PHILIPPINES: Thousands of Filipinos gather in front of the Jose Rizal monument in Manila to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary

Record ID: 742387

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Thousands of Filipinos gather in front of the Jose Rizal monument in Manila to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary
  • Date: 20th June 2011
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 19, 2011) (REUTERS) JOSE RIZAL POSTER IN FRONT OF MONUMENT MILITARY RAISING PHILIPPINE FLAG OFFICIALS PULLING ROPE OF PHILIPPINE FLAG MILITARY STANDING IN LINE IN FRONT OF CROWD CROWD HOLDING UMBRELLAS MILITARY AND OFFICIALS WALKING TO MONUMENT OFFICIALS OFFERING FLOWERS TO MONUMENT MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 18, 2011) (REUTERS) RIZAL'S T
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines, Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: History,People
  • Reuters ID: LVACC04WHEQOSQTXJOYMCAM7I49O
  • Story Text: Thousands of Filipinos gathered at Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday (June 19) to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the country's national hero, Jose Rizal.
    Supporters, local officials and relatives of the national hero lined up in front of Rizal's stone monument despite the bad weather and offered flowers for the man known to have started the revolution against the Spanish colonizers during the 19th century.
    A prominent Filipino figure, Rizal was a polymath who wrote essays and novels criticizing the Spanish government and Catholic Church for its malpractice and discrimination against the Philippine colony.
    "The revolution for freedom was intensified through Rizal's actions for his country," says Carmida Arevalo, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Historical Commission Research and Publications Division.
    Rizal was later seized and executed by the Spanish authorities for sedition.
    His death on December 30, 1898, was said to be the tipping point that started the Philippine revolution against Spain after 400 years of colonization.
    Years after his death, Rizal is regarded as a Philippine hero and made as a role model for the youth due to his exemplary intellect and nationalism.
    Maximo Villarote and his group went to Manila to pay homage to Rizal whom they believe, like Jesus Christ, was a prophet sent by god to the Philippines to deliver its people from oppressors.
    "Rizal is an envoy and prophet to our almighty god to deliver our country from our sins," he said.
    His group believes that Rizal will eventually come down from the heavens to take his loyal believers to their god.
    Amanda Buntag, Rizal's fifth-generation niece, says people often forget that Rizal was only a man who loved his country who used his skill to contribute change.
    "People, especially the youth, should see him as a person and not just as the hero that he is," she says.
    Philippine Congressman Teodoro Casino said the country needed a role model like Rizal since he has been regarded as an icon of unity for the Filipino people, especially in the present day when international diplomatic relations are being tested.
    "Well, the message and the struggles of Rizal are as relevant as ever, especially now with all these activity in the Spratlys islands. I think we really have to revisit our love for the country, our nationalism," he said.
    Casino was referring to the rising tensions in the past weeks on the contested territorial waters in the South China Sea between the Philippines and other claimants like China.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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