2 January 2011, Tel Aviv – Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) ad interim Mrs. Greg Marie Concha-Mariño led the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino Community in commemorating the 114th Anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Office also joined the activity.

The program was started by an invocation led by Mrs. Fatima Diema Tabio, Cultural Attaché. It was followed by a flag raising ceremony and the singing of the National Anthem, a short message by the Chargé d’Affaires and the reading of one of the famous poems composed by Dr. Jose P. Rizal entitled “Sa Aking Kabata.”

In her message, CDA Mariño said that, while the entire nation observes Rizal’s martyrdom which took place more than a hundred years ago, we also gather to keep in mind the life, works and self-sacrifice of a man who made an enormous mark and significant contribution to our history. She noted the beauty and brilliance of his mind, particularly his selfless act of using his talents and knowledge in the field of literature, science, arts and philosophy for the benefit of the Filipino nation and in achieving freedom and statehood.

With the advent of the new year, she encouraged each and everyone to remember not only Rizal, but also all our heroes, who fought for freedom, noting that their martyrdom serves as an inspiration for all Filipinos worldwide. She further underscored the need to work hand-in-hand with the Philippine government to promote the common good and achieve our goals and aspirations.

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on 19 June 1861 and died before a firing squad at the Bagumbayan (now Luneta Park) on 30 December 1896. He was a Filipino genius, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. His two novels: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo won notoriety among Spanish friars and government. As a consequence, this brought him to a military trial and subsequent execution in 1896. His death and martyrdom sparked the Philippine revolution which ultimately led to the Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite on 12 June 1898.