The Salangsang Family: Modern Rizalistas Inspiring Service,  and Heritage

Luzern, Switzerland — October 6, 2025 -  In the quiet beauty of the Alps stand watch over a glistening lake, a Filipino family has found a home that feels both distant and deeply connected to their roots. The Salangsang family — Yenz, Michelle, and their son Jaden — are living proof that the ideals of Dr. José Rizal continue to breathe in the lives of global Filipinos today.

To meet them is to see a portrait of heritage and service woven into everyday life: a father devoted to leadership, a mother anchored in compassion, and a son carrying the promise of a generation that blends cultures without losing its roots.

A Father’s Calling

For Yenz Santos Salangsang, leadership has never been about titles but about purpose. Born in Germany, educated in the Philippines, and tested by an international IT career that took him across Asia, Yenz’s journey has been one of adaptability and vision.

Now based in Switzerland, he serves as the Chapter Commander of the Knights of Rizal in Luzern, an organization dedicated to carrying forward the teachings of the national hero. Under his leadership, the chapter has become a beacon for Filipinos in Europe — organizing mentorship programs, cultural activities, and heritage events that strengthen identity abroad.

“Rizal taught us that love of country knows no borders,” Yenz says with conviction. “True patriotism is not where you stand, but how you live.”

It’s a belief that guides his every endeavor: that education and virtue are inseparable, and that knowledge gains meaning only when used in service to others.

A Mother’s Grace

Beside him is Michelle Ngo Salangsang, a Manileña whose journey carried her from the bustling streets of Manila to the refined world of Swiss luxury watches. With a degree in Journalism, Michelle built her career on precision and trust — qualities that mirror her character.

But beyond her professional achievements, Michelle is known for her compassion. A proud member of Las Damas de Rizal Switzerland, she believes in empowering women as pillars of heritage and hope.

Her project, Blessings Boxes, is a labor of love — sending care packages filled with food and essentials to communities in Pampanga, sustained by donations from fellow Rizalistas and Swiss sponsors. She has also extended her kindness to survivors in Siargao, women rebuilding their lives with courage.

“We may be far from home,” Michelle reflects softly, “but our hearts must always find ways to give back.”

Her kindness carries the unmistakable warmth of Filipino bayanihan — generosity that reaches across oceans.

A Son’s Heritage

At the heart of this story is Jaden Jens, their young son, who represents a new kind of Filipino: global in exposure, yet grounded in heritage. Raised in a household where learning, humility, and compassion are daily lessons, Jaden is growing up with a quiet understanding that identity is not just something inherited but something lived.

For Yenz and Michelle, nurturing him means passing on more than traditions — it means shaping character, integrity, and empathy. In him, Rizal’s vision finds continuity.

A Living Legacy

From Germany to the Philippines, across Asia, and now in Switzerland, their story is a journey of resilience and connection — proof that being Filipino is not bound by place, but carried in the heart.

“We honor Rizal,” Yenz concludes, “not by remembering his words alone, but by living them every single day — with wisdom, courage, and pride in our Filipino roots.”

In Luzern, amid alpine peaks and still waters, the Salangsangs are more than a family. They are modern Rizalistas, carrying a timeless light into a new century.