15 December 2016 — Renowned Philippine historian, journalist, professor, and cultural administrator, Dr. Ambeth Ocampo presented Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal with all his quirks and contradictions during a talk entitled, “A Question of Heroes: Bayani vs. Hero,” at the Philippine Embassy on November 29.

His talk focused on Jose Rizal, what he means to Filipinos in the course of time, his ubiquity (“everywhere but nowhere”), some aspects of his human side, and how he influenced and became the “soul” of the Philippine Revolution.

Dr. Ocampo challenged his audience to see Rizal as someone who demonstrated that there was in each one of us the capacity for greatness. He gave his audience a glimpse of the many facets of Rizal’s life through manuscripts and photographs.

The talk came as a side event of Dr. Ocampo’s visit to museums in Berlin and Dresden housing artifacts donated by the national hero. He was accompanied by Mr. Kenneth Esguerra as part of a grant to Ayala Museum given by the Goethe Institute. It may be recalled that Jose Rizal once lived in Berlin where he had Noli Me Tangere printed.

Rizal remains to be a significant cultural link between the Philippines and Germany.

The talk continues the Embassy´s UPLIFT series (Understanding the Philippines through Lectures and Interviews with Filipinos in Town), a continuing education / lecture series for Embassy staff and the Filipino Community for updates on relevant issues at home and abroad. END