The Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen commemorated of Dr. Jose Rizal’s 155th birth anniversary on 24 June 2016 with the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Park in Jinjiang City, Fujian Province followed by a simple turn-over ceremony of a Rizal bust, books and sample Rizal Monument (paper craft series) to the Jinjiang City Museum.
Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores was joined by Jinjiang Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Officer (FOCAO) Deputy Director General (DDG) Chen Ling, PCG officers and representatives of Filipinos in China (FINCH) during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Park.
In a brief interview conducted by China Radio International (CRI)-Filipino Service at the park, Consul General Flores remarked that the annual wreath-laying event underscores the importance of the Park as a permanent symbol of the friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Jinjiang City. Furthermore, it sustains the Consulate General’s efforts to contribute to the propagation of the life and works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal to Filipinos in Fujian as well as the world over.
In fulfillment of last year’s promise to donate a Rizal bust that would augment other Rizal paraphernalia donated by the Consulate General through the years to Jinjiang City, Consul General Flores turned-over to the Jinjiang City Museum a Rizal bust, courtesy of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in support of the Consulate General’s public diplomacy efforts. Also turned over were five volumes of the book entitled “Ang Screenplay ng Jose Rizal” and a sample Rizal Monument (paper craft series).
The donations serve as a gesture of friendship and understanding as well as a catalyst for cooperation and increase cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Jinjiang City, which is the ancestral town of many Filipinos of Chinese descent, including Dr. Rizal whose paternal great, great grandfather Domingo Lamco (Ke Yinan), originated from Jinjiang City’s Qiongque Village before migrating to the Philippines about 300 years ago.
The Museum has a special corner of Rizal, including detailing Domingo Lamco’s family tree.
Jinjiang Vice Mayor Ding Feng hosted lunch with Jinjiang Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (FOCAO) Director General Chen Jian Jun and Deputy Director General (DDG) Chen Ling for the Consulate General’s entourage. The lunch provided a good opportunity to discuss other matters of mutual concern with the local government officials, including conveying appreciation to the City of Jinjiang and its people for its continued hosting and maintenance of the Rizal Park. Moreover, it was conveyed to the city officials the keen interest of Calamba and Dapitan cities, for apparent historical and kinship linkages, to explore possible twinning partnership in the immediate future.
China Radio International (CRI)-Filipino Service covered both events and also conducted interviews of Jinjiang City officials. END
