PHILVETS CELEBRATION OF DR. JOSE P. RIZAL DAY

PHILVETS Memorial & Cultur­al Society of BC, headed by Mr. Fernando P. Salanga, PHILVETS President, celebrated Dr. Jose P. Rizal Day on December 29, 2013 at the Polish Community Centre, 4015 Fraser St., Vancouver, BC., to memorialize the life of our revo­lutionary hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. It was this day 118 years ago when he was executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan. The Vancouver City Council headed by Mayor Gregor Rob­ertson issued a Proclamation declaring December 29, 2013 as Dr. Jose P. Rizal Day in Vancouver, BC. Consul Anthony A.L. Mandap of the Philippine Consulate and Sir Frank Macapagal, Chap­ter Commander of the Knights of Rizal, were Guests of Honor. Also present were the leaders of the different Filipino organizations

representing the Confederation of Filipino Canadian Associations; Mr. Romy Mercado, FYSS; Ms. Perla B. de Peralta, FILCANES; Ms. Ching Hipol, ZODIAC CIR­CLE; and Mr. Ruben Dioquino, FSCBC.

As part of the program, we featured the lighter side of Rizal in a mimi show dubbed – Rizal, the Romantic-Women of His Life, participated in by the following: CARMEN ROGELLO as Segun­da Katigbak; ADORA GAMAYO as Leonor Valenzuela; NENE LIN­SANGAN as Leonor Rivera; EDU­ARDA GUILLERMO as Consuelo Ortiga; LEOCISA DE VERA as O’Sei San; NATY BALANGUE as Gertrude Beckette; FELY RESUMADERO as Nellie Boustead; CORA INNI­GER as Suzanne Jacoby & JOSIE GARCIA as Josephine Bracken. Dr. Jose P. Rizal was portrayed by ROLLY MIJARES, VP of Zodiac Circle Society.

The Philippine Tapestry pre­sented a cultural show, cho­reographed by Leny & Letty Ar­boleda. Dancers: Leny & Letty Arboleda; Rebecca delos Reyes; Imelda Canlas; Clorenda Herd- man & Lucina Lymberatos. The program was organized by Mimi Reginaldo, PHILVETS Pro­gram Coordinator & CONFICA Executive Secretary.

Photos taken by Marilyn Cabico, PHILVETS Of­ficial Photographer