Monument depicting Filipino national hero Jose Rizal to be erected in Colorado Springs
In a significant cultural milestone, the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, in collaboration with various Filipino American organizations, will dedicate a 6-foot bronze monument of the Philippines' national hero on July 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. at George Fellows Park, Colorado Springs.
Dr. José Rizal, a Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath, was born in 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. Known for his intellect and literary prowess, Rizal is significant in Philippine history for his novels Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891), which exposed the abuses of Spanish colonial rule and inspired Filipino nationalism and reform movements.
Rizal advocated for peaceful reform, equal rights, and the dignity of the Filipino people. He led the Propaganda Movement, calling for representation of Filipinos in the Spanish parliament, equality before the law, and the replacement of Spanish friars with Filipino priests. Despite not joining the armed revolt by the Katipunan in 1896, he was arrested, tried for sedition, and executed by firing squad the same year. His martyrdom galvanized the Filipino struggle for independence.
The monument in Colorado Springs is a powerful symbol that resonates deeply with Filipinos and global citizens alike. It stands as a symbol of courage, education, and the fight for freedom, embodying the ideals of Dr. Rizal. The installation of the monument is a meaningful addition to Colorado Springs' cultural and historical landscape.
The event in Colorado Springs is part of the growing Dr. Jose Rizal Monument Movement, a global initiative led by the Foundation to promote the values of Dr. Rizal. The monument was sculpted by Filipino artists Elaine Antonio Bordeaux and Fritz Silorio.
The Bayanihan Gala, a part of the events surrounding the dedication, aims to promote historical education and cultural awareness across the diaspora. The ideals of Dr. Jose Rizal continue to inspire movements for justice, education, and human rights among Filipinos in America and around the world.
This monumental occasion marks a milestone in the broader Dr. Jose Rizal Monument Movement. It serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Dr. Rizal and his unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and the empowerment of the Filipino people.
- The Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, in collaboration with other organizations, is dedicating a bronze monument of Dr. Rizal at George Fellows Park on July 27, 2025, a symbol that embodies the ideals of sustainable living, education-and-self development, and personal growth, as Rizal was a nationalist, writer, and advocate for equal rights and peaceful reform.
- Alongside the monument dedication, the Bayanihan Gala is intended to promote historical education and cultural awareness, aligning with Rizal's vision of equal rights and representation, relevant to home-and-garden, lifestyle, learning, and the broader movements for justice and human rights.
- In celebrating the installation of the monument, global citizens will recognize and honor the legacy of Dr. Rizal, a polymath whose novels inspired Filipino nationalism and reform movements while advocating for sustainable living and the empowerment of the Filipino people, embodying the values of a well-rounded, enlightened, and compassionate lifestyle.
