11 January 2016 - The Philippine Embassy in Cairo inaugurated the ‘Sentro Rizal’ and marked the 119th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal at a ceremony cum seminar held at the Embassy Chancery on December 29, 2015. The event, which was attended by the Filipino community in Egypt, included the unveiling of a marker, a lecture on Sentro Rizal and a film-showing of ‘Pluma: Si Rizal ang Dakilang Manunulat,’ a documentary on Rizal’s 150th Birth Anniversary.
In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Leslie J. Baja highlighted the importance of establishing Sentro Rizal in Cairo and expressed hope that it will inspire all Filipinos living in Egypt, especially the second-generation and mixed heritage members of the community, to know more about Philippine culture. He likewise spoke on the genius of Dr. Rizal, not only in the field of literature and medicine, but in social reform, and how his works and actions inspired fellow Filipinos to fight for the country’s independence.
The Sentro Rizal, established by virtue of Republic Act 10066 or the National Heritage Act, is dedicated to the promotion of Philippine arts, culture and language throughout the world through its branches overseas, especially where there are large Filipino communities. The Sentro Rizal – Cairo, located at the ground floor of the Philippine Embassy chancery, is meant to be more than just a library containing resource materials on Philippine culture, but also a center and venue for programs, projects and activities that are geared towards promoting Philippine culture in Egypt. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which is the government agency tasked with implementing the Sentro Rizal program in the Philippines and abroad, will be a partner of Sentro Rizal – Cairo in achieving its aims.
The Embassy has been active in promoting Rizal in Egypt. Earlier in 2015, the Embassy donated a bust of Dr. Jose Rizal to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, the biggest and most prestigious library in the country. END