MANILA, Philippines - To commemorate the closing of Jose Rizal’s sesquicentennial birth anniversary, the Ateneo de Manila University is holding a cultural gala entitled “Brindis,” slated today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater. Brindis, which is a Spanish word meaning toast, is a two-hour gala which will feature music, poetry and theater based on Rizal’s life as a hero, writer, scholar, visionary, and nation builder. Brindis is also slated as a multi-sectoral effort which will bring together the Ateneo’s artistic groups in performance. The performance will feature a tableau which celebrates Rizal’s vision for the nation and his people.
Last June 17, 2011 the university began its celebration of Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary with “A Legacy of Service: Rizal for the 21st Century,” which was a series of academic lectures, cultural presentations and historical exhibits. To cap off the year of celebration, Brindis is a befitting toast to the man we call our national hero, to whom we owe much of the freedom we enjoy today. For more information, contact the Ateneo History department at 426-6001 local 5240 or 5241.