28 June 2016 - On June 19, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney and the Filipino community in New South Wales, Australia, held two wreath-laying ceremonies to commemorate the 155th Birth Anniversary of Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
The first wreath-laying ceremony held in the morning at the Bust of Dr. Rizal at the Ibero-American Plaza, Chalmers Street in Sydney, was organized by the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR)-Sydney Chapter led by its Commander, Mr. Danny Peralta.
Also present were Mr. Angel Raña, Regional Commander, OKOR-Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania Region, other members of OKOR, the spouses of several OKOR members, and staff members of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney. Professor Floro Quibuyen, historian and OKOR member, shared his views on why Rizal has a place among the 12 Latin American and Iberian heroes at the Plaza. He also spoke of the role played by Rizal’s family in shaping his principles and ideals.
Despite inclement weather, a second wreath-laying ceremony was successfully held before noon at the Rizal Monument, Rizal Park, Rosemeadow, Campbelltown City, New South Wales, Australia, organized by the Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown (RPMC) led by its President, Mr. Rey Manoto.
Campbelltown City Councillor Fred Borg and his wife, Maria, participated in the ceremony. Five members of OKOR-Canberra Chapter also joined their fellow knights from Sydney at the event. Also present were Mr. Cristophe Krause, who was part of the group that made representations with the Campbelltown City Council in the 1980s to allocate the land for Rizal Park, members of RPMC, and other members of the Filipino community.
At the ceremony at Rizal Park, Philippine Consul General to Sydney Anne Jalando-on Louis and Mr. Manoto paid tribute to the late Filipino artist Eduardo Castrillo, who donated the Rizal Statue. The guests at the ceremony were requested to observe a minute of silence in his memory.
In her messages on both occasions, Consul General Louis highlighted the significance and continued relevance of Rizal’s legacy to the Philippines and to the Filipino people. She also noted that Rizal’s life and works have a transformative power, such that several Australians have taken actions that pay tribute to Rizal after knowing about him and his accomplishments that make him hero, not only to the Filipinos, but to other peoples as well. END
