21 June 2012- Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez and Madame Maria Teresa L. Lopez led the officers of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo in commemorating the 151st birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal at Hibiya Park in central Tokyo last June 19.
Ambassador Lopez noted that the ceremony was a fitting way to cap the year-long commemoration of Dr. Rizal's 150th birth anniversary.
Professor Ambeth Ocampo, a visiting professor at Sophia University, joined the officers in offering flowers by the historical marker and bust of the Philippine national hero.
Professor Ocampo expressed hope that Filipinos will continue to be guided by the life and teachings of Dr. Rizal.
Professor Takefumi Terada, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Studies of Sophia University and a noted Philippines studies expert in Japan, also attended the ceremony.
The original stone marker was erected in 1961 for the 100th birth anniversary by three organizations in Tokyo devoted to Dr. Rizal, namely, the Knights of Rizal, Rizal Society of Japan, and Friends of Rizal.
The stone marker reads in English and Japanese "In 1888, the national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal, stayed at Hotel Tokyo which was located in this place." The national flowers of the Philippines and Japan, the sampaguitasakura (cherry- blossom) are also engraved.
The unveiling of the bust of Dr. Rizal and the refurbishing of the original stone marker were done in 1998 during the Centennial celebrations under former Philippine Ambassador to Japan Alfonso Yuchengco.
The ceremony was also attended by former Japanese ambassadors who served in the Philippines. END