07 January 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh marked 30 December 2014 with activities in honor and remembrance of the martyrdom of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
Officers, staff and family members of Embassy personnel and the Filipino community gathered in the morning for the flag-raising ceremony and a salu-salo.
In his message, Charge d’Affaires Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot reminded everyone of the great contributions of Rizal in awakening patriotism in the hearts of the Filipino people that led to our country’s independence.
Ending the morning program, Embassy staff Sylvestra Marundan and Raquel de Austria paid tribute to Dr. Rizal by entertaining the attendees with the reading, in the original text and Tagalog translation, of Mi ultimo adios, the last poem written by the Philippine hero and acclaimed as the most translated patriotic farewell piece in the world.
In remembrance of the inspiration brought by Rizal’s works to modern-day Filipinos, the Embassy personnel and their families took the opportunity of the holiday commemoration to visit the exhibition at the 16th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh (AABB), one of the grandest fine arts festivals in Asia, where one of the art works displayed was done by Filipino contemporary artist Ramon M. Billanes. His works, including the seven-series painting, “Untitled” and two clay sculptures, “Farmer’s Leg” and “Wasted,” depict the different aspects of man’s tussles in society. Mr. Billanes’ works, together with other artists’ from 32 participating Asian countries, were exhibited and opened for public viewing at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka. END