The Tawid Heritage Center, one of the Consulate General’s partners in its cultural diplomacy thrusts visited Xiamen to implement its undertaking, “Walking the Path of Rizal to Freedom”, which forms part of its Sentro Rizal – Xiamen’s project for 2017 to commemorate the 119th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence and the 156th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal from 19 – 28 June 2017.
In commemoration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s 156th birth anniversary in the hometown of his ancestors in Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores led a delegation of the Consulate General’s officers and Tawid Heritage Center representatives led by its president Dr. Evelyn F. Cabancan as well as Jinjiang Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (FOCAO) officials for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Park on 19 June 2017.
The ceremony was followed by a donation and turn-over of Rizal related publications, album of rare photographs and other memorabilia to the Jinjiang City Museum and Library.
Similar publications and materials were also donated by Tawid Heritage to the Consulate General during its courtesy call to Consul General Flores on 20 Jun 2017 as well as to Xiamen University’s Nanyang (Southeast Asia) Institute on 28 June 2017.
The Tawid’s gesture of goodwill was warmly appreciated by Professor Shi Xueqin, Vice Dean, Xiamen University’s Nanyang (Southeast Asia) Institute together with the faculty, staff and students for its valuable contribution for the promotion of the Philippine culture, arts and music to Nanyang Institute.
The Consulate General’s cultural diplomacy thrusts for 2017 and beyond in partnership with Tawid Heritage seeks to strengthen its linkage with Xiamen University’s Nanyang Institute through various collaborative undertakings including educational cooperation and support to its library collection among others.
Furthermore, the Tawid Heritage delegation supported the Consulate General’s week-long series of activities, among others, the Nightingales public performance at SM-Xiamen, diplomatic reception cum concert at Kempinski Hotel and Philippine Independence Day with FILCOM.
The SR – Xiamen project provides a valuable platform to promote awareness of the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal as well as his contributions in different fields which will inspire Filipinos as well as overseas Chinese in Fujian and the Philippines, 90% of whom trace their ancestral roots in Fujian.
Consul General Flores conveyed appreciation to Tawid Heritage Center and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for their valuable contribution and cooperation to the Consulate General’s cultural diplomacy thrusts and looks forward to similar undertakings in the future END
