Chicago Knights of Rizal to honor his martyrdom Dec. 30

Jose Rizal monument in Chicago’s Margate Park. INQUIRER FILE

CHICAGO — A wreath-laying at Dr. Jose Rizal’s statue at Margate Park in this city’s north side will commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Philippine national hero’s martyrdom.

Philippine Consular officers and the Knights of Rizal will lead the commemoration at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 30.
The traditional dinner reception and cultural program will be held at 6 p.m. at the public reception room at Seafood City on Elston Ave. corner Cicero Ave., Chicago.

The “Maynilad” Chapter of the Knights of Rizal Central USA will host the event whose highlight will be the granting of honorary knighthood to Carlos Go, president of Seafood City.

Go and his company recently donated a bust of the national hero that would have replaced the bust that was stolen but has since been recovered.

Consul General Generoso Calonge, KGOR, Chapter commander of the Maynilad Chapter will lead the honoring.

An initiation ceremony for all new members of the area chapters including Chicago, Magiting , Malaya and Maynilad will be conducted with Sir Eliodore Faypon, KGCR, and Sir Felix Gonzales, KGOR, leading the ritual.

The Knights of Rizal accepts members who are dedicated to the propagation of the ideals and works of Dr. Rizal who had inspired the fight for freedom from the Spanish colonization in the late 1800s.

Two other chapters of the KOR Central USA, namely the Lincolnland and the St. Louis Chapters will hold separate commemorations. Ladies of Rizal lead by Lady Carmen Estacio are also participating.

For more info, call Deputy Consul Romulo Israel at 708-830-8505 or email him at [email protected] or email Alvar Rosales at [email protected], Sir Raul Fermin, at 847-204-4139, Randy Famacion at 847-683-3601.