Resolution Passed Naming a Portion of College Walk Mall “Dr. Jose Rizal Square”
The City Council of Honolulu recently passed Resolution 10-99, CD1, FD1 naming a portion of College Walk Mall where the statue of the Philippine national hero stands the “Dr. Jose Rizal Square.” College Walk Mall is a 1.58-acre mall located along the Ewa side of the Nuuanu Stream between Beretania St. and Vineyard Boulevard in Honolulu. The Rizal statue stands on the Beretania St. end of College Walk Mall.
“Dr. Rizal’s fight for equality through peaceful means is inspirational to nations around the world and the Council believes that it would be appropriate to name a portion of College Walk Mall surrounding the sculpture of Dr. Rizal the Dr. Jose Rizal Square,” the Resolution stated.
The Council has acknowledged in the Resolution Dr. Jose Rizal as a “nationalist and prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, pushing for freedom of assembly and speech and equal rights for Filipinos.”
Born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Rizal is recognized as a national hero of the Philippines. His writings and martyred death was a catalyst for the Philippine Revolution which resulted in the independence of the Philippines. His most popular work include the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and a poem he wrote on the eve of his execution on December 30, 1896, Mi Ultimo Adios.
“The naming of a portion of College Walk Mall the Dr. Jose Rizal Square is a symbolic recognition of the growing presence and contribution of Filipinos in Hawaii,” says Raymund Liongson, Commander of the Knights of Rizal-Hawaii Chapter which was instrumental to the initiation of the resolution and which pledges to assist with the maintenance of the Dr. Jose Rizal Square. The Knights of Rizal is an international fraternal organization founded in 1911 and Chartered under Republic Act 646 for the purpose of propagating the ideals and principles of Dr. Jose Rizal. It was established in Hawaii in 1971.
The Resolution was introduced by Council members Donovan dela Cruz, Nestor Garcia, Romy Cachola, Rod Tam and Ann Kobayahi.
The Knights of Rizal is a global, civic, non-profit, non-sectarian, non-partisan fraternal organization dedicated to promote the study and practice of Rizalian ideals of freedom, equality, respect for human worth and dignity, love for country, appreciation of heritage, and democratic principles.
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