Active members of Knights of Rizal Cebu City Chapter: (from left) Rittie Subingsubing, Richard Dino Sison, Farid Baina, Edison Delos Angeles, Charles Tuozon, Ricky Sevilla, Jayvee Cabrera, John DX Lapid, Danilo Pacaña, Warfe Engracia and Romy Generalao. (CDN PHOTO/EDISON DELOS ANGELES)
THE awardees of the Young Rizal Emulators from the different towns in Cebu met with the active members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal Cebu City Chapter at Rizal Public Library in Cebu City in an event that coincided with the chapter’s knighting ceremony where four new members were accepted into the Order.
Maria Oliva Jopia-Abarquez, a National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute alumna who is based in New York City, said the event enabled the young leaders to interact with the active members of Knights of Rizal.
“Ever since I joined the Kabataang Pangarap ni Rizal and the National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute, I have always dreamt of finding a way to perpetuate the works and ideals of Rizal and pass it on to the young ones and the best start is to make them meet with the Knights of Rizal who are driven by those ideals,” Abarquez said.
In New York City, Abarquez met with the Knights of Rizal – New York Chapter Commander Francis Sison to come up with a program that recognizes the youths who have the qualities of Dr. Jose Rizal not only in New York but also in Cebu.
“It would be a good way to guide them, along with the teachings of Rizal and develop them into good leaders. They don’t have to be at the top of their class, they just have to possess the qualities of our National Hero, like nationalism, patriotism, love for art, music and freedom,” Abarquez said.
The Young Rizal Emulators Awards are given to outstanding graduates of elementary and high schools in the Philippines where there is an Alumni of National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute (ARYLI).
This year, the awardees in Cebu are Johann Lance Nalo, Ma. Erna Cabarrubias, Ryan Fernando, Zirele Marie Bernales, Earl Max Eata, Dominique Kyle Ycot, Kristy Therese Alivio, Aivyheart DanielleLegaria, Nina Mae Sacis, Samuel Curib, Ishi Singulan, Hyacinth Manliguez, Briget Jane Lynn Imperial, Mylene Arobo, Cedric John Imbong and Rican James Montejo.
Edison A. Delos Angeles, newly elected commander of the Knights of Rizal Cebu City Chapter, said the event served as a venue where they could share the thrust of the Order, which is the perpetuation of nationalism and patriotism.
“Amidst all the negativities that the country is enduring right now, it is with much delight to connect with the youth who hold hope with them just as Rizal had always said that the youth is the hope of our nation. With much positivity, we in the Knights of Rizal are hopeful that all these things will turn out good for our countrymen and our nation as a whole,” Delos Angeles said.
The event was attended by the Grand Knights of Rizal Dr. Warfe Engracia, who officiated the knighting ceremony along with Sir Farid Baina, Sir Danilo Pacaña, Sir Rommy Generalao, and Knights Sir Richard Dino Sison, Sir Rittie Subingsubing and new members Charles Lelis Tuozo, John DX Lapid, Jayvee Cortes Cabrera and Ricky Sevilla.
The Cebu City government provided the venue for the event.