On the picture H.E. Jaime Victor Ledda.
By Anton Lutter.
For the second time the knights of the Order of Rizal participated at Rizal Day commemoration at The Philippines embassy december the 29th.
Thanks to ambassador H.E. Jaime Victor Ledda the commemoration was again a success. He himself held an excellent presentation about Dr. Jose Rizal, the National Hero’s connection with The Netherlands and urged for more research on this topic. His theme was well chosen considering the fact that The Netherlands and The Phillipines enjoy 65 years of diplomatic relations and 150 years of consulair relations.
On behalf of the Knights of Rizal the chapter commander of The Hague Chapter Sir Anton Lutter, KCR thanked ambassador Ledda for his hospitality and strong support of OKOR in The Netherlands. Sir Anton conveyed the good wish message from the European Regional Commander Sir Antonio Guansing, KGOR to the ambassador and the attendants.
The keynote speach of Rizalday was delivered by Professor Sir Olaf baron van Boetzelaer, KR and titled Dr Jose Rizal in retrospective as inpirator for ASEAN, inspired by the fact that The Philippines is chairing ASEAN in 2017. Some quotes:
“Can reflection on Dr. Rizal in retrospective, be inspiring with regards to ASEAN’s future? Indeed the past is sometimes the key to the future. In Dr. Rizal’s perception central is his aspiration for the freedom of the person, his concern for the person’s dignity and his analienable rights. And it is here also fits in exactly the message of the Philippine diplomacy, mentioning “a people and oriented and centered ASEAN”. So as the Philippine diplomacy on the eve of his chairmanship proclaims: “peace and stability in the region” it is also in line with the spirit of Rizal, wishing that for his countrymen. Let us hope that the “Declaration of Conduct concerning the South China Sea “ by ASEAN, leads to appropriate attitudes and behavior of the concerned sea faring nations.
The Philippines aspires for ASEAN to develop a model of regionalism, even a role of global player. In Dr. Rizal’s perception , the Philippines were also of course part of the global family of nations. A fitting conception for the “homo universalis”, a patriot and at the same time being open to the world.”
