20 May 2019 LONDON—The Philippine Embassy in London marks the launch of Sentro Rizal London with an exhibition on Filipino reformist Jose Rizal’s ten-month visit in London.  The exhibit, To Retrieve What Has Been Lost: Rizal as a Historian, opens to the public from 27 May to 25 June 2019 at the Exhibition Hall of the chancery.  This pioneering exhibition is a collaboration between Sentro Rizal London, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and Project Saysay.

The exhibition explores Jose Rizal’s stay in the English capital to rewrite the history of the Philippines and the Filipino people.  After securing permission to work and study at the British Library, Rizal poured over Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Events in the Philippine Islands), which he had first heard of when he was still in the Philippines.  Rizal studied and copied de Morga’s book verbatim.  He also annotated extensive passages of the book to correct de Morga’s misconceptions about the Philippines and the Filipinos.

Apart from de Morga’s book, Rizal also studied and read other books in the British library on the Philippines.  It was during the course of his undertaking that Rizal began to conceive the idea of a truly national Filipino identity.

“Through this exhibition, we hope to inspire second generation Filipino-Britons and Filipino-Irish to reconnect with their Filipino roots and to rediscover their Filipino heritage,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo.

Research and the development of the exhibition panels was undertaken by Project Saysay, a Philippine-based volunteer-led organisation that aims to spread the ideals and values of great Filipinos.  Last year, Project Saysay, together with Ibarra Watches, distributed posters bearing the words of Filipino heroes to all Sentros Rizal around the world.

To Retrieve What Has Been Lost: Rizal as a Historian is the first exhibition mounted by the Philippine Embassy under the Sentro Rizal programme.

Event Details:

Event Type: Exhibition

Exhibition dates: 27 May to 25 June 2019 (Monday to Friday), 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Venue: Exhibition Hall, Sentro Rizal London, 10 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG

Admission: FREE

Organiser: Sentro Rizal London, Project Saysay

Contact Person: Stacy Danika Alcantara-Garcia (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)