Bar Croata bridges continents with Croatian Identity Awards

By Branka Bezic Filipovic

Bar Croata is a podcast based in Rosario, Argentina, that has been active for 19 years.

It began as a radio programme created by enthusiasts inspired by a visit from Aljoša Asanović, a former Hajduk Split and Croatian national team footballer, who won a bronze medal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Croatian sports journalist Andrija Kačić-Karlin wrote Vatreni Lakat, a book about Croatian football through Asanović’s perspective, which was well-received in Croatia.

Thanks to Branka Bezić Filipović, promotional events for the book were organised in Buenos Aires and Rosario in 2005.

During his visit to Rosario, Asanović met three local Croatians – Jure Vuković, Javier Santich, and Ivan Grbac – who greeted him wearing Croatian football jerseys.

After presenting them with a signed copy of his book, Asanović unknowingly sparked the creation of the programme, which officially began on 1 December 2005 as Radio Bar Croata.

The founders felt compelled to do something for Croatia, and the programme started modestly, as many do. Initially, friends joined the show to share stories about their families’ histories.

Over time, the topics expanded to include geography, history, culture, traditions, current events, and tourism. Football always held a special place in the programme, with Aljoša Asanović becoming its symbolic patron.

Over time, the team evolved – Jure Vuković stepped back, while Carlos Bukovac and Faustina Zarich joined in Rosario, alongside Branka Bezić Filipović from Split.

Today, Bar Croata is followed not only by listeners in Argentina but also across South America, the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

They have welcomed new volunteers and correspondents, such as Patricia Avila Kuljiš from La Paz, Bolivia, Carlos Santamaría Morezuelas from Madrid, Jorge Vuković, Monsignor Emilio Cardarelli, and Danko Jurinčić from Germany.

Bar Croata and its host, Javier Santich, are now members of the American-Croatian Congress, a global non-profit organisation uniting Croatian expatriates worldwide.

Additionally, both Santich and the podcast are participants and media sponsors of the Global Tie Project, initiated by Nada Pritisanac Matulich, president of the American-Croatian Congress. The project collects neckties from Croatian expatriates to preserve cultural heritage.

The podcast airs every Friday, with all participants and creators working on a volunteer basis. A significant achievement of the programme was establishing the Croatian Identity Awards, which are granted to individuals or groups promoting Croatian culture and values globally.

(Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

The awards include six medals – three bronze, two silver, and one gold – with a platinum medal awarded every five years. Previous platinum recipients include the Orchestral Ensemble Zagreb from Rosario and Branka Bezić Filipović from Split.

Bar Croata Honours This Year’s Awardees

This year’s awards ceremony began with the traditional presentation of three bronze medals, all awarded to prominent members of the Croatian community in Rosario for their contributions to the Centro Cultural Croata or personal initiatives.

Bronze medals were presented to Maximiliano Piñera Ercegović, Heldo Milatich, and Pedro Marcelo Kesovija.

Heldo Milatich (Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

Maximiliano Pinero Ercegovich (Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

Pedro Marcelo Kesovija (Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

Silver medals were awarded to Dr. Gustavo Marcucci Zarich, a physician from Rosario, and Alen Jerkunica, dean of Aspira University College in Split. Jerkunica earned his recognition for years of collaboration with Croatians in South America.

dr. Gustavo Marcucci Zarich (Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

Alen Jerkunica (Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

(Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

Aspira has offered a free Croatian language course for nine consecutive years and publishes expatriate family stories in its Virtual Museum of Croatian Emigration on its website. Winners of the best family story competition receive a year of free tuition at Aspira.

The university also plans to establish a physical Croatian Emigration Museum on its premises.

Jerkunica is the third recipient of this honour from Croatia, following Branka Bezić Filipović, a platinum medal winner, and former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who received the gold medal.

This year’s highest honour, the gold medal, was awarded to Nada Pritisanac Matulich, president of the American-Croatian Congress and initiator of the Global Tie Project.

Nada Pritisanac Matulich

She is also a civilian member of the United Nations in New York and serves as president of the International Cooperation Club. Pritisanac Matulich has held a national board position with the Association of Croatian-American Professionals for two terms and coordinated American-Croatian participation in the Croatian World Games in Zagreb in 2017 and 2023.

(Photo: Supplied/Branka Bezic Filipovic)

This marks the first time the gold medal has been awarded to someone from the United States.

A Bridge Between Croatia and Its Diaspora

The Croatian Identity Awards once again recognised individuals dedicated to promoting Croatian culture, identity, and unity worldwide.

These awards are not just an honour but also a call to continue strengthening the bonds between Croatian expatriates and their homeland.

Through initiatives like these, Bar Croata has established itself as a powerful bridge between Croatia and its diaspora, a project that not only informs but also actively fosters the global promotion of Croatian identity.