the lighter side

(written June 16, 2008)

Last Saturday, off to the northern part of Czech Republic we went, approximately 64 km (39.7 miles) northwest of Prague, to the historic and enchanting city of Litomerice. I was thrilled to experience a touch of our own history in our present travel to this far-away continent of Europe, and was the one who prodded that this would be our next weekend destination when I heard from the cute that we can find the statue of Jose P. Rizal (1861-1896), our Philippine national hero, there. His close friend, teacher and historian Ferdinand Blumentritt, though a German, lived and taught in this town from 1877-1913.

She was not sure about it, but we could go on an adventure. After the car was parked in the city plaza, I went hurriedly around looking for the statue, but it’s nowhere to be found. There was only this monument of olden times, the centerpiece of the main square, chained around with four statues placed in each corner of a square area. But Rizal was not one of them. On another part there was a fountain, and no statue. It must be somewhere.

I can imagine Dr. Jose Rizal with his friend Prof. Blumentritt sitting on one of the benches of the main square, chatting on subjects of history, happenings of their respective places, or whatever that they share in common

So on to our search we pursued. We passed by their museum, on one side of the main square, which was closed – for the weekend? (A thought flashed, Could it be inside there?) And crossed the road fronting the plaza. We were now in front a beautiful church, which is at the intersection of the main road we crossed and the one we were traversing which was from the museum. Going straight ahead, we came to another striking piece of beauty – a second church. I can just show the pictures (in another post: The Architecture of Litomerice … in time please) but sad to say we can’t identify them.

Reaching a dead end, we went back our way to the main road, not giving up on our main objective. No, we had to find it, though hope was waning, and it seemed our search was for naught. It was then a welcome happy news when the announcement came that Mart already found our hero. And lo!

I saw him, in the form of a sculptured bust, attached to the wall of the hotel terrace fronting the plaza, with inscriptions in Czech. (When I’ll have its translation I’ll post it in this blog.)

Could we be prouder! Filipinos in Litomerice posing with their beloved hero (Could you spot the bust of Jose Rizal on the left side?)

The bust of Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal displayed even just as small as that was already a great monument in our hearts, proud that we have such a brilliant multi-talented genius for our national hero - a nationalist, ophthalmic surgeon, journalist, novelist, poet, linguist (22 languages), historian, inventor, musician, scientist, sculptor, theologian, and an expert swordsman as well, among others - schooled in Europe and honored in one of its most beautiful cities. Ahhh but as for me, if only for this, and if I could be allowed to be subjective, it is the most beautiful place in this part of the globe!

There is a part 2 to this search, we’ve found out something more done by (and in) Litomerice to honor our hero, and much much more than what we could expect. For our out-of-the-blue find, watch out for a later post: Jose Rizal in Litomerice Part 2.

(Note to my friends: I hope you don’t mind my late post, I’m just placing the date when I wrote this. Due to some unavoidable reasons and technicalities most especially regarding the pictures - from transferring to the pc, resizing, what others more - my actual posting is so delayed But I still am “trying hard” to catch up! though resigned and have really to pray for the grace of acceptance when at times I’m bound to be affected by it… So please, shall we just go on? From now on, I’ll just put the date when the post was written.Thanks!)

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