By Tina Santos
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Members of a spiritual organization from all over the country will gather at 6 a.m. today in front of the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta in Manila to form a “human flag” as tribute to the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, on his 146th birth anniversary.

The first-of-a-kind patriotic display of the flag is made up of 500 members of Bigkis ng Pangkalahatang Espirituwal at Materyal na Rizalista ng Inang Pilpinas Unibersal Pederasyon Inc., a federation of various Rizalista groups nationwide.

“This is a symbol that the spirit of nationalism is alive,” said Bigkis president Gauvencio Serrano.

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By Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III
Inquirer

(Editor’s Note: The author is a former chair of the National Historical Institute and currently Knight Grand Officer of the Knights of Rizal.)

MANILA, Philippines–Within a week of each other, the nation will commemorate two events of great national significance — the declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, and the birth of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, 1861.

These seemingly disparate events, in the course of our story as a people, led to a historical conjunction that gave birth to our modern nation. It would be difficult to think of one without the other.

The radical idea of separating from Spain through a revolution is generally laid at the doorstep of the Katipunan. This was the secret society founded on July 7, 1892, the day the decree of Rizal’s exile “to one of the southern islands” was published in the Gaceta de Manila.

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