PHL EMBASSY CELEBRATES 118TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF DR. JOSE RIZAL IN ACAPULCO AND MEXICO CITY
05 January 2015 - The 118th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal was observed in Mexico with two separate commemorative activities in cities where monuments in honor of Dr. Rizal are erected.
In the morning of 29 December 2014, Philippine Ambassador Catalino R. Dilem, Jr. accompanied by Philippine Honorary Consul to Acapulco Dr. Mario de la O Almazan and his spouse Mrs. Carolina Quevedo de la O together with Embassy personnel, members of the Filipino community in Acapulco, friends of the Philippines, and Acapulco City Councillor Vicente Trujillo Sandoval representing the Mayor of Acapulco, offered a floral wreath at the bust of Dr. Rizal located in Aguirre.
The President of the International Society of Poets, Writers and Artists Acapulco and member of the Association of Women of the State of Guerrero spoke of how Dr. Jose Rizal inspired Mexican nationalists in uniting them in their anti-colonialist ideals. The program ended with the reading of Mi Ultimo Adios by Ms. Carmelrose Bagalay reminding not only the Filipinos present but the Mexicans as well of the supreme sacrifice of Dr. Rizal for his motherland.
Another wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Rizal Monument located at Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City on 30 December 2014. Ambassador Dilem in the ceremonies in Acapulco City and Mexico City provided those present with a glimpse of the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal. He also encouraged everyone not to forget his ideals and the values it has instilled not on his countrymen. To cap the event, Ms. Niccie Cruz read an excerpt from Mi Ultimo Adios.
MARTYRDOM OF RIZAL COMMEMORATED AT HIS MARKER IN GENEVA
05 January 2015 - Officials of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and members of the Filipino community in Geneva and Vaud, commemorated the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal through a simple wreath-laying ceremony held at the marker of his visit to Geneva on 29 December 2014.
After the publication of Noli Me Tangere in 1886 in Berlin, Rizal embarked on a grand European tour with his good friend, Dr. Maximo Viola.
They visited the various important European cities which included the five Swiss cantons of Schaffhausen, Basel, Berne, Lausanne and Geneva.
Dr. Rizal stayed in Switzerland from 06 to 21 June 1887.
Arriving in Geneva on 06 June 1887, he stayed at Pension Bel-Air at Rue du Rhone 3. The former pension now houses the Bank of Lloyds of London. Rue du Rhone is now one of the busiest streets in Geneva.
PHL EMBASSY IN MADRID COMMEMORATES RIZAL DAY
05 January 2015 The Philippine Embassy in Madrid led the commemoration of the 118th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal with a flower offering at the Rizal Monument in Avenida de Filipinas in Madrid on 28 December 2014.
The solemn and brief event was done in collaboration with the Knights of Rizal (KOR) La Solidaridad Chapter, Madrid.
The commemoration began with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, followed by the Spanish National Anthem. The Philippine Embassys Charg dAffaires, a.i., Consul General Emmanuel R. Fernandez, welcomed the Filipino and Spanish community attending the program.
In his message, Consul General Fernandez talked about love and sacrifice as intertwined concepts, both of which were embodied by Dr. Jose Rizal. He also appealed to migrant workers, our modern day heroes, to demonstrate their love of country by making the additional sacrifice of time and effort to register as Overseas Absentee Voters for the 2016 national elections.
The program ended with an interpretative reading by Mr. Elas Rodriguez of the Mi ltimo Adios, the last poem written by Dr. Rizal.
PHL EMBASSY IN RIYADH CELEBRATES 118TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF DR. JOSE RIZAL
05 January 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh held a simple ceremony to commemorate the 118th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on 30 December 2014.
The event was led by Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin H. Tago together with the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
Second Secretary and Consul Winston Dean S. Almeda gave the opening remarks while Ambassador Tago read the Message of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III for the celebration of Rizal Day. A wreath laying ceremony was then led by Ambassador Tago and Minister and Consul General Marshall Louis M. Alferez.
In his message, the Ambassador recalled the past celebrations of Rizal Day where activities such as contests were held re-enacting what exactly happened in 30 December 1896 in Bagumbayan. There were also activities where the teachings of Rizal were read to the public to make Filipinos aware of the writings of Rizal during his time. As an ending note, Ambassador Tago encouraged all Filipinos in the Kingdom to go back and read Rizals teachings and in their own simple way, commemorate Dr. Jose Rizals martyrdom.
In the meantime, Second Secretary Winston Dean Almeda earlier represented the Embassy during the commemoration of Rizals martyrdom by the Riyadh Chapter of the Order of the Knights of Rizal held at the Embassy on 26 December 2014.
The Embassy hopes to organize similar informative activities which can benefit the Filipino students in Riyadh in helping them be more aware of the Philippine history and culture.
PHL EMBASSY IN DOHA MARKS 118TH RIZAL DAY WITH ORIGINAL ORATORICAL PIECE
07 January 2015 - However, is the Philippines still the nation dreamed of by Rizal?...As 2016 approaches, Rizal urges us to choose leaders who will guard our rights.
This was an excerpt from the oratorical piece entitled Heirs of Freedom delivered by Kevin Lazarito, a student of the Philippine School Doha (PSD), as part of the commemoration of the 118th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal organized by the Philippine Embassy in Doha on December 29, 2014.
Led by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente R. Relacion, Embassy officers and staff, representatives of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, and members of the Filipino community attended the short program.
After the flag-raising, Ambassador Relacion read the New Year message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario. While highlighting 2014 as a good year for the Philippines, the Ambassador promised 2015 to be even better with the Philippine economys continued growth, hosting of the 2015 APEC meetings, and the commencement of ASEAN Economic Integration.
Heirs of Freedom was written by Fredelito DonJohn A. Vallesteros, a PSD English Teacher. Kevin Lazarito, meanwhile, was first runner-up in the Search for Young Jose Rizal and named best orator during the 12th Order of the Knights of Rizal Middle East and South Africa Region (OKOR-MEAR) Competition held in Bahrain from October 03 to 05, 2014.
