BAGUIO CITY – National hero Jose Rizal is honored on the 120th anniversary of his death, 8AM, Friday, Dec. 30, at his monument, in Burnham park.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan serves as guest of honor and speaker for the occasion, with the opening message from Congressman Marquez Go.
Various groups; Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Kababaihang Rizalista, Knights of Rizal, Veterans, Free and Accept masons of the Philippines, veterans, officials from the Rizal barangay led by Punong Barangay Agustin Sister, Sr. and other city officials offer flowers at the Rizal monument as the Philippine Military Academy leads the twenty-one gun salute and lowering of flag to half-mast.
Talented, well-travelled, an expert in 22 languages, and said to be a genius, Rizal, led the Philippine revolution through his writings mainly the Noli Me Tangere, published in Berlin; and El Filibusterismo, novel satires exposing and criticizing Spanish clergy and electoral. Together with other Filipino revolutionists, Rizal were accused of rebellion and sedition.
He was briefly incarcerated in 1892, and exiled to Dapitan in 1893 where his works as physician, teacher, artist, farmer, poet, and linguist were polished and applied to the community. He was imprisoned during the early part of 1896 and executed through firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896. His remains were interred in an unmarked grave at the old Paco cemetery, later exhumed, brought to the Rizal house in Binondo, and buried properly at Luneta Park where his monument stands.
In a commemorative ceremony during the earlier years, Mayor Domogan quoted one of Rizal’s writings: “It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on a field without becoming a part of any edifice.” The mayor thus exhorted every citizen to be a part of endeavors meant to uplift and bring goodwill to each member of the society, and the community as a whole.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Rizal: Bayaning Global, Aydol in Juan.”/Julie G. Fianza
