Consul General Neil Ferrer, KCR and Knights of Rizal Supreme Commander Raymundo Del Rosario, KGCR lead a wreath-laying ceremony marking the 127th anniversary of the martyrdom of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco.
San Francisco PCG photos

SAN FRANCISCO – Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer and Cavite 7th District Board Member and new Knights of Rizal (KOR) Supreme Commander Raymundo Del Rosario led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall, in line with the commemoration of the 127th anniversary of Rizal’s martyrdom last December 30, 2023. The solemn ceremony was attended by Philippine Consulate General officials and Knights of Rizal officers.

The 2023 Rizal Day commemoration, which carries the theme “Rizal: Pundasyon ng Kahapon, Isinasabuhay Ngayon,” marks the anniversary of Rizal’s martyrdom at Manila’s Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park or Luneta) by firing squad.

Consul General Neil Ferrer takes his oath as Knight Commander of Rizal with a third-degree rank before Knights of Rizal Supreme Commander Raymundo Del Rosario, KGCR in a special knighthood ceremony, held at the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center in San Francisco.

Earlier, Consul General Ferrer welcomed Supreme Commander Del Rosario during his call at Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center in San Francisco. The call marked the Supreme Commander’s first international stop as the newly elected national head of the Knights of Rizal.

During the call, Consul General Ferrer and Supreme Commander Del Rosario discussed ways to propagate the works and teachings of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, especially among young Filipinos and Filipino Americans, in areas under the consular jurisdiction of the consulate.

Consul General Ferrer noted that San Francisco was Rizal’s first stop in his 1888 visit to continental United States, his first and only trip to America. After staying for three days at the opulent Palace Hotel along San Francisco’s Market Street, Rizal took a ferry to Oakland, then a train to Benicia, which was subsequently ferried to Sacramento. A plaque on Rizal’s brief stay in San Francisco was installed on the exterior wall of the Palace Hotel in 1996.

Knights of Rizal Supreme Commander Raymundo Del Rosario, KGCR (5th from left) and Consul General Neil Ferrer, KCR (6th from left) are joined by (from left) Vice Consul Adrian Baccay; Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona; Deputy Consul General Raquel Solano; Los Angeles Landmark Chapter OIC-Area Commander John Louie Estapia, KCR; Sacramento Landmark Chapter Deputy Chapter Commander Brian Pastor; Filipino community leader Roberto De Lara; Consul Jed Llona; and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil.

In a special knighthood ceremony held during the visit to Sentro Rizal, Supreme Commander Del Rosario elevated Consul General Ferrer to the third-degree rank of Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR). The Consul General thanked the Supreme Commander for the rank elevation in the Order of Knights of Rizal.

“While this is a pleasant surprise for me, it is with honor and humility that I accept the role and responsibilities as a Knight Commander of Rizal with a third-degree rank. As Consul General, I will continue to promote our national hero’s life and legacy in the ten states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction, in partnership with the Knights of Rizal and the Filipino Community,” Consul General Ferrer said. (PCGSF Release)