Rizal@150 at SM: Reaching out to the youth

Manila, Philippines - With the Rizal@150 celebrations coming to a close, the SM Supermalls highlighted activities that would reach out to the youth and make the next generation aware of our National Hero’s life and times, as well as his values and greatness.

Storytelling sessions, Mga Kuwento ni Pepe, were held at SM City Calamba and SM City North Edsa. Jacqueline Chipeco Castro, daughter of Calamba Mayor Joaquin “Jun” Chipeco Jr. read Rizal’s The Monkey and the Tortoise to students at the Calamba Crossing Elementary School in Calamba, while performers from the Colegio De San Juan De Letran-Calamba delighted the audience with their animated performance.

Mallgoers also had the rare opportunity to play Sybilla Cumana, an oracle game Rizal devised for his nieces and nephews while in exile in Dapitan, and view the youth-oriented exhibit by the National Historical Commission.

Speakers also gave the school children heartwarming glimpses of Rizal’s human side: Congressman Justin Marc Chipeco recounted how a visit to Germany showed the hardships Rizal underwent to be able to attend school, while the National Historical Commission’s architect Veronica Dado recounted how she loved to entertain her nieces and nephews with stories. Knights of Rizal acting supreme commander Reghis Romero II gave the kids insights of Rizal’s life.

Mga Kuwento ni Pepe also made a stop at SM City North Edsa in an event graced by NHC chairman Maria Serena Diokno, Goethe Institut director Richard Kunzel, Knights of Rizal Exechequer Choy Arnaldo, and Quezon City 3rd district councilor Allan Benedict Reyes. SM executives led by SM vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, SM Supermalls regional operations manager Renee Bacani, AVP for marketing Ruby Reyes, and SM City North Edsa mall manager Hershee Angeles welcomed them.

Barangay Sto. Cristo Elementary School and San Francisco High School students enjoyed listening to the Monkey and the Tortoise as well as Goethe Institut director Kunzel’s presentation of Rizal’s link to Germany in playful and creatively designed furniture by artist Jerry Araos. Rizal descendants also actively participated in the event: Maria Patricia Herbosa Grau led the storytelling sessions; Lisa Tinio Bayot showed how Rizal rocked in the video she prepared with RockEd, while Barbara Gonzalez played the Sibylla Cumana game with them.

Songs from the Philippine Opera Company brought the audience back to Rizal’s life and times with their Maria Clara suite, while the exhibit “Rizal in Europe” traced his travels around the continent that led to his self-discovery, and ultimately, his greatness.

Mallgoers were able to follow Rizal’s footsteps in Europe with replicas of the places he lived in and visited. These included the Blaue Stern Hotel in Czechoslovakia where Rizal met Ferdinand Blumentritt in 1887; St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria where he worshipped; the University of Eye Clinic in Heidelberg where he completed his ophthalmologic studies; the Rizal monument in the Avenida de Filipinas, Madrid, Spain and the view of Rizal’s hotel room in Paris, France.

Rizal@150 is a partnership between SM Supermalls and the National Historical Commission, the Goethe Institut, and the Yuchengco Museum.