Wellness in Culture Update: 2011 Heritage Month focuses on José Rizal, Philippine national hero

2011 Heritage Month focuses on José Rizal - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "IN LINE with the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. José Rizal this year, the 2011 Heritage Month celebration this May will feature the life and works of the Philippine national hero.

Heritage Month was officially declared open May 1 at the National Museum grand staircase, Rizal Park.

The organizing committee is headed by Regalado Trota José, the new head of National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Subcommission on Cultural Heritage, and archivist of the University of Santo Tomas Archives.

“[The goal is] to promote Philippine Heritage and to protect it,” José said. “We consider that heritage has two aspects: the tangible heritage, which are the buildings, the costumes, the artifacts; and the intangible heritage—the dances, the languages and the gestures. So we included both of these aspects in Heritage Month.”

Highlights of the month-long celebration include activities dedicated to Rizal. From April 27 to May 13, the National Library will undertake the restoration of the original editions of Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” (1887), “El Filibusterismo” (1891), “Ultimo Adios” (1896) and “Guillermo Tell” (1886)."