Honoring RIzal

     In the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal is revered as a national icon. Did you realize, though, that other nations have also honored him for his literary and scientific achievements? It is common knowledge that Rizal visited many nations throughout his lifetime. And in some of those places, people have created memorials to honor his bravery. Here are several places where you may see monuments to Jose Rizal if you're interested but you're not in the Philippines!

Rizal Monument in Madrid, Spain

    The monument to Jose Rizal in Spain is a copy of the one in Manila's Luneta Park. In 1896, after leading a revolt against the Spanish colonial authority, Rizal was hanged for his crimes. This event is widely seen as the catalyst for Philippine independence. Before this meeting, however, Rizal had already spent time in Spain, where he attended the Universidad Central de Madrid in pursuit of a medical degree. A monument was recently erected at the intersection of Avenida de las Islas Filipinas and Calle Santander in Madrid. The Philippine Embassy in Madrid, Spain regularly conducts walking tours of national hero-related sites.

Rizal Square in Jinjiang, China

    This monument to Rizal in Jinjiang City is one of the most impressive buildings of its kind you'll ever see. The building of the monument, which rises at 18.61 feet, began in 2003. The Filipino government acknowledges Rizal's claimed Chinese ancestry via the Ke family. Jose Rizal Square has a bronze statue in the middle of a grove of trees and flowering plants. 

Rizal Park in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany

    Jose Rizal is shown on a towering bronze statue in Germany, looking out into the distance while clutching a quill. There is a monument and park honoring Dr. Jose Rizal in a little, out-of-the-way community in the Odenwald Forest, some 25 kilometers from Heidelberg. Filipino sculptor Anastacio Caedo created this.

    Rizal Park, where the monument is located, first opened its gates in 1978 and is appropriately called. This historical monument praises Rizal for his "exemplary social and political commitment." Rizal had also attended classes at Germany's Alte Universitat, where he learned about eye health. As a student, Rizal had to make do with little while in Germany. This experience inspired him to write A Las Flores de Heidelberg, a poem about the city that has undertones of homesickness for the Philippines.

Rizal Historical Marker at Heildelberg, Germany

    A retired professor of Spanish and Rizal courses in Manila named Ramon M. Roda who visited Heidelberg in 1998 wrote an article claiming that Rizal had studied German, sat in on ophthalmology lectures as an observer at the Alte Universitat (Germany's oldest university, founded in 1386) and apprenticed himself to two eminent ophthalmologists at the university's eye-clinic. When Rizal initially came in Heidelberg, Germany, he was barely 25 years old.

Rizal Bust in Prague, Czech Republic

    The Jose Rizal bust, a work of art just presented inside the Czech National Bank, was sculpted by Filipino artist Jose Giroy. The purpose of the bust is to honor the 1887 trip that the hero and a companion made to Prague, where they saw the sights and talked with scientists. The bust of Rizal has become an important landmark for visitors to the city who want to learn more about the writer's impact on the Philippines. 

Rizal Monument in Chicago, USA

    Chicago, Illinois's Jose Rizal artwork first appeared on N. Marine Drive in 1999. The statue of Jose Rizal as a revolutionary martyr was erected to honor the centennial of Philippine independence. The Lincoln Park monument was the result of a campaign led by the Order of the Knights of Rizal and the Ladies of Rizal in 1994. Antonio "Lito" Mondejar crafted the sculpture. 

Rizal Monument in Rome, Italy

    A bronze monument of Jose Rizal, larger than life, stands in Rome's Piazzale Manila. Josephine Bantug, a cousin of Dr. Jose Rizal, was instrumental in having a monument erected in his honor for his 150th birthday celebration. During his time in Europe, Rizal is also known to have stopped in Italy. During his time there, he also expressed his admiration for Italy through writing. 

Rizal Bust at Hibiya Park, Tokyo

    This bronze bust may be seen on the Hibiya Park loop route in Tokyo. In 1998, on the Philippines' hundredth year of independence, a plaque commemorating Rizal's 1888 stay at the Tokyo Hotel was added to the hotel's historical monument. In honor of the hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, several celebrations are conducted here on the anniversary of his birth.

Rizal's Bust in Montreal, Canada

    In Montreal, Canada, the Philippine government gifted the Ville de Montreal with a bust of Jose Rizal that reached just to his waist. Toym Imao, the son of another famous Filipino artist, Abdulmari Imao Sr., created the sculpture. The artist sculpted 24 such busts in all. You may see the bust for yourself at Parc Mackenzie-King.

Rizal's Monument in Markham, Ontario, Canada

    On June 10, 2019, the monument was revealed to the public. Markham's mayor, Frank Scarpitti, was there, as was Alex Chiu, a former councilman, and Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, the Philippine deputy consul general. The Filipino Canadian community in Markham collaborated with the city to produce the newest piece of public art in Markham.

Rizal's Park and Bridge in Seattle, USA

    Seattle honors Jose Rizal with more than just a monument; the city also has a park and a bridge bearing his name. Seattle Mayor Charles Royer and Philippine Consul General Ernesto Qerubin dedicated Rizal Park and Bridge. The Filipino Alumni Association successfully advocated for the renaming of a park and bridge in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after the hero. 

Rizal's Plaque in London

    At the age of 26, Dr. Jose Rizal moved to London to network with prominent European Orientalists. In addition, it was in London that he established Philippine Studies. The Greater London Council erected a blue ceramic plaque in 1983 to commemorate Rizal's time spent in London in 1888. Dr. Jose Rizal 1861-1896" is what is written on the stone. Here formerly resided the Philippine author and national hero. 

Rizal's Monument in Carson, California

    Filipino-American leaders in California decided in December 2004 to create the Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement in order to have a monument of Rizal erected in the state. Eight years later, the 15-foot-tall sculpture was displayed at Carson's International Sculpture Garden. Toym Imao, a Filipino artist, also designed the memorial. The purpose of the monument is to promote Filipino pride and solidarity in the United States.

Rizal's Monument in Honolulu, Hawaii

    Honolulu, Hawaii is home to a life-size statue of Dr. Jose Rizall, which can be seen along the Nu'uanu Stream in the city's central business district. College Walk, located on North Beretania Street, has a number of monuments and sculptures. Together with the Oahu Filipino Community Council and the Laoag City Lions Club, the Filipina Society of Hawaii sponsored the statue.

Rizal's Marker in Hong Kong

    There is a memorial to Jose Rizal in Hong Kong as well. It was here that Rizal is said to have planned the La Liga Filipina, a political group that would go on to change the course of Philippine history. Before his capture by the Spaniards, he worked as an eye surgeon in Hong Kong and visited his family there. According to the plaque, Rizal and his family spent the years 1891 and 1892 at the house. 

Place Jose Rizal in Paris, France

    Place Jose Rizal in Paris, France is another park dedicated to the national hero of the Philippines. Many people know that Jose Rizal stayed in the Paris residence of his close friend Valentin Ventura when he was in France. While in France, Rizal was influenced by the works of French authors and sent manuscripts and articles to the Philippine newspaper La Solidaridad. Place Jose Rizal is named after him since it is just across the street from the Parisian flat where he lived. 

Rizal's Bust in Sydney, Australia

    This bust, created by artist Haldane Holman and cast in bronze, was first shown in 1995. John Holland, a Filipino, gave the City of Sydney a number of busts, including one of Rizal, which are on exhibit at Plaza Iberoamericana. The name of the hero, their birth and death dates, and the location of their birth are all included in the inscription. Aside from that, the remark states, "Dr. Jose Rizal was the first to inspire Filipinos to regard themselves as a nation and to cherish the Philippines as their fatherland."

Rizal's Monument in Singapore

    Before departing for Europe in May of 1882, Jose Rizal spent only two days in Singapore. A monument was dedicated in the area of the Asian Civilizations Museum in 2005. The National Heritage Board of Singapore planned this event to celebrate Jose Rizal's birthday.

Rizal's Bronze Bust in Lima, Peru

    First established in Lima, Peru, Jose Rizal Park was officially opened in 2008 by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The park and its statue honor the first foreign national hero to be honored in Peru.

    The bronze bust was created by Litomerice, Czech Republic-born artist Libor Piszlac. Hans Gunter Schoof, a German married to a Filipina from Baclayon, Bohol, and a fervent admirer of Rizal, made the donation.

    The pedestal upon which the bust rests is square, and it is adorned on all four sides with plaques commemorating the inauguration ceremonies.

    One of the markers reads, "Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Heroe Nacional de Filipinas, Nacionalista, Reformador Political, Escritor, Linguistica y Poeta, 1861-1896."

Reference: https://outoftownblog.com/jose-rizal-monuments/