Press Release

Philippine Consulate in Chicago Honors the Life and Legacy of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

29 December 2023 – In commemoration of the 127th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine Consulate General, led by Consul General J. Susana V. Paez, held a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Margate Park, Chicago on 29 December 2023.

The Rizal Monument in Margate Park is one of only two life-sized monuments of Rizal in the Mainland US and one of six outside the Philippines. It commemorates Rizal’s stop in Chicago, Illinois on 11 May 1888 en route to New York from San Francisco.

The Consulate was joined by Mr. Mariano Santos, Area Commander of the Knights of Rizal; Mr. Edward Brotonel of the Filipino American National Historical Society; Ms. Angeles Carandang of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations; Dr. Ramon Lopez, a descendant (great grandnephew) of General Paciano Mercado Rizal, brother of Rizal; and other members of the Knights of Rizal.

Consul General J. Susana V. Paez delivers her Rizal Day message

In commemorating the death of Rizal, Consul General Paez, in her message, honored his life and urged us to “take inspiration in the life he had lived – a life, albeit short, it was lived with purpose, dignity, and a profound sense of nationalism… Beyond his death, his life, and how he lived it, is his enduring gift for the Filipino people of today. His words and ideals remain just as relevant and important today as they were 127 years ago.”

Mr. Santos, representing the members of the Knights of Rizal, also delivered a short message that recollected the ideals and values expressed by the national hero during his lifetime.

Dr. Lopez, speaking on behalf of the Lopez family and other descendants of Rizal, conveyed his gratitude to the Consulate for organizing the activity.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, Consulate personnel screened “Jose Rizal: Sa Landas Ng Paglaya,” a short film commissioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The 35-minute documentary was one of the six documentaries released by the NHCP in 2020. /END

Consul General J. Susana V. Paez (4th from right), together with Mr. Mariano Santos, Area Commander of the Knights of Rizal (4th from left) and Dr. Ramon Lopez (6th from left), Consulate personnel and other members of the Filipino community in Chicago, pose in front of the Rizal Monument in Margate Park after the wreath-laying ceremony on 29 December 2023.

Consulate personnel screened the NHCP documentary “Jose Rizal: Sa Landas Ng Paglaya,” Consulate’s Property Officer and Incoming Area Commander of the Knights of Rizal, Mr. Joseph Alcantara, also shared his insights on the life and legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal.