Continuing a long tradition of commemorating the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in Schaffhausen

Ambassador Baja and Mr Simon Stocker at the Rizal Marker  

On June 19, 2015, in the City of Schaffhausen, northeastern Switzerland, the traditional wreath laying ceremony was held to mark the 154th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine’s national hero.   The ceremony was led by Ambassador Leslie J. Baja and Schaffhausen City Councillor Simon Stocker.   

Ambassador Baja and Schaffhausen officials at the Government House 

 Schaffhausen was the first Swiss city visited by Rizal in 1887.  In Switzerland, he studied how the Swiss fought the Habsburg conquerors and translated Schiller’s novel of William Tell into Tagalog.

Ambassador Baja thanked the Schaffhausen officials for their continuing effort to propagate the memory of Rizal through the annual wreath laying ceremony and cultural activities intended to create greater awareness about the Philippines.

Ambassador Baja with Schaffhausen and Embassy officials