Rizal Week celebration set from June 14 to 19

The life of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal is again commemorated, as the Rizal week is celebrated by the Order of the Knights of Rizal beginning yesterday, June 14 until June 19.

According to the organization's trustee Peter Ristig, June 14 is a very special day for the Knights as it marks the organization's establishment in 1951. Ristig said that the Order of the Knights of Rizal is the only organization besides the Boy Scouts of the Philippines that is registered in the Philippine Constitution through Republic Act 464.

The Knights revealed that this year would be the 4th celebration of the Rizal week since the city council's approval of the special week's celebration in 2002.

This year's activities include an on-the-spot essay-writing contest to be participated in by high school and college students on Saturday at the Southwestern University Audio Visual Room.

All three winners for each category will receive a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize. The first-prize winner for the college category would receive P5,000 and the second and third prize winners would receive P3,000 and P2,000 respectively. The high school category winners will receive P3,000 for the 1st prize; P2,000 for the 2nd prize; and P1,000 for the 3rd prize. All participating schools will also receive a plaque of appreciation.

The announcement of the contest's winners would be done during the commemoration of the national hero's birthday on June 19 at the Cebu Normal University. The affair would be attended by the order's newly elected Supreme Commander, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.

Traditionally, Rizal's birthday is being commemorated at the Cebu City Hall but the commemoration would be brought to the CNU this year due to the city hall's ongoing renovation.

A project that would be spearheaded by the former Chief Justice himself would be the fund raising activity to be held on the same day. The funds that would be collected are going to be used for the construction of the order's six-story building at the North Reclamation Area. Another purpose for the fund is to provide scholarships for elementary, high school, and college students. This is in line with their goal to "Rizalize" the whole country.

An initiation of the soon-to-become members of the organization and a special meeting with the Supreme Commander will also be held on June 19 at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines building.

Supreme deputy chancellor Pedro Rosito stated that this year's theme of the Rizal week is "Rizalism: The Key to Global Peace, Solidarity, and Prosperity." Rosito said that Peace is the order's answer to violence, conflict, turmoil, and terrorism. Solidarity is also their answer to the country's and the world's division, while Prosperity is their response to poverty and graft and corruption.

"We hope everybody would be inspired by the principles and virtues of Rizal," Rosito said.

The knights revealed it held its elections last April 22 where three Cebuanos were elected to the highest ranks. These included Davide, Jr.; Rosito, and the new Cebu City chapter commander Romualdo Generalao. The three would serve a two-year term that would end in 2008.

The order is encouraging people, especially the young ones and those from the media to join the organization. - Noreen B. Napoles