The Embassy held a wreath-laying ceremony at the Embassy’s Kalayaan Hall and the Rizal Courtyard on December 30 in honor of the 128th anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s martyrdom, in collaboration with the Hague Chapter of the Knights of Rizal.
In his speech Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya emphasized that Jose Rizal’s ultimate sacrifice for the welfare of our nation and our people continue to inspire us as we also constantly do our own share to serve our beloved country, wherever we are.”The Hague chapter commander of the Knights of Rizal Sir Anton Lutter, KCR emphasized the close cooperation between the Embassy and the Knights of Rizal in propagating Rizal’s works and the historical connections between the Filipinos and the Dutch people through Rizal’s affinity and admiration for the renowned Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker (pen-name Multatuli) who wrote about the colonizers’ excesses in the then Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).
Sir Anton Lutter, KCR, and Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya led the wreath-laying.
Former Ambassador of The Philippines to Holy See Mrs. Grace Relucio Princesa, Embassy officers and staff as well members of the Knights of Rizal-The Hague Chapter, including Sir Steef Klarenbeek, KOR and Sir Guido Ouwerkerk, KR and Mr. Rein Quint attended the ceremony.
National hero of The Philippines Dr Jose Rizal (1861-1896) literary work played an important role in the quest for independence by the Philippines people. Knowing for his political writings that sparked the Philippine revolution and led to his execution on the 30th December by the Spanish colonial rulers.
As the nation remembers the national hero’s death and martyrdom, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to be change agents in his statement.
“As we remember his noble works and honorable life, let us take to heart his words and ideals that awakened the consciousness of our forebears and stirred a national movement for freedom,” he said.
