If you’ve ever taken a road trip just outside Metro Manila and ended up in a place with mountains, waterfalls, and street signs that suddenly stop apologising for traffic, there’s a good chance you were in Rizal Province. And guess what? The whole province gets its birthday on June 11, which is honestly pretty cool considering it’s named after the national hero himself.
So, what exactly is Rizal Province Day? Glad you asked.
Let’s go back to June 11, 1901, when the Americans were still busy redrawing the country’s borders. They created a new province just east of Manila. They named it after Dr. José Rizal because if anyone deserves a province, a park, a monument, a coin, and roughly half the things in every history book, it’s him.
Since then, the province has taken this day each year to mark its founding. Local governments typically organise short programs, which may include a parade, a wreath-laying ceremony at a Rizal monument, or a student performance. Officials give speeches, and schools often organise small contests or presentations. Some towns set up tents or host local events, while others keep it simple and stick to official ceremonies.
You probably won’t find massive crowds or high-energy street parties, but there is meaning in the way people observe the day. It is a chance to pause, think about where the province came from, and reflect on the man whose name is written on every government office and welcome sign. Rizal stood for education, dignity, and national pride. And on this day, the province gets a moment to carry those values forward.
So if you find yourself in Rizal on June 11 and you spot a few extra banners or a small gathering in the town plaza, now you know why. It is a day to look back, even just a little, and take stock of where you stand and what it represents.
[Photo by Nomark Fetizanan]
