Honoring the First Filipino: PH Consulate in SF Commemorates Rizal’s 129th Martyrdom Anniversary, Hosts Launching of Daly City Rizal Monument Project
Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, officers and members of the Knights of Rizal-Sacramento Chapter, and the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, and Daly City officials and community partners pose for a photo in front of the Rizal bust following the wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 129th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Jose Rizal, reflecting the shared commitment of Filipino and local communities to uphold Rizal’s teachings and legacy. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, 29 December 2025 — The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco commemorated the 129th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. José Rizal with a wreath-laying ceremony and hosting of the formal launch of the Rizal Monument Installation Project in Daly City during a program held at Kalayaan Hall and Sentro Rizal, Philippine Center.
Led by Acting Head of Post Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, the commemoration brought together officers and members of the Knights of Rizal – Sacramento Chapter, Daly City officials, leaders of the Dr. José Rizal Legacy International Foundation, and members of the Filipino American community.
In her remarks, Consul Pangilinan-Daquipil underscored Rizal’s enduring relevance, describing him as the First Filipino—one who imagined the Filipino as a moral and civic identity shaped by reason, education, and dignity. She emphasized that Rizal’s ideas continue to guide Filipinos at home and abroad, particularly in diaspora communities such as Daly City, often regarded as the gateway of Filipinos in America.
The program featured a brief lecture on Rizal by historian MC Canlas, messages from Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo and Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation President Mrs. Polly Cortez, and the unveiling of the official rendering of the Daly City Rizal Monument, led by sculptor Elaine Antonio Bordeaux.
A symbolic turnover of Rizal books from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to the Dr. José Rizal Legacy International Foundation highlighted the shared commitment to preserving Rizal’s intellectual legacy.
Through this commemoration and the launch of the Rizal Monument Project in Daly City, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Philippine history, cultural and national values among overseas Filipinos. END
Wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 129th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Jose Rizal held at Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center (San Francisco PCG photo)
Knights of Rizal Sacramento Landmark Chapter Commander Sir Cesar C. Sotto delivers his remarks following the wreath laying ceremony. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Top: Rizal historian and cultural scholar MC Canlas delivers a historical presentation on “Rizal’s Legacy and the Filipino American Story in Daly City,” highlighting the continuing relevance of Dr. José Rizal’s ideas in shaping Filipino American identity and community life.
Below: Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo and Ms. Polly Cortez deliver their respective remarks on the Daly City Rizal monument initiative and its relevance to the Filipino diaspora (San Francisco PCG photos)
A symbolic turnover of Rizal books from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to the Dr. José Rizal Legacy International Foundation. (San Francisco PCG photo)
(From left to right) Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo and her daughter, Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation President Mrs. Polly Cortez, sculptor Atty. Ellaine Bordeaux, and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil unveil the official rendering of the monument honoring José Rizal marking a milestone ahead of its planned construction beside the Gellert Park library and formal unveiling in the latter part of 2026. (San Francisco PCG photo)