26 May 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union Victoria S. Bataclan, was the guest of honor at the 2nd European Convention of the Las Damas De Rizal which was held at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in Brussels on May 21.
Ambassador Bataclan enjoined members of the Las Damas de Rizal to continue educating themselves in the teachings and works of Dr. Jose Rizal so that they will be able to discern how best to serve each other and the entire society. She reminded everyone that our National Hero would always have guiding words for everyone and for every circumstance.
The Convention, which featured the theme “Commitment of the Past, Believer of the Future” was attended by Las Damas de Rizal chapters of the following: (1) Paris, led by Lady Lina Brosas, its Founder and head; (2) Prague, led by Lady Jeanette Cueto, President; (3) Monaco, led by Lady Alice Reyes, President, (4) Heidelberg, led by Lady Charlote Lovenich, President and (5) Belgium, led by its President, Lady MaryAnn Ballesteros and its Vice-President, Lady Elena Caronongan.
The afternoon session featured Dr. Carmela Caballero speaking about Portraits of Women’s Success. Dr. Caballero is a Filipina surgeon doing cancer research in Belgium. It also had Ms. Therese Ann Villanueva, a Management Consultant of the KBC Group of Companies, speaking about Women’s Journey in the 3rd Millenium and Lady Jeanette Cueto of Prague tackling Dr. Rizal’s Letter to the Women of Malolos.
Brief messages were also delivered by Lady Alice of Monaco, Lady Charlote of Heidelberg, Sir Leo of Paris, Sir Hantjie Garcia of KOR Aalst and Cultural Officer Faith Bautista of the Philippine Embassy. Fr. Carmelo Horlador, MSP, was another guest of the event.
An evening gala capped the Convention and showcased a Search for Maria Clara, a popular character in Dr. Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.” The contestants responded to questions epitomizing Maria Clara and her relevance to the modern world. Lady Carmelita Organo of Belgium won the title.
The Convention also featured the investiture of a new member, Lady Juliette Dulnuan of Belgium.
The Las Damas de Rizal chapters also commemorated the 125th Anniversary of the printing of the novel “El Filibusterismo” in Ghent by having a visit to the Rue Philippe de Champagne where Dr. Rizal lived from March 28, 1890 to July 23, 1891 and to the F. Meyer Van Loo Press at 66 Vlaanderen Street in Ghent where the “El Filibusterismo” was printed in 1891 on May 22, 2016. END
