06 October 2016 — The City of Wassen co-organized with the House of Literature, Central Switzerland the reading of the book “Wilhelm Tell in Manila” by the book’s author, Ms. Annette Hug, at the City’s church on October 02 . 

“Wassen and the Philippines has a special connection: The granite that forms the foundation of the Rizal monument in Manila comes from the quarry in Wassen, which is now converted into an open-air museum that bears the name Steinbruch Antonini,” said Wassen Mayor Kristin T. Schnider in her opening remarks. Locals from Wassen and neighboring City of Altdorf, including officials from both municipalities, were also present. 

The book “Wilhelm Tell in Manila” describes the colonial life in the Philippines under the Spanish occupation, specifically the life of Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and his political and ideological thoughts at that time. Rizal’s ideas were said to have been partly influenced by Friedrich Schiller’s play “Wilhelm Tell.”

The book had also been presented at the National Festival of Literature, “Solothurner Literaturtage,” in Solothurn, as well as in the cities of Gottlieben, Appenzell and St. Gallen. Other literature reading events will be done in Zürich, Berne, and Schaffhausen in October and November.

Ms. Hug is a Swiss historian. She obtained her Master’s degree in Women and Development Studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1994. In 2012, Ms. Hug went back to the Philippines to do research on Rizal’s translation of Wilhelm Tell, while taking some Tagalog classes. “Wilhelm Tell in Manila” is her third novel. END