In October, the President of the Philippines, Mr Benigno Aquino III, officially unveiled a five-metre tall statue of Filipino national hero, Dr José Rizal, in Rizal Park, Rosemeadow.
The President was joined at the unveiling by the Premier of NSW, Mr Barry O’Farrell, the Mayor of Campbelltown, Councillor Sue Dobson, and the President of the Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown, Mr Rey Manoto.
The statue is a gift to the people of Campbelltown, which boasts the second-largest Filipino population in Sydney. The work of renowned Filipino artist, Eduardo Castrillo, the statue made its journey all the way from the Philippines, and is made entirely of brass.
Councillor Dobson said that the statue was the latest enhancement to the Rizal Park recreational precinct, and reflects the passion and dedication of the local Filipino community.
“A towering symbol of the strong ties between the City of Campbelltown and the Philippines, the statue honours the legacy of José Rizal and is set to become one of the city’s most recognisable and prominent landmarks,” Cr Dobson said.
“We were most honoured to have the company of the President and the Premier for the statue unveiling today, reflecting the significance of this occasion, and highlighting the excellent relations between Council and the Filipino-Australian community of Campbelltown.”
The Rizal Park precinct also boasts an attractive gateway to the park, a children’s playground, electric barbecue facilities, picnic shelter areas, a series of pathways/cycle-ways, and extensive landscaping.
The transformation of the reserve has been the result of the passion and commitment of members of the Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown, the Campbelltown and Region Filipino Community Council, and Campbelltown City Council.
During his short life, José Rizal made lasting contributions to medicine, political and social reform, engineering and a large number of other disciplines. His sacrifices have previously been preserved in Campbelltown’s history through the naming of a roadway in Park Central in his memory. Statues of Rizal stand in almost every town in the Philippines as a symbol of freedom, and as a reminder of Filipino values.
