By: Penn T. Larena
The local government of Dumaguete City and The Order of the Knights of Rizal Negros Oriental Area joined the whole nation in commemorating the 125th year anniversary of the death of the country‘s national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal on Thursday, December 30, 2021. With Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo who led the short program and flower offering at the Rizal monument in Quezon Park. The commemoration was themed: “Rizal: For Science, Truth and Life”.
In Negros Oriental the National Rizal Month Celebration started with the 1st Rizal Symposium in Bayawan City last December 3, 2021. With distinguished speakers from the Knights of Rizal (KOR) Bayawan City Chapter; Sir. Kenneth S. Artes, Sir Edilberito B. Euraoba and Sir Oliver S. Ogoc.
This event was attended with 400 virtual audience, 50 live audiences, 3 great history discussions, Lifetime Learning, and Reawakening of the Value of Patriotism, Education and Social Discipline. Thank you to the City Government of Bayawan, Negros Oriental State University, Department of Education Bayawan Schools Division, DepEd Alternative Learning System, and the Order of the Knights of Rizal. Negros Oriental Second Rizal Essay Writing Contest 2021 chair by Sir Josefino "Penn" T. Larena, KCR. The event was participated by students from St. Paul University Dumaguete (SPUD), Foundation University (FU) and Negros Oriental State University (NORSU). Xenia Kaspar from Saint Paul University Dumaguete is the grand prize, Reychemver Credo second prize from Negros Oriental State University - Main Campus and Marc Cababan of Foundation University got the Third Place. The contest was sponsored by Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo and family.
Simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying rites were conducted in the four chapters from Tanjay City in the beautiful Rizal Park, Bayawan City at Rizal Park and Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental in the historic Manuel Luis Quezon Park.
After the Rizal Day Program, a fraternal breakfast followed. The Knights of Rizal elevation and exaltation of worthy knights awarding ceremony. Sir Dax Malony P. Montealegre, Sir Nilky D. Vilar, Sir Gunner A. Zerna and Sir Roy Graciano S. Lozano are all from Tanjay City Chapter. For the Exaltation Sir Alden Rabina, Sir Kristian Rei Rivera, and Sir Novee Maestrecampo from Tanjay City. Sir Gregorio E. Baccay from the Dumaguete Chapter and Sir Ricarido Nanggan from Negros Oriental Chapter. The ceremony was presided by Ambassador Sir MacArthur F. Corsino KGOR, Sir Henry A. Sojor KGOR, and Sir Rafael Crescencio Tan KCR.
Chapter Commander Gerard Jude C. Bumanglag said "First Anniversary of the Knights of Rizal Tanjay City gives closure to a year of selfless projects that reflect our love for the Tanjayanons, but we're still gearing towards a better performance next year. We are currently working on a major project for January to kickstart 2022, which is our Road Sign project which Tanjay doesn't have at the moment due to the road widening project. Baby steps now, but we will go places with our many advocacies of goodwill to inspire others to do the same."
The last activity of the month is Rizal Quiz Bee was held on the morning of Dec. 30, 2021, at Puregold Groundfloor in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. The chapter would like to thank our institutional partners and our benevolent sponsors for making this possible. Funds collected shall also be shared with targeted calamity victims of Typhoon Odette.
The Rizal Day and National Rizal Month celebration was spearheaded by Sir Charles Ezza Anthony Tuozo, Sir Penn T. Larena, Sir Rafael Crescencio Tan, Sir Gerard Jude Bumanglag, Sir Cesar Estrope, Sir Kenneth T. Coo, Sir Kenneth Artes, Sir Rusmar Ian D. Tijing, and Sir Alden Rabina.