21 JUNE 2017 – Ambassador Joselito Jimeno and City of Wassen Mayor Kristin Schnider led the Philippine and Swiss flag hoisting ceremony on a mountain top in the City of Wassen in Canton Uri where the only Rizal Park in Switzerland can be found. Members of the Filipino Community and personnel of the Philippine Embassy sang the national anthem while the Philippine flag was being raised. Both Philippine and Swiss flags flew proudly on the mountain top.

Philippine and Swiss flag raising ceremony in Wassen

Ambassador Jimeno and Mayor Schnider also laid a wreath on the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal following the flag hoisting. In his remarks, Amb. Jimeno recalled the special bond between Dr. Rizal and four cities of Switzerland, namely: Bern, Geneva, Schaffhausen and Wassen. He noted how impressed Dr. Rizal was with Swiss history, and how this inspired the national hero’s ideological thinking which led to the organization of La Liga Filipina and the Philippine revolution. 

(Top) Ambassador Jimeno addresses the guests in Wassen

(Bottom) Honorable Mayor Schnider and Ambassador Jimeno during the wreath-laying ceremony

Amb. Jimeno also recalled the connection between Dr. Rizal and Switzerland’s legendary hero, William Tell. Amb. Jimeno also noted that Swiss sculptor Richard Kissling who sculpted William Tell’s monument in the City of Wassen was the same sculptor that made Dr. Rizal’s monument in Manila.

City of Wassen Mayor Schnider acknowledged that Wassen has a special place in the hearts of Filipinos in Switzerland. She added that her community’s relations with the Philippines is “made of stone”, noting that the granite used for Dr. Rizal’s monument in Manila was from the Rieswald quarry in Wassen.

Ms. Anette Hug, a Swiss author, also said Dr. Rizal serves a big inspiration to Filipinos, and noted how poignant Dr. Rizal’s translation of William Tell’s play was in Tagalog.

The Rizal bust in Wassen was donated by the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).  It was unveiled in 2014. The area where the flags were installed and where the Rizal Park is located form part of the famous Gotthard “hiking trail” frequented by both Swiss locals and foreign visitors.

City of Wassen and Canton of Uri officials including Mr. Iwan Stampfli-Püntener, Secretary to the Council; Mr. Marcel Schmutz, Councillor in Charge of Finances; Mr. Heinz Baumann, Manager of the Open-Air Museum; and Mr. Josef Schuler, Head of the Culture Department, Cantonal Government of Uri also joined the event. END