RIZAL BUST UNVEILED IN PHNOM PENH
A half-size bust of Dr. Jose Rizal was formally unveiled at the Philippine Embassy grounds in Phnom Penh on 28 December 2018, marking the commemoration of the 122nd anniversary of his martyrdom.
In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia, Christopher B. Montero, noted the reverence accorded by Filipinos to Dr. Rizal, in the same vein that Cambodians adore the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.
"Dr. Rizal's bust serves to memorialize the ideals and aspirations that he sought to achieve for his people - not only of his generation but for all future generations of Filipinos, and for which we all must continue to realize and fulfill," Ambassador Montero said.
Ambassador Montero was joined by H.E. Som Sokum, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, H.E. Tout Panha, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and former Cambodian Ambassador to the Philippines, and H.E. Rong Chhorng, Secretary of State at the Office of the Council of Ministers, in unveiling the bust.
Also in attendance were members of the Filipino community, the Philippine Business Network, and the Cambodia Philippines Alumni Network.
After the unveiling, a screening was held for “Jose Rizal: Sa Landas ng Paglaya” (Jose Rizal: On the Path to Freedom), a documentary produced by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Made of cold cast bronze, the half-bust was provided by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines as part of its support for Sentro Rizal around the world. The Sentro Rizal of Phnom Penh was established in June 2015 and serves as a platform where Filipinos in Cambodia can re-connect with their Philippine cultural and artistic heritage. END
