When the going gets tough, the tough get going… all bundled up for the -12 C blustery winds & foot+ thick snow drifts, as we honor our National Hero at the 129th anniversary of his Martyrdom, a few brave souls but representing all kababayans in this country, for whom this Rizal monument was dedicated when Markham Filipinos gifted it to the peoples of Canada.
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Opening Remarks by Susan Aguila
We are gathered here today to honour the life, legacy and sacrifice of our national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, whose death on December 30, 1896 awakened a nation and ignited the Filipino spirit that continues to burn within us more than a century later.
Rizal was a man of profound intellect, unmatched courage and unwavering love for his country. He did not command an army. Instead, he used the power of knowledge, the force of truth and the eloquence of his words to fight oppression. Through NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISMO, he revealed the injustices suffered by our people and inspired them to believe that freedom was not only possible but necessary.
But beyond the books and the monuments, Rizal was human - deeply compassionate, principled and selfless. He dreamt of a Philippines were education is accessible, where people think freely and where justice prevails. He believed that the strength of a nation lies not in its leaders, but in its people - educated, empowered and united.
As we commemorate his martyrdom, let us ask ourselves: How de we honour Rizal today? We honour him by embracing the values he stood for - integrity, courage and love for our country. We honour him by choosing truth over convenience, by striving for excellence in our own fields and by refusing to be indifferent in the face of injustice.
We honour him by nurturing our identity as Filipinos and by contributing even in small ways, to progress and nation building. Rizal once wrote, "The youth is the hope of our nation". Today, that hope extends not only to the youth but to every Filipino who believes that our country can still rise, transform and thrive. His death reminds us that freedom was hard earned and that it is our responsibility to protect it, strengthen it and pass it on to future generations.
As we remember Dr. Jose Rizal, let us renew our commitment to the ideals he died for. May his courage inspire us. May his wisdom guide us and may his legacy remind us that nationalism is not merely a feeling - it is action, sacrifice and lifelong duty.
Maraming salamat at mabuhay ang diwa ni Dr. Jose Rizal. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.