PHL Consulate General in Sydney Commemorates 121st Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal
Acting Head of Post Consul Marford M. Angeles (8th from left) and Consul Melanie Diano and Consul Emanuel Guzman with the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Sydney and Canberra Chapter led by Mr. Danny Peralta..
04 January 2017 SYDNEY — Acting Head of Post of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, Consul Marford Angeles together with Campbelltown City Mayor George Brticevic led members of the Filipino community in New South Wales in commemorating the 121st Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal in cooperation with the Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown (RPMC) and the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR), Sydney Chapter on 30 December 2017.
Consul Angeles and Mayor George Brticevic laid wreaths at the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Rizal Park, Rosemeadow, Campbelltown City in a solemn ceremony following a program honoring Rizal’s life and sacrifice.
In his speech, Mayor Brticevic, born of Croatian-Australian parents, noted that the Rizal Park in Campbelltown serves as a reminder to Australians about the value of freedom and a reminder to the Filipino community of their heritage. He also cited the contributions of the Filipino community not only to Campbelltown City but also to Australian society as a whole.
In his message at the ceremony, Consul Angeles said that Dr. Jose Rizal’s ideals remain alive and well 121 years after his martyrdom, citing the Rizal Park in Campbelltown itself as an excellent example of Rizal’s vision that Filipinos will work together for the good of the nation, of putting the country before self. He said that the Rizal Park was made possible through the selfless and concerted efforts of the Filipino community, the Philippine Government through the Embassy in Canberra and Consulate in Sydney, the Campbelltown City Council, as well as various individuals and groups based both in the Philippines and in Australia that contributed to the project.
The combined efforts of the community and various institutions to realize the Rizal Park in Campbelltown began in 1987 with a petition to have the reserve officially named and recognized as Rizal Park, culminating with the unveiling by President Aquino of the 5-meter statue in 2012, which is considered among the tallest in the world after the Rizal statue in Calamba which stands at 6.9 meters and the statue in Rizal Park in Luneta, 6.2 meters tall. The work continues as the Filipino community, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney and the Campbelltown City Council further seek ways to improve and sustain the park.
During the program, RPMC President and Campbelltown City Councillor Rey Manoto, Campbelltown Regional Filipino Community Council (CRFCC) President Lourdes Kaiser and Mr. Philip Rañoso, Knight Grand Officer of Rizal (KGOR), Order of the Knights of Rizal, spoke on Rizal’s works and ideals. END
For more information, visit www.sydneypcg.dfa.gov.ph
From left: Campbelltown City Mayor George Brticevic, Campbelltown Councillor Masood Chowdhury and Consul Angeles offering a wreath to Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
Consul Angeles delivering his message at the ceremony.