A bronze bust of national Philippine hero Dr José Protacio Rizal.
Artist: Haldane S Holman
Artwork description
This large bronze bust of Dr Jose Protacio Rizal on a striated sandstone plinth faces east towards the Sydney Dental Hospital. Dr Rizal wears a collared coat over a collared shirt and cravat. The bust was a gift to the City of Sydney from John Holland (Philippines) in 1995. The bust occupies the entire base of the plinth.
It is one of a series of busts of famous Latin American heroes displayed at Ibero American Plaza. The series on Chalmers Street commemorates the contribution of Spanish and Portuguese speaking people to the history of Australia.
More information
Dr. José Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda (1861–1896) is the national hero of the Philippines where the anniversary of his death, 30 December, is now a holiday. He was a poet and multilinguist as well as an amateur architect, artist, educator, amateur economist, amateur ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, mythologist, internationalist, naturalist, novelist, ophthalmologist, physician, propagandist, sculptor and amateur sociologist.
Rizal advocated reform by peaceful means rather than by violent revolution. In this sense, he was Asia’s first modern non-violent proponent of political reforms, and a forerunner of Gandhi. He helped create a new climate of thought throughout Asia leading to the attrition of colonialism and the emergence of new Asiatic nations by the end of World War 2.
The colonial authorities in the Philippines did not favour these reforms, even if they were more openly endorsed by Spanish intellectuals like Morayta, Unamuno, Pi and Margal. When he returned to Manila in 1892, Rizal formed a civic movement called La Liga Filipina. This league advocated these moderate social reforms through legal means but it was disbanded by the governor. At that time, he had already been declared an enemy of the state by the Spanish authorities because of his incendiary novels.
Inscription
A plaque on the sandstone plinth reads:
Dr José Protacio Rizal (1861-1896)
National hero of the Philippines
Born on 19 June, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna, and died as a martyr on 30 December 1896.
Dr Rizal was the first to inspire Filipinos to regard themselves as a nation and to cherish the Philippines as their fatherland. He wrote two inspiring novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
A gift to the citizens of Sydney from John Holland (Philippines) 1995
Sculptor: Haldane Holman (A.S.T.C.)
National hero of the Philippines
Born on 19 June, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna, and died as a martyr on 30 December 1896.
Dr Rizal was the first to inspire Filipinos to regard themselves as a nation and to cherish the Philippines as their fatherland. He wrote two inspiring novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
A gift to the citizens of Sydney from John Holland (Philippines) 1995
Sculptor: Haldane Holman (A.S.T.C.)
