PH Consulate General in Jeddah Commemorates 127th Death Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Jeddah PCG officers and personnel, with the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe at the Rizal Day 2023 program of the Consulate. (Jeddah PCG Photo)

JEDDAH 04 January 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, in commemoration of the 127th anniversary of the martyrdom of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, held a flag-raising and wreath-laying activity at the Consulate grounds. The program was participated in by Consulate General personnel, including personnel of attached agencies.

The Rizal Day celebration started with Christian and Muslim prayers, which was followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the recitation of the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watapat ng Pilipinas. Afterwhich, Consulate officers led a floral offering to the national hero. The program also included an overview of the life of Dr. Jose Rizal, a reading of Rizal’s poem “Sa Kabataang Pilipino” (To the Filipino Youth) by select personnel and their dependents, and a presentation of Philippine folk dances by the internationally-renowned Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe, led by its Director Mr. Ronnie Del Barrio. The said group is currently in Jeddah upon invitation by the Saudi government to perform during the current Jeddah Season until 07 March 2023.

Jeddah PCG officers during the wreath-laying activity led by Consul Alfred Kristoffer A. Guiang (3rd from left), with (from left to right) Vice-Consul Jules Patrick Aguila, Vice-Consul Kristal Mary Padon-Rabanal, Assistant Labor Attache Solaiman Mutia, and Social Welfare Attache Narrabelle Bue. (Jeddah PCG Photo)

Officer-in-Charge Consul Alfred Kristoffer Guiang, in his message on behalf of Consul General Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian, urged the personnel to draw inspiration from Dr. Rizal in upholding truth, nationalism and integrity, and to serve the country through the delivery of excellent public service. “Sa panahon natin ngayon, patuloy nawa tayong maging tagapagtaguyod ng katotohanan. Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pagsisilbi ng may integridad sa ating bayan at mga kababayan. Bilang mga “public servants”, tayo ay may tungkulin na isulong ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. Dapat din nating ipaalala sa ating mga kababayan ang ating mayamang nakaraan, lalo ang mga pangyayari sa ating kasaysayan na naging daan upang makamit natin ang soberenya na ating tinatamasa ngayon,” Consul Guiang added. (On this day and age, may we uphold the truth by serving our country and community with integrity. As “public servants,” our utmost priority is the welfare of our people. We must also remind our community of our rich history, especially the significant milestones that brought us the sovereignty we currently enjoy.) 

The theme of the this year’s Rizal Day celebration is “Rizal: Pundasyon ng Kahapon, Isinabuhay Ngayon.” END

Consul Guiang giving the inspirational remarks on behalf of Consul General Edgar Tomas Auxilian. (Jeddah PCG Photo)

For more information, visit https://www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph  or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.