Palace urges public to lay flowers at Rizal Monument

Malacañang has called on the public to go to Luneta on Sunday and put flowers at the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal to commemorate the national hero's 150th birth anniversary. At a press briefing Friday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that for the first time, the public will be allowed to get near the monument. "Dati po kasi ang nakakapaglagay lang ng bulaklak doon sa Luneta (ay foreign dignitaries at state officials), hindi po yata pinapayagan ng mga nagbabantay na makalapit ang publiko. Ngayon po kahit na sino ay pwede na pong pumunta roon," Valte said. "We encourage you to go if you want to lay a wreath or to put flowers, you are free to do so hindi naman po tayo pipigilan ng mga nagbabantay doon," she added. The ‘opening’ of the monument to the public is part of the "Bulaklak ng Bayan para sa Pambansang Bayani." An article posted on the website of the National Parks Development Committee states that 150,000 students, out-of-school-youth, government employees and other representatives from various organizations will offer flowers at Rizal Monument. "They’ve opened it to everybody and we are encouraging na kung sino yung gustong magbigay kahit sampaguita o isang pirasong rose you can, just to commemorate yung birth anniversary," Valte reiterated. On June 19, there will be simultaneous activities that to be at the Rizal Shrine in Calamba Laguna; Rizal Park and Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City, Zamboanga. President Benigno Simeon Aquino will be leading the activities in Calamba, Laguna. In April, Malacañang, through Proclamation No. 154, declared June 20 as a special non-working holiday to commemorate Rizal's 150th birth anniversary. — RSJ, GMA News