Project uses Facebook to teach about Rizal

Campus Beat

Project uses Facebook to teach about Rizal

April 8, 2011, 9:01am

MANILA, Philippines — The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies of Holy Angel University and BINHI English Literacy Foundation, Inc. recently launched a project on Facebook as part of the sesquicentennial anniversary of Jose Rizal’s birth.

The project, called “Rizal 150 to 150: A 15—Day Countdown to Rizal’s 150th Birth Anniversary,” is designed to entice the Filipino youth to get reacquainted with the national hero by posting daily Rizal quotations on Facebook. The quotations are set against the backdrop of various Rizal monuments all over the archipelago.

Ian Christopher Alfonso, researcher at the Center for Kapampangan Studies, manages the project. “One challenge is to find 150 Rizal sayings,” Alfonso says. “Another is to collect photos of Rizal statues, busts and murals all over the country.”

The project was spearheaded by Lisa Tinio-Bayot, head of the BINHI Foundation and grand niece of Rizal through Saturnina Rizal-Hidalgo. The campaign drew positive responses from Facebook fans as well as scholars and historians.

Dr. Vicente Villan of the UP Diliman History Department called it unique and worthy to be converted into a coffee-table book. Also giving their full support to the project are Michael Charleston Chua, Philippine Historical Association (PHA) vice president and DLSU history professor; Dr. Celestina Boncan, former president of PHA; Jonathan Capulas Balsamo, PHA press relations officer and PUP history professor; and Dr. Zeus Salazar, former chair of the UP Diliman History Department.

Those who have photographs of any public statue of Rizal in schools, municipal halls, and parks are encouraged to submit them for posting in the “Rizal 150 to 150” campaign. Email them to ianalfonso7@gmail.com or personally submit a copy at the Center for Kapampangan Studies for scanning.

Those who want to receive a daily dose of Rizal quote and picture, go to the “Rizal 150 to 150” fan page on Facebook and simply click “Like.”