LOS ANGELES – To celebrate the 152nd anniversary of the birth of Jose Rizal, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles (PCG-LA) launched on June 19, Wednesday, the first ever “expansive” library dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Philippine national hero.
Dubbed as “Centro Rizal,” Consul General (ConGen) Hellen Barber – De La Vega described the library as “a converging zone,” not only for the Rizalistas, but more for the Filipino-American youth who want to understand and learn more about their heritage and their great forebears, Dr. Jose Rizal and the other Philippine heroes.
The Consul General emphasized the importance of understanding Filipino culture through literature in the formation of the Fil-Am youth’s role in the society in America.
“Through a better understanding of their lives, we hope to mold generations of Filipino-American youths who can lead and bring our community to greater heights and stature,” De La Vega said in his welcoming remarks.
ConGen De La Vega revealed to the Asian Journal that after engaging in talks with the youth, it was seemingly apparent that the next generations of Fil-Ams wanted to learn more about Filipino heroes, particularly about Jose Rizal.
Together with the unveiling of the statue of Rizal in the City of Carson, the ConGen noted that there has been an increased awareness among the youth about our national hero.
“We wanted our youth to understand his works, his life, his writings – and through this medium, know more about our motherland,” De La Vega said.
Aside from works about Rizal and the national heroes, other pieces of Philippine literature are included in the Centro Rizal library, among them old tomes and books about Pinoy heritage.
Hasaan ng Tulaan
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of Centro Rizal was followed by a poetry reading program at the aptly named Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate.
De La Vega started off the Hasaan ng Tulaan segment of the program quoting Rizal’s A La Juventud Filpina (Sa Kabataang Pilipino), a fitting message for her advocacy.
Mutyang Kabataan, sa iyong paglakad;
Ang bigay ng Diyos sa tanging liwanag; Ay pagitawin mo, Pag-asa ng Bukas.
“Hayo na ngayon dito papag-alabin mo;
Ang apoy ng iyong isip at talino; Ang magandang ngala’y ihasik sa mundo;
At ipagbansagan ang dangal ng tao.
Featuring some of the most creative and inspiring Pinoys in LA, community members who attended the event were treated to a great poetry reading at the Consulate.
Tony Berango read a romantic poem, Hinihintay Kita (I Am Waiting For you), dedicated to his wife Cecil, and a classic Jose Rizal piece entitled Paalam, Osei-san (Goodbye, Osei-san).
Vics Magsaysay declaimed Sakit ng Kalingkingan, Sakit ng Kabuuan, with an emotive enunciation that illustrated and expressed the meaning of every word.
Emmy Award winner Jess Española, known for his work on hit animated TV shows The Simpsons and Futurama, offered his epic poem entitled, Ang Hindi Marunong Lumingon sa Pinanggalingan, Hindi Makararating sa Paroroonan.
The poem, which Española had only recently finished, is a social critique on Filipinos and their unquenchable and reprehensible thirst for all things Western.
Raffy Maniago, who recited the poem Yesterday & Today in fluent Kapampangan, also presented an oil and canvass portrait of ConGen De La Vega.
Matt Relox received a standing ovation for his chilling rendition of the piece Salapi at Kamandag (Riches and Venom), a startlingly dramatic poem about the Filipinos’ struggles in providing for their families and what they have to sacrifice in return.
In between breaks, singer Mon Concepcion and Fil-Am musician and conductor Bob Shroder provided entertainment laced with their own brand of musical poetry.
Concepcion performed his original composition Kapwa Pinoy. Schroder played two classic Filipino songs on the flute: Minamahal, Sinasamba, Ang Katulad Mo’y Awit ng Pagsinta, and OPM hit, Hanggang (as popularized by Wency Cornejo).
The program was remarkably drawn out because of the length of some of the poems recited, ending at past 8pm on a Wednesday night.
In spite of its duration however, the Centro Rizal opening ceremonies bore a simplicity that was kind of reminded everyone about Rizal’s true message and legacy, and the importance of the Filipino language and heritage.
For ConGen De La Vega, the success of Centro Rizal would be dictated by its reach, which she hopes to one day include “chapters” outside of PCGLA.
And with the youth as her benchmark, a high degree of interest and involvement from the young Fil-Ams would also mean a victory for De La Vega’s latest advocacy project.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend June 22-25, 2013 Sec A pg.8)
