José Rizal Heritage Award

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José Rizal Heritage Award

Inspired by Rizal’s profound commitment to social change, our philanthropic initiatives aim to make a meaningful impact on communities in need.

Welcome to the José Rizal Heritage Organization, where the spirit of Dr. José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realondo’s dedication to uplifting the disadvantaged lives on. The José Rizal Heritage Fund is fueled by the belief that positive change begins with compassion and action. We channel the essence of Rizal’s work, dedicating ourselves to projects that empower the underprivileged, echoing his

vision of a more just and equitable world. In honor of those who embody the principles of José Rizal, we proudly present the Jose Rizal Heritage Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes individuals worldwide whose actions resonate with the ideals and legacy of Rizal. Join us in celebrating these deserving individuals, united in their commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of others. At the José Rizal Heritage Fund, we strive to cultivate a legacy of compassion, justice, and positive change, inspired by the timeless values of José Rizal. Together, let’s continue the journey towards a brighter and more inclusive future for all.

10/04/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

W***y Kernen, Catalino Jr Oabel, Avelino M Francisco Ill, Ronald Dalida

20/02/2026

An evening of honor, heritage, and culture.
We celebrate the legacy of José Rizal at the José Rizal Heritage Award Gala Night where history lives on and excellence is recognized.
Stephan Urs Breu Estella Ruppert

19/02/2026

SAVE THE DATE! 😀
Saterday, October3, 2026

15/12/2025

Article in Roots&Wings Filipino Magazine in Europe about the José Rizal Heritage Award Gala 2025.

https://www.rawmags.online/

04/11/2025

SMNI Newsblast report on José Rizal Heritage Award Gala 2025.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1324259576092754

27/10/2025

The newly knighted Sir Omer Kobiljak, KR, a young swiss tenor, sings an italian canzonetta live at the José Rizal Heritage Award Gala 2025 where he was honored for his achievements in Culture and Music.

27/10/2025

Omer Kobiljak
José Rizal Heritage Award Laureate 2025
Cultural Achievements and Music

Omer Kobiljak is a Swiss tenor with an international operatic career, known for his versatile repertoire and expressive stage presence. He began vocal training at a young age, studying under Davide Thorner at the Winterthur Conservatory while still in school. Since 2010, he has regularly attended masterclasses with Professor Jane
Thorner-Mengedoth and Jens Fuhr, further refining his technique and artistry.

His early international breakthrough came in 2013 when he performed in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Salzburg Festival. In 2017, he made his debut at La Scala in Milan in the same opera, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Kobiljak was a member of the International Opera Studio at the Zurich Opera House during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, where he sang roles including Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer, 1. Gralsritter in Parsifal, 2. Jude in Salome, Gastone in La
Traviata, Paolo in Die Gezeichneten, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Abdallo in Nabucco.

Since the 2019/20 season, he has been a member of the Zurich Opera House ensemble, performing major roles such as Cassio in Otello, Macduff in Macbeth, Ismaele in Nabucco, and Alfredo in La Traviata. In 2022, he appeared at the Bregenz Festival as Principe Alexis in Siberia and Yamadori in Madama Butterfly.

Recent highlights include portraying Gabriele Adorno in Simon Boccanegra at Zurich Opera House (2024), Froh in Das Rheingold at Opéra de Monte-Carlo (2025), and Narraboth in Salome at Zurich Opera House (2025).

Throughout his career, Kobiljak has built a reputation for powerful vocal performances and compelling interpretations of both lyric and dramatic tenor roles. His artistic journey reflects a combination of technical excellence, musical sensitivity, and dedication to continuous growth.

With performances across leading European opera houses and festivals, Kobiljak continues to establish himself as an accomplished tenor, known for his rich tone and versatility on stage.

27/10/2025

Christian and Christine Schneider
Both José Rizal Heritage Award Laureates 2025
Humanitarian Services

Christian and Christine Schneider are Swiss humanitarian workers and founders of the Onesimo ministries in the Philippines. Both grew up in Basel, where they were actively involved in children’s and youth work through their local YMCA. Christian trained as a registered medical nurse and development worker, completing a two year diploma in cross-cultural communication and biblical studies in England.

During a study visit to Manila in 1987, he encountered the severe poverty of street children and slum communities, an experience that profoundly impacted him. In 1988, he moved to Manila and lived for four years as a volunteer in the slums, learning the
language and daily life of his neighbors while working with the organization Servants to Asia’s Urban Poor. In 1992, Christian married Christine Tanner, a primary school teacher, and in 1994
they returned to Manila with their young daughter. Over the following nine years, they lived with their two children in several of Manila’s slum communities. From this experience, and in collaboration with Filipino partners, they founded the Onesimo
ministries. Today, Onesimo consists of two NGOs, the Onesimo Foundation Incorporated and Onesimo Bulilit Foundation, providing education, rehabilitation, and support to hundreds of street children, youth, and their families each year.

After returning to Switzerland in 2003, the Schneiders continued to work part-time in their respective professions while dedicating one to five months annually to supporting and expanding the work of Onesimo in the Philippines. They remain deeply engaged in fundraising and advocacy for the poor, giving lectures and
publishing articles, particularly in their magazine Servants News, which published its 103rd issue in 2025.

Their book Himmel und Strassenstaub (English title: Rubble & Redemption) was first published in 2011 and is now in its fifth edition. Today, Onesimo operates in more than 40 locations, offering school support programs for street families, 24-hour
rehabilitation communities for street children and youth, agricultural training on its farm, and camps for children and families from slum areas. In 2023, Onesimo expanded its work to Cebu, the Philippines’ second-largest city, where around 50 vulnerable out-of-school youth are supported in small community settings through the successful two-year Church-Based Ministry program, giving them a second chance at life.

27/10/2025

Prof. Dr. Elmar Kuhn
José Rizal Heritage Award Laureate 2025
Humanitarian Services

Elmar Kuhn is an Austrian theologian, ethicist, and academic leader whose career spans education, interreligious dialogue, and humanitarian engagement. Holding a doctorate and master’s degrees in theology, he has combined scholarly research, teaching, and practical initiatives in social and religious fields for over three decades.

He currently serves as Director of the CiN Interfaith Institute in Vienna and Visiting Professor of Ethics and Interreligious Dialogue at Peaceland University in Enugu, Nigeria, as well as Visiting Professor of Medical Ethics at the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences in Nigeria.

He is a member of the editorial board of the Science Publishing Group’s humanities and social sciences section. Since 2011, he has been Secretary General of Christians Help in Need, an international aid organization committed to religious freedom and humanitarian
support. Previously, he headed the Development Department for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in the Archdiocese of Vienna and was a key figure in designing and implementing master’s programs in interreligious competence and nonprofit
strategy development at the University College of Teacher Education of Christian Churches in Austria.

Kuhn’s earlier roles include positions as spokesperson for World Vision Austria, press officer for Light for the World, director of personnel development at Volksfürsorge Jupiter Allgemeine Versicherung, and founder of a psychosocial center in Vienna. He
also worked as a social counselor and coach with his own practice.
He is an active member of numerous academic and interfaith organizations, including serving as International President of the Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations, Chairman of the Arbitration Court of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at Johann Heinrich
Pestalozzi Christian University.
Kuhn is widely published on topics of religious freedom, ethics, interfaith dialogue,
and human rights. His lectures have taken him to international conferences,
universities, and United Nations events, where he addresses issues such as
narratives of peace, interreligious cooperation, and the ethical foundations of global
society.
His career reflects a unique combination of academic scholarship, interfaith
leadership, and humanitarian advocacy, making him a respected voice in theological
and ethical discourse worldwide.

27/10/2025

François Antony
José Rizal Heritage Award Laureate 2025
Educational Services

François Antony has built a multifaceted career as a teacher, politician, and entrepreneur, contributing significantly to the community of Differdange, Luxembourg. His professional life reflects a strong dedication to social justice, education, and
community development.

As a teacher, Antony devoted much of his career to working with immigrant and refugee children in Luxembourg schools. Recognizing the unique challenges these students faced, including language barriers, cultural adjustment, and the emotional
difficulties of displacement, he went beyond traditional teaching duties to provide guidance and personal support. His approach combined academic instruction with emotional and social assistance, helping students feel heard, understood, and empowered to succeed. Through this work, he demonstrated a deep commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

In addition to his contributions to education, Antony owned and operated a roofing business, which gave him firsthand experience as an entrepreneur. Running this business required both technical expertise and management skills, providing him with a practical understanding of the challenges faced by local small business owners.

This experience informed his perspectives on economic issues and community development, shaping his later political work. Antony has been an active member of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) and is a well-known figure in Differdange politics. He has served as a municipal councilor, participating in decision-making processes related to urban development, municipal finances, and other local governance matters. Through his
political role, he has been able to advocate for policies that reflect his lifelong values of social equity, education, and support for working families and small businesses.

His career trajectory shows a rare combination of public service, business
experience, and dedication to marginalized communities. Antony is widely respected
for his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, his practical understanding
of local issues, and his unwavering commitment to inclusivity and fairness. His
professional and political contributions have left a lasting impact on the Differdange
community and beyond, making him a figure known for both compassion and
effective action.

27/10/2025

Dr. Faith A. Nuñez Verhaegen
José Rizal Heritage Award Laureate 2025
Humanitarian Services

Dr. Faith A. Nuñez Verhaegen is a licensed dentist with over twenty years of professional experience in both Belgium and the Philippines. She currently works as a dental assistant at Mond-Benedenti Dental Clinics in Belgium while maintaining active
practice as a licensed dentist in the Philippines, where she owns Orchident Dental Clinic in Davao City.

Faith earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Davao Medical School Foundation in 1999 and obtained her PRC license after passing the Philippine Board Exam in 2001. She also completed pre-dentistry studies at Ateneo de Davao University. In Belgium, she pursued extensive professional development, including language integration courses, training in radiology, hygiene and sterilization, four handed dentistry, nitrous oxide orientation, communication skills, and clinical techniques such as veneers and rubber dam use.

Since 2005, she has been working at Benedenti Dental Clinics in Herentals and Berlaar as a dental assistant. Each year, she spends several weeks practicing as a dentist in different dental clinics in Davao City, including her own clinic and those of colleagues such as Dr. Eric Cembrano, Sky Dental Clinic, and Dr. Jeanette Cabardo.
Faith is deeply committed to humanitarian service. Since 2007, she has been a key organizer and coordinator of numerous dental outreach missions in the Philippines, collaborating with Belgian volunteers, Operation Smile Philippines, and the Davao Medical School Foundation. These missions have provided free dental and medical care to thousands of underserved patients in remote communities. She also played an instrumental role in the humanitarian relief efforts for Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, coordinating significant donations to support medical aid and rehabilitation of surgical facilities in Tacloban.

As founder, trustee, and board member of Dental Seminars & Missions and its daughter foundation, Happy Teeth Foundation Inc. in Davao City, she has combined her clinical expertise with organizational leadership to expand access to dental care for the poor and indigenous communities.

Faith’s career reflects a unique combination of clinical practice, international experience, humanitarian dedication, and commitment to continuing education, making her a highly skilled and socially engaged dental professional.

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