Filipinos in Abuja Mark 126th Year of Jose Rizal’s Martyrdom
Officers and members of the Filipino Community Association Abuja (FCAA), led by Teofila Infante Ndaw (in crimson top), join the officers and staff of the Embassy of the Philippines in Abuja, led by Roderico C. Atienza, Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. and Consul General, in observing the 126th anniversary of the martyrdom of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, at the Chancery grounds located in Maitama District in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja on 30 December 2022. (Abuja PE photo)
ABUJA 06 January 2023 – The Filipino Community Association Abuja (FCAA) participated in the observance by the Philippine Embassy of the commemoration of the 126th Anniversary of the martyrdom of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, at the Embassy Chancery in Maitama District in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja on 30 December 2022.
Some 20 Filipino residents of Abuja, led by FCAA President Teofila Infante-Ndaw, were present at the official program that started off with a flag raising ceremony, followed by an oath to the flag and a listening to the recording of Rizal’s poem, as translated into Filipino, by National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, entitled “Canto del Viajero” (Awit ng Biyahero).
The recording, which was recited by various representatives of branches of Sentro Rizal in Philippine diplomatic missions around the world, was provided by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA).
Likening overseas Filipinos to Rizal the traveler, Chargé d’Affaires and Consul General Roderico C. Atienza called upon Filipinos to look into the significance of the commemoration of the death of the national hero, whose importance was made greater thanks to the life he lived.
“If our devotion to Rizal is sincere and genuine, then we must remember, each and every one of us, that we owe it to ourselves and to our country to seek constantly to discipline ourselves and dedicate our efforts to our country,” Chargé D’Affaires and Consul General Roderico C. Atienza said in a speech, echoing the same call President Ramon Magsaysay made in 1956.
“As Rafael Palma has said, we have a right to believe that there is in each one of us a possible Rizal; and that what he has done, we too could do within our reach and capabilities, if we would only apply to our tasks the same determination, the same resolute action, the same sense of duty that Rizal applied to the most heroic acts of his life,” he added.
The event culminated with a Filipino breakfast shared with the Filipino community. END
Following a listening to the recording of Rizal’s poem, as translated into Filipino, by National Artist Virgilio S. Almario, entitled “Canto del Viajero” (Awit ng Biyahero), which was provided by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA), Chargé D’Affaires and Consul General Roderico C. Atienza likened the overseas Filipinos present to Rizal the traveler, calling upon them to look into the significance of the commemoration of the death of the national hero, whose importance was made greater thanks to the life he lived. The event culminated with a Filipino breakfast shared with the Filipino community, part of which was donated by FCAA President Teofila Infante Ndaw. (Abuja PE photo)
For more information, visit http://www.abujape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNigeria/.