Knights of Rizal Bahrain Chapter Commemorates Hero’s Legacy with 12th Knighting and Awarding Ceremony

By:  Nanju Francisco

Photos by: Von Francisco

Manama: The Knights of Rizal (KOR), Kingdom of Bahrain Chapter, successfully hosted its historic 12th Knighting, Promotion, and Awarding Ceremony on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the Ramada Resort by Wyndham in Seef, Manama.

The solemn, formal event coincided with the global celebration of the 165th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal and the 128th Anniversary of Philippine Independence. Guided by the central theme, “Rizal Vision and Ideals: A Blueprint of Strength and Unity Amidst Modern Changes,” the evening served as an essential gathering for community leaders and the broader Filipino diaspora in Bahrain.

The ceremony commenced at 7:00 p.m. with a formal Processional March and a traditional Wreath Laying Ceremony. This was followed by an invocation led by Sir Raynand Gallian De Leon, KR, the singing of the Bahrain and Philippine National Anthems, and the collective recitation of the Pledge to the Flag and the Rizalian Oath.

Sir Ronnel Alberto Santos, KCR, Deputy Chapter Commander, warmly welcomed the evening’s attendees, while Chapter Commander Sir Paul Gemilla Barrios, KCR, delivered an insightful fraternal message centered on the evolution “From Honor to Responsibility.” Cultivating the intellectual spirit of the event, Regional Commander Sir Dr. Joey Villanueva, KCR, provided an inspirational talk titled “Carrying the Torch of Rizal’s Ideals in a Changing World.”

A key highlight of the evening was the introduction of the Keynote Speaker by Sir Hon. Orville Acab Ballitoc, KR, a member of the Knights of Rizal and the Labor Attaché of the Philippine Embassy. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the diplomatic mission was Hon. Charlie Florian Prenicolas, Vice Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Manama, who represented His Excellency Ambassador Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga.

In a highly moving address, Vice Consul Prenicolas expanded extensively on the core virtues that defined the national hero. Touching upon the historical insights shared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, he reminded the audience that in times of crisis, Filipinos must look back at the foundational traits of the hero, emphasizing:

“The National Historical Commission of the Philippines reminds us that in times of crisis, Filipinos would do well to look back at the virtues Rizal embodied: his unwavering commitment to the nation, his courage in adversity, his faith in the dignity of the Filipino, and his willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the common good. Rizal believed that a nation is built not merely by grand gestures, but by ordinary men and women who choose service over self-interest, unity over division, and hope over despair.”

Addressing the specific challenges and anxieties currently felt by expatriates across the Gulf region, the Vice Consul noted that the ultimate antidote to fear is a unified identity. He drew a direct line from Rizal’s nineteenth-century philosophy to the modern diaspora, adding:

“Rizal understood that before a nation could become politically free, its people had to learn to see themselves as one people. He called upon Filipinos to move beyond regional, linguistic, and social differences and recognize their shared identity and common destiny. He spoke not of Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Visayans, or Bicolanos, but of Filipinos united in purpose and aspiration.”

He highly commended the local community organizations, volunteers, and families in Bahrain who consistently open their homes and hearts to kababayan facing adversity. He noted that these actions perfectly encapsulate the hero’s ultimate hopes for his people:

“In many ways, the Filipino community overseas represents the best of what Rizal hoped the Filipino nation would become: educated, compassionate, resilient, and united.”

Vice Consul Prenicolas also detailed Rizal’s years of exile in Dapitan, pointing out that even when isolated and stripped of financial comfort, the hero actively built schools, treated patients, and upgraded local community infrastructure. He highlighted this by saying:

“Rizal himself faced uncertainty throughout his life. He endured exile, isolation, financial hardship, and persecution. Yet he never allowed fear to define him. Instead, he devoted his talents, education, and energy to uplifting others. Even in Dapitan, during exile, he built schools, improved community infrastructure, treated patients, and dedicated himself to the welfare of the people around him. He transformed adversity into service.”

Turning his attention directly to the new inductees standing before the altar of the Order, the Vice Consul issued a strict and inspiring mandate regarding the true definition of a Knight, asserting:

“To the new Knights who will be invested this evening, your admission into the Order is not merely a recognition of achievement. It is a call to service. The example of Rizal challenges each of us to become leaders in our respective communities, not through titles or positions, but through character, integrity, and a willingness to place the welfare of others alongside our own.”

Concluding his address, Vice Consul Prenicolas stated that Rizal’s true immortality does not lie simply in the grand monuments erected in his honor or the classic literature he left behind, but in his unwavering confidence in the spirit of the people:

“As we commemorate his birth anniversary, let us remember that Rizal’s greatest legacy was not simply the Noli Me Tangere or El Filibusterismo novels that he wrote or the martyrdom he endured at Bagumbayan. His greatest legacy was his faith in the Filipino people and in their ability to build a better future together.”

Following the keynote address, the Chapter executed its rigorous, time-honored ceremonial rituals, administered by a panel of distinguished officers including Sir Dr. Joey Villanueva, KCR (Regional Commander), Sir Eduardo Ona Hernandez, KCR (Area Commander), Sir Paul Gemilla Barrios, KCR (Chapter Commander), Sir Rory Solano Aguilar, KCR (Chapter Chancellor), Sir Henry Pagulayan Berbano, Jr., KOR (Chapter Pursuivant), Sir Alberto Maniago Quinto, KCR (Chairperson, Prefectural Tribunal), and Sir Carlito Mercado Bugarin, KCR (Chapter Chairperson, Council of Elders).

During the Knighting and Promotion segments, Sir Dr. Joey Villanueva, Sir Rory Solano Aguilar, and Sir Henry Pagulayan Berbano, Jr. advanced through their respective ranks, witnessed by Sir Paul Gemilla Barrios and Sir Eduardo Ona Hernandez, with Sir Edwin Sulima Gonzales, KOR, delivering a well-received acceptance speech on behalf of the night’s elevated members.

The Awarding Ceremony recognized exceptional dedication to the chapter’s civic missions, with Vice Consul Prenicolas presenting the Distinguished Service awards and the prestigious Distinguished Service Cross, assisted by Sir Dr. Joey Villanueva and Sir Paul Gemilla Barrios. Sir Carlito Mercado Bugarin, KCR, Chair of the Council of Elders, provided the final acceptance speech on behalf of the awardees.

The milestone event drew to a close with closing remarks from the Middle East & Africa Area Commander, Sir Eduardo Ona Hernandez, KGOR, followed by a unified rendition of the Rizalian Hymn and the sharing of the Fraternal Sign among all brother Knights.