Dugong Pilipino ka ba? If you are, do yourself a favor. Refresh your mind about one Filipino who sacrificed his life for his country – Dr. Jose Rizal.
The Knights of Rizal Central Canada Region is presenting a 2-part Television Special on OMNI TV titled DR. JOSE RIZAL, THEN AND NOW with the following broadcast schedule:
Part 1 – Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. (repeat on Monday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m.)
Part 2 – Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. (repeat on Monday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m.)
DR. JOSE RIZAL, THEN AND NOW will be broadcast on OMNI Television to honor the life and ideals of Dr. Jose Rizal, the National Hero of the Philippines and to celebrate both the 161st birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal and Filipino Heritage Month.
OMNI TV is a free nationwide television network that reaches 11 million households in Canada from coast to coast – British Columbia to the Maritimes. You can watch OMNI TV on Rogers Channel 14 and on Bell Channels 1208 and 1207
If you miss it on a Sunday, no need to worry. There will be a replay/repeat the next day Monday at 6:30 p.m.) But, miss it you must not, as a Filipino. Even if you spent most of your life in Canada. As Rizal himself wrote “I enter the future, carrying a memory of the past.” This line was from a play he wrote in 1880 – El consejo de los Dioses. And in the words of an eminent Rizal historian, Dr. Ambeth Ocampo – “We are not imprisoned by it (history). We take it with us to give us the strength and the understanding to cope with the present and to look at the future with hope.” This is his take on the quote of Rizal in his 1880 play. And I agree. Completely.
For those interested in an engaging lecture on Rizal on video, you may want to view Dr. Ocampo’s Rizal Without the Overcoat video documentary posted on you tube. It is an Arete Production in partnership with the Department of Communication, Loyola Schools and the Eugenio Lopez, Jr. Center for Multimedia Communications. This is only one of several video lectures of Dr. Ocampo as part of the Ateneo Magisterial Lecture series. He has other equally informative and engaging lectures on history as part of this series. Watch them on YT. Be informed, if you wish. I did not say “Let me educate you”, if you know what I am alluding to. If you don’t. It’s okay. It is of no consequence.
This month is a celebration of Filipino Heritage Month so there is now a flurry of in- person events in the Filipino community. Especially since the covid restrictions have eased up. Salamat naman! Many of the community leaders are shuffling from one event to another with back-to-back activities lined up this month of June. Foremost of the activities of course was the celebration last June 12 of Philippines Independence Day or in Tagalog (which I think sounds beautiful) “Araw ng Kasarinlan”. “Mabuhay tayong lahat!” Congratulations and good luck to all!
On a side note – Coincidentally, June 12 was also Russia Day. The National Day of the Russian Federation, or Russia Day, commemorates the formal adoption, on June 12 1990 of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation which declared Russia’s “independence” from the USSR.
It is interesting to note that 1990 was only 2 years later than the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1898. I could not help thinking about it because of the ongoing global conflicts. We all trust though that conflicts will be resolved eventually through diplomacy and sincere talks with each country involved.
Going back to events in the Filipino community – One other major historical event would be the birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, one of the Philippines National Heroes on June 19. Aside from the TV Special DR. JOSE RIZAL, THEN AND NOW of the Knights of Rizal Central Canada Region (KORCC) on June 19 and 26, they will also have a wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Park in Brampton and Earl Bales Park. I can just see our dynamic Philippine Consul General Castro darting here and there and everywhere in Ontario to attend all these events.
I understand that even some officials from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines will be visiting Canada to inspect the sites for markers to honor Dr. Rizal in different parts of Ontario including a marker in Niagara which Dr. Rizal visited as he wrote in his diary or observations while travelling from the west coast to the east coast of the United States. During this one and only travel to the United States, he made a side trip to visit Niagara Falls in Ontario. This is certainly a reason to rejoice for Filipinos in Canada, especially for the Knights of Rizal Central Canada Region. Art Viola, the former Lord Mayor of Niagara is also eager to have this historical marker up in Niagara Falls, together with the thousands of Filipino origin residents who live in the Niagara Region, like Joey and Aurora Luz. We all look forward to it. We can now say “Dr. Jose Rizal was here!”
By the way, watch out for the selected entries for the Likhang Awit kay Rizal song writing event launched last April by the Knights of Rizal Don Valley Region and the JDL Performing Arts school of the one and only indefatigable Josie de Leon. The Likhang Awit kay Rizal was a song writing competition launched last April for young Canadians to honor Dr. Rizal and his ideals. The chosen entries are excellent (I should know. I was one of the judges.) and they will be aired in Part 2 of the TV Special DR. JOSE RIZAL, THEN AND NOW on June 26, 2022 at 8:30 p.m. with a replay on June 27, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. We really have some talented young Canadians in music. Need I say more? Better to see them (and listen to their songs) for yourself on June 26 on OMNI TV. Be enthralled.
From Rizal to Mulan – Sorry but can’t help but jump from one hero to another hero, or should I say a heroine?
Well, remember the 2020 Disney live-action film “Mulan”directed by the New Zealander director Niki Caro? Our family was eagerly waiting for its release online since it was at the height of the pandemic in 2020. My family members are die-hard fans of the 1998 Disney animated film “Mulan”. As for me. I am a hopelessly addicted fan of Chinese historical dramas. So I was doubly excited to watch it complete with buttered popcorn in our family room. Alas, it was a let down. I mean the live action film. So it did not leave a good impression for me of the lead female Chinese-American actor Crystal Liu, or in China, Liu Yifei. Aside from getting the feeling that whoever directed the film did not have the sense and sensibility of someone who felt and understood Chinese culture. I believe it was also controversial because of the remarks posted on social media by Liu Yifei allegedly being on the side of the Hongkong police during the protests there. (Well, all I can I say is “so what if she was on their side? Freedom of speech is alive isn’t it? Or is it not?”) Anyway, politics aside, the Niki Caro film was forgettable.
But lo and behold! There is now a Chinese period (or costume) drama series online with the title “A Dream of Splendor” with the very same Crystal Liu or Liu Yifei. It is still ongoing in China so by now there would already be more than 20 episodes posted in various sites. It will be airing a total of 40 episodes. It is by far the more (I don’t say the most, yet) exquisite Chinese period drama series I have seen. The whole series (at least until the 20th episode) is a perfect balance of dark and light, of yin and yang. And Liu Yifei is a an excellent actor. Besides, when she dances, it’s pure poetry in motion. Amazing! I just realized the great big difference when you have the right director for a film.
It is interesting to note that the director of this series is a woman (just like Niki Caro is a woman). In this case though, when you watch the series, you know right away that the director has the feel and deep understanding of Chinese culture and sensibilities. I am completely enamored and fascinated by this series. The director, Yang Yang, brought out the exquisite subtleties and nuances of Liu Yifei’s acting, and, as equally important, of Chinese culture. I am now a certified fan of Liu Yifei and the lady director, Yang Yang. Looking forward to their other works in the near future. The male lead, Chen Xiao, who is paired with Liu Yifei, is not bad either. In fact, he is hot. Better still, he is fire. The chemistry between them is unmistakably alive and making the producers and investors happy, that’s for sure.
In fairness to Niki Caro, I am sure her other films are great. But I guess each one has her (or his own) wellspring of experience to draw from, especially in doing creative work. I would say that it is better to tell a story from experience.
Another aspect of this drama series that resonates with the issues of today is the “sisterhood” bond of the 3 main female actors, who rise to the challenges of being in the “laylayan” (as one famous –or infamous?- candidate in the last Philippine elections called them) of society. And I absolutely love the setting of water canals like in Venice, but this time in China. Enchanting, as far as I am concerned. It feels so sensual and so calming at the same time. Once again, experiencing it yourself is the best proof of the pudding. In short, watch it!
With Dr. Rizal, Filipino Heritage Month, Crystal Liu and Yang Yang in mind, I leave you with warm wishes for more sun and sky and happy communing with nature for the rest of June.
Tessie O. Taylor