RIYADH, 26 August 2004 — Eight new members have officially joined the Order of the Knights of Rizal chapter in Riyadh (OKOR-Riyadh Chapter) and many more are expected to be inducted soon, the group’s leaders have said.
Chapter “commander” Flavio “Bioux” Manilum said the new inductees were Dr. Syed Ali Zien, Chris Lavi?a, Freddie Base, Rolly Bermundo, Jess Vinluan, Jojie Umali,Cesar de los Reyes, and Raul Villalobos.
The eight new members took their oath during the organization”s “Knighthood & Exaltation Ceremony” held recently at a local hotel, with Labor Attaché Manuel “Dodong” Roldan as guest speaker.
“The new members pledged to uphold and promote the ideals of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine national hero, and engender patriotism among fellow Filipinos in the Saudi capital,” Manilum told Arab News.
Several other new members, including William Jao, Cesar Saavedra, Nestor Bunggay, Elso Cabangon and Ronnie Huertas, were not present.
Certificates for promotion to 3rd degree (Knight Commander of Rizal) as well as certificates of recognition and medals from the headquarters in Manila were given to Joey Badong, Robert Fernandez, Marc “Jun” Nacion, Benny M. Quiambao, Oca Domingo, and Rene Caseda.
The OKOR is one of the biggest growing movement among overseas Filipinos, many of whom look up to Rizal as not only a national hero but the most prominent equivalent of the present-day Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).
After completing his medical studies specializing on eye surgery in Europe in the 1880s, Rizal worked in Hong Kong before returning home “for good,” as the present-day overseas Filipinos are wont to say.
In 1898, despite his refusal to lead the armed revolution for Philippine independence, he was executed by the Spaniards, who thought his pen was more dangerous than those who took up arms.
Rizal is revered as a hero not just by Filipinos
