Seattle's Filipino Community Nearly Lets Rizal Day Slip

This year's Rizal Day celebration is getting far from its realization. But this Seattle Filipinos sounds ridiculous. Strange as it may seem, it will be our greatest mistake not to hold the yearly traditional festivities in honor of the Filipino martyr. "What about Rizal Day?" has become the current question of Filipinos and it is surprising that nobody can say something about it, not to mention even the patriotic organization of Filipinos, not the Filipino student group nor the Filipino business men. Who else is going to take the burden, we wonder? Nobody dares to and no one would, for the simple reason that leadership of such a movement carries with it a financial responsibility beyond the grasp of a single man. We have profited from past experiences and that is enough. Truly, in one way or another we just finance it, but it is equally true that we must avoid excess and unnecessary expense; to avoid waste and for our best interest. Our trouble is we think too much of a celebration, too much that it is beyond our purse to do and we find no alternative of doing it. Let it be said that it is not the way we celebrate the occasion that counts but the spirit that we give to it. For best or for worst we just find a way to celebrate Rizal Day. We just pay homage to the memory of Rizal who, in his day, offered and did his best for us and our country. It would be needless to stress the importance of Rizal Day. Our students can best answer this call for patriotic response if other Filipino groups cannot fail to cooperate, by giving the simplest program imaginable that thoughtful Filipinos may gather to honor and respect the significance of the day. Let us do our best.