InvoCare Australia Pty Limited in collaboration with The Knights of Rizal (KOR) and Kababaihang Rizalista Inc. (KRI) Sydney Chapter has unveiled the bronze statue of Philippine National Hero Dr Jose Rizal on its ethnic and diversified Pinegrove Memorial Park located in Minchinbury.
The historical unveiling was held at the West Chapel of the memorial park in celebration of the 163rd birth anniversary of Rizal on the 18th of June 2024. This officially opened the Rizal Memorial Garden dedicated to Filipino-Australians whose significant presence in the Blacktown area is highly considered. The Rizal Memorial Garden in Minchinbury is the 5th location in New South Wales where a Rizal landmark was erected. Other locations are at Ibero Plaza Central in Surry Hills, Ashfield Park and Rizal Parks in Rooty Hill and Rosemeadow.
The invocation was given by Mr Ferdinand Villanueva, Pinegrove Memorial Consultant right after the singing of the Philippine and Australian anthems led by Lady Jinky Marsh, Assistant Secretary of KRI Sydney Chapter and Marcus Rivera, stage actor and professional opera singer, respectively.
This Rizal Memorial Park project was initiated in 2018 by Lady Aileen Labiga, Pinegrove Memorial Park Client Services Manager of the Multicultural Unit of InvoCare and Treasurer of the KRI Sydney Chapter. She gave the welcoming remarks and acknowledgement of the country during the ceremony.
With the guidance of Sir Danilo Peralta, KGOR and Former Supreme Auditor RY2021-23, this initiative was approved, recognised and registered with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. “The presence of Rizal in our garden shows the affirmation of Australian inclusiveness and diversity. It is a legacy to everyone and every Filipino Australian of future generations to be inspired and not forget our history, to know and learn Rizal’s teachings and ideals. Rizal’s dedication to intellectual pursuit and his thirst for learning to effect positive change were truly inspiring. Emulating these characteristics will contribute to the betterment of one’s community and the broader society. The Rizal statue will always be a marker, a symbol of connection between the Philippines and Australia. Our memorial park is a place of hope and inspiration for the lives of our ancestors and the lives of those who lived before including Dr Jose Rizal.”, Labiga explained.
The dedication and handling of mutual understanding agreement between the Knights of Rizal and InvoCare were conducted by Sir Danilo Peralta, KGOR, Sir Elihu A Ybanez, KGCR, Former Supreme Commander of the KOR Headquarters, Lady Aileen Labiga, Ms Josephine Fataoefe, Pinegrove Memorial Park Manager as replacement to Mr Eron Plumb, InvoCare Chief Executive Officer who was unable to attend and Sir Bob Alipalo, KCR, Australia New Zealand and Oceania Regional Commander.
A tribute to Rizal was given by Sir Lambert Tagayuna, KCR, Special Legal Officer of the KOR Headquarters. “Let us foster unity, cherish our cultural heritage and continue to be the nation that our children can inherit with pride, a nation that fulfils the dreams and aspirations of Dr Jose Rizal. Let us renew our commitment to the values he stood for – patriotism, bravery and unwavering love for the Filipino people.”, Sir Tagayuna encouraged.
Lady Josephine Quintero, great-grandniece of Dr Jose Rizal under the lineage of his youngest sister Soledad and Adviser to the KRI Melbourne Chapter was called to deliver her message soon after. It was focused on the death and burial of Rizal having been in a cemetery to unveil his statue. Lady Quintero shared an excerpt from a book compiled by the Rizal family itself that got passed on from one generation to another.
She read and presented:
“Dr Jose Rizal, at the age of 35 years, was executed by firing squad by the Spanish authorities. All these happened just because he wrote books that awakened the minds of the Filipino people which resulted in revolts.
Not probably known to many after the execution of Dr Jose Rizal, his body was found hidden and not given to the family to prevent any public veneration of the Rizal grave. The Rizal family continued looking for his body and going from one authority to another begging to be told where the body had been buried but were only met with silence and a shrug.
One of the sisters refused to give up and continued her rounds on the graveyard and was finally rewarded at Paco Cemetery, the old city graveyard no longer in use. She went to the sexton and persuaded him to mark the grave with the 3 letters RPJ, Dr Jose Rizal’s initials in reverse.
Two years later, after the American occupation of Manila, Dr Jose Rizal’s family seized the chance to recover Rizal’s body on August 17, 1898. The body was found buried directly into the earth without any coffin. Nevertheless, the clothes were still recognisable. Although, whatever Rizal had hidden in his shoes had long rotten away. A vertebra showing the bullet wound was kept in a glass and put in a silver cup in one of the sister’s houses.
The remains were taken to Narcisa’s house, where the bones were later washed. They were later placed in an ivory urn. The urn was venerated in frequent public ceremonies during the 1900s when Dr Rizal began to be honoured as the national hero of the Philippines.
On December 29, 1912, the urn containing the remains was borne in a solemn procession from the family’s house in Binondo to the Ayuntamiento (city hall). In the salon of the Ayuntamiento, the urn was enshrined on a magnificent catafalque surrounded by innumerable floral wreath offerings of the nation. Throughout that night, the KOR and the public kept vigil round the catafalque.
The next morning December 30, 1912, the 16th anniversary of the martyrdom, the urn was borne to the Luneta on an artillery caisson drawn by 6 horses. Thousands joined the procession and thousands more lined the streets then the urn was deposited in the centre of the base over which would rise the monument of Dr Jose Rizal now.
The Rizal family remained grieving and bitter for many years that Paciano Rizal, the only brother of my great grand uncle, avoided interviews saying they merely resurrected painful memories.”
Lady Quintero acknowledged the attendees of the event and encouraged everyone to keep revering the greatness of her great-granduncle.
The messages of Ms Fataoefe and Honourable Consul General Charmaine Aviquivil followed suit.
“The newly installed statue is a testament to the growing presence of Filipinos in the multicultural country of Australia particularly in New South Wales where the largest number of the community resides. The presence of Rizal statue at Pinegrove highlights his significant role in Philippine history and more importantly as an individual who represents a patriotic, courageous, compassionate, skilled and resilient Filipino, one who fought for equality, for freedom and for self-determination and for human rights. These values are the founding principles of the first Philippine Republic which the Philippines continues to affirm today as we celebrated on the 12th of June the 126th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and the birth of our nation. May all our kababayans in every part of the world uphold these ideals in their endeavours within their respective communities and as we celebrate the 163rd birth anniversary of Dr Rizal, his legacy will remain alive in our hearts.”, Consul General Aviquivil encouraged.
Sir Elihu A Ybanez, KGCR expressed, on behalf of the order, his sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Invocare for its generous support of this Rizal project through the space allocation at Pinegrove Memorial Park and the cost involved in the erection of the Rizal statue. Sir Ybanez heartwarmingly reminded everyone about the letters Rizal left to his Portuguese physician friend Dr Lorenzo Marquez of Macao to be opened after his death. One was for his family and another was for us, his countrymen.
“I desire, furthermore, to let those who deny our patriotism, see that we know how to die for our duty and for our convictions. What matters death if one dies for what he loves, for his motherland and the beings he adores?” – Rizal
The ceremony was closed by Lady Marideth Laquian, Pinegrove Memorial Consultant and Auditor of the KRI Sydney Chapter. The ceremony was mastered by Lady Michelle Baltazar, KRI Sydney Chapter President. Mr Rivera rendered cultural songs both during the indoor program as well as the unveiling of the statue on the memorial grounds.
“The statue of Rizal in Pinegrove Memorial Park holds a significant part of the national heritage of the Filipino community in Blacktown local government area because it commemorates the patriotism and martyrdom of Dr Jose Rizal. It could also serve as a visual reminder of his heroic acts and sacrifices for the Filipinos that should not be forgotten by this generation and the next generations to come.”, Lady Carol Israel, Councilor of Blacktown Council, added.
The historical unveiling of Rizal’s statue in a memorial park provided insightful and reflective behaviour among attendees. The statue is expected to awaken and continually bring forth poignant memories of the life, ideals and martyrdom of Dr Jose Rizal, hence, truly not everything in him had died. Non omnis moriar. (Not everything in me shall die.) – Dr Jose
