02 January 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh commemorated the 117th Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s  martyrdom with the theme: Rizal: Inspirasyon  - Noon, Ngayon at Bukas at the Mabini Hall of the embassy.

The simple ceremony was attended by Philippine Embassy officers and staff led by Minister and Consul General Marshall Louis M. Alferez, personnel from the Philippine Labor Office (POLO) and other representatives from attached agencies. Representatives from the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) - Riyadh Chapter led by Commander Emmanuel Mallari, Jr. came to attend the event.

Minister and Consul General Alferez and OKOR Commander, Sir Emmanuel Mallari, Jr. led the wreath-laying at Rizal’s bust.

Consul General Alferez gave a message on how Dr. Jose Rizal was inspired by the Filipinos’ resilience after facing disasters and calamities.

The Consul General recalled how Rizal praised the resilience of the Filipinos when facing catastrophic disasters like earthquakes and typhoons when he wrote an unpublished article entitled, Pilipinas Desgraciada (Unfortunate Philippines), in 1883. He noted the similarity of the strength shown by the victims of typhoon Yolanda and the Bohol earthquake just after those disasters ravaged their communities.

Knights of Rizal - Riyadh Commander Sir Emmanuel Mallari, Jr. read one of Rizal’s poem, Imno sa Paggawa (Hymn to Labor) which reflects how Rizal honors the diligence and dedication of the Filipinos in their work.

The poem was significant to all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia where hundreds of Filipino workers are working hard for their families and for the progress of the Philippine nation.

The ceremony helped to serve as a reminder of Rizal’s challenge to every Filipino not to stop advancing the journey of the Philippines as a nation, and to always embrace the nation whether in times of tragedy or triumph. END