A walk to greatness


Philippine consulate retraces the footsteps of Jose Rizal in Barcelona

RIZAL IN SPAIN Personnel of Barcelona Philippine Consulate General and members of the Filipino community commemorate the 125th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal

In commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal on Dec. 30, 2021, Philippine Consul General to Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro led commemorative activities that reflected on the life of the Philippine national hero.

EL AMOR PATRIO Cultural officer Bernardo Bagalay reading the literary work of Dr. Jose Rizal, El Amor Patrio

The program commenced at the consulate with a message by Lazaro pondering on the life of Rizal and its importance in Philippine history. This was followed by a reading of the El Amor Patrio, an essay written by Jose Rizal in Barcelona and first published by the Diariong Tagalog in August 1882. It was later reprinted by La Solidaridad in October 1890.

Consulate General personnel then ventured out into the La Raval district and retraced the footsteps of Dr. Jose Rizal in Barcelona. 

Plaza Catalunya was the first leg of the historical tour. It was in this area where Dr. Rizal was welcomed by his fellow Filipinos, some of whom were his former classmates from Ateneo.

Plaza Catalunya was the first leg of the historical tour. It was in this area where Dr. Rizal was welcomed by his fellow Filipinos, some of whom were his former classmates from Ateneo.  They met in a coffee shop in the plaza in what would be the beginning of his numerous fellowships with Filipino liberals in Spain.

LA SOLIDARIDAD Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro and cultural officer Bernardo Bagalay in front of the La Solidaridad marker

The second building, which is of historical significance to Dr. Rizal, is located at Plaça de Bonsuccés.  This is where La Solidaridad held office, which ironically is in the neighborhood where most members of the Filipino community reside. This was the site of many memorable meetings where the Triumvirate of the Propaganda Movement composed of Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez Jaena and other members of La Solidaridad brainstormed to advance peaceful political revolutionary movement against Spain.

The last leg and highlight of the commemoration tour ended with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal marker located at Hotel España, formerly known as Fonda de España. The hotel, which was then a boarding house, was where Jose Rizal stayed when he arrived in Barcelona on June 16, 1882. A tour of the Hotel España showing the areas where Rizal spent his time in the hotel was also conducted by Cultural Officer Bernardo Bagalay and a representative of the hotel.

HERE’S WHERE RIZAL STAYED Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro looking at the rooms at Hotel España where Jose Rizal stayed

An NHCP documentary, Jose Rizal: Landas ng Paglaya, was shown in the consular section area of the consulate to the appreciation of the general public.

(Barcelona PCG photo)