Who is your Rizal?

Harpst, John Victor F. SS014 1st term SY 09-10 2009180059

Ideas on Rizal’s Relevance to us Filipinos

Rizal was the first to recognize our multi-faceted origins. He understood early on and defined for us who we really are as a people. He was a trailblazer who explored for us our history and tracing our origin of an enlightened culture that existed before Spain conquered our islands. For centuries, the Spaniards made the Indios to forget their true identity, which they really are and what their true worth was. Rizal opened up their eyes through his writings and made them believe that indeed, in their blood flowed a proud race, a glorious and triumphant race that once lived in relative harmony and peace, having their own culture and traditions, government, system of writing, etc.

In addition, we also learned that our blood was infused with a rich Spanish legacy that spanned three centuries. Ours was the distinction of being the only country in South East Asia with influences from many European countries along with Chinese, Malayo-Polynesian and most significantly, American culture when we came under US rule for almost fifty years. All of these are part of who we are today, a unique blending of Eastern and Western cultures.

Back then; the concept of a nation didn't exist because our ancestors lived in tribes and colonies ruled by a datu or chieftain. National consciousness did not exist until Rizal came along and began to fight for the rights of the natives. Because of Rizal, the Tagalogs, Kapampangans, Ilocanos, Bicolanos, Warays, and other regional tribes banded together for one cause -- FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE.

In order to know Rizal fully, one has to read his works. Before we can judge him for what he really contributed to our country or to just dismiss him as no longer relevant in our present day and age, we need to take some time to study his excellent writings that transcend time and generations. By no means are his works infallible or should they be placed in a pedestal beside the Bible for a man only wrote them -- albeit a Renaissance man. Scholars who can make applications of his thoughts into practical daily living today can study their significance.

In his famous article, “A Letter to the Women of Malolos”, Jose Rizal called out to the young Bulaqueña ladies who were demanding the rights of gender equity for education. He challenged them to face the adverse circumstances and continued to fight for changes; not to limit their roles as housewives but to continue fighting for what is right. These messages that Rizal left for these women are also messages for every woman in general. Every individual Filipino can learn from Rizal and come closer to his level.

All of us have the potential to be a hero in these modern times. First of all, one has to be “PROACTIVE”. Rizal’s accomplishments in spite of his exile exhibited this habit of being proactive. Being “proactive” says that you are the creator, the person in charge. Then, the fulfillment is the execution of one’s mental creation. Jose Rizal was well focused to his mission or so-called “right end”. It seems that he had a timetable in his mind when to do the “right act”. He did not let himself become influenced by the urgings of the Katipuneros who wanted to launch a physical revolt against the Spaniards. He said the Filipinos were not yet ready.

Secondly, one has to “BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.” This means to start with a clear understanding of one’s destination. Rizal was focused on his love for the Philippines – independent of the Spanish rule was his mission statement and his works were consistently towards this end. Jose Rizal defined the right end for himself. He possessed this habit of beginning with the end in mind.

Jose Rizal was a great man. He was of slight stature and had almond eyes, a wide nose and brown skin. Once he wrote, referring to the virtues of justice, law and reason, that "it is useless to answer certain objections of some fine writers regarding the rather brown skins and faces with somewhat wide nostrils ... Law has no skin nor Reason, nostrils." Let us honor him by remembering his fine example and taking with pride our rightful place in the world, knowing that we are a gifted and beautiful people

You see Rizal is like religion; sometimes you have to find your own truth by yourself and not from the mouths of so-called history gurus.

Rizal will remain as Rizal but Rizal as an idea is an ever evolving one, because not only does it make you ask questions about the veracity of your past or his past or the taking into context the power of his conviction, or his complete contradiction to what he writes.

Perhaps that’s the problem why we don’t want to study Rizal or why people find it difficult to associate with him, it is because in every little way we see a part of ourselves in his characters and his person. That it is a very difficult task to categorize his ideas while not looking at the prism that he holds in front of a mirror that is our nation.

Most often students feels that Rizal course is an additional burden to their studies because it is a minor subject. The person had been studied was already dead. Students further said that what’s the use of Rizal course where in fact they could not use the name Rizal as one of their references when they apply for a job nor Rizal could back up them if they need help…Well of course! A dead person cannot do anything about the life of the living but the thoughts, ideals, dreams, principles or convictions that he left might be very influential to people’s life as a basis of getting strength in their day-to-day existence. And that’s where the relevance of Rizal subject came in.

Indeed, Republic Act 1425 otherwise known as Rizal law was approved in June of 1956 made it clear that Rizal subject is a compulsory to all students who are enrolled in different colleges and universities. Obviously, a student cannot graduate in his course without taking and passing Rizal subject. Therefore, Rizal subject is equally important to all other subjects.

Moreover, Rizal subject would have meaning if the teacher who taught the subject would not just focus her/his discussion to life of Rizal per see but rather made the life of Rizal as a springboard of discussing the culture of the Filipinos, its political, economic and social affairs in the past and relate it at present situation of the people. In that way, student critical thinking would be developed more. As a result students would take an active part not only in the classroom setting but also in participating outside activities for the betterment of the Philippine society in general.

More importantly, the value of being a religious person, a loving and obedient son to his parents/family, a responsible student, a strong willed individual who stands for his convictions, the one who loves and serves the country are some of the virtues of Rizal that must and should be emphasized in the whole duration of the coarse. And that’s where the relevance of Rizal and the Rizal subject lie.

He is our greatest hero because, as a towering figure in the Propaganda Campaign, he took an “admirable part” in that movement which roughly covered the period from 1882 to 1896. No Filipino has yet been born who could equal or surpass Rizal as “a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering. Because he is a “man honored after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to mankind.” No single person or groups of persons were responsible for making the Greatest Malayan the Number One Hero of his people. Rizal himself, his own people, & the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero & martyr of his people.