During an evening conversation, Jose Rizal's mother captivated his attention by sharing the story of a moth. While she was speaking to him, he became fascinated with a moth that was fluttering near a lamp. She then proceeded to narrate the tale of a mother and son moth that were circling around the light of a candle.
The Mother moth warned her son about the danger of getting close to the light, as it was capable of easily causing his death. Although the son moth agreed with her, he secretly believed that his mother was being selfish by preventing him from experiencing the warmth that the light had brought her. Despite his intentions, the son moth disregarded his mother's advice and flew closer to the light. Eventually, a gust of wind caused the flame of the candle to touch the wings of the son moth, resultin
...g in his untimely demise.
According to Rizal's mother, if a son obeyed his mother's instructions, he would not suffer the same fate as the young moth that got burned. The lesson is to avoid imitating the disobedience of the moth and to be cautious of getting burned. To understand how Rizal became a hero, it is important to define the concept of hero as someone who embodies goodness. Rizal achieved freedom for us by employing goodness.
Jose Rizal, an incredible individual of his era, emerged as the Philippine national hero by quietly but relentlessly persevering for freedom. Instead of resorting to violence or aggression, he effectively communicated his adoration for the Philippines using his novels, essays, and articles. Rizal's remarkable humility led him to advocate for reforms through his writings a
opposed to inciting a revolution.
Jose Rizal, our national hero, used his intelligence, talents, and skills in a peaceful rather than an aggressive manner. His courage and sense of nationalism motivated the Filipino people to revolt against their Spanish oppressors. His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, made him a prominent figure in the fight against Spanish rule. Sadly, these honorable actions resulted in his capture and execution. Rizal's life serves as proof that one person's nationalism can inspire an entire country to undergo a revolution.
Despite being regarded as a patriotic figure, little attention has been afforded to his artistic endeavors. His artistic output is extensive, encompassing paintings, sketches, and sculptures. He dedicated many of his artistic creations to his romantic partners and closest companions, including Ferdinand Blumentritt and Juan Luna. Additionally, his intellectual pursuits led him to produce anatomical drawings of insects and plants during his time studying medicine at the University of Sto.
Tomas is a skilled artist and writer, with a passion for creating panoramic paintings and pencil sketches of landscapes while traveling. However, his true talent lies in writing, particularly poetry and essays. As he matures, Tomas expands his repertoire to include novels and more intricate works that touch upon important themes such as education, religion, and government. It is clear that Jose Rizal possesses the qualities of a genuine Renaissance man, excelling in both science and art.
The combination of these skills has made him an admirable person and a role model for Filipinos. When examining his works, I discover that the most notable ones are from his childhood. This is because as he grew older, he encountered obstacles which led to
a radical transformation in his beliefs, ultimately shaping his perspectives until death. Moreover, his previous works demonstrate the hero that he is recognized as today. In my viewpoint, the following pieces represent the ideals he treasured; starting with his poem titled "Sa aking Kabataan".
This piece discusses several significant topics, including patriotism and language. The central theme of the poem is the love for our country and our mother tongue. Upon closer examination, it reveals the impact of Spanish colonialism on the Philippines and how it profoundly influenced our cultural identity. However, as the author matured, his actions contradicted his earlier beliefs, as he wrote his famous novels not in our native tongue but in Spanish.
Among his sketches are portraits of his two sweethearts: Segunda Katigbak and Leonor Rivera. Driven by his love for them, he diligently invested his time and energy in capturing their likenesses. Sadly, neither of the women reciprocated Rizal's affections, and this recurring experience would haunt him throughout his relationships with other women.
It may appear as though he has a fear of commitment or being a responsible person because he was aware that the decisions he made could impact many individuals, particularly his loved ones. Lastly, another significant aspect of his artistry is his creation of the Sacred Heart of Christ sculpture. The central theme of this artwork reflects his deep religious devotion. As he enters adulthood, his faith in God will be tested and confronted.
The text emphasizes that becoming a respected member of the Freemasons was a symbol of his abandonment of religion, which is a recurring theme in his writings. The story of Dr. Jose Rizal and his
family showcases the courage and ethical intelligence necessary for an independent nation to emerge from regions under colonial or economic exploitation. Similar to Mohandas Ghandi and Rabindranath Tagore in India, as well as Sun Yat-sen in China, Rizal's life and literature played a role in sparking anti-colonial movements in Asia during the late 19th Century.
Jose Rizal, also known as "the First Filipino," remains a prominent figure challenging his compatriots to confront the consequences of centuries under Spanish colonial rule and a century of American occupation. Rizal is a true polymath, dedicating himself to enlightening his fellow countrymen. Alongside excelling in languages, he ventured into diverse scientific fields beyond his training as an ophthalmic surgeon. Through his travels, he extensively wrote on various subjects and achieved remarkable feats like translating Friedrich Schiller's Wilhelm Tell and Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales into Tagalog, an indigenous language of the Philippines.
Jose Rizal had a significant achievement during his time in Europe - the creation of two novels, Noli Me Tangere and El filibusterismo. These Spanish literary works played a crucial role in sparking events that ultimately led to the Philippines' liberation from Spanish colonization and its recognition as an independent nation. However, it was Rizal's tragic death that truly gave birth to this newfound nation. He was born on June 19, 1861, as the seventh child of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso. Coming from a middle-class background, his family resided on the friars' land in Calamba, Laguna.
Rizal's mother was responsible for his early education, teaching him reading, writing, and arithmetic. By the age of three, he had already become proficient in the alphabet. In just two years of
instruction, he was able to read the Vulgate bible in its Spanish version. At eight years old, Rizal composed a play in Tagalog which was showcased during a fiesta in Calamba. He displayed artistic abilities in painting and sculpture from an early age. When he reached eleven years old, Rizal began attending formal schooling at the Ateneo Municipal under the guidance of Spanish Jesuits.
The curriculum for the five-year secondary course, which leads to a degree of Bachiller en Artes or AB, included a variety of subjects such as Christian doctrine, Sacred history, Latin, Spanish, Greek, French, English, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Universal history, Spanish history, Latin literature, rhetoric and poetics, Social ethics, Psychology, Logic and other branches of Philosophy. Young Rizal approached his work with exceptional talent and skill. He consistently excelled in literary and artistic competitions and consistently outperformed his classmates in both written and oral exams. His report cards often reflected his excellent performance.
Pepe Rizal consistently won medals in oratorical competitions, showcasing his talent. He wrote a play named "Junto al Pasig" and performed it at school. Rizal also excelled in spiritual activities, serving as Prefect of the Sodality of Our Lady alongside Fr. Pablo Pastels, S.
J. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda, commonly known as Jose Rizal, held the position of Director and was a prominent Freemason. He exemplified the essence of Filipino nationalism in the final years of Spanish domination and the Catholic Church's authority in the Philippines. The Filipinos, after enduring oppressive Spanish rule alongside the strong influence of the Catholic Church for 300 years, initiated a full-fledged uprising against Spain and the church in 1896.
Rizal's execution occurred
due to his efforts in liberating his Filipino compatriots from the Spanish Colonial government and the friars' oppression. His objective was not aimed at instigating rebellion against Spain, but rather to enhance the treatment of his countrymen, especially by the friars and partially by the Spanish Colonial Administrators. He advocated for political, clerical, and land acquisition reforms with the intention of abolishing discrimination, exploitation, and persecution faced by his fellow Filipinos.
The opening of the Suez Canal had a significant impact on travel time, reducing it from four months to one month. This change greatly benefited liberal Spaniards who traveled to the Philippines and Filipinos who traveled to Spain and Europe. The opportunity provided by the canal was particularly advantageous for Filipinos as it allowed them to escape the limitations in their own country, receive a quality education, and gain knowledge about various European countries. Prominent Filipino patriots like Jose Rizal and Marcelo Del Pilar were among those who took advantage of this journey. Following the mutiny at the Cavite Arsenal in 1872, which was sparked by the tribute imposed on native Filipino workers, there was a decade of relative peace enforced through military force although tension still persisted.
The Spanish officials ruthlessly crushed the mutiny, influenced by the friars, who urged them to take cruel action. The colonial administration, motivated by the friars, recognized their crucial role in maintaining a Castilian civilization. This civilization, along with the influence of the friars, required absolute sovereignty over the Colony and unquestionable submission from the Filipino people, including a ban on Freemasonry.
The government and the church targeted educated Filipinos as prime victims of persecution because they exposed corruption and
oppressive practices and asked difficult questions. It was these educated Filipinos who bore the cost of the extravagant living and excesses of their Spanish overlords.
Now it was the turn of the emerging intelligentsia to suffer persecution from both the church and the government. At 21 years old, Jose Rizal finished his studies in Manila and in 1882, he traveled to Spain where he obtained a degree as a Doctor of Medicine and licenses to practice Philosophy and the Fine Arts. While in Spain, Rizal joined Acacia Lodge No. 9 and became a Master Mason in 1884.
After moving to France, he specialized in eye diseases and also became a member of a French Masonic Lodge. In 1885, he traveled to Germany to study Schiller and then visited Austria. Throughout his experiences, Jose Rizal transformed into a cultured individual who was at ease in every social setting.
He subsequently lived in Belgium for a while and during this time he penned his immensely acclaimed novel, "Noli Me Tangere" in the Spanish language. The title, derived from Latin, signifies "Touch me not." Through his novel, Jose Rizal unveiled aspects of the Philippines that were so delicate that no one dared to address them. His narrative revealed a startling portrait of the country, making it the most influential political novel of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the Philippines.
Rizal wrote a letter to his friend in which he mentioned that the book contained topics that had never been discussed before due to their sensitivity. He personally took it upon himself to address the unfounded accusations made against them and their country for many years. Rizal talked about various aspects of
their society, such as their way of life, beliefs, hopes, desires, grievances, and sorrows. He also exposed the hypocrisy disguised as religion that perpetuated poverty and brutality. Rizal distinguished between true religion and falsehoods, superstitions, and the exploitation of religious teachings for personal gain or belief in witchcraft – something Catholicism would be ashamed of if it knew about it. All events described in the book were truthful and based on evidence available to Rizal. The novel achieved immediate success in both Spain and the Philippines.
It goes without saying that the Colonial government and the Church condemned and banned the book, considering it a mortal sin for Filipinos to read due to its heresies and conflicting ideas with our Holy Religion. Despite the ban and the majority of Filipinos being illiterate in Spanish, the book gained immense popularity. In 1891, Rizal released his second novel "El Filibusterismo" (The Subversive) as a sequel to "Noli Me Tangere". Through it, he cautioned the Spanish authorities about an imminent disaster unless they took action to improve the conditions faced by the Filipinos. In a later essay titled "Filipinas Dentro de Cien Anos" (The Philippines Within A Century), Rizal predicted that The Philippines would either remain under Spanish rule, yet with greater rights and freedom, or would declare independence after shedding both her own blood and that of the Mother Country.
When Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892, he established the "La Liga Filipina" (The Philippine League) with the goal of initiating governmental reforms. However, due to his opposition from the Spanish government and friars, Rizal was arrested and exiled to Dapitan in Mindanaw. On the same day the
decree of Rizal's banishment was announced, a small group of men pledged themselves to an association known as the "Katipunan" (Highest and Most Respectable Society of the Sons of the People), which was founded by Andres Bonifacio, a patriotic Freemason from humble origins. The majority of members in the "Katipunan" were from the common people.
"The Katipunan" fought for freedom from Spain. Bonifacio and Rizal discussed strategies for achieving this goal, with Rizal advising him to seek reforms instead of independence due to the lack of support from the middle class. However, Bonifacio was able to rally the poorer Filipinos to join a revolution against Spain, which commenced in 1896. This revolution was primarily driven by Freemasons.
The Spanish colonial government and the friars incorrectly believed that Rizal was associated with the "Katipunan," although he was not. They also held the belief that Filipino. The researcher chose this topic due to the urgent importance of studying Rizal's works and life. He is revered as our greatest national hero, with some even regarding him as "the first greatest Filipino." Rizal was not only a genius but also a source of pride for the Malayan race.
He was a poet, doctor, architect, businessman, educator, economist, historian, inventor, musician, psychologist, sculptor, sociologist, ophthalmic surgeon, physicist and many more. He was also a traveler, mastering 22 languages and publishing many works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. His hope was to bring about political and social reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish era. One of his books, Noli Me Tangere, was published in Berlin in 1877 and exposed the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy. This was followed
by a sequel, more tragic than the NOLI, published in Ghent in September 1891. His fearless nature led him to stir the political arena, resulting in his imprisonment. Despite being a political exile, he continued to write and teach.
Before his execution on December 30, 1896, Dr. Rizal wrote a poem which is now known as "MI ULTIMO ADIOS". Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, Dr. Rizal was executed in his prime by a squad of the 10th Spanish Infantry Regiment. He was shot in the back at 7:00 a.m. on December 30, 1896 at the Campo de Bagumbayan, located directly behind the Luneta in Manila. His execution had been scheduled for 8:00 a.m.
However, the Spanish authorities secretly advanced the clock by 1 hour to prevent any demonstrations or uprisings by the Filipino people. The Department of Education has included Rizal and His Works in the curriculum because they serve as an inspiration for Filipinos to take pride in their homeland and language. It is a reminder that Filipinos are capable of achieving equality, if not excelling, even when treated as slaves. Rizal's brilliance, determination, patience, and perseverance are virtues that we, Filipinos, greatly admire and constantly reference during our lowest moments.
