PH Consulate General in Jeddah Promotes Inclusiveness During Rizal Day Commemoration
Philippine Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos (left) and Consul Mary Jennifer D. Dingal (right), together with Consulate General officers during the Rizal Day wreath-laying ceremony. (Jeddah PCG photo)
JEDDAH 02 January 2020 –– In commemoration of the 123rd anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal's martyrdom, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah (JPCG), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held a flag-raising ceremony, wreath-laying, and a short programme led by Consulate personnel on 30 December 2019 at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah grounds. Consulate personnel dependents and members of the Filipino community in Jeddah were invited to the occasion.
The International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) Drum and Lyre Band played the Philippine National Anthem at the opening of the program, after the wreath-laying ceremony. This was followed by a poetry reading by Consulate personnel Ms. Violeta Adina and Mr. Diosdado Abarraof Rizal’s “Isang Alaala ng Aking Bayan”, a poem paying tribute to his hometown. Also, Consul Mary Jennifer Dingal gave a short talk on Rizal as a catalyst for the birth of nationalism.
In his inspirational message, Philippine Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos said that Dr. Jose Rizal’s fervent love of country and his martyrdom served planted the seeds of a deep sense of nationhood among the Filipino people. He urged everyone present, especially the youth, to "aim for a higher degree of 'historical quotient' or deep understanding of our country’s history to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and continue enjoying the benefits gained from independence at the cost of great sacrifice”.
The program also included folk dances from the Arabian Scorpion Chapter Dance Group, and a song number “Tagumpay Nating Lahat” by Consul Mary Jennifer Dingal and her daughter Maria Francesca D. Dingal.
During the celebration, the Consulate General also launched the “e-Sentro” Rizal that would make all Philippine cultural resources available online at the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal. The last part of the program was an awarding ceremony for the Rizal Day poster-making contest which was participated by students from different Philippine international schools in Jeddah.
The program was opened to all members of the Filipino community in Jeddah “to make everyone realize that heroism and martyrdom can be aspired for by all,” Consul General Badajos said. END
Arabian Scorpion Folk Dance Troupe performs the “Karatong” and “Pandango” at the Rizal Day celebration on 30 December at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah grounds. (Jeddah PCG photo)
Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah officers, staff, dependents and members of the Filipino community at the Rizal Day celebration. (Jeddah PCG photo)
Consul General Edgar Badajos (sixth from left), Consul Mary Jennifer D. Dingal (third from right), Vice-Consul Lemuel Lopez (fifth from left), Vice-Consul Sheila Briones (fourth from left), Vice-Consul Alfred Kristoffer A. Guiang (second from left), Assistant Labor Attache Germie Daytoc (rightmost), Social Welfare Attache Anna Oidem (third from left), Mr. Carlos de Leon (second from right), and Ms. Farrah Jasmine Dingal (leftmost). (Jeddah PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.