04 January 2017 — The Order of the Knights of Rizal (KOR) in Belgium led the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the martyrdom of Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, at the Philippine Embassy on December 30, 2016.
Chargé d’Affaires Alan Deniega led the floral offering by the bust of Rizal at the Bulwagan ng mga Pangulo.
Sir Dominiek Segaert, past Area Commander for KOR Belgium and 2014 Kaanib ng Bayan Philippine Presidential Awardee, and his Brother Knight, Sir Dirk Vandeweghe presented the first copies of the Belgian Post Rizal stamps to Charge d’Affaires Deniega and Sir Jim Rebong, Area Commander of KOR Belgium.
The Rizal stamp was specially designed by a Belgian national, Mr. Rik Driesen, in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the printing of El Filibusterismo in Ghent, Belgium, on September 2016.
“Rizal is a symbol of unity between Europe and the Philippines, and we intend to keep the spirit of unity even further,” said Chargé d’Affaires Deniega. He also talked about Rizal as a renaissance man and a critical thinker.
During his remarks, Sir Rebong talk about how Rizal valued change and how the national hero has been recognized as the father of the Philippines’ non-violent revolution.
KoR’s counterpart organizations such as the Kababaihang Rizalista and Las Damas de Rizal; Rev. Fr. Carmelo Horlador, Chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy Belgium, and Rev. Fr. (Capt.) Paul John Camiringof the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe of NATO attended the event.
The commemorative stamps are exclusively distributed by the KoR Diamond Chapter Belgium. For more information, they may be reached through telephone numbers +32479691865 and through email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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