PH Consulate General in Melbourne, Filipino Community in Victoria Commemorate 128th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal

The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne joined the Filipino Community to commemorate the 128th Anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal. (Melbourne PCG photo)

MELBOURNE 09 January 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne joined the Filipino community in Victoria to honor the 128th anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal's martyrdom with two significant events on 29 to 30 December 2024. These celebrations showcased the enduring legacy of the Philippine national hero and highlighted the unity and cultural pride of the Filipino-Australian community in Victoria.

The first event at the Philippine Community Centre (PCC) in Laverton, Victoria, marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the first public bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the state. The project, a collaboration among the Consulate General, the Order of the Knights of Rizal (KOR) Southern Australia (Victoria and Tasmania) Area, and the Kababaihang Rizalista Incorporated (KRI), Victoria Chapter, was supported by the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria, Inc. (PFVI), which manages the PCC. The bust is set to be unveiled during the next Rizal Day celebration in 2025.

Attendees included community leaders from various organizations such as the Philippine Australian Foundation, Inc. (PAFI); Filipino Elderly Get-Together Association (FEGTA); and Pilipino Elderly Association of Southeast Region (PEASER), among others. Highlights of the event included a floral offering, a reenactment of Dr. Rizal’s execution, cultural performances, and speeches by notable guests, including Consul General Mariam Lourdes M. Salcedo, Knights of Rizal Past Supreme Auditor Sir Danilo Peralta, KGOR; ANZO Regional Commander Sir Bob Alipalo, KCR; and Lady Josephine Quintero, the great-grandniece of Dr. Rizal. 

During the event, Dr. Neil Fettling, a visual artist and former Director of the La Trobe University Art Institute, presented his exhibit “3 Months in Manila.” The exhibit, featuring fluorescent paintings on eleven small blocks, depicted his reflective experiences in Manila and incorporated the silhouette of the Rizal Monument.

The second event at Rizal Park in Ballarat, recognized as the first Rizal landmark in the Southern Hemisphere. Recently upgraded through efforts by the Ballarat City Council, the Consulate General, and the Filipino-Australian Association of Ballarat, Inc. (FAABI), the park provided a fitting venue to commemorate the 128th anniversary of Rizal’s martyrdom, which also coincided with the 25th anniversary of Rizal park in Ballarat. Approximately 100 representatives from Filipino organizations across Victoria attended the event.

Distinguished speakers included Consul General Salcedo, Ms. Josephine Quintero, Ballarat City Councilor Des Hudson, Sir Walter Villagonzalo, KCR, Commander of the KOR Lady Imelda McLean, President of KRI; and Dr. Allan Terret, a noted Rizaliana scholar, alongside FAABI President Mr. Gersen Wardlaw and former President Ms. Sherlita Hart. The program featured heartfelt speeches emphasizing Dr. Rizal’s contributions as a national hero and his continued relevance to the global Filipino diaspora.

The event’s highlights included a reenactment of Dr. Rizal’s execution at Bagumbayan, led by FAABI Vice President Eddie Racho and performed by young Filipino-Australians. Complete with costumes and music, it captivated the audience. A wreath-laying ceremony followed, along with cultural dances and a powerful and moving monologue called Sisa, performed by the FAABI President. The event concluded with an informal reception at Botanical Garden Ballarat, offering attendees an opportunity to connect and celebrate their shared food, music and heritage.

These events demonstrated the Filipino community’s dedication to honoring Dr. Jose Rizal’s legacy and underscored his enduring influence as a symbol of pride and unity for Filipinos in Australia and around the world. Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine national hero, was a nationalist, writer, and polymath whose execution by the Spanish colonial government in Bagumbayan (now Luneta Park) on December 30, 1896, sparked the Philippine nationalist movement. END

The exhibit features fluorescent paintings on eleven small blocks, depicting his reflective experiences in Manila and incorporating the silhouette of the Rizal Monument. (Melbourne PCG photo)

The second event at Rizal Park in Ballarat, recognized as the first Rizal landmark in the Southern Hemisphere. (Melbourne PCG photo)

The program featured heartfelt speeches emphasizing Dr. Rizal’s contributions as a national hero and his continued relevance to the global Filipino diaspora. (Melbourne PCG photo)

The reenactment of Dr. Rizal’s execution at Bagumbayan. (Melbourne PCG photo)