THE BATCH-AT-POST RIZAL CELEBRATION BATTLE WAS ON

Paternity leave over (sigh), but not a moment too soon as far as my office was concerned, as Philippine foreign service posts all over the world were busy staging their respective Rizal 150th anniversary activities. I can proudly say the Embassy in London was not left behind in the pabonggahan.

(It is little known that bongga is a universally accepted diplomatic term)

So what my batchmates got?

San Francisco PCG

The old "wow-we-have-a-direct-descendant-of-Rizal-here-today-with-us", a great grand nephew to be precise. Not bad, not bad. But we also had a Rizal great grand nephew of our own here in the UK (third from right)

Advantage London, because if we learned nothing else from Glee, it's that those with the Bieberish look cannot lose.

Seoul PE

A donation of educational materials on Philippine culture, including Rizal's "The Monkey and the Turtle". Cool. London also had a talk on "Monkey"...

...delivered by the same author whose book the Embassy launched last June which carried the greatest of taglines "so many armpits, so little deodorant". Case closed. Although I should also add the historical note that Rizal specifically contributed "Monkey" to a London magazine, one of his few writings in English. So neener neener, Seoul.

Hong Kong PCG

A walkabout through Rizal's daily route. Historical and healthy! Thing is, we also held a historical walk in London, one that ended at Rizal's house in posh Primrose Hill (where many celebrities now live). . .

. . . and what's that? . . .

. . . Rizal's great grand nephew can play the violin, and actually serenaded everyone on Rizal's doorsteps?! Ay sobrang nakaka in-love na yang batang 'yan, ha

Agana PCG

Inauguration of a Rizal reading room at the consulate. Well played. The Embassy in London also has a Filipiniana resource center, and while we haven't officially named it yet, it does carry several great original Rizal-centric artworks. . .

. . .and since Agana brought up the term reading room, well, London PE is now compelled to mention the most famous of 'em all and...oh, no we didn't...oh, yes we did break out the book Rizal signed to gain access to the British Museum's Round Reading Room!

Phi-lip-pines! Phi-lip-pines! Phi-lip-pines!

So is there no one left? Is there no post that can match London PE's Rizal-360? Is there nowhere in the worl....

Madrid PE

(ay)

Dios mio. A concert of musical arrangements of Rizal's written works. A lecture titled "Rotten Beef and Stinking Fish". So many activities the main press release thought it best to double up on the lead photo collage. Very, very well done, Madrid. If I had to choose, my favourite would be the non-stop reading of Noli me Tangere -- an incredible display of skill, passion and strength.

In contrast, I stumbled right out of the gate and was wheezing and dizzy after this two-minute reading of a friar's letter to Rizal. Too much emote.

I take solace in the fact that, well, this is Madrid we're dealing with after all. Centuries old ties and all that. I mean, they have their own full-sized Rizal monument and a Metro station named Islas Filipinas for crying out loud.

Allthooouuughhhhhh....if I got my history right, there is a London Tube station named after Pacquiao's last British opponent and the punch that did him in...

And just like that, London PE is back in the game