Dr. Rizal 100th Anniversary Photo Exhibit
Dr. David Itokazu
!Introduction
More than a quarter of a century ago, in the cold winter night in
December 1982 I was driving along the Broadway Westside area of
Manhattan, NYC. It was snowing moderately, and despite the cold
and snowy weather, I saw a long line of people waiting for a movie
house to open. Although it is not uncommon to see people fall in line
in New York City Broadway theaters and movie houses, I was curious
to find out the title of the new movie. It was Gandhi, the movie, a
biography of Mohandas Gandhi. That very moment I thought of Dr.
Rizal, the Philippine National Hero.
In 1982, Rizal’s 100th year death anniversary was 14 years hence;
and the Philippine Centennial Celebration (Independence) is 16 years
later, in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
!Background
I read Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi’s great philosophy of ahimsa
(non-violence) and his valuable social and political contributions to
India 10 years prior to the movie. I thought the movie was a timely
way to make an excellent public relation for India when the image of
Indian workers in North America (including Canada) was at the
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lowest ebb. At that time, Indians were discriminated for their
“inability” to follow simple working dress code. One such example is
the wearing of a turban. Indians were also criticized for their
mediocrity in their works that was quite untrue. The criticism was the
norm to most new immigrants at that time. However, Gandhi the
Movie, directed by Richard Attenborough not only changed the
negative image of Indians across North America, but it opened the
minds of the people of the world of the luxuriant and prolific ancient
civilization of India. The following year, Gandhi won 9 Academy
Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best
Cinematography, etc.). The Movie awarded “The Motion Picture of a
Lifetime”. On top of this, Gandhi, the man was conferred a
posthumous title of “The 100 Most Important People of the Century”
by TIME Magazine “for his philosophy of nonviolence and his
passion for independence…”
At the turn of the 19th century, there were three recognized
outstanding leaders in Asia. They’re Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, (1866 -1925),
the physician-turned nationalist, and recognized by Chinese as their
country's modern founder of democracy. Mohandas Gandhi
(1869-1948), a lawyer-turned nationalist, and Dr. Jose Rizal
(1861-1896), a physician-turned-novelist and nationalist. All three
were born within the decade of the 1860s. Gandhi lived a full life of
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79 years and Sun Yat-sen, 59 years. Rizal lived the shortest life of 35
years.
!Rizal Photo Exhibit
In conjunction with the Philippine Centennial Celebration in 1998,
and Dr. Rizal Centennial death anniversary in 1996, I presented a
Photo Exhibit, a collection of black and white, mostly century-old
photographs of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. The photo
exhibit was open to the public for free. And the exhibit was held in
three countries namely, Okinawa, Osaka, Japan; New York City,
USA; and Davao City, Philippines. In Okinawa, the photo exhibit
took place in three places: Urasoe Civic Hall; Ginowan City Hall
Auditorium and Philippine Consulate, Ginowan City. In the
Philippines, it was mounted during the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Meeting, Davao City. In the US, the exhibit was
presented in New York City, at the International Toy Center, 5th
Avenue and the basement of the Epiphany Church, located in
Midtown, East Manhattan.
I guess it’s safe to say that Gandhi the movie greatly inspired me to
introduce Dr. Rizal, Philippine National Hero to Okinawa, Osaka, the
USA, and the world ~ specifically to the leaders of APEC of 21
member nations, in APEC Davao, Philippines.
!!
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* Surprisingly, the historical link has been made between Rizal and
Okinawa. Dr. Rizal is part of the e-book on chapter Icon of Peace.
!
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The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, Japan
115th anniversary of Philippine independence
18 June 2013
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Formal Program
Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang Welcome Remarks
Osaka Vice Governor Hiroshi Ueda Conveyed Message from Governor Ichiro Matsui
Japanese Ambassador Seiji Kojima Ceremonial Toast Remarks
Dr. David Itokazu Rizal Photo Exhibit and Speech
Filipiniana
Ronilo Flores, PhD scholar Recited excerpts from Mi Ultimo Adios in Spanish
Eric Montre, Professional singer Recited Kundiman in Filipino
Evangeline Hino, Winner of the sang the modern version 2012 Kyoto Utawit Competition of Isang Lahi
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Jose Rizal Exhibit Caps Independence Day Celebrations in Osaka, Japan Tuesday, 18 June 2013 07:08
! !18 June 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka successfully celebrated the 115th
anniversary of Philippine independence by holding an official reception and a Jose Rizal photo exhibit held on June 12.
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! The event began with an outdoor flag-raising ceremony at the Twin 21 MID Plaza, led by the Consulate and the Osaka offices of the Department of Trade in Industry and Department of Tourism, and attended by numerous members of the Filipino communities from Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Gifu, Kyoto, and representatives of the Knights of Rizal, Filipino scholars, the Filipino business sector and Filipino artists in Western Japan. The participants all heartfully sang the Lupang Hinirang and recited in unison the Panunumpa sa Watawat. The reception was held at the exclusive 38th floor restaurant of the Panasonic Tower, the building beside the MID Tower which form part of the MID
Twin 21 complex where the Consulate is located, graced with a unique bird's eye view of Osaka Castle. The reception was attended by representatives of the Japanese local governments, the consular corps, local business and tourism partners, and members of the Filipino communities. Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang gave the welcome remarks which highlighted Philippine independence, good governance of the Aquino administration and the latest trend of Philippine economic growth. She called on Filipinos in Western Japan to fulfill their role in nation-building by becoming good examples themselves of a world-class Filipino. For his part, Osaka Vice Governor Hiroshi Ueda conveyed a message from Governor Ichiro bnMatsui which congratulated the Philippines on the auspicious occasion.
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! Ambassador Seiji Kojima, Representative of the Japanese Foreign Ministry for the Kanas Region, gave the ceremonial toast remarks in which he highlighted the strong relations between the Philippines and Japan, giving special mention to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent tribute to Jose Rizal by referring to him as "the great hero of Philippine modernization." He mentioned that Prime Minister Abe had quoted lines from Rizal's novel El Filibusterismo and from an essay in a recent speech.
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! After the ceremonial toast with Filipino beer and mango juice, Filipino-Okinawan Professor David Itokazu gave a presentation of his photo exhibit: Rizal and the 21st Century, the Asian Century: Crossroads of History and the Dawning of New Beginning.” Located at the lobby of the MID Tower, Dr. Itokazu's photo exhibit was comprised of 75 selected pictures from a larger collection of hundreds that he had passionately and painstakingly put together over a period of 15 years and which he had already mounted on other occasions, most notably on the occasion of the Philippine Centennial in 1998 in the Philippine Center in New York.
! As part of the program, two of Jose Rizal's poems were recited with simultaneous Japanese interpretation to the music of the Bolipata brothers' Pelikula album. A PhD scholar from University of the Philippines Los Baños, Ronilo Flores, recited excerpts from Mi Ultimo Adios in Spanish; while a professional singer from Davao, Eric Montre, recited Kundiman in Filipino.
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! Filipino songs were performed to close the formal program. The winner of the 2012 Kyoto Utawit Competition, Evangeline Hino, sang the modern Isang Lahi; Eric Montre sang the classics Saan Ka Man and Maalaala Mo Kaya; and Ronilo Flores sang the patriotic Philippines Kong Mahal and Bayan Ko. END !!!!"); !
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Dr. Jose Rizal Centennial Photo Exhibit,
The Toy Building, December 1996
http://www.newyorkshortsaleexperts.com
Opening Night December 29, 1996, Lobby of Toy Building, NYC
Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896)
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Ambassador Milagros Perez, Consul General, Philippine Consulate,
New York, assisted by other dignitaries
Organizing Committee
Dr. Connie Quiambao, Chairperson Luz Micabalo and Fr. Erno Diaz
Dr. David Itokazu and Yuko Higa
Great great grand nephew and nieces of Dr. Jose Rizal Rosario,
Raquel and Rafael with Dr. Itokazu
At the lobby (next to the elevator) of this beautiful Building is a
permanent marker of Dr. Jose Rizal. In 1888, Rizal visited NYC and
stayed in Fifth Avenue Hotel located in this very spot. It was replaced
by the existing structure, the Toy International Center building.
Viewing of Rizal Photo Exhibit
It took 30-45 minutes to finish the entire exhibit.
Speeches, Traditional Songs and Dances
Ambassador Milagros Perez
Christine Bader, Deputy Asst. NYC Mayor’s Office
Dr. Itokazu, Exhibit Director
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