The word “Robot” was first used in Karel Čapek’s play Rossumovi Universal ni Roboti (Rossum’s Universal Robots), popularly known for its acronym R.U.R. It was staged for the first time 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.

To mark this centennial celebration, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila in partnership with Ateneo de Naga University Press published the Filipino translation of R.U.R., translated by the late Filipino novelist, playwright, and short story writer, Rogelio Sicat. The book will be launched virtually on May 1, 2021 via Facebook Live of the Ateneo de Naga University Press. The book designed by Ryan Cuatrona also contains illustrations by John Sherwin Acampado.