(this is an old work of the blogger for the Philippine National Hero)
To defend things as we see it fit during perilous times is a one-of-a-kind attitude that most people don’t possess. Rarely, to speak in behalf of a battered nation and protect it from harsh and false words in front of an enemy is already considered a suicidal act. But to a true patriot, the love for country can never be measured up to the extent where he’s willing to lay down his own life. And we, Filipinos are very privileged to have such fellow countryman, whose actions sparked the dormant nationalistic feelings of the people and enticed the nation to unite against the usurpers of our heritage, land and liberty.
The national hero of the Philippines can be boasted as a worldly-acclaimed nationalist figure especially in Southeast Asia. His actions and works were one of the first that advocated equality and liberty against the colonizers, whom most of Asia were subjected to then. Besides reading various texts regarding his life and work, we are presented a chance to have an overview of the hero’s life, his struggles and achievements, despite being what they called as in indio the movie Jose Rizal. Through the movie, we have learned new and many things about the famous hero.
Even as an indio and an ordinary citizen, Pepe (Rizal’s childhood name) showed extraordinary prowess on his studies since as a child, a talent that became the key to the fulfillment of the long war against subjugation, colonization and discrimination. He used his talents to fight for a cause, along his fellow compatriots, exposing the abuses of the Church and the inequality in the society propagated by the Spanish-dominated civil government.
Having the charisma using his pen, Jose Rizal managed to join in the struggle through the publication of his novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Rizal exposed the abuses without a second thought. It was explicitly shown how the natives were maltreated by the civil officials and even Church officials, which were supposed to be comforters to the woes of the people as servants of God. Land grabbing, corruption, excessive taxes, inequality, rights deprivation, censorship of the press and inefficiency of the educational system are just some of the societal problems that Philippines experienced during those times and in which Rizal exposed to the eyes of the colonizers and to the whole world.
The effects of having a unified Church-State government were also shown wherein the Catholic hierarchy had leverage to influence the civil government’s affairs even up to the decision making of the governor-general. The heinous misdeeds of churchmen such as the selling of indulgencias and discriminating the native clergy and laymen alike were always given a justification by the civil government.
Although Rizal advocated for a free society, he never supported a national rebellion. His idea was a reform through education. Although his ideas may achieve its goals in the long run, the revolutionists didn’t and can’t wait for its fruition. Instead, the people took arms against the colonial regime and faults of the massive uprising were attributed to the man who never wanted rash actions resulting to the spillage of blood.
Rizal’s actions signified the call for change. The Filipinos were already full of the abuses and misdeeds of the Spaniards and they have seen a path of light and freedom through the person of Dr. Jose Rizal and his works. His achievements were a source of strength to the discriminated natives. He was a model that every revolutionist, nationalist and oppressed Filipino look upon. Rizal’s being an indio never became a hindrance for him to excel in his academic career, even disproving the Spaniards supposed superiority over the natives. He became a source of strength to the oppressed ones, giving justice to their situations by unraveling all their hardships and suffering under the foreigners.
Rizal is best exemplified through his huge sacrifices for the just cause of achieving freedom, even leaving his family and loved-ones behind, imprisoned without fault and sentenced to death though innocent. But his blood became the strength of the nation against the tyranny of the Spaniards. His sacrifice became the focal point, an inspiration to the Filipinos that ignited their passion resulting and achieving our freedom once more, called again a free man with a new nation. His novels became a symbol of the history that our countrymen had suffered through those times, and telling us that we were never half in the situation they were in before. A clear message that we should uphold our sovereignty, dignity and liberty with high regard as we came to acquaint with it through a high price: thousands of lives. And Rizal, he himself became a pillar in the foundation of our nation. His martyrdom sent a strong cohesive force that bounded every Filipino to stand up and unite against the outsiders who continuously pillaged our land.
Jose Rizal was never forgotten neither his work nor his sacrifices. His name became common to every household, known to everybody as a hero; a hero that sacrificed his life without regard of his own and without the thought of spilling an ounce of blood. Even though a century has passed, we still give our respect and adherence to his mighty contribution that shaped our today’s society. Rizal will always remain in the memory of every Filipino. A person like him may never come again; a reformist at work, a writer at mind and a patriot at heart.
