The Diplomat
The Philippine Embassy in Madrid and members of the Filipino Community in Madrid commemorated last Sunda the 124th Death Anniversary of the national hero of independence, Jose Rizal.
During the ceremony, the Philippine Consul General in Madrid, Adrian Cruz, stated, on behalf of Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier, that “Rizal probably is the leading authoritative figure who had written significant cultural works in Spanish”. “Here in Spain, Rizal is looked upon as someone who has shown his patriotism and love for country, and I hope that we are able to inculcate in the minds of the Filipino youth how one should love his country in the manner that Rizal did and showed us”, he continued.
In a normal setting, commemorations would have been held at the Rizal Monument along the Avenida de las Islas Filipinas in the city of Madrid. Since 1996, the Rizal Monument in Madrid has served as one of the highlights for Filipino tourists visiting the city. Besides, the tourist guide prepared by the Embassy includes other places in Madrid where Rizal lived and studied.
