PHILIPPINES
NATIONAL HERO
GREAT-GRANDNIECE
VISITS CZECH
REPUBLIC THE
2ND TIME
Celebrating
a successful meeting, Fashion designer
Noubikko, the mayor of LitomericeLadislav
Chlupac and Salud Reyes, great-grandniece of Jose
Rizal.
Prague-
August 18, 2008 -
Salud Reyes, great-grandniece of Jose
Rizal, returned to Prague for the second
time from New York following a week sojourn
in Provence, France to meet with Noubikko.
Noubikko is the head of the Knights of
Rizal in Prague, they will discuss plans
with the members of the Knights of Rizal
for the improvement of the Rizal Park
in Litomerice and enhance relationship
between members of Prague and Litomerice.
After
a brief meeting at the Philippine Embassy
with Vice Consul Mersole Mellejor, a meeting
ensued the following night at a wine cellar
with the Knights regarding the implementation
of the plans.
Litomerice
has a sister-city agreement with Calamba,
the town home of Rizal. Rizal spent four
days in Litomerice to visit Ferdinand
Blumentritt, who, according to history,
catalpulted the end of Spanish colony
after over 350 years of occupancy in the
Philippines. He is also known as Rizal's
best friend.
On a
wet and windy morning, Ms. Reyes and Mr.
Noubikko, Prague headed to Litomerice,
the “Garden of Bohemia”, which
is an hour’s drive north of Prague
to discuss an upcoming Rizal-Blumentritt
Commemoration on November 14-16. They
were warmly welcomed by Mayor Ladislav
Chlupac, who is Knight Chapter Commander
of Litomerice, with local wines and Becherovka
and traditional exchange of gifts.
Mayor
Chlupac gave them a brief tour of the
Old Town Hall and showed the grandeur
of what was once the influential and powerful
city by showing Renaissance styles built
in 1537 by an Italian architect Ambrose
Balli.
I'm fond
of this place, said Ms Reyes. Watching
the old hotel and restaurant Salva Guarda
where Rizal dine relives my memories with
what my grandparents used to tell us in
their stories, she added with awe. Noubikko
said he sees brighter relationship between
the two chapters.
Mayor Ladislav Chlupac was very receptive
and ready to help in every project for
Rizal. It was later agreed that an event
will be held in November 14, 2008 in Litomerice,
followed by an event in Brno and Ceske
Budejovice on November 15 and 16.
"Having
Noubikko as chapter commander and very
active members like Dr. Sam Bernal, the
3-day success I have witnessed during
the installation of Prague Chapter, was
definitely another event worthy on writing
in history, Ms. Reyes, long-time and favorite
spokesperson of the Rizalians, said when
she concluded the meeting with the members.
