Filipinos in Spain are proud to be able to find places that reflect the Philippines in Madrid.
A metro station named Islas Filipinas serves as the entrance and exit to the street called Avenida Filipinas in Madrid.
Right in the middle of the Avenida is a replica of the Luneta statue of Filipino national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
“This is a kind of point of reference for Filipinos here. Ang tawag namin dito ‘Little Luneta’. The street in front of us is called Islas Filipinas. There’s a subway there called Islas Filipinas, and 2 blocks away, we have a church called Sto. Niño de Cebu,” said tour guide Exequiel Sabarillo. He is also the chapter commander of the Knights of Rizal.
The Philippine Embassy recently issued a brochure titled “Rizal’s Madrid: A walking tour of places associated with Dr. Rizal.”
The brochure contains 11 places that every Filipino tourist should visit in Madrid.
“Actually, di namin alam na may rebulto siya dito. Hinanap lang namin dito yung Islas Filipinas na lugar,” said Myrna Pablo.
With information from a press release of
Gene Alcantara, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
