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Pinay scholar graduates with honors from Prague’s Charles University
PRAGUE, Czech Republic — A Filipino scholar has earned top academic honors at one of Central Europe’s oldest universities, drawing praise from diplomatic officials for her research into the complexities of labor migration.
Aieshah Balmori recently completed the Vaclav Havel Joint Master Programme in European Politics and Society (EPS) at Charles University, graduating with distinction. Her academic journey spanned three countries, including terms at Leiden University in the Netherlands and Jagiellonian University in Poland.
Balmori’s research, nominated for a Best Thesis Award, focused on trends and gaps in academic studies of irregular labor migration in Europe. She noted that while the topic is frequently debated in political spheres, there is a lack of research that captures the actual realities of migrants.
“It’s a topic that comes up a lot verbally in political discussions... but when you look at academic research, there are still many gaps, especially in how these migrants are studied and represented," Balmori explained.
She emphasized the relevance of her work to the Filipino community, noting that “Filipinos can also be part of these labor situations, but their experiences are often not visible in research.”
Her goal, she said, was to “help build a stronger foundation for future studies, especially ones that focus on Filipino migrants in Europe.”
The Philippine Embassy in Prague sent officials to attend the ceremony in person, describing her achievement as a “source of pride for the Filipino community”.
Balmori remarked that her graduating with distinction is both an “honor and a responsibility”, and that she intends to use the recognition to “strengthen my credibility as I move forward in my career, whether in research, policy work, or international organizations.”
Beyond her academic work, Balmori remains active in the diaspora community through the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD), where she now serves as a director of its Polish chapter.
“Choosing to study or stay in Europe doesn’t mean turning your back on the Philippines,” she said.
Currently, Balmori teaches Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) studies remotely in the School of Diplomacy and Governance at De La Salle College of St. Benilde, her alma mater. She graduated cum laude from the Bachelor of Arts program in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs in 2022.
“The goal is to use what we learn and the opportunities we have here to give back in whatever way we can.”
Filipino changemakers in action
Balmori is part of a notable wave of Filipino academic success. In December 2024, two independent journalists graduated from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programme in Journalism, Media and Globalisation at Charles University and Aarhus University.
Andy Peñafuerte III graduated with distinction and received the Best MA Thesis award for his research on Filipino migrants in China, while Jay-vee Marasigan Pangan served as a speaker for their cohort’s graduation ceremony.
As ENFiD members, Balmori, Peñafuerte, and Pangan have collaborated on several youth initiatives, including planning and executing the Youth Changemakers Forum (YCF).
For YCF’s second edition on February 27, 2026, Pangan, who also represented his Philippines-based organization, Youth Connect Cooperative (YCC), participated remotely from The Hague while covering events at the International Criminal Court.
Speaking about the growing use of AI in journalism, Pangan stressed the need for reporting to remain human-driven.
“AI tools can help generate leads, but editorial judgment and reporting must remain human-driven,” Pangan said.
Meanwhile, Peñafuerte, YCF’s project lead, spoke about ENFiD-Czech Republic’s charity gala in November 2025, during which Filipino community members raised funds for a scholarship program at the Philippine-Austrian Cultural Education Society (PACES).
He also told the forum’s participants that the relationships formed during the event were “just the beginning”, and that “it is up to you to take these forward.”
“YCF is not only about the conversations we start here, but also about the partnerships we continue to build long after the forum ends,” Peñafuerte added.
Balmori, the forum’s project co-lead, participated in its online broadcast organized by YCC.
“YCF 2.0 created a shared space where young leaders and experienced professionals worked together to develop practical responses to global challenges,” she said of the event, which welcomed around 160 youth leaders, professionals, educators, advocates, and retirees based in 32 countries.
“Dialogue across generations is not optional; it is how we move from discussion to action,” she added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
