PH Embassy in Brussels, Order of the Knights of Rizal Celebrates the 158th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal
Philippine Ambassador to Brussels Eduardo José A. de Vega and Knights of Rizal (KOR) Regional Commander for Europe Sir Albert Arevalo, leading the KOR Chapter Commanders in laying their floral offerings before the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal to commemorate Dr. Rizal’s 158th Birth Anniversary on 19 June 2019. (Brussels PE photo)
BRUSSELS 03 July 2019 — The Phillipine Embassy in Brussels, led by Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo José A. de Vega, members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal - Belgium (KOR-Belgium), the Kababaihang Rizalista (KR) and the Las Damas de Rizal (LDDR) celebrated on 19 June 2019, the 158th birth anniversary of Philippine hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
Ambassador de Vega led the leaders of various KOR-Belgium chapters in a flower offering ceremony before the bust of Dr. Rizal at the Embassy’s Bulwagan ng mga Pangulo. As a Knight of Rizal himself, the Ambassador called on his fellow knights to live up to their oath by taking a lead role in fostering unity among Filipinos in Belgium and in supporting the Sentro Rizal which the Embassy will be launching soon.
In his message, KOR’s Former Regional Commander for Europe Sir Antonio Guansing challenged his fellow knights to reassess their effectiveness in propagating the teachings of Dr. Rizal by refocusing their efforts on more relevant issues and pressing needs of the times. Present KOR Regional Commander for Europe Sir Albert Arevalo encouraged his fellow knights to live by the virtues of Dr. Rizal in their everyday lives instead of simply looking up to him as a hero of the past.
During the program, Gerard Arp from the Netherlands gifted the Ambassador with a hardbound book of Dr. Rizal’s famous novel, “Noli Me Tangere”, which he translated into Dutch as “Kaak me niet aan!”. The book was published earlier this month in Zoetermeer, Netherdlands with the support of the Order of the Knights of Rizal in the Netherlands and KOR Diamond Chapter in Belgium.
Ambassador de Vega thanked Mr. Arp for his kind gesture of coming all the way to Belgium to present his gift. He also expressed his wish to see a Dutch translation of the “El Filibusterismo” someday and for Mr. Arp to become a full-pledged Knight of Rizal in the near future.
The program was enlivened with songs, dances and readings of Dr. Rizal’s poetry by the different KOR Chapters in Belgium. A Capella Manila, who are currently in Belgium as part of their 2019 European Goodwill Concert Tour, graced the event as guest performers. END
Ambassador de Vega leads his fellow knights in the Panunumpa sa Watawat to commemorate Dr. Rizal’s 158th Birth Anniversary.on 19 June 2019 at the Embassy. (Brussels PE photo)
Ambassador de Vega receives from Mr. Gerard Arp the hardbound book of Dr. Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere that he translated into Dutch as “Kaak me niet aan!” during the celebration of Dr. Rizal’s 158th Birth Anniversary on 19 June 2019 at the Embassy. (Brussels PE photo)
A Capella Manila serenading the audience with Filipino love songs during the celebration of Dr. Rizal’s 158th Birth Anniversary on 19 June 2019 at the Embassy. (Brussels PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium/.