Experts from Germamn cleaning technology provider Kärcher are coming to the Philippines on December 14 to spearhead the cleaning of Rizal Monument at the Luneta Park in Manila.
The event will be graced by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano and representatives from the Department of Tourism.
Together with professionals from Kärcher, they will be turning over the machines to be used in cleaning the monument.
Also attending are representatives from the National Historical Commission (NHC) and the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).
Starting from 7 to 9 a.m., the activity forms part of “Kärcher Cleans the World” initiative, which has preserved global cultural and historical landmarks.
They include Mount Rushmore and the Space Needle in the United States; Matsudagawan Dam, Japan; Potemkin Stairs, Ukraine; and London Eye, England.
Before the cleanup of the Rizal Monument, a memorandum of agreement was signed recently at Rizal Park’s Visitor Center by Kärcher Philippines Marketing Manager Ramon Ramirez, NPDC Executive Director Penelope D. Belmonte and NHC Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy.
Based in Winnenden, Germany, Kärcher is a family-owned company known for its high-quality cleaning equipment and cleaning systems.
The Philippines’s national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal is pride of the Malayan race, who was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna. He led the peaceful reform against Spain’s colonial rule in the Philippines.
While he supported nonviolent revolution, Rizal was convicted of sedition and sentenced to death on December 30, 1896, at the age of 35.
He was executed by firing squad at the Bagumbayan, which is now called the Luneta Park, or the Rizal Park. This is where his iconic monument that commemorates his life has been located since its completion in 1913.
The monument consists of a standing bronze statue of Rizal, with a white granite obelisk, set on a stone base within which his remains are interred.
“This monument is dedicated by the people of the Philippine islands,” reads a part of dedication written on a plaque on the pedestal’s front.
Throughout the years, however, it has seen its fair share of wear and tear. Unfortunately, it was a far cry from its original look as stains of black dirt that formed over the decades have tainted its once regal appearance. With the scheduled cleaning, the Rizal Monument is expected to regain its former glory, which is timely to the 121st death anniversary celebration of the fallen national hero later this month.