MANILA, Philippines—A gold-plated medallion or coin whose design was approved by descendants of Jose Rizal will be struck and issued within the year to commemorate the national hero’s 150th birth anniversary on June 19.
The commemorative medal, 35 mm in diameter or about the size of a P1 coin, was designed by the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Foundation Inc., whose members belong to the Rizal clan, and will be issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in coordination with the BSP’s Mind and Refinery Operations Department.
Lawyer Ramoncita Reyes, the foundation’s trustee and corporate secretary, announced the production of the coin on the sidelines of a press conference held on Wednesday at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to kick off the activities for Rizal’s birth anniversary.
She e-mailed a copy of the final design to reporters on Thursday.
Reyes, a great-granddaughter of Rizal’s eldest sister Saturnina, said the medals would be known in numismatics, or the study and collection of currency, as “brilliant uncirculated,” meaning they would not be legal tender, of limited issue and intended to be kept in mint condition.
The obverse or front side of the coin features an image of the hero, his name and the years of his birth and death. The reverse or back side features horizontal lines and a sheen that symbolize sunrise, Rizal’s signature and the words “Adios Patria Adorada,” the opening line of Rizal’s poem “Mi Ultimo Adios” which he composed before his execution on Dec. 30, 1896.
Reyes said the coin’s design was conceived by another Rizal clan member, Marlene Jacinto, a freelance graphic designer and a descendant of Rizal’s older and only brother, Paciano. In recent months, the fourth-generation descendants of Rizal’s siblings have been actively engaged in activities promoting the hero’s legacy.
The sunrise, according to Reyes, depicts the time of the hero’s death and also the hope that comes with the beginning of a new day.
The “Adios Patria Adorada” line could be interpreted as a message of hope instead of Rizal’s sadness at having to bid his beloved country goodbye.
“He was not just saying goodbye, he was actually wishing his beloved country Godspeed. His ‘adios’ could have been from the Spanish expression, ‘vaya con Dios’ (go with God) and ‘fare well.’ He was hoping the country would fare well. That is what we want to convey, especially to the young people, that’s it’s all about hope and his love of country,” Reyes said.
Reyes said the Rizal clan would be holding its own private celebration on the sesquicentennial of the hero’s birth. She said the clan was grateful for the numerous year-long activities sponsored by the government and the private sector.
“We’re honored and happy that it’s being celebrated. We hope there would be more activities in the coming years and more to tell all Filipinos that Rizal remains relevant even in modern times,” she said.