“In my many meetings with high officials of Australia, they have always described the Filipino Community here as a caring community that provides support for and lifts others particularly in times of need just like Dr. Jose Rizal who even in exile improved the lives of those in his community in Dapitan.” This was among the poignant messages of Ambassador Ma. Hellen de la Vega during the virtual gathering arranged by Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo to commemorate the 124th anniversary of the martyrdom of Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
For her part, Consul General Maria Lourdes Salcedo spoke of embracing the relevance and inspiration of Rizal’s dalisay na pagmamahal sa bayan (unblemished love for country) in our day-to-day life.
Deputy Consul General Anthony Mandap, speaking in Filipino, exhorted Filipinos to emulate Rizal in his pursuit of excellence. “Hindi man natin kayang pantayan si Rizal, tungkulin nating iangat ang ating sarili, kung hindi sa talino ay sa talento at kahusayan sa sariling larangan,” he said.
A great grandniece of Rizal, Melbourne businesswoman Josephine Quintero, also shared her message of remembrance.
On the day of Rizal’s death anniversary, ConGen Salcedo visited Rizal Park in Ballarat, Victoria, some 115 kilometers from Melbourne CBD. She saw the memorial plaque inscribed at the entrance of the Park laid out during the 1999 visit of Canberra PE’s Consul General Edwin Bael. The Park, which is in a public place within a residential area in the city, has a playground for children and a neat covered area with a long bench.
Shirley Hart, a leader of the Filipino Community in Ballarat, said that they have been fortunate to have the City Council approve the Rizal Park. When asked about the possibility of mounting a statue or a bust, she said that “safety had been an issue in the past but we can try again.”
“Let’s plan early for next year’s 125th anniversary so we may put up a nice garden and stage some activities like poetry reading and games for children,” ConGen Salcedo suggested over lunch at the BoatShed near Lake Wendouree.
Alan Terett, an active Knight of Rizal, said he is looking to where he may turn over his collection on Rizal, to which ConGen Salcedo said there is a plan to put up a Sentro Rizal at the Consulate. The group had a pleasant chat about the joys and challenges encountered by the Filipino Community in the city of about 101,689 dominated by those with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry based on the 2016 census.
Ballarat, which is derived from two aboriginal words meaning “resting place”, flourished as a settlement after the discovery of Victoria’s first officially recognized gold in 1850 near Clunes, 40 kilometers north of Ballarat. Victoria had 13 goldfields at the height of Australia’s “gold rush” and Ballarat was second only to Bendigo.
The Ballarat visit was capped by a short stop at the Asian store owned by Shirley and husband Shawn where all sorts of Asian goods such as Filipino bagoong, sardines, daing, snacks and other foodstuff are sold to Filipinos among the growing Asian community in the city.
