1. Descendants of Rizal
Isaac Reyes is the great, great grandson of Jose Rizal’s eldest sister Saturnina Realonda Rizal. Isaac has lived in Australia for 27 years. His family lived in Mudgee, New South Wales, a small country town 3.5 northwest of Sydney.
Josephine Quintero is the great granddaughter of Jose Rizal’s youngest sister Soledad Rizal.
Left to right: Isaac Reyes, Enrique and Helen Reyes, Adele Reyes Source: Supplied by Isaac Reyes
She and her family have been living in Melbourne for 38 years.
2. The Order of the Knights of Rizal
The Order of the Knights of Rizal is a civic and patriotic organisation recognised by law as an instrumentality by which the teachings of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal may be propagated among the Filipino people, and others who may believe in his teachings to the end that they may emulate and follow his examples.
It has over 25,000 members in 127 Chapters in the Philippines, and 53 Chapters in the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, and South East Asia. In Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Cesar Bartolome leads the Knights of Rizal, which has chapters in Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Western Sydney, and Auckland.
Knights of Rizal, Sydney Chapter Source: SBS Filipino
3. Rizal Park in Rosemeadow,Campbelltown
The Rizal Park in Campbelltown is located in Rosemeadow, about eight kilometres from Campbelltown’s city centre. The bronze statue was made and donated by a world-renowned Filipino sculptor and artist, Eduardo Castrillo. The sculpture monument depicts Rizal during his stay in Europe. In October 2012, the Rizal statue was unveiled by the Philippine President Noynoy Aquino and NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell.
4. Rizal Park in Blacktown
Rizal statue in Rosemeadow Source: SBS Filipino/RManila
The park is located in Rooty Hill, 42 kilometres west of Sydney central business district. The park was redeveloped by the Blacktown City Council. Some members of the community spearheaded by the Sydney Chapter Rizalian knights have nominated the park as the site for their Clean Up Day Australia activity.
5. Rizal Park in Ballarat
Rizal Park in Blacktown Source: SBS Filipino/LTolentino
The community park is located in the suburb of Invermay in Ballarat. It was inaugurated on 12 December 1999 and is the first park in Australia that was named after the national hero.
6. Ashfield statue
The sculpture is located along Parramatta Road in Ashfield in Sydney’s inner west. The solid bronze statue is set on a concrete pedestal. The plaque on the memorial was unveiled on June 19,1988 as a tribute to the Australian Bicentenary.
Rizal statue in Ashfield Source: SBS Filipino/RManila
Some of Rizal’s written works that are available at the National Library of Australia, which include:
Noli me tangere
- Special offset reproduction of the original manuscript by The Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission.
El filibusterismo
-Special offset reproduction of the original manuscript by the Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission.
The complete poems and plays of José Rizal
-Translated by Nick Joaquín, with foreword and annotations by the translator.
Pakikipagsulatan sa kanyang mga magulang at mga kapatid
- Writings of Jose Rizal. t. 2, bk. 1, Publications of the José Rizal National Centennial Commission.
7. Dr Allan Terrett's collection of Rizal Books
Dr Allan Terrett, Knight Officer of Rizal keeps a collection of Rizal books which includes Noli Me Tangere, Rizzal in our time, Jose Rizal's Immortal Legacy, Rizal and the Development of National Consciousness, Greed:The filibuster, Jose Rizal: Filipino Doctor and Patriot, Indio Bravo, and Rizal's life, works, and writings.
8. Rizal Street in Campbelltown
Dr Allan Terrett's collection of Rizal books Source: Supplied by Dr Allan Terrett
In June 2007, a street in Park Central, Campbelltown was named Rizal Street.
9. Rizal bust in Philippine Consulate General
In Sydney City, there is a hall dedicated to Dr Jose Rizal, called “Bulwagang Rizal” in the Philippine Consulate General. It has some of the collectibles donated by Australian and Filipino-Australian community members and government agencies.
Rizal bust at Philippine Consulate Source: SBS Filipino/AViolata
10. Rizal bust at Plaza Ibero-American near the Sydney Central Station
The Ibero-American Plaza features a series of busts of heroes of Spanish and Portuguese countries, one of which, is our national hero, Dr Jose Rizal. The site was founded February 1989 and was formally opened September 2007.
