The Knights of Rizal (KOR) Sydney Chapter/ANZO Region has recently created a new chapter in Northern Sydney. With this additional chapter, KOR Sydney Chapter/ANZO now has a total of five chapters in Australia another two chapters in New Zealand making it a total of seven chapters operating in the Australia, New Zealand and Oceania Region (ANZO), reported Mr Francis delos Santos. Knights of Rizal deputy commander, Sydney chapter.
The North Sydney chapter is part of the expansion plans of Knights of Rizal Sydney Chapter under ANZO Regional Commander Mr Cesar Bartolome and Eastern Sydney Area Comander Mr Danny Peralta.
The new KOR Northern Sydney Chapter is headed by Mr. Bob Alipalo, was promoted from a second degree Knight Officer of Rizal (KOR) to the third degree Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR) immediately after assuming the Chapter Commander role of the KOR Northern Sydney Chapter.
The new KOR Northern Sydney Chapter was officially chartered on 18 August 2019 at the Beatrice Taylor Hall in Hornsby, NSW. The combined chartering and knighting ceremonies were jointly participated by the new Northern Sydney Chapter and Western Sydney Chapter. Knighted to the first degree Knight of Rizal (KR) were Eddie Irinco, Arturo Marco de Guia, Rado Gathalian, Jay Christian Sy, Roquito Jacob Enriquez, Gerardo Luis Enriquez, Jensen Perez, Miguel Estacio and Eddie Rick Pamilar.
Mr Paul Watson who belongs to the Western Sydney Chapter was included in the knighting ceremonies while Mr Peter Rudd elevated to the rank of Knight Officer of Rizal (KOR) is Peter Rudd.
Mr Bing Rana, KGOR, Past Regional Commander, emceed and moderated the event while Jinky Marsh, of Kababaihang Rizalista Inc. (KRI) led the singing of both the Philippine and Australian National Anthems.
Other participants in the program were Ralph Posadas, KCR, Regional Pursuivant invocation; Jeffrey Mendoza, KOR, Chapter Exchequer, recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and Danny Peralta, welcoming attendees . A special message delivered by the Honourable Consul General Aian Caringal who came to Sydney all the way from Canberra.
The Knights’ rituals were officiated by Cesar Bartolome, KGOR – ANZO Regional Commander. He was assisted in conducting the rituals by Francis (Boy) de los Santos, KCR, Deputy Chapter Commander Sydney Chapter and ANZO Regional Chancellor, Max Lopez, KCR, Deputy ANZO Regional Commander, Bing Rana, KGOR, Past ANZO Regional Commander, Fiel Santos, KGOR, Chairman-Prefectural Tribunal,Jeffrey Mendoza, KOR, Sydney Chapter Exchequer and Aris Bernabe, KCR of the Sydney Chapter acting as Warden.
As part of the afternoon activities, KOR Sydney Chapter Historian, Professor and Lecturer Floro Quibuyen, KCR; PhD was awarded with a Distinguished Service Medal, with Danny Peralta, receiving the award for Mr Quibuyen.
The new Chapter’s Pursuivant Rado Andaya Gatchalian, KR gave an inspiring speech expressing his gratitude of being part of the inaugural board of Trustees of the KOR’s Northern Sydney Chapter.
Deputy Mayor of Hornsby Shire Councilor Vince del Gallego gave his warm and a succinct message citing the Knights of Rizal’s important role to play in his electorate. Another honoured guest from Sokka Gakkai Organization’s Oceania Region Deputy Director, Mr. Hans Van der Bent also spoke briefly about his human rights work linking his organization with the same kind of advocacy that Dr. Jose Rizal started while in exile. Additionally, Mr. Van der Bent mentioned Rizal being a recognized model for the youth at their Sokka Gakkai headquarters in Japan who encouraged peace and promoted education.
Other attendees who showed up at the event included members of KOR counterpart organization, Kababaihang Rizalista Inc. Sydney Chapter (KRI) led by its President Michelle Baltazar, Blacktown Councilor Linda Geronimo Santos who is also the adviser of the KRI Inc., and families and friends of the Knights of Rizal officers and members.
