PH Embassy in Chile Commemorates the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal with Back-to-Back Wreath Laying Ceremonies
Philippine Embassy officials and personnel lay wreaths at the Dr. Jose Rizal monuments at the Philippine Chancery and the Plaza Filipinas in Las Condes, Santiago (Photos from Santiago PE)
SANTIAGO 04 January 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Santiago commemorated the 126th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal in separate wreath-laying ceremonies for the two Dr. Jose Rizal monuments in Chile.
The first wreath-laying ceremony was held for the Rizal monument at the Philippine Chancery’s front lawn, while the second program was held at the Plaza Filipinas in Las Condes—home to the first-ever Rizal monument in Chile since 1989. The Rizal bust at the Embassy was inaugurated more recently in June 2022, just a day before the 161st birth anniversary of the Philippine national hero.
In his speech, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Jim Tito B. San Agustin recalled the international impact of Dr. Jose Rizal and his influence on individuals from all walks of life. This lasting impact, he said, is exemplified by the number of people who continue to study and closely follow Rizal’s life and writings in a wide variety of countries, such as Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina as well as Chile.
He also highlighted the unique parallelisms of Rizal’s life story with those of Latin America’s own national heroes, as well as the intertwined histories and struggles of Filipinos and Latin Americans toward nationhood. Specifically, CDA San Agustin underscored the distinct honor and duty of Filipino diplomats to continue promoting Rizal’s life and works, especially in South America where they could enjoy his writings in its original Spanish prose. He added that Rizal’s life and the shared similarities between the Philippines and Latin American countries serve potent soft power tools for greater understanding between peoples and bedrocks for deeper bilateral relations.
The Philippine Embassy concluded the two ceremonies with a simple salu-salo at the Chancery. The Embassy also shared social media links on Jose Rizal: Sa Landas ng Paglaya, Awit ng Biyahero and Rizal’s Poems as featured by NCCA.
For more information, visit https://www.santiagope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChile. END