Dr. Jose P. Rizal Way co-named in Woodside, NY
By Marivir R. Montebon
New York - There's a Dr. Jose P. Rizal Way in Woodside, Queens. It's spot on 58th Street and Woodside Avenue, right across St. Sebastian Church.
December 12, 2025 was a historic day, albeit painfully cold as Filipinos in the diaspora gathered to unveil the street co-named alongside 58th Street. Thanks to the initiative and persistence of Knights of Rizal District 30 founder Flo Coronel, Assemblymember Steven Raga and Council Member Julie Won, this happened.
After the unveiling of the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Way in Woodside. (Photo by www.filipinosinthe6ix.com)
L-R: Amb. Mario De Leon (Ret.), himself a KOR member; Sir Flo Coronel, KCR, of KORD30; Council Member Julie Wonof CD26; Assemblymember Steven Ragaof AD30; Sir Senen Mangalile, KGOR, Phil. Consul-General in NY; and Sir Joselito Jay Cayabyab, KGOR, Area Commdr. of NY State and incoming Dep. Supreme Pursuivant.
Consul General in New York Senen Mangalile summed it all up in his appreciation speech, collaborative efforts of government and local organizations get things done. Assemblymember Steven Raga, in his speech, said that Dr. Rizal could be best remembered and emulated by his courage, especially in current times.
Woodside, also gaining to be known as Little Manila, has been a traditional enclave of Filipino residents and Filipino-owned businesses in New York. Dr. Jose P. Rizal, an opthalmologist, was a prolific novelist and poet whose writings helped usher the Philippine revolution for independence against Spain. He was found guilty of treason by the Spanish government and was shot by a firing squad in Luneta Park in Manila in December 1896. He was 35 years old.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Way in Woodside.
L-RL Mercedes Jennings (Office of Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris), Congresswoman Grace Meng, Councilmember Julie Won, sponsor of the Council Resolution for the street co-naming, and Senate Assemblymember Steven Raga during the street co-naming event.
Coronel, in an interview, said that KOR would have wanted to set up a monument in honor of Dr. Jose J. Rizal but because of budget and time constraints, the plan had been temporarily shelved. The street co-naming on 58th Street and Woodside Avenue is so far, the most practical thing to do, he said.
In August 2020, 70th Street in Woodside had been co-named Little Manila through the initiative of young artists led by Jaclyn Reyes, Ezra Undag, and Xenia Diente. #
Watch Conversations with MM for the video coverage of the event here
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