In celebration of Europe Day, the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC) together with the members of the European Union delegation facilitated the illumination of the Rizal Monument and the Musical Dancing Fountain in Rizal Park last May 4 at 6pm. As the dancing fountain plays “Ode To Joy” the monument was adorned with beautiful EU flag colors – blue and yellow.
Present during the event were ambassadors of the European Union Member States’ Embassies and officials from the National Parks and Development Committee and the Department of Foreign Affairs:
- H.E. Ambassador Anna Ferry, Embassy of Sweden
- H.E. Ambassador Ioannis Pediotis & Mme. Aliki Pappa, Embassy of Greece
- H. E. Ambassador Smiljana Knez and Mr. Dragan Barbutovski, Embassy of Slovenia
- H. E. Ambassador Yuliaa Fediv, Embassy of Ukraine
- Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Mathias Kruse, Embassy of Germany
- Deputy Head of Mission Veera Kaarela, Embassy of Finland
- Deputy Head of Mission Dalibor Micka, Embassy of Czechia
- Consul Mr. Zsolt Horváth, Embassy of Hungary
- CDA Mr. Adam Dyszlewski, Embassy of Poland
- EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro
- Ms Deena Joy Amatong, Acting Head of European Affairs – DFA
Europe Day, celebrated annually on May 9th, commemorates the Schuman Declaration, which proposed a new form of European cooperation rendering war obsolete. This declaration paved the way for the European Union, a union of 27 nations founded on principles of human rights, freedom, democracy, equality, and the rule of law, and now a significant global political and economic force.
European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro said that Europe Day is an opportunity to highlight the founding of the European Union and its strong partnership and friendship with the Philippines.
“We are honored to light with European colors of blue and yellow, the monument dedicated to the Philippines national hero Jose Rizal this weekend. Sana maraming Pilipino ang humanga sa mga kulay na ito!”
Ambassador Santoro expressed his gratitude to the National Parks and Development Committee for the kind gesture of illuminating two historic landmarks within the Rizal Park in celebration of Europe Day.
The Rizal Park is very well connected to Europe. Inaugurated in June 2011 in time for Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary, the Noli Me Tangere Garden features the Wilhelmsfeld drinking fountain where Rizal used to drink from during his stay in 1886 in Germany. The red sandstone fountain was donated to the Philippine government on 30 December 1964 as a symbol of German-Filipino friendship. The bust of Ferdinand Blumentritt – Rizal’s friend who campaigned for Philippine independence can also be found in the Garden.
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