CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Traffic stood still momentarily, sirens wailed and church bells pealed at the struck of 7 a.m. on Saturday as the grateful birth town of National Hero and compatriot Dr. Jose P. Rizal signaled its tribute to its illustrious son’s 121st Martyrdom commemorative rites.
Laguna Vice-Governor lawyer Karen Agapay, 2nd District Representative Joaquin Chipeco Jr., City Mayor Justin Marc SB Chipeco and Vice-Mayor Roseller H. Rizal led Calambeños and Lagunenses during the homage rites at the Jose P. Rizal Plaza fronting the city hall for the floral offerings at the base of the 22 feet towering hero’s monument.
Wreaths and flowers were placed circling the base of the 7.87 feet high granite pedestal erected at the center of the 15-step circular base which added to an imposing 43 feet towering Jose Rizal monument and is now a historical tourism landmark.
Congressman Chipeco has described the monumental architectural masterpiece as the structural tribute by a grateful city “that will forever be treasured as a symbol of our timeless reverence to this great man Dr. Jose P. Rizal.”
Simultaneous floral offerings and wreaths were also bedecked historical landmarks such as Sampalukan, Jose Rizal Memorial School, City College of Calamba Quadrangle and the Calamba Elementary School.
By 8 a.m. the military ceremonial honor guards of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) led by Colonel Thad Rufino P. Candelario as military host trooped to the flagpole area at the Rizal Shrine for the hoisting of the Philippine National Flag as the National Anthem was played.
Officials, employees and the crowd then recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the flag was later put on half-mast.
Consecutive wreaths were also offered from the Office of the President, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) through the Shrine curator Zarah Escueta and the wreaths of Rep. Chipeco, Governor Ramil Hernandez, Mayor Chipeco, Vice Mayor Rizal and the City Councilors, League of Barangays, City Department officials led by City Administrator lawyer Allan D. Zacarias, Knights of Rizal and the Rizalista Women’s group and the multi-sector representatives.
During the commemorative program, Vice Gov. Agapay urged Calambeños and Lagunenses to draw inspiration from the leadership, heroism and martyrdom of Rizal.
Rep. Chipeco also beamed with pride that Rizal brought honors not only in the country but also in other countries where Rizal had travelled and those which recognized his exemplary life and works.
He said that Calambeños would forever pay the fitting tribute to a great man who sacrificed all for his country, a man who is not only revered in his hometown but in different places around the globe.
Mayor Chipeco underscored that while places around the country may have similar homage to the National Hero, there is a unique element in how Rizal’s compatriots-Calambeños pay tribute.
“Ang atin ay may kasamang pagpapasalamat sa karangalang tawaging kababayan ng dakilang bayani. Ang sa atin ay may kasamang pagmamalaki na sa ating bayan nagmula ang lalaking bumuhay ng dugo ng nasyolismo na nagbunga ng kalayaan para sa bayan (For us, there is the gratitude for the honor to be called townmates of the great hero. For us, there is pride that the man hailed from our place, and who sparked the lifeblood for nationalism that brought forth freedom for our country),” Mayor Chipeco said.
He also reminded the Calambeños that the great pride and honor that Rizal brought to his hometown also require great responsibility to perpetuate his ideals, vision and legacy without fear or favor and unequalled…until death.
He said that the key to real change and transformation starts with the right mindset, especially on Rizal’s call for the country’s greatness and genuine freedom that brought about people’s real happiness and contentment.
“It is the mindset that we voluntarily offer our time and talent for every Filipino’s benefit and general welfare, setting aside personal interest and respect for the rights of everyone and a mindset to (eliminate) destructive attitudes and obstacles that hinder development and progress,” the Calamba mayor expressed.
He said that Rizal demonstrated the honor and pride as a Filipino and this inspired us to seek that enlightenment and set the clear vision for real productive change.
In an interview, Jasmin Malabanan, with her three children in tow from Mayapa village here said it was their first time to visit the Rizal Shrine and partook in the commemorative celebration and wanted her children to learn more about the National Hero.
She said her children had visited other places for leisure and fun-filled events, but inspired her kids to tour the shrine and museum collections as a productive and educational experience to learn more on the life and works of Rizal.
A fruit vendor from Barangay Cuatro in this city, Mang Louie Fresnido, who manned his fruit stand a block away from the Rizal Shrine, also told PNA that Rizal is his “lodi” (reverse word for idol) and that the National Hero has the “werpa” (millennial term for power) that sparked the spirit of nationalism among Filipinos.
“Sana si Rizal hindi sa piso (a peso coin) nakaukit at dapat sa taas ng karangalang ibinigay niya, doon siya sa pinakamalaking pera (paper bill) angkop sa katauhan niya,” Fresnido remarked.
A sidewalk vendor from Mercado de Calamba, Mang Jose Cuerva admitted he only learned of Jose Rizal when he moved in at the public market, a few blocks away from the Rizal Shrine.
“Di ko alam na kapitbahay lang pala si Rizal diyan. Bumisita ako diyan sa bahay niya at binasa at tiningnan ko yong mga nakadisplay. Ang galing-galing talaga ng ating bayani (I am not aware that we are neighbors with Rizal. I visited the shrine and read through and viewed the display. Our hero is superb),” he said.
A university historian/researcher who requested not to be named who dropped by at the Rizal Shrine expressed full support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call for national and local government offices to display the images and portraits of the national heroes instead of the politicians’ faces hung on office walls and premises.
“I can’t imagine the faces of politicians all over the place – in tarpaulins, walls, fences, buildings, waiting sheds, parks, garbage cans and trash bins and even in ambulances as if they were demigods, and think they can save the life of dying patients rushed by these ambulances to hospitals,” he commented. (PNA)
