9 January 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Beirut commemorated the 118th  anniversary of the martyrdom of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The commemoration was led by Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and participated in by the personnel of the Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), as well as by the Filipinos sheltered in the Embassy’s Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC) on December 29, 2014.

The commemoration of Rizal Day started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine flag, both led by Cultural Officer Gladys Perey.

Two MWOFRC wards read the biography of Dr. Rizal and his poem “Mi Ultimo Adios.” In her brief message, Ambassador Ruiz urged the audience to be inspired by Dr. Rizal’s love of country.  END