Poets, writers, painters, composers, dignitaries and simple people came on Saturday, January 15, to lay flowers at the bust of Mihai Eminescu on the Alley of Classics in Chisinau, commemorating 161 years since poet’s birth, Info-Prim Neo reports. Marian Lupu, president of Parliament, said this was an important day for the national culture and that entire generations grew up learning Eminescu’s works. “He was, is and will be”, said the Speaker. Prime Minister Vlad Filat thinks the society must learn from the life of Mihai Emnescu. He was the model of citizen with an active civic attitude and sent messages that are still valid today, said Filat. Liberal Party president Mihai Ghimpu also laid flowers. He said he bore in mind the ideas of Romanian people’s greatest poet Mihai Eminescu: to love, to create, to hold by your nation and history, to be a man for your country. Dorin Chirtoaca, mayor of Chisinau, said he honored the outstanding genius of our people. Traditionally, the City Hall representative first lay flowers at poet’s monument in the square of National Theater Mihai Eminescu, then in the Public Garden Stephen the Great and the Holy. “Eminescu was a great poet for a small nation”, said Efim Tarlapan. He added that Eminescu bore the name of our people throughout the world. Writer Victor Prohin praises Eminescu’s work for its spirituality, like a limitless sea that can enrich readers’ souls, giving light and strength. Mihai Eminescu, Romanian poet, writer and journalist, was born on January 15, 1850.