Dr. Rizal 100th Anniversary Photo Exhibit

Dr. David Itokazu

!Introduction

More than a quarter of a century ago, in the cold winter night in

December 1982 I was driving along the Broadway Westside area of

Manhattan, NYC. It was snowing moderately, and despite the cold

and snowy weather, I saw a long line of people waiting for a movie

house to open. Although it is not uncommon to see people fall in line

in New York City Broadway theaters and movie houses, I was curious

to find out the title of the new movie. It was Gandhi, the movie, a

biography of Mohandas Gandhi. That very moment I thought of Dr.

Rizal, the Philippine National Hero.

In 1982, Rizal’s 100th year death anniversary was 14 years hence;

and the Philippine Centennial Celebration (Independence) is 16 years

later, in 1996 and 1998, respectively.

!Background

I read Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi’s great philosophy of ahimsa

(non-violence) and his valuable social and political contributions to

India 10 years prior to the movie. I thought the movie was a timely

way to make an excellent public relation for India when the image of

Indian workers in North America (including Canada) was at the

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lowest ebb. At that time, Indians were discriminated for their

“inability” to follow simple working dress code. One such example is

the wearing of a turban. Indians were also criticized for their

mediocrity in their works that was quite untrue. The criticism was the

norm to most new immigrants at that time. However, Gandhi the

Movie, directed by Richard Attenborough not only changed the

negative image of Indians across North America, but it opened the

minds of the people of the world of the luxuriant and prolific ancient

civilization of India. The following year, Gandhi won 9 Academy

Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best

Cinematography, etc.). The Movie awarded “The Motion Picture of a

Lifetime”. On top of this, Gandhi, the man was conferred a

posthumous title of “The 100 Most Important People of the Century”

by TIME Magazine “for his philosophy of nonviolence and his

passion for independence…”

At the turn of the 19th century, there were three recognized

outstanding leaders in Asia. They’re Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, (1866 -1925),

the physician-turned nationalist, and recognized by Chinese as their

country's modern founder of democracy. Mohandas Gandhi

(1869-1948), a lawyer-turned nationalist, and Dr. Jose Rizal

(1861-1896), a physician-turned-novelist and nationalist. All three

were born within the decade of the 1860s. Gandhi lived a full life of

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79 years and Sun Yat-sen, 59 years. Rizal lived the shortest life of 35

years.

!Rizal Photo Exhibit

In conjunction with the Philippine Centennial Celebration in 1998,

and Dr. Rizal Centennial death anniversary in 1996, I presented a

Photo Exhibit, a collection of black and white, mostly century-old

photographs of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. The photo

exhibit was open to the public for free. And the exhibit was held in

three countries namely, Okinawa, Osaka, Japan; New York City,

USA; and Davao City, Philippines. In Okinawa, the photo exhibit

took place in three places: Urasoe Civic Hall; Ginowan City Hall

Auditorium and Philippine Consulate, Ginowan City. In the

Philippines, it was mounted during the Asia-Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC) Meeting, Davao City. In the US, the exhibit was

presented in New York City, at the International Toy Center, 5th

Avenue and the basement of the Epiphany Church, located in

Midtown, East Manhattan.

I guess it’s safe to say that Gandhi the movie greatly inspired me to

introduce Dr. Rizal, Philippine National Hero to Okinawa, Osaka, the

USA, and the world ~ specifically to the leaders of APEC of 21

member nations, in APEC Davao, Philippines.

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* Surprisingly, the historical link has been made between Rizal and

Okinawa. Dr. Rizal is part of the e-book on chapter Icon of Peace.

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The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, Japan

115th anniversary of Philippine independence

18 June 2013

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Formal Program

Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang Welcome Remarks

Osaka Vice Governor Hiroshi Ueda Conveyed Message from Governor Ichiro Matsui

Japanese Ambassador Seiji Kojima Ceremonial Toast Remarks

Dr. David Itokazu Rizal Photo Exhibit and Speech

Filipiniana

Ronilo Flores, PhD scholar Recited excerpts from Mi Ultimo Adios in Spanish

Eric Montre, Professional singer Recited Kundiman in Filipino

Evangeline Hino, Winner of the sang the modern version 2012 Kyoto Utawit Competition of Isang Lahi

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Jose Rizal Exhibit Caps Independence Day Celebrations in Osaka, Japan Tuesday, 18 June 2013 07:08

! !18 June 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka successfully celebrated the 115th

anniversary of Philippine independence by holding an official reception and a Jose Rizal photo exhibit held on June 12.

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! The event began with an outdoor flag-raising ceremony at the Twin 21 MID Plaza, led by the Consulate and the Osaka offices of the Department of Trade in Industry and Department of Tourism, and attended by numerous members of the Filipino communities from Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Gifu, Kyoto, and representatives of the Knights of Rizal, Filipino scholars, the Filipino business sector and Filipino artists in Western Japan. The participants all heartfully sang the Lupang Hinirang and recited in unison the Panunumpa sa Watawat. The reception was held at the exclusive 38th floor restaurant of the Panasonic Tower, the building beside the MID Tower which form part of the MID

Twin 21 complex where the Consulate is located, graced with a unique bird's eye view of Osaka Castle. The reception was attended by representatives of the Japanese local governments, the consular corps, local business and tourism partners, and members of the Filipino communities. Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang gave the welcome remarks which highlighted Philippine independence, good governance of the Aquino administration and the latest trend of Philippine economic growth. She called on Filipinos in Western Japan to fulfill their role in nation-building by becoming good examples themselves of a world-class Filipino. For his part, Osaka Vice Governor Hiroshi Ueda conveyed a message from Governor Ichiro bnMatsui which congratulated the Philippines on the auspicious occasion.

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! Ambassador Seiji Kojima, Representative of the Japanese Foreign Ministry for the Kanas Region, gave the ceremonial toast remarks in which he highlighted the strong relations between the Philippines and Japan, giving special mention to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent tribute to Jose Rizal by referring to him as "the great hero of Philippine modernization." He mentioned that Prime Minister Abe had quoted lines from Rizal's novel El Filibusterismo and from an essay in a recent speech.

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! After the ceremonial toast with Filipino beer and mango juice, Filipino-Okinawan Professor David Itokazu gave a presentation of his photo exhibit: Rizal and the 21st Century, the Asian Century: Crossroads of History and the Dawning of New Beginning.” Located at the lobby of the MID Tower, Dr. Itokazu's photo exhibit was comprised of 75 selected pictures from a larger collection of hundreds that he had passionately and painstakingly put together over a period of 15 years and which he had already mounted on other occasions, most notably on the occasion of the Philippine Centennial in 1998 in the Philippine Center in New York.

! As part of the program, two of Jose Rizal's poems were recited with simultaneous Japanese interpretation to the music of the Bolipata brothers' Pelikula album. A PhD scholar from University of the Philippines Los Baños, Ronilo Flores, recited excerpts from Mi Ultimo Adios in Spanish; while a professional singer from Davao, Eric Montre, recited Kundiman in Filipino.

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! Filipino songs were performed to close the formal program. The winner of the 2012 Kyoto Utawit Competition, Evangeline Hino, sang the modern Isang Lahi; Eric Montre sang the classics Saan Ka Man and Maalaala Mo Kaya; and Ronilo Flores sang the patriotic Philippines Kong Mahal and Bayan Ko. END !!!!"); !

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Dr. Jose Rizal Centennial Photo Exhibit,

The Toy Building, December 1996

http://www.newyorkshortsaleexperts.com

Opening Night December 29, 1996, Lobby of Toy Building, NYC

Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896)

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Ambassador Milagros Perez, Consul General, Philippine Consulate,

New York, assisted by other dignitaries

Organizing Committee

Dr. Connie Quiambao, Chairperson Luz Micabalo and Fr. Erno Diaz

Dr. David Itokazu and Yuko Higa

Great great grand nephew and nieces of Dr. Jose Rizal Rosario,

Raquel and Rafael with Dr. Itokazu

At the lobby (next to the elevator) of this beautiful Building is a

permanent marker of Dr. Jose Rizal. In 1888, Rizal visited NYC and

stayed in Fifth Avenue Hotel located in this very spot. It was replaced

by the existing structure, the Toy International Center building.

Viewing of Rizal Photo Exhibit

It took 30-45 minutes to finish the entire exhibit.

Speeches, Traditional Songs and Dances

Ambassador Milagros Perez

Christine Bader, Deputy Asst. NYC Mayor’s Office

Dr. Itokazu, Exhibit Director