Spain names street after Jose Rizal

MANILA – A street in Madrid, Spain has been named after Dr. Jose Rizal.

Calle de Algabeño in Barrio de Hortaleza will soon be officially known as Calle de Jose Rizal.

It joins the Rizal monument as tourist destinations paying homage to the Philippines’ national hero who once lived in the Spanish capital.

“We welcome the renaming of a street in Madrid to Calle de Jose Rizal. It goes to show that Rizal’s heroic deeds for this country are recognized universally,” said Philippine ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier.

This follows a city hall resolution which approved changing the names of certain streets, squares, and crossings, and replacing them with names suggested by the Commission on Historical Memory.

While the actual street signs have yet to be changed, the new names are now being used by the local government and in many business addresses. 

“The renaming of a street in Madrid to Calle de Jose Rizal is not only an honor but also a show of respect and great admiration of the City of Madrid to our national hero,” said Florencio Aliganga, vice commander of the Knights of Rizal – La Solidaridad Chapter in Madrid.

“We Filipinos here in Spain would like to express our gratitude to the Spanish people for this great honor. This strengthens once again the ties that bind Spain and the Philippines.”

source: news.abs-cbn.com

VIDEO: Laguna cops 'bike to remember' Rizal on his birthday

MANILA, Philippines – Biking from the national hero’s execution site in Luneta to his birthplace, policemen from Laguna sought to honor Dr. Jose Rizal as the nation marked his 151st birth anniversary on June 19.

Sticking with the number "151" to match Rizal’s age if he were alive, the organizers kept the total number of participants at 151, the distance covered by the participants at 151 kilometers and started the activity at exactly 1:51 am.

One cop explained why they chose biking to remember Rizal's birthday: "Ito kasi yung nakahiligan namin aside from maganda sa katawan yung pagbisikleta, eh nabibigyan pa namin ng pagpapahalaga yung memory ng ating national hero. That's why ang motto naming mga bikers ngayon: We bike to remember. [This is our interest and aside from its health benefit, it is also our way to show importance and honor our national hero. The bikers' motto is: We bike to remember."

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director of Laguna made sure that even though there were 151 policemen who participated, there were still other policemen at their posts to ensure safety and security in Laguna areas. With Aliana Gimena, InterAksyon.com

source: interaksyon.com

Filipinos brave rain to offer flowers to Rizal at Luneta

Despite the rainy weather, Filipinos stood in line to offer flowers to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park (Luneta) in Manila Sunday.

Many Filipinos waited near the Rizal Monument to offer red, white and pink flowers, according to a report by radio dzBB's Manny Vargas.

They said they did not mind getting wet as they wanted to pay tribute to Rizal on his 150th birth anniversary, the report said.

Earlier on Sunday, many schoolchildren braved the rain to take part in a fun run for education at the Quirino Grandstand area.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Secretary Armin Luistro welcomed "over 100,000" students after the run, although government radio said the students started going home past 8:30 a.m.

"Ang araw na ito ay para sa mga buhay na bayani tulad ng mga guro at estudyante, ipagdiwang natin (This day is for our living heroes like our teachers and pupils. Let us celebrate this day)," Luistro said, according to an entry on the DepEd's Twitter account. — LBG, GMA News

article source: gmanews.tv