The City of Calamba is currently celebrating the 151st Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Photos and text by Grace Nicolas, contributor

This year’s celebrations for Dr. Jose Rizal’s 151st Birth Anniversary in Calamba has the theme, “Buhay at Obra ni Rizal; Huwaran ng Kabayanihan, Gabay Tungo sa Tuwid na Daan.”

The activities are currently running, from June 12 to 19. The activities are as follows:

• June 12 – Independence Day Celebration and awarding of establishments in compliance with Republic Act 10078 and the opening of the Rizal Day Photo Exhibit
• June 13 – Start of Rizal Quiz Elimination at different schools in Calamba
• June 14 – Eye cataract clinic coordinated by Peter Capitan of PESO
• June 15 – Closing activity for Rizal@150 at SM City, simultaneous with the Rizal@150 exhibit at the Rizal Shrine
• June 16 – “Trabaho Para sa Aking Mga Kababata” job fair at the City Hall lobby
• June 17 – “Takbo para Kay Lolo Pepe” Fun Run and Rizal Quiz Bee championship
• June 18 – 6th Founding Anniversary of City College of Calamba, Awarding of Rizal Quiz Bee Champion at the Rizal Shrine, and Crisostomo Ibarra by Ballet Philippines under SM
• June 19 – Simultaneous floral offerings at the Plaza, Sampalukan, City College of Calamba, Central 2 and the Plaza, followed by a program at the Rizal Shrine, a noontime Civic Military Parade from Barangay Parian to the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Shrine, and a 6pm program by San Miguel Corporation at the city plaza, titled “Handog sa Kaarawan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal.”

For the Fun Run on the 17th, free singlets will be given out for the first 200 registrants. There will be no registration fee. The run is open for participants aged 16 to 36, with prizes up to 5,000 pesos. Registration will be on the same day.

L-R: Descendants of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Ramonsita Reyes, Mia Faustmann, SEC Secretary Teresita Herbosa, with Congressman Timmy Chipeco, Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco, President Benigno Aquino, NHCP Chair Serena Diokno and Laguna Governor ER Ejercito. June 19, 2011.

Last year, the Dr. Jose P. Rizal 150th Birth Anniversary was held at the Plaza, where Rizal’s tallest statue is located. The festivities were graced by the presence of President Benigno Aquino III. For this year, Vice President Jejomar Binay will be attending, together with National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chair Maria Serena Diokno.