Berlin. 30 December 2012 – H.E. Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin in the commemoration of the 116th Death Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal through a simple yet meaningful ceremony at the Embassy’s Bulwagang Bagumbayan.
Philippine Embassy officials hold a flag ceremony, and reflect on the life of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on the occasion of the 116th Anniversary of Dr. Rizal’s martyrdom.
Ambassador Natividad exhorted the officers and staff of the need to commemorate Rizal’s martyrdom “not out of nostalgia, but out of respect for a man who showed us that everyone is capable of redefining themselves if they chose to do so.” Ambassador Natividad noted that the achievements and sacrifices of Dr. Rizal should serve as an inspiration to all. The Ambassador also echoed the remarks of Javier Gomez de la Serna, who had gone to school with Rizal at the Ateneo Municipal, that Dr. Rizal “has shown us that every Filipino can be like Rizal, that he can obtain what he wishes to obtain if he has the determination, ways and sincerity of purpose similar to what Rizal showed in doing important things in his life.” END
