By ROY C. MABASA
A six-foot bronze monument of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero and icon of peaceful resistance, will be unveiled on July 27 at George Fellows Park in Colorado Springs, in a dedication ceremony expected to draw Filipino-Americans, civic leaders, and historians from across the state.
The installation, spearheaded by the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation in partnership with Filipino-American organizations in Colorado, is part of a global movement to honor Rizal’s legacy and promote the values he championed—education, civic reform, and national dignity.
Sculpted by Filipino artists Elaine Antonio Bordeaux and Fritz Silorio, the monument aims to serve not only as a tribute to Rizal’s enduring impact but also as a symbol of the Filipino-American community’s contributions to the cultural fabric of the United States.
“This project is a testament to the enduring influence of Dr. Rizal and the strength of the Filipino spirit here in Colorado,” said Bordeaux, who also serves as president of the Foundation.
The dedication ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Bayanihan Gala in the evening at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Colorado Springs.
The gala will feature cultural performances, tributes, and a formal dinner celebrating the spirit of bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of communal unity and cooperation.
Organizers said the event underscores the expanding reach of the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument Movement, an international initiative aimed at promoting Rizal’s ideals through public monuments, educational campaigns, and global partnerships.
Born in 1861, Jose Rizal was a writer, physician, and reformist who became a leading voice against Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines through his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Although he advocated peaceful reform rather than armed revolution, Rizal was executed by Spanish authorities in 1896, an act that helped trigger the Philippine Revolution and cemented his place as a martyr for freedom.
His legacy continues to resonate with advocates of education, human rights, and social justice around the world.
Both the monument dedication and gala are open to the public.
