PR-40-2023
30 December 2023 – This year’s anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal was marked with a commemorative event attended and supported by ten (10) personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne led by Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo and various Filipino Community organizations in Victoria, local Australian government officials, and members of the Filipino community.
The ceremony at the Rizal Park in Ballarat was jointly organized by Pinoy Ako Pinoy Tayo (PAPT), Filipino Australian Sports Club of Ballarat Inc. (FASCOBI), and the Filipino-Australian Association of Ballarat, Inc. (FAABI).
The Philippine Consulate General, guests from the Filipino community and Australian government officials commemorated the 127th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal in Ballarat.
The event saw the participation of guests from both the Filipino community and Australian government, calling to mind the legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal. Distinguished guests and speakers included Ballarat City Council Mayor Des Hudson, Member of Parliament Juliana Addison, Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo, President of Kababaihang Rizalista Imelda McLean, Knights of Rizal Chapter Head Arlan Fajardo and Ms. Josephine Quintero, the great-grandniece of Dr. Rizal.
The program of remembrance commenced with the singing of the Philippine and Australian national anthems, followed by speeches from special guests. The event also featured a solemn wreath-laying ceremony and cultural performances by various community groups in Ballarat and Wimmera.
Ballarat City Council Mayor Des Hudson with Minister Juliana Addison and Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo with the Cultural dancers from the Wimmera Filipino Community Group.
Founding members of the Kababaihan Rizalista Inc. (KRI) Victoria Chapter and Knights of Rizal (KOR) joined in this year’s Rizal Day event in Ballarat.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal is the Philippine national hero who was executed by the Spanish colonial government on rebellion and sedition charges on 30 December 1986. His death sparked the Philippine revolution leading to the First Philippine Republic in 1898.
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