President “PNoy” Aquino becomes a Knight of Rizal

At the 2011 International Assembly and Conference on Rizal with the theme, “The New Rizals: Emerging Leaders Innovating Across Sectors (ELIAS) and Beyond Borders,” held at the centennial ballroom of the Manila Hotel, Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III was conferred the Knight Grand Cross of Rizal, the highest degree of the Order bestowed on him for his uncompromising stand and initiatives for moral leadership, clean governance, commendable civic virtues and pro-people programs. The same recognition was awarded posthumously to his late father, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., on December 30, 1986.

The citation of the Order was presented to the President by Don Emilio Yap, KGCR, chairman of Manila Hotel, and Roger Quiambao, KGCR conference chairman while deputy supreme commander Reghis Romero II, KGCR, supreme chancellor Jeremias Singson gave the sash and medallion. The ceremonial sword was awarded to the President by Justo P. Torres Jr., KGCR supreme commander emeritus and Dr. Pablo Trillana III, supreme commander Order of the Knights of Rizal.

Aquino urges Rizalistas to Continue the Legacy of Jose Rizal

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday challenged the 12,000 strong members of the Knights of Rizal worldwide to continue the legacy of national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and help the government in the fight against poverty and wrongdoings in the public service.

“The real reason we are gathered here is not just because of an anniversary, not just because of history, but also because of the fact that we must remember and reignite the ideals that our national hero Jose Rizal gave his entire life to. Today is a reminder of the tasks that lay ahead all of us,” the President said.

“You are knights; complete with ranks and insignia, which are recognized by the Honors code of the Philippines as official awards of the Republic, and if you hold strong and continue your dedicated work, and if each and every person in this country does the same, then we will forge further onward into being the Philippines that Jose Rizal once dreamed of, that all of us continue to dream of,” he further said.

 He also urged them to learn the lessons from the famous anecdotes about Rizal particularly when the Spanish doctor noticed that he was perfectly calm minutes before his actual execution. "This is the power of knowing that one is doing the right thing, of having a clear conscience, and we must learn from this,” he said noting that each and every Filipino must have returned to much older, more classical, and much nobler ideals of the country’s heroes - the ideals of honesty, transparency and nationalism.