Rizal on the road
MANILA, Philippines - This year’s Europe Month celebrations in May have a focus particularly close to the Filipino heart — Jose Rizal and his connections with Europe. The topic is especially relevant as this is the European Year for Creativity and Innovation. And why not? Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine’s National Hero has strong links with the EU and is also regarded as one of the world’s greatest humanists and artists, a classic icon for creativity and innovation.
On May 3, 1882, he traveled to Spain for his Licentiaturat in Medicine from Universidad Central de Madrid. He also studied at the University of Paris and at the University of Heidelberg. In Berlin, he was inducted as a member of the Berlin Ethnological Society and the Berlin Anthropological Society.
In 1890, Rizal went to Brussels from Paris to prepare for the publication of his annotations of Antonio de Morga’s “Sucesos de la Islas Filipinas.”
Overall, Rizal is documented to have traveled extensively in other European countries such as Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Because of Jose Rizal’s strong affiliations with Europe, the Europe Month celebrations will feature two Rizal-related and youth-oriented highlights, the EU Whiz and the essay contest, both with “Jose Rizal and Europa” as their theme
Prizes of these two major contests (EU Whiz and Essay Contest) for the grand winners are trips to selected European Union countries courtesy of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France and the Knights of Rizal. The European Community led by the EU Presidency, the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines are organising the quizzes in coordination with the SM Mall of Asia. The awarding ceremony and the grand finals will be held on June 18 in SM Mall of Asia.
A European children’s festival dubbed “Lakbayin Natin ang EU” (Journey to EU) will enable Filipino Children to experience a weeklong program of children’s films, literature, storytelling, arts and crafts and lots of merrymaking and fun from May 6 t0 9 at Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
On May 7, the awarding ceremony for Europe Ko ’To’s assemblage contest will be held at Ayala Museum in Makati City. The Ayala Museum is a partner of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, the Philippine High School for the Arts and the Los Banos National High School with the EU cultural group in Europe Ko ’To’s awarding ceremony and in the exhibition of the award-winning works of students from Los Banos, Laguna. The theme of this contest is the EU’s motto “Unity in Diversity.” The exhibition runs until May 14.
Far Eastern University in Manila joins Europe Month 2009’s celebrations for the first time by spearheading a choral contest in collaboration with the EU cultural group. The choral performances and competition will be held on May 14 in FEU, Manila.
A display of UNESCO Czech Monuments in the Czech Republic opens on May 14 with a seminar on heritage conservation by Architect Augusto Villalon.
The Europe Month festivities are presented by the European Union’s representatives in Manila, including the Embassies of the EU Member States (the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom) the European cultural institutes (Alliance Francaise, British Council, Goethe Institut, and Instituto Cervantes) and the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines. Partners for joint EU activities include: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, Knights of Rizal, SM Mall of Asia, Ayala Museum and Museo Pambata.
