When it comes to urban adventure, local and foreign tourists can find numerous things to do and discover in the City of Manila. They can go on a food trip in Binondo, dive deep into the country’s culture and heritage inside the National Museums, and get a feel of the ancient Philippines within the walls of Intramuros. Another favorite spot of many families is Rizal Park Luneta. While some parts of the complex are currently under construction, what tourists can still see there is the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal.
Made of bronze and granite, the monument, dubbed “Motto Stella,” was designed by Swiss sculptor Richard Kissling. Apart from the one in Rizal Park Luneta in Manila, there are also numerous monuments and shrines around the world that celebrate the legacy of the Filipino hero. There’s one in the USA, Canada, Germany, and Spain, among others. But the tallest monument outside the Philippines can be seen in China.
Located in Jinjiang City, China is the Rizal Park Square, which is home to the Statue of Dr. Jose Rizal. During a trip led by the Quanzhou Radio and Television Station, Manila Bulletin Lifestyle got to see the landmark in person, which looks similar to his monument in Manila.
The structure commemorates Rizal’s Chinese roots. According to the marker in front of the park, his great-grandfather, Domingo Lam-Co (Ke Yi Nan in Chinese), was a Chinese immigrant from the Shang-gou Village in Jinjiang.
“Both Chinese and Filipino historians alike have confirmed Jose Rizal's Chinese ancestry...His line can be traced back to the first generation Ke family ancestor,” as per the plaza marker. “Ke-Nan during the reign of Kang Xi, Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, set sail to explore the Philippines. Jose Rizal was the 22nd generation descendant of the Ke family.”
Construction of the monument began in 2003. The monument is 18.61 feet tall, which was based on the hero’s birth year. Like the one in Manila, the monument in Jinjiang presents the Rizal standing in front of an obelisk bearing three stars. There’s also a structure of a mother and a child, two young boys reading, and fruits and leaves symbolizing the family, education, and the country's natural resources, respectively.
Check it out below:
