Arnaldo blogs about the bust relief of the Philippine hero Jose Rizal that was erected last year outside the Asian Civilisations Museum.


Most Singaporeans would not be familiar with Jose Rizal, but our Filipino friends hold him in the highest regard as a national hero who sparked off the Philippine Revolution. During his first travel to Spain in 1882, he made a stopover in Singapore. Arnaldo writes:

His diary entries during his first trip [en route to Barcelona] was most useful, believe it or not you could still find the places he visited just by reading his diary. Most of the places he visited are still standing, I think with the only exception of the hotel [Hotel de la Paix] where he lodged [Peninsula Hotel today], where he read German magazines while waiting for his diner that he complain, took forever to be served. The Masonic lodge sits right across the road where Hotel de la Paix is located [his lodging was certainly arranged by his Masonic connection], one of the three principal hotels during the time of his visit. The Raffles hotel was said to be the finest.

You can read about the bust of Jose Rizal here. On the topic of the Philippines, you should also check out the Philippine-themes exhibitions at the Asian Civilisations Museum (Land of the Morning: The Philippines and its People) and the Singapore Art Museum (Thrice Upon a Time: A Century of Story in the Art of the Philippines)