National hero Jose Rizal honored on his 160th birth anniversary

Local officials honored national hero Jose Rizal on Saturday, June 19, on the occasion of his 160th birth anniversary.

At the Rizal Monument in Luneta, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led the wreath laying ceremony on Saturday morning, according to a report by Carlo Mateo on Dobol B TV.

Also in attendance was National Park Executive Committee director Cecille Romero.

The military also held a 21-gun salute to honor Rizal.

Traffic within the area was rerouted for the ceremony. Authorities closed a portion of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to T.M. Kalaw Street.

Meanwhile, members of the religious group Rizalistas waited until the ceremony ended to offer flowers to Rizal.

Rizal, a medical doctor, was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. He drew attention to the abuses of the Spanish colonizers with his writings which led to his deportation to Dapitan and later on, his execution at Luneta on December 30, 1896. —KG, GMA News