The FINAL STEP – Unveiling of a street co-named after Dr. José P. Rizal, the Philippines’ National Hero | Photo by Sir Michael Magsombol, KOR Astoria
WOODSIDE, NY — Beneath a bright winter sun and the steady hum of the No. 7 train overhead, Filipino American community leaders, public officials, and members of the Knights of Rizal (KOR) gathered on Friday, Decembre12, to celebrate a historic milestone: the co‑naming of a Queens street in honor of Dr. José P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines.
The ceremony, held in cold but invigorating weather beside the elevated subway tracks, marked the culmination of a community‑driven effort led by New York Assemblyman Steve Raga, the District 30 Knights of Rizal chapter, and its founder, Sir Flo Coronel. The newly co‑named street stands at the intersection of Woodside Avenue and 58th Street, roughly ten blocks from another landmark of Filipino identity in New York—the co‑named “Little Manila Avenue” at Roosevelt Avenue and 69th Street, designated two years ago. Together, the two street signs now bookend the heart of Filipino life in Woodside, Queens, where thousands of Filipino Americans reside and where dozens of Filipino restaurants, bakeries, groceries, and community hubs thrive.
A Milestone Years in the Making
According to Coronel, the co‑naming was approved in September this year by the New York City Council under the sponsorship of City Council Member Julie Won, who represents the district. Won joined the ceremony alongside Raga, US Congresswoman Grace Meng, Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile, KOR New York State Area Commander Sir Jay Cayabyab, and chapter commanders and members from all five Knights of Rizal chapters in New York.
The event was emceed by District 30 Chapter Commander Sir Luis Pedron, who guided the program with warmth and precision. Speakers reflected on Rizal’s life, his writings, and his enduring influence on movements for freedom, education, and civic responsibility around the world.
Consul General Mangalile shared a particularly poignant reflection, noting that the idea of naming a street after Rizal in New York had been discussed for more than a decade. This moment has been a long time coming, he said in his remarks. Community leaders planted the seeds years ago, and today we see the fruits of their dedication.
Mangalile said the ideals Rizal championed were universal and relevant today, such as equality, anti-colonialism, and women’s rights, which he espoused for the women of Malolos. He highlighted Rizal’s global perspective with the current generation of Filipino migrants, who he said embody the same universal traits of resilience and contributions.
A Community’s Vision Realized
For Coronel, who spearheaded the initiative along with Assemblymember Raga, the co‑naming represents both a tribute to Rizal and a recognition of the Filipino American community’s contributions to New York City.
“This street sign is a symbol of our heritage and our hope,” Coronel said. “Rizal taught us to value education, justice, and service. Today, we honor him by making his name part of the very landscape where our community lives, works, and thrives.”
City Council Member Won emphasized that the co‑naming reflects the city’s commitment to celebrating immigrant communities whose histories enrich the borough.
“Queens is one of the most diverse places in the world,” Won said. “By honoring Dr. José Rizal, we honor the Filipino community’s resilience, leadership, and cultural legacy.”
“It’s an honor to co-name an intersection in Woodside after Dr. José P. Rizal, the national hero for Filipinos in my district and beyond,” Won said. “This co-naming speaks to our ethos as a district of immigrants and honors the contributions and culture of our neighbors in the Filipino diaspora.”
Raga, the first Filipino American elected to the New York State Legislature, spoke about the significance of Filipinos’ courage and resilience. While he did not mention the other Filipino‑named street, Little Manila, which is within walking distance of each other, many believe he also played a role in it.
“From Little Manila Avenue to this new Rizal co‑naming, we are literally mapping our presence onto the city,” said a proud Filipino resident of the area. “These signs tell our story. They tell future generations that we belong here.”
Congresswoman Meng, who flew in from Washington, DC, and arrived that morning, echoed these sentiments, noting that Rizal’s ideals continue to resonate across cultures. “Rizal believed in the power of knowledge and compassion,” she said. “His legacy inspires not only Filipinos, but all who strive for justice and dignity.” She also mentioned the $1.4 million, which she secured for a Filipino Center in Queens.
A Cultural Corridor in Queens
The proximity of the two co‑named streets—Little Manila Avenue and the newly designated José P. Rizal Street Way—creates a symbolic and geographic corridor of Filipino identity in Queens. This stretch of Roosevelt Avenue has long been home to one of the largest Filipino communities on the East Coast. It is where families gather for halo‑halo on summer afternoons, where nurses and healthcare workers stop for merienda after long shifts, and where community organizations host cultural events, fundraisers, and civic programs.
From Jollibee to Krystal’s Café, from Filipino groceries to remittance centers, the area has become a cultural anchor for Filipino Americans across the region. The new co‑naming reinforces this identity, linking the community’s daily life with the legacy of the Philippines’ most revered national hero.
Honoring Rizal’s Legacy
Throughout the ceremony, speakers highlighted Rizal’s accomplishments as a writer, physician, reformist, and martyr. His novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo ignited a movement for social justice in the Philippines, inspiring generations to fight for freedom through education, civic engagement, and moral courage.
“Rizal’s message is timeless,” Area Commander Sir Jay Cayabyab said. “He believed that true change begins with knowledge and character. That message is as relevant in New York today as it was in Manila more than a century ago.”
The Knights of Rizal, a fraternal organization chartered by the Philippine government to preserve Rizal’s teachings, played a central role in the ceremony. Members from all five New York chapters stood together as the sign was unveiled, their medallions catching the sunlight.
A Day of Pride and Community
Despite the cold, the atmosphere was warm and celebratory. Attendees wrapped in coats and scarves cheered as the new sign was revealed. The rumble of the No. 7 train overhead punctuated the applause, a reminder of the neighborhood’s energy and diversity.
“This is a proud day for all Filipino Americans,” one attendee said. “Rizal belongs here—among the people, in a place where his story can inspire everyone who walks by.”
As the ceremony concluded, Coronel reflected on the long journey that led to this moment. “This is not just about honoring the past,” he told the Philippine Daily Mirror. “It’s about building a future where our community is visible, valued, and united.”
With two Filipino‑named streets now standing in Queens, the legacy of Dr. José P. Rizal—and the story of Filipino Americans in New York—has become a permanent part of the city’s landscape.
“The renaming of this intersection is a beautiful and inspiring result of our community working together toward a common goal,” said Consul General Mangalile. “It stands as a testament to the power of unity and our collective pride in our heritage.”