01 December 2016 — As a highlight of the inauguration of the Sentro Rizal in Milan, Italy, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. delivered a lecture on what makes Dr. Jose Rizal the National Hero of the Philippines, on November 28.

Chairman De Leon spoke on the five levels of culture and of the three noble missions of Dr. Jose Rizal: liberation of the Filipino from baser instincts (paglampas sa sarili), expansion of the self towards well-being (pag unlad para sa kapwa), and emancipation of the Filipino consciousness from colonial mentality and the social pathologies brought about by centuries of European colonization (pagmamahal para sa Inang Bayan).

The audience, composed of Filipinos and Italians alike, responded enthusiastically to the Chairman’s lecture, which was followed by an open forum.

The Philippine Consulate General in Milan will launch a series of lectures on Philippine culture and nationhood for first and second generation Filipinos in Italy. END