Recently, I visited the Filipino Consulate in Manhattan, to see what brochures they had for Mindanao. In the guidebook for Davao (Mindanao's largest city), there was a list of consulates. Japan and Malaysia were listed, but so was the Czech Republic. What?

I'm aware that there may be consulates in some places due to that city's political/commercial importance (eg, the one I visited in Manhattan), strategic value (eg, a US consulate in Shenyang, China) or significant expat community (eg, the Cambodian Consulate in Lowell, Massachusetts, two Ecuadorian Consulates in Queens, NY and New Haven, Connecticut), but the Czech one might be the "winner." Is it for Elbe River cruise ships, hot springs, what am I missing?

Anyway, I'm curious about your input on this question, and if you've noticed any other ones that might seem anomalous.

Thanks,
BmB

Assuming that it's an honorary consulate, you may not be missing anything. Some countries are more liberal than others about handing out honorary (unpaid) consular appointments to people who are connected to their country in some way and may want to serve for the prestige(?), the business connections, the love of country, whatever.

Here's the list for the Czech Republic (though, oddly, I don't see Davao, though I just glanced). Davao may be no odder than Tijuana, Queenstown, NZ, or Livingston, Montana. Though, for all I know, those places are hotbeds of Czech interests.

http://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/diplomatic_...ex.html?zn=A-C

Thanks for your reply, Giggleswick. Honorary appointments are always unpaid? In other words, the appointee usually has another (primary) job?

I found the link to the Davao consulate, but I'm still curious if there are any stronger ties than merely to have honorary representation.

I could see Tijuana having consulates, as maquiladoras are constructed by the border, and a Japanese one in Nashville for business as well. Other times, there's a reason to post at FT!

If I recall correctly, the Honorary Consul in MT is an Assistant US Attorney or something similar with ties to the Czech Republic.

Two interesting ones i've seen are the Icelandic Consulate in Genoa (I guess for merchant seamen?) and the Mexican Consulate in San Marino.

There was a Faroese dentist down the street from me who was some sort of honorary rep for the Faroes.

Re: the Czech/Philippines thing, there is one connection I can think of. Some big oil companies and oil service companies I can think of have outsourced their Accounts Payable to accounting firms in the Philippines and Czech republic. One I can think of has branches in both places. Not India, China or Mexico: just Czech and Philippines.