EXCLUSIVE: PH Embassy defers to Madrid on Rizal Monument upkeep amid signs of neglect

UPDATED: The Philippine Embassy in Madrid said the upkeep of the Jose Rizal Monument falls under Spanish authorities after radar flagged visible signs of neglect for months—if not years—during a personal visit to the historic shrine.

In a statement sent after radar followed up on its initial inquiry, the Embassy said the monument’s maintenance and conservation fall under the responsibility of the Ayuntamiento de Madrid “in accordance with applicable municipal and national regulations governing public spaces and cultural heritage.”

It cited laws such as the Ley 16/1985 del Patrimonio Histórico Español and the Ley 3/2013 de Patrimonio Histórico de la Comunidad de Madrid, which mandate local authorities to protect cultural properties.

“At the municipal level, the Ayuntamiento de Madrid exercises these responsibilities through its urban and heritage management bodies,” the Embassy added. “While district authorities, including the Chamberí District, support general urban services, the conservation, restoration, and structural upkeep of monuments are handled by the central services of the Ayuntamiento, particularly those responsible for cultural heritage and public space management.”

For its part, the Embassy said it undertakes “periodic clean-up activities in the immediate surroundings” of the monument—in coordination with the Filipino community.

“With respect to the monument itself, the Embassy has formally referred maintenance concerns to the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and the Chamberí District, in accordance with regulations,” it added, noting it will “continue to follow up, including conveying the issues that have been raised.”

Longtime neglect?

A week ago, radar documented the historic site’s visible neglect: bird droppings streaking the bronze statues, nests in the monument’s corners, and plaques almost unreadable from accumulated dirt. Such conditions raise questions about its care and preservation, especially for a figure so central to Filipino history.

Inaugurated on December 5, 1996, the Madrid monument marked the centennial of Rizal’s martyrdom while celebrating his formative years in the Spanish capital, where he lived from 1882 to 1891.

The monument sits on a well-lit, landscaped 70-meter corner lot along Avenida de las Islas Filipinas in Parque de Santander, open 24/7 and free to the public. It occupies a prominent spot beside the statue of South American hero Simon Bolivar and has long served as a gathering place for the Filipino community during Rizal Day (December 30) and his birth anniversary (June 19).

Artistic significance—Florante Caedo vs. Richard Kissling

The bronze statue, sculpted by Filipino artist Florante Caedo, depicts Rizal wearing an overcoat and holding a book—modeled after his studio portrait with Marcelo del Pilar and Mariano Ponce in Madrid. The book symbolizes his writings, particularly “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo.” The Madrid monument is a quasi-replica of the “Motto Stella” monument in Luneta, Manila, though the Philippine original was sculpted by Swiss artist Richard Kissling.

Accompanying figures—a woman cradling an infant and a man reading to a boy—symbolize the importance of education, according to the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Other interpretations suggest the woman represents Inang Bayan, nurturing the nation through knowledge.

The bronze plaques on the sides feature Rizal’s final poem, “Mi último adiós” (“My Last Farewell”), and its Filipino translation, “Huling Paalam.” A plaque at the pedestal’s front reads: “To the memory of José Rizal, patriot and martyr, executed on Bagumbayan Field December 30, 1896. This monument is dedicated by the people of the Philippine Islands.” Unfortunately, dirt accumulation has rendered the text almost unreadable.

The Madrid replica differs slightly from the original. It stands 15 meters (49 feet) tall, versus 12.7 meters (42 feet) for the Manila monument. The Madrid Rizal gazes straight ahead, unlike the original’s sideways look. It also has two frontal plaques commemorating its inauguration in 1996 and celebrating 75 years of Philippines–Spain relations in 2022.

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