Woodside intersection co-named for Philippine hero José Rizal

NEW YORK - An intersection in Woodside, Queens has been officially co-named in honor of Dr. José P. Rizal, the Philippine national hero, marking a historic recognition of Filipino heritage in one of New York City’s most diverse immigrant neighborhoods.

New York City Council Member Julie Won said the co-naming reflects both the growing Filipino presence in her district and Woodside’s identity as a community shaped by immigrants.

“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.”

Dr. José Rizal (1861–1896) was a physician, novelist, and reformist whose writings exposed the abuses of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. His novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo helped awaken Filipino nationalism and inspired the movement that eventually led to independence. Rizal was executed by Spanish authorities at age 35, an act that cemented his legacy as a martyr and symbol of peaceful resistance, education, and civic duty.

Assemblymember Steven Raga, the first Filipino American elected to the New York State Assembly, partnered with Won in advancing the co-naming, calling it a lasting tribute to Rizal’s ideals of justice, equality, and national identity.

The event was attended by Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile, members of the Knights of Rizal, and local residents, who gathered to celebrate the recognition of a figure deeply revered across generations of Filipinos worldwide.

For the Filipino diaspora in Queens one of the largest in the United States the Rizal co-naming stands as both a cultural milestone and a reminder that immigrant histories are an integral part of New York City’s story.