Following is a message from Consul Jan Sherwin Wenceslao on commemorating the 126th martyrdom of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal. The event organised by Filipino/Australian Association Of Ballarat Inc. (FAABI), Filipino Australian Sports Club of Ballarat Inc. (FASCOBI) and Pinoy Ako Pinoy Tayo was held at Rizal Park in 3 Cashel Court, Invermay Park, Ballarat, Victoria.
On behalf of the Honorable Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo and the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, it is a great privilege for me to join the Filipino-Australian community in Victoria, in commemorating the 126th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Jose Rizal with the theme “Rizal: Preserved Memories Treasured Today by the Nation” (Rizal: Alaalang Iningatan, Yaman Ngayon ng Bayan).
I wish to thank and acknowledge the organizers, Pinoy Ako Pinoy Tayo, FASCOBI and FAABI for bringing us all together to do our part in keeping Dr. Rizal’s memory alive. I also particularly wish to acknowledge the presence of Ms. Josephine Quintero, the great granddaughter of Jose Rizal’s youngest sister Soledad Rizal, who is here with us today.
Jose Rizal is our national hero. His love for his motherland led him to expose the excesses and abuses of those in power, and his death on this very day in 1986 was the spark that was instrumental in helping our forefathers see themselves as members of the Filipino nation. Dr. Rizal’s desire and determination to uplift the Philippines and the lives of her people, no matter the personal cost, remain an inspiration to us all.
However, as we commemorate this 126th anniversary of the execution of Dr. Rizal, we must not simply remember how or why he was killed, but rather, how he lived, and how he left a profound impact on the lives of his countrymen then and, to this day, the present generation of Filipinos.
Dr. Rizal once said, “He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.”. I believe that Dr. Rizal was telling us that we can do great things if we sincerely embrace our identity and constantly work at improving ourselves for the benefit of others.
Rizal was a prolific traveler, and Filipinos become strong wherever they go. As the 5th largest ethnic group in Australia, Filipinos have integrated well and made a lot of contributions to this country. While we
acknowledge that we are far from Philippine shores, may we never forget who we are and where we came from. Every one of you here demonstrates that to be outside the country does not mean cutting off the umbilical cord that ties us to our community, heritage, history, and culture – ties that make us distinct.
It is with this that we in the Consulate General are heartened by the continued strength of the Filipino community here in Victoria, and with the many active and vibrant Filipino community organizations here that work tirelessly to preserve the Filipino national identity overseas, such in establishing this community park, the first park in Australia that was named after Dr. Rizal, as well as this yearly commemoration. This proves that our national hero continues to be a force for unity and collaboration.
We in the Consulate General are proud to support the Filipino community by providing a full range of support and welfare services to Filipinos here in Victoria, so you no longer need to travel to Canberra or Sydney. Our doors are always open for you to visit our office located in Melbourne CBD, to avail of services such as passports, civil registry, dual citizenship, and assistance for emergency concerns. We also do consular outreach to various areas in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. We particularly encourage all Filipinos to re-acquire their Filipino citizenship and to register for absentee voting for the 2025 National and Local Elections, which will go on until September 2024. These are simple things that can be a heroic act that preserves our national ties and contributes to a better Philippines.
In the words of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Enrique A. Manalo, as we prepare to welcome the New Year, let us continue to be guided by the values embodied by Rizal – patriotism, courage, and compassion – and through our individual and collective actions, build a better future for the Filipino people.
May you all have a meaningful Rizal Day.
Salamat po!
