CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – Calambeños kept alive the legacy and memory of Laguna’s favorite son and National Hero Jose Rizal in a festival that also marked his 162nd birth anniversary on June 19.

Calamba, Rizal’s birthplace, staged the Buhayani Festival that displayed his legacy and teachings to keep his memories alive particularly among the youth which have been regarded as the nation’s hope.

Rizal’s descendant and Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal said it was a moral obligation and responsibility of every Calambeño to always keep Rizal’s teachings and legacy alive.

He added everyone should make Rizal their daily inspiration to be a hero of their own.

For his part, Senator Francis Tolentino, in his keynote speech, urged Filipinos to continue fighting for their freedom and to love their country as what Rizal did despite the challenges the country is facing.

“Sa kasalukuyang panahon, ang laban ay para sa karapatan, para sa kaayusan, para sa pagkakaisa, at para sa pagtutulungan. Kasama na rin po dito ang laban kontra malnutrisyon, laban kung paano natin matutulungan ang ating mga senior citizen sa kabila ng mga karamdaman,” Tolentino added.

The Calamba City LGU marked Rizal’s birth anniversary with simultaneous wreath offering and a ceremony at the Museo ni Rizal sa Calamba, the hero’s childhood home.

As part of the Calambagong Buhayani Festival, a street dance and land float parade competition traversed the city’s historical Rizal Street.

Street dancers from public and private schools in Calamba participated in the competition. Main components of the competition were dance routines showing the local history and culture of Calamba and the portrayal of different stages of Rizal’s life.

Huge and colorful floats from private establishments and the local government were also filled with symbolism of Rizal’s life from his childhood in Calamba, his education, his works, up to his death. (CH)