been translated and performed in more than 30 countries.
While Čapek was credited to be the first person to have used the term, it was his brother Josef, a cubist painter, who had come up with the term which came from the Slavic word ‘Robota’ that means “serfdom” or “forced labor” and perfectly encompasses the play.
Empowered women hold the power to change the world.
To mark women’s month, four inspiring Filipinas who come from all the walks of life share what makes them feel empowered.
(Photos from the interviewees)
Writing for fellow IP women
B’laan writer Joy Quijano said the best thing about writing is it allows her to document the present struggles of her fellow Indigenous Peoples (IP) women.
B’laan writer and teacher Joy Quijano (Photo from Joy Quijano)
“It empowers me by making me a keen observer, critical thinker, and socially aware on issues that affect us as members of a cultural community. Through my stories, I was able to meet people who have the same advocacy with me. I was able to help IP women and children in my own way,” Quijano told the Manila Bulletin.