Jose Rizal's Day

June 19, 2007

Today is our National Hero's Birthday- Jose Rizal ( born June 19, 1861). I used to remember my father -Tatay Kase, who would always dress up to the hilt, complete with a cowboy hat and go to Calamba on this date, to watch the ceremony in Rizal's house and for a prayer or two in the church right beside it, almost every year. He had a lot of respect for our national hero, as I do but not as much as he did.

When we were in high school, we were required to read his two novels, "El Felibusterismo" and "Noli Me Tangere", but we were young then that the relevance of this two novels seems to be so far away. So what did I learn from it: that there are no tyrants, where there are no slaves; that a good education will set us free from poverty; that the pen is mightier than the sword; to treat other people as your own equal, whatever their status is.

Did our National Hero die in vain? That is for us to answer.

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LAGUNA CELEBRATES RIZAL'S 146th BIRTHDAY
NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF GOV. TERESITA S. LAZARO
Provincial Capitol
Sta. Cruz, Laguna
June 2007

Laguna provincial officials headed by Gov. Teresita "Ningning" S. Lazaro led the celebration of one of Laguna's most important historical events - the 146th Birthday of the province's famous son and the country's national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, on June 19, 2007 at the heroes birthplace in Calamba City . The annual festivity is expected to start with a flag raising ceremony and floral offerings at the Rizal Shrine.

Celebrated as a non-working holiday in Laguna, this occasion includes the Parade of Floats, as one of the highlights of this spectacle, from different participants that depicts the different side of Rizal as a farmer, as a teacher, as a scientist, etc. This parade was participated in by different business establishments, corporate organizations, associations, schools, socio-civic and cause-oriented groups, and different barangay delegations.

As the mother of the province and as a former teacher, Gov. Lazaro envisioned Rizal's objectives and principles by prioritizing the education of the needy but deserving Lagunenses. Under the Provincial Government's Sulong Edukasyon program, Laguna University is now on its second year in serving the less-fortunate Lagunenses. This is aside from the TSL or Top Scholars of Laguna program with more than 4,000 beneficiaries from all over the province that are given financial assistance.

Gov. Lazaro stressed Dr. Jose P. Rizal's ideals and devotion as exemplified in the life and works of the national hero. "Rizal's patriotism and keenness for learning are the backbones of our strength and passion for genuine progress and sustainable development," Lazaro said in an interview. # (CHRIS SANJI)
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