When it rains, it pours! LFR KOR Participates in Bonn Internationales Begegnungsfest 2011

The LFR and KOR Bonn Chapter at their booth

The Ladies for Rizal and Knights of Rizal Bonn Chapter continued with their long standing tradition of engagement in the Bonner Internationales Begegnungsfest on Saturday, 25 June 2011. Continuous drizzles and rain notwithstanding, the LFR and KOR set up their Food booth and Information Corner and was ready for business shortly before 11am. All throughout the day, traditional Filipino dishes, German cakes and hot/cold drinks were being served by the Ladies and Knights to its patrons. The Information Corner alternately played Filipino/modern music, and videos highlighting the life of the Philippine national hero, Dr Jose Rizal on the occassion of his 150th birth anniversary. The Ladies and Knights took the opportunity to explain about Rizal to visitors who were interested on learning more about him and the association.

KOR LFR Bonn goes to Wilhelmsfeld for Rizal’s 150th Birthday Celebration

Ladies for Rizal Bonn: Lady Aimee, Lady Gloria, Lady Susan, Lady Betty, Lady President Helen and Lady VP Margie

On the occasion of the 150^th birthday of Philippine national hero Dr Jose Rizal on 19 June 2011, the Order of the Knights of Rizal Bonn (KOR) and Kababaihang Rizalista Bonn Chapter (LFR) travelled to Wilhelmsfeld near Heidelberg to actively participate in the anniversary celebrations. 

The day before, the 21-strong group (including 4 children) led by Sir Peter Plückebaum, KGOR, Commander, Bonn Chapter travelled the 250 kilometer stretch between Bonn and Wilhelmsfeld via a convoy of five cars and stayed overnight in a nearby hotel. A tour of the castle and Rizal’s various accommodations in Heidelberg was conducted after arrival to help re-acquaint the KOR LFR Bonn Chapter with the city in which Rizal lived for a few months in 1886. Rizal stayed in Heidelberg to practice Opthalmology after finishing his studies in Paris. It is in Wilhelmsfeld near Heidelberg where Rizal finished his novel entitled “Noli Me Tangere” which first saw publication in Berlin in 1887.

Sir Celso Lacuna of KOR Bonn receives Medal of Honor

Sir Celso Lacuna KGOR, Knights of Rizal Bonn

During the 150th birthday celebrations of Rizal at Wilhelsmfeld Heidelberg on 19 June 2011, our very own Sir Celso Lacuna, KGOR, was presented a medal of honor by the Wilhelmsfeld-Heidelberg Chapter in recognition of his untiring support and active participation in the yearly birthday celebrations of Dr Jose Rizal in Wilhelmsfeld. 

Congratulations Sir Celso from the Ladies and Knights of Rizal Bonn Chapter!

Happy Birthday Pepe and Gloria

The beautiful Lady Gloria Buccat

Today marks the 150th birthday of Jose Rizal (also known by his nickname Pepe), coinciding with the birthday of our very own Lady Gloria Buccat! The occasion was made more special because the birthday girl was in Heidelberg together with the Ladies and Knights of Rizal Bonn to participate in the celebration of Rizal's birthday.

VP Lady Margie's Dinner Meeting

Lady Margie and her husband Sir Teddy

LFR Bonn Chapter's very own Vice President, Lady Margie Lapinid Amarga hosted a dinner to celebrate her birthday on 08 April 2011 during the joint meeting of the LFR KOR Bonn Chapter. Lady Margie belongs to the first batch of Filipino nurses in Germany. Her work has brought her to UK but she has decided to settle down for good in Bonn with her husband, Sir Teddy Amarga.

Happy Birthday Sir Dirk

The 19th of March was reserved for a special date: the celebration of Sir Dirk Hampel's birthday. Happy Birthday Sir Dirk!

Alaaf and Happy Birthday Sir Peter!

Photo coutesy of Lady Gloria Marten

The LFR and KOR Bonn Chapter celebrated the birthday of Chapter Commander Sir Peter Plueckebaum, KGOR, and the Bonn Karneval on 05 March 2011.

The birthday boy Sir Peter Plueckebaum (file pictire)

 The double celebration was a memorable and joyful one because everybody was in the mood to party!
 

Photo courtesy of Lady Gloria Marten

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.

Flashback 2010: Yugyugan Disco to the Max

To chase the cold winter away, the LFR KOR Bonn Chapter held their annual Yugyugan Disco at the Sankt Winfried Unterkirche in Bonn on 20 November 2010. The event was very well attended by both young and the young-at-heart alike due to an impressive reportoire of dance songs from the 60s boogie until 2010 pop.

Good music, great dancing at the Yugyugan 2010

 The organisation not only offered food and drinks at affordable prices to the dance-weary but continued the tradition of a raffling off huge prizes for patrons who bought Tombola tickets. For a 1 Euro ticket, disco-goers availed of the chance to win a balikbayan box to the Philipines, digital photocamera, digital photo frame, 1 sack of rice and the main prize: a netbook computer from Acer.

Tired but happy dancers wait for the raffle draw winning numbers

Another highlight of the Yugyugan was the "mob dance" led by two expert dance instructors: Kai and Tanya. Everybody had so much fun that the dancing continued until early morning.

Proceeds of the affair will go to the different social projects of the LFR and KOR in the Philippines.