Called Sentro Rizal, its main purpose is to foster Philippine heritage across the world in the same way the Alliance Française, Instituto Cervantes and Goethe-Institut do for their home countries France, Spain and Germany respectively.
Its branches will also be established in other places overseas where there are large Filipino communities, especially Filipino children who need to be educated about their native country's history, culture and language.
The launch of Sentro Rizal is part of a series of historic celebrations initiated by the Philippine embassy in Madrid: the 113th year of Independence today, the 150th birth anniversary of Rizal on June 19 and the 9th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day on June 30.
Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, was invited to be the guest of honor at the Spanish capital because of his untiring efforts in enhancing bilateral relations through cultural exchange, dialogue and cooperation.
Sentro Rizal was created under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, authored by Angara and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara."
