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Press Release
Toronto PCG Attends Events Commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the Greater Toronto Area
2022-01-11
PR-2021-78
Toronto, 30 December 2021 – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined today the members of the Filipino Canadian community and the Knights of Rizal (KOR) – Canada Region in events commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with the theme: “Rizal: Para sa Agham, Katotohanan, at Buhay” (Rizal for Science, Truth, and Life). The commemorative events were held in the cities of Toronto and Markham.
Consul General Castro led the wreath-laying ceremony held at Luneta Gardens in front of Rizal Avenue in the City of Markham where the life-size monument of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is located. The event was organized by the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) with its President, Mrs. Yolanda Ladines. As in previous year, this year’s commemoration was kept to the minimum due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Among those present were Sir Mario Alpuerto, Acting Regional Commander of the Knights of Rizal – Canada Region, Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR) Sir Ignacio Mogado (Markham artist who created the bronze statue of Dr. Rizal) and the widow of the late former Markham City Councillor Alex Chiu, who spearheaded the project of putting-up the monument in the city.
The second Rizal Day wreath-laying event was held in the afternoon at the Dr. Jose P. Rizal bust at Earl Bales Park in North York, Toronto, which was organized by the Knights of Rizal Toronto – Canada Region. Consul General Castro and KOR Acting Regional Commander Alpuerto led the wreath-laying of the wreaths before the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, with the representatives from the Ladies of the Knights of Rizal. In his brief remarks, Consul General Castro echoed H.E. President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s message of honoring Dr. Jose P. Rizal by exemplifying patriotism and idealism in all endeavors and by fostering a greater sense of nationalism among the Filipino youth. END-