Jose Rizal Comes to Life at Sentro Rizal in Abu Dhabi Inauguration
Ribbon-cutting ceremony to open Sentro Rizal Abu Dhabi led by Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Hjayceelyn Quintana (center) and Sir Blesil Apduhan, Chapter Commander of the Knights of Rizal – Emarat Abu Dhabi Chapter (left). (photo courtesy of The Filipino Times )
ABU DHABI 03 July 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), inaugurated Sentro Rizal Abu Dhabi at the Chancery on 19 June 2019, the 158th birth anniversary of Filipino national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
Sentro Rizal Abu Dhabi is the 36th Sentro Rizal worldwide and is established in line with Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which aims to promote Philippine arts, culture and language throughout the world.
In her speech, Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hjayceelyn Quintana expressed hope that the Sentro Rizal Abu Dhabi would connect the Filipino Community especially children of overseas Filipinos, to their roots, Philippine history, and in turn would help in the formation of their Filipino identity.
A painting of multi-talented Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor showcasing the Pahiyas Festival of Quezon, was also unveiled during the inauguration.
Guests from the Knights of Rizal – Emarat Abu Dhabi Chapter (KOR-EADC), members of the Filipino Community, and media were treated to a “Crisostomo Ibarra-inspired menu”, a food selection curated by FilFood, a Filipino food innovation movement in UAE.
The menu, which featured Filipino dishes such as champorado, tinolang manok, bibingka, sapin-sapin, pandesal, kapeng barako, and samalamig, relived one of Dr. Rizal’s famed characters in the novel “Noli Me Tangere”. END
Manuel Baldemor’s newest painting entitled “Pahiyas in Lucban.” (photo courtesy of The Filipino Times )
Ambassador Quintana with the Ladies and Knights of Rizal – Emarat Abu Dhabi Chapter (KOR-EADC). (photo courtesy of The Filipino Times )
Crisostomo Ibarra-inspired menu curated by FilFood Innovation Group. (photo courtesy of The Filipino Times )
For more information, visit https://www.abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinUAE/.