VISIT OF TWO RIZAL DESCENDANTS IN EUROPE

Source: http://www.mnnetherlands.com/categories/articles/225/225_visitoftworizaldescendant.php

Lucien Spittael

Belgium-December 2009

The great Malayan, Jose Rizal, is still very alive in the Rizal family.

Last October I gave a two hour's lecture "Rizal in Europe” at the National Historical Institute. The same lecture was given to the Rizal family.

Mrs. Malou Villaroman, at a Rizal marker in Paris, France on 31 December 2009. (Photo Sir Leo Mojica, Paris)

Mrs Malou Villaroman at the Rizal marker in Ghent, Belgium

A descendant of Rizal's eldest sister Saturnina, Mrs. Malou Villaroman, asked for more information about the hotel Noailles in Marseilles where Rizal stayed in 1882. As soon as she found out that there was no Rizal marker at this location she informed me about a visit to Europe.

At the end of 2009, Mrs. Villaroman and her daughter Beatriz came to Europe and visited France and Belgium. With the help of the Knights of Rizal in Paris she started the procedure for the installation of a marker in Marseilles.

Mrs. Malou Villaroman at the Rizal marker in Brussels, Belgium

Mrs. Malou Villaroman and daughter Beatriz at my residence

From Paris Mrs. Villaroman came to Belgium. El Filibusterismo Chapter had the honour to welcome her at my house.

Before lunch Mrs Villaroman leafed through my Rizalian library consisting of more than 300 titles and we talked about Jose Rizal. After lunch we visited the Rizal markers in Ghent and Brussels.

Mrs. Villaroman left very satisfied Europe and knows that Rizal is also still alive in Europe.