21 June 2012 - The Philippine Embassy in Turkey commemorated the 151st birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal with a simple program and breakfast reception led by Ambassador Marilyn J. Alarilla at the Embassy's Rizal Function Hall last June 19.
The commemoration started with the singing of the Philippine national anthem and the recitation of Oath of Allegiance (Panunumpa sa Watawat) of the Ambassador and the entire Embassy staff.
During the breakfast reception of chicken adobo, beef caldereta, scrambled eggs and fried rice prepared by the Embassy's chef and a special cake with a Philippine flag motif, Ambassador Alarilla enjoined every Embassy staff member, including the Embassy's guest, the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination Queenie Mangunay, and the Turkish local-hires, to deliver short messages about the Philippine national hero.
As an introduction, Ambassador Alarilla discussed with the staff that everyone, including the Turkish local-hires, could learn from Dr. Rizal's example of patriotism, excellence and moral rectitude while seeking to forge the same values among his countrymen.
She said that, while Dr. Rizal longed for Philippine Independence, he actively supported non-violent means of reforming Philippine society at that time.
She added that Dr. Rizal's love for country and countrymen manifested in his writings and personal accomplishments, serving as a model for those championing good governance, transparency and the rule of law under the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III and to all Filipinos including those who are overseas as he himself experienced hardship and sufferings.
Ambassador Alarilla stated that, while in exile in Dapitan, Dr. Rizal inculcated not just knowledge but patriotism and courage to his pupils, which demonstrated how he valued the youth of the country.
Having been assigned at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin and Madrid previously, Executive Director Mangunay explained that the Germans, Spaniards and other Europeans highly respect and admire Dr. Rizal for his accomplishments, heroic deeds and martyrdom and for the brilliant life he led while he studied and lived in Europe, a few years before he was executed in Bagumbayan.
She stated that Dr. Rizal was a polyglot and a highly-intelligent man who knew 22 languages and wrote two groundbreaking and monumental novels, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," which served as an inspiration to Philippine revolutionaries during his time.
On the other hand, Second Secretary and Consul Leilani S. Feliciano extolled the virtues of Dr. Rizal, stating that he was a man of profound integrity and moral courage and is worthy of the Filipinos' emulation. His great love of country drove him to expose the societal ills during the Spanish colonial period and the oppression suffered by Filipinos at the hands of Spanish friars with the publication of his two novels, finally leading to his military trial, execution and martyrdom in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) in 1896. His martyrdom sparked the Philippine Revolution.
Other Embassy staff who provided their insights on Rizal were Communications and Protocol Officer Amado Desiderio, Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN)/Consular Assistant Ceferino Angel Caldez, Jr., and Secretary and Information Officer Jackie Lou Ong. Trade Assistant Oytun Dorken, Translator/Receptionist Aras Guven, Mr. Marvin Ablaza, and Mr. Rodolfo Magkalas likewise articulated their thoughts about Dr. Rizal.