Jose Rizal bust unveiled in Mexico

A bust of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was unveiled in Mexico on October 8, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Philippine ambassador George Reyes unveiled the Rizal bust at the portion of the Plaza Mexico-Filipinas dedicated to historical figures important to the Philippines and Mexico. Those who assisted Reyes during the unveiling rites were Acapulco Tourism Secretary Erika Luhrs Cortes and Guerrero State Cultural Institute Director General Alejandra Frausto. According to the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, Reyes thanked Mexican officials for acknowledging Rizal's role in the Philippines' struggle for freedom and independence. The year 2011 marks the 150th year of Rizal's birth. Rizal was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba Laguna. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896 after he was found guilty of rebellion, sedition, and forming an illegal association. The unveiling of the bust of Rizal was part of activities celebrating Galleon Day, the DFA said. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared that October 8 be celebrated worldwide as "Galleon Day" as a tribute to the men who kept the Manila-Acapulco shipping route open for two-and-a-half centuries. The move to celebrate "Galleon Day" was initiated by by Philippine Senator Edgardo Angara in 2009. Reyes cited the significance of the Manila Galleon during the first 250 years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. “The Manila Galleon or Nao of Acapulco served as the vehicle for a lucrative trade between Asia and Latin America in silk, porcelain, silver and other products, although what was more important was the galleon´s role as a catalyst for close political and cultural ties between the Philippines and Mexico," Reyes said. He described Acapulco as the “Philippine window to the world beyond Asia" and its being the “showcase of the products of the archipelago and Asia in Mexico and the American continent from 1565 to 1820." “The historical and cultural bonds forged during the galleon trade should be revived and translated into closer economic and political links today," Reyes said. - VVP, GMA News