29 December 2014 – The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, led by Consul General Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr. commemorated the 118th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal with the theme “Rizal 2014: Dunong at Pusong Pilipino” with a simple ceremony on 29 December 2014 at the Consulate’s rooftop.
The program was also attended by 150 distressed men and women who are under the care of the Consulate’s Migrant Workers and Other Filipino ResourceCenter (MWOFRC) and temporary shelter for overstaying male OFWs. A singing of the Philippine national anthem and the recitation of oath of allegiance (Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas) were delivered by Ms. Maribel Carisusa of POLO-OWWA and Mr. Arnel Navarra of the Assistance to Nationals, respectively. It was followed by the wreath laying ceremony in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal, led by Consul General Ausan and assisted by Consul Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, Vice Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague, Vice Consul Jim G. Minglana and Assistant Labor Attache Rosario Mangahas.
In his speech, Consul General Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr. underscored Dr. Jose Rizal’s great contribution in inculcating in the minds of Filipino youth the importance of education in both personal development and national progress. He also shared with everyone excerpts from the poem written by Dr. Jose Rizal entitled “Education Gives Luster to the Motherland (Por la Education Recibe Lustre la Patria, 1876).
To further add solemnity to the event, it was closed by the singing of the song “Ako’y Isang Pinoy” by Florante. Thereafter, all attendees gathered at the PCG Hall at the 2nd floor of the Consulate for a simple “salo-salo” to mark the last working day of 2014. END.
