Rizal RotundaRizal Rotunda is a Registered Property, Municipality of Calamba, Misamis Occidental located at Calamba, Misamis Occidental, Region X.
Rizal Rotunda divides four (4) poblacion barangays, it being at the heart of the
town. One becomes aware that he is already in Calamba town proper. Rizal Rotunda commands four road directions: 1) One road, the national highway, points to the municipality of Plaridel, the mother town and a chief port, on the eastern portion; 2) The shorter route to Oroquieta City, the Mountain Road built by the American Government as the national highway during the Commonwealth era, on the southern part of town; 3) The north-bound road connects Calamba to the town of Baliangao, Misamis Occidental; and 4) Going
west is the road to Dipolog City, the capital of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte.
As a prominent landmark, the general public takes much pride and interest in its existence. This is due to the fact that Dr. Jose Rizal made Calamba, that was called that time as Sitio Solinog (part of Plaridel town), his favorite place of rest while in route to Plaridel town proper and eventually to the towns of Oroquieta, Jimenez and Misamis to attend his patients. The testimony of Mercedes Rillas Lumasag, the youngest daughter of Gregorio Lumasag, shed light as to what really was Dr. Jose Rizal's purpose in going to Plaridel town.
It was learned that Gregorio Lumasag was one of Rizal's pupils whose mother's eyes Dr. Rizal, as an ophthalmologist, operated for cataract illness.
This was collaborated by the tale of Rufina Alcasar Banuelos, who actually saw Dr. Jose Rizal made a stopover in Sitio Solinog, for a short rest along with his horse. By family tradition, such a nostalgic revelation was handed down by the late Rufina Banuelos who was already 115 years old at that time, to her grandson, former Brgy. Captain Jose Banuelos of Brgy. Calaran, Calamba, In the nick of time Jose Banuelos orally published this piece of relevant information in concurrence with the testimony of Mercedes Lumasag.
The construction of Rizal Rotunda was made possible through the effort of a group of tennis players in Calamba known as the Calamba Tigers Club. Headed by Dr. Emiliano Q. Herrera, its President, the group made an audience with the Municipal Mayor Hon. Angelo Neri to seek permission and approval with regards to the Club's plan of erecting a monument of Dr. Jose Rizal here in Calamba. The original plan conceived by the Tigers Club was to create the Rizal monument in front of the municipal building, but the municipality has no town plaza and the municipal ground is the only place for big gatherings, thus the club's plan was set aside. However Mayor Angelo Neri, being also a member of the Tigers Club, by way of suggestion, directed the group to build the Rizal monument at the center of the intersection of the four roads, dividing the 4 poblacion barangays.
The unveiling of the commemorative marker was conducted on December 30, 1954 during the occasion of the 58th Rizal Day Celebration.
Today, the Rizal Rotunda with Dr. Jose P Rizal's preeminent monument at the centre is the most recognizable landmark in Calamba, Misamis Occidental and perhaps the only monument of the national hero erected in a rotunda instead of the usual composition of having it stand of a town plaza.