Dapitan, Zamboanga – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) with the invitation from the City Government of Dapitan will be part of REVISITAMOS DAPITAN 1892 COMMEMORARE 2023, a heritage festival featuring events that commemorate both tangible and intangible contributions of our hero, Jose Rizal, in the development and progress of the city and country.
In line with this, Balay Hamoy will be opening the exhibition ‘LA APERTURA DEL EXPOSICION DR. JOSE RIZAL: Rizal Con and Exhibit’ on 16 July 2023, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at the Balay Hamoy Museum. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be led by NHCP Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Franco Calairo, Historic Sites and Education Division Chief Gina Batuhan, Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos, Balay Hamoy Museum owner and curators Peter Dominic Hamoy and Kathlyn Uyehara-Hamoy.
Exhibit highlights include the Rizaliana collection showcasing the brief life of Rizal’s exile, and the homecoming of Jose Rizal’s sculptures; San Antonio de Padua and the model head of a Dapitan girl. Chairman Calairo will deliver a short message and Balay Hamoy Museum owners will also be taking oath as Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN) members, being the only affiliates in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Other attendees are members of the Dapitan City Government, Rizal Scholars, descendants of Rizal’s pupils and Dapitanons. The exhibition will run until 31 July 2023. Balay Hamoy Museum is located at 143 Mi Retiro Street, Barangay Banonong, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
On 17 July 2023, the city government will hold the 131ST Commemoration of Jose Rizal’s Arrival in Dapitan dubbed as ILLUMINACION, PASEO SIMBOLICO Y BIENVENIDO. A re-enactment of Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan will be staged starting with a sound and light show by 6:00 p.m. at the Punto del Desembarco de Rizal en Dapitan followed by a symbolic walk on Gov. Guading Adasa St. by 7:30 p.m. and the Welcome at the Dapitan City Plaza at 8:30 p.m.
Flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies will be spearheaded by Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos and NHCP Chairman Calairo, followed by their messages.
Jose Rizal was exiled to Dapitan from 17 July 1892 to 31 July 1896. During this period, he helped the community by healing patients, teaching young boys, building a map of Mindanao in the plaza, and building waterworks systems.
The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine history and heritage through research and publication, heraldry, conservation, marking of historic sites and structures, administration of national shrines and museums, and conduct of commemorative programs.