President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park for the commemoration of the 126th Independence Day. (Photo by Gelaine Louise Gutierrez/PIA-NCR/file)
NAVOTAS CITY, (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to lead the annual commemorative ceremony in honor of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal on its 128th anniversary on Monday, December 30.
“The annual remembrance for Rizal’s martyrdom serves as an opportunity for Filipinos to reflect on values that his heroism exemplifies for our people and how these may serve as a foundation for our future,” said the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the lead national government agency for the conduct of the commemoration program aimed at the promotion of Philippine history.
The main activities laid out for the commemorative ceremony include the offering of a wreath at the Rizal Monument which will be spearheaded by President Marcos alongside NHCP Chairman Regalado Trota Jose Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.
Simultaneous commemoration programs will also be held at the Rizal Shrines in Calamba City, Laguna, and Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte.
Meanwhile, the NHCP will be opening a special exhibit featuring the collection of artworks that depict the life, ideals, and sacrifices of Dr. Jose Rizal such as the painting ‘Exile in Dapitan’ of National Artist Carlos ‘Botong’ Francisco, Rizal’s terracotta statuette ‘Triumph of Death Over Life,’ and the posthumous portrait ‘Rizal as a Mason’ by Fernando Amorsolo, among others.
The special exhibit, dubbed as “Remembering Rizal in Artworks and Monuments,” will be open to the public for one (1) month starting on December 30 at the Main Lobby and Second Floor of the NHCP Main Building in Ermita, Manila.
Building upon the significant contribution of Rizal in the cultivation of Philippine Art, the NHCP Museo ni Jose Rizal Fort Santiago will be offering a portraiture workshop called ‘Hagod Rizal’ in partnership with the Telesforo Alayon Sucgang Legacy Initiative Team, Quezon’s Artistry and Creativity, and Urban Sketchers Manila.
This art workshop will take place on December 30 at the NHCP Museo ni Jose Rizal Fort Santiago grounds at 10:00 a.m. The commemorative plein air ‘Jose & Telesforo Sketchwalk’ with artist participants from Urban Sketchers Manila will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the same day.
Guest artists from the Quezon’s Artistry and Creativity will also lead a discussion and exhibition walk-through of artworks that carry the theme “Rizal’s Legacy Towards Unity, Hope, and Change.”
The 128th anniversary celebration of Rizal Day with the theme “Rizal: Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Buhay at Aral Aming Nilalandas” seeks to honor and immortalize the valuable lessons and contributions of Dr. Jose Rizal which served as the foundation for a just and equitable nation. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
