R I Z A L R I Z A L T H E F I R S T T H E F I R S T T H E F I R S T F I L I P I N O F I L I P I N O F I L I P I N O Vol. 1 Issue 1 | RZL110 T A L K T O T H E Y O U T H TO THE YOUTH: You Don't Need to Die in Bagumbayan to Make Rizal Proud B Y S H A I N A M A C M A C They say that privilege is invisible to those who have it —count Rizal out. Although he initially came from a well-off family in Calamba, he knew and listened to the sufferings of men. He understood their mishaps. He understood what farmers fought for and what they needed most. He knew that the Filipinos deserved better. The Hacienda de Calamba dispute, as a matter of fact, gave his personality much depth as he felt the grave ramifications of the cruel treatment of Spanish friars towards Filipinos—indios, the harsh terminology they enveloped our Filipinos with. Rizal, like the others, experienced utmost discrimination for simply being his own skin—a moreno, the color of a Filipino. Rizal's tripartite perspective, in contrast to Spaniards' biased bipartite vision, emphasized that the nation had a solid and evolved way of life, enriched by history, tradition, unity, and cordial connections with surrounding countries. This suggests that had it not been for foreign invaders, particularly greedy Spanish friars, the pre-Hispanic civilization may have been nourished and evolved into a stronger nation. Finally, Rizal gave depth to the "colonialized" perspective when all that could be heard in the land were the voices of the colonists. He spoke out against the blasphemy and the need for Filipinos to be awoken from such nightmare. Rizal served as a beacon amid the Philippines' darkest hours, presenting an accessible viewpoint that helped oppressed people recognize that Filipinos deserved to be treated fairly and compassionately. Dr. Jose P. Rizal is our national hero for a reason. He is credited for his rational and intellectual fight against the oppressive Spanish colonization in the Philippines centuries ago. Centuries hence, his influence in inculcating national consciousness within his fellow countrymen transcends bounds of time. PAGE 1 NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS RZL YOUTH Rizal himself and his works showcase the life that we need to embark on. It does not mean that we need to lay down our lives for the country—be shot at Bagumbayan and write novels against the government. In multiple ways, and even the simplest efforts, we can make our hero proud. We can be our own land’s hero. We can continue Rizal’s work and be the legacy of the future generation. Rizal was witness to the Spanish rule's atrocities and mistreatment of the Filipinos. His eyes were opened to liberal reform and a democratic type of government when his older brother, Paciano Mercado, financed him in his studies in Europe through a secret deal between them. He expressed his belief that our nation existed on the face of the Earth even before Spanish colonialism in his annotation of Antonio de Morga's Sucesos Islas Filipinas. It was not Spain who civilized us; we were advancing toward a civilization that had already developed its own set of values, abilities, and qualities before they arrived. “One only dies once, and if one does not die well, a good opportunity is lost and will not present itself again.” – Jose Rizal T H E P R I V I L E G E D W H O S E E S R I Z A L ' S G R O W I N G C O N S C I O U S N E S S MAKE RIZAL OBSOLETE: OUR OWN FUTURE IN THE MIRROR B Y S H A I N A M A C M A C Rizal's continued relevance and application does not imply that he possessed some strange forecasting powers, nor do we have to worship him as a god and take his utterances as the final word. The reason why society hasn't altered much since his time has little to do with Rizal's assertions of power to speak about the country a century later. Truth hurts, but because we haven't changed as much as a nation and its people, society hasn't altered much. In reality, we remain to be the Tulisanes, the Pelaezes, Capitan Tiagos, Capitan Tinongs, Donya Victorinas, Basilios, Simouns, and even the Padre Damasos centuries hence from Rizal’s time. Jose Rizal remains as valid as he was centuries hence thereafter. His magnificence, and, paradoxically, our lack of greatness as a nation, is reflected in the veracity of his teachings. The principles he promoted and illuminated are still relevant, pertinent, and inspiring to today's generation. Indeed, his significance and greatness —the true characteristics that made him our national hero—are connoted by his relevance in today's culture. However, the fact that he remains to be as valid as he was in 1800s (minus Philippines being a colony of Spain) is something we should not be proud of for in one way or another, we have to make Rizal obsolete PAGE 2 OUR FUTURE RZL YOUTH We were liberated from colonialism centuries ago, yet we are still the same people, demanding ownership and entitlement as Filipinos while adhering to self- destructive values that emasculate Rizal's teachings. We won't be able to transform and achieve greatness as a nation until we change our natures and assess our aspirations as individuals and citizens. Only when we reevaluate our outlooks in life then we would know that there is more to life and nation-building that earning wealth and material satisfaction. It is about time to act our own century. We are the 21st century Filipinos not the tulisanes, Pelaezes, and Basilios of Rizal’s time. Let us not be the viruses of this world full of scams. Society is an ever-changing system. It evolves, improves, and makes strides toward a single goal: national greatness. Thus, the fact that Rizal and his lessons are as relevant today as they were in the nineteenth century is a sobering reflection of the fact that the Philippines and its people have remained enslaved to the features and intrigues of colonialism for almost 500 years. However, the fact that his teachings simply reflect our society implies that we still have a long way to go in terms of regeneration. “The glory of saving a country is not for him who has contributed to its ruin.” – Jose Rizal It is necessary to instill a sense of patriotism. If we choose unification rather than the ideologies that makes us divide in factions, we may become a significant and great nation with the ability to reform, progress, and battle backwardness. It is about time that we learn from the past in order to make the present and future worthy of it. We must not let our historical traditions and recollections of Filipino worth and culture to go to waste. Just as Rizal wished, we should be proud of our past, restore our origins, and rediscover our culture. We must work together to complete Rizal's task. Completing Rizal's job is a way of honoring him for eventually rendering him obsolete. Making Rizal obsolete does not imply that he and his beliefs are completely forgotten. Making Rizal irrelevant only means making him proud, because we have finally achieved his ultimate goal of liberating the Philippines from our society's backwardness, ignorance, and corrupt machinations. Making Rizal obsolete only signifies our race's triumph over nationalism. Education is Liberty B Y R D H O P E C A Y R O N PAGE 3 EDUCATION RZL YOUTH Jose Rizal was a marvel by his unwavering fire to bring his fellowmen towards freedom from the grip of the colonizers. He was not one of those who were in the fields with swords to brawl with the Spaniards' cannons and rifles, but his journey towards attaining that education made him train his mind as a weapon. That was the purpose of his struggles just to be able to get educated; to be able to bring Filipinos with him unto that platform wherein they have a fighting chance against the Spanish empire. He used what he had learned through the years under the curriculum implemented by the colonial monarchy to the Philippines’ awakening. Those years of putting all his efforts to craft his literary pieces with the motherland in his mind and heart were all worthwhile as although he may not be able to witness the raising of the Philippine flag, signifying that freedom, he was able to amplify the crying voice of the country to the Filipinos. He brought the oppressed people of his motherland together to conquer independence. His journey to becoming educated had gone a long way; he had succeeded. What does Rizal’s commitment to education teach us, students in the modern world? Our dreams will lead us to achieve our purpose, for ourselves, and the people around us. We probably have known or at least thought at the back of our heads that our existence has a direction to take, and along that journey, we are bound to impact all that surrounds us. We have a choice to bring less positive impact and to be one of those whom Rizal claims as “the hope of the nation.” We cannot deny that we have our definitions of success. However, when we dream of something, like a future career, we can stand a chance towards achieving that goal through education. Now, we can have varying perceptions on how education will bring us to success, but for me, success is what you make it, and being educated gives you a faster route towards becoming someone you aspire to be. We could see the idea of being educated differently, but we have to be in full commitment for us to gain something that we can use to soar high, survive, and contribute to society. Our decisions will not only influence the trajectory of our own lives, but of the world, we live in as well. Being an educated one will make us shed light on those who haven’t possessed the cultured perspectives, which will turn them to become people who finally distinguish what is right and wrong, and what is better for the community or not. To be able to give something good to others aside from ourselves is a delight of its own. Just like Jose Rizal, he could have just enjoyed all the privileges of being educated, however, he chose to share his academic success with his countrymen to uplift them from the quicksand of the colonizers. Our challenge as people in the modern world is to continue celebrating his marvels and make use of the rights and privileges we have been enjoying right now to become the vanguards of success and prosperity, not only for ourselves but for our country as well. Education is the step both towards the improvement of our life and the unity of all of us to improve things for the betterment of the country. We can choose to take it all upon ourselves, no one should be stopping us as it is our free choice. However, success is also best felt when it is made with others, and we can live by it just like what our national hero did until his last breath, which made the Filipinos free up to this day. "Without education and liberty, which are the soil and the sun of man, no reform is possible, no measure can give the result desired." ANNOTATION FROM A HERO B Y R D H O P E C A Y R O N PAGE 4 HISTORY RZL YOUTH In the mid-to late-nineteenth century, Jose Rizal was regarded as a hero for forging the Filipinos' patriotic identity and mending the corrupt society. The majority of his writings functioned as a vehicle for exposing the Spaniards' unfair and corrupt behaviors throughout the Spanish colonial period. Noli me Tangere, his debut work, became well-known throughout Europe. Although Rizal's work was hailed by Spanish and Filipino liberals in Europe, the Spanish colonial administration and the Catholic Church did not overlook it. They were mainly involved in opposing the novel. When Rizal came back to the Philippines, the Spanish colonial government released orders to ban his book while making Rizal a wanted criminal. During that time, Rizal obtained permission to use the library of the British Museum through a letter of introduction from Reinold Rost. Upon using the library’s resources, Rizal found an article written by Antonio de Morga by which he thought would help build the national identity of the Filipinos. Therefore, Rizal’s annotations in Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas became a tool for Rizal to convey his idea that Filipinos are not equal to the Spaniards. Instead, they are people with a unique civilization destroyed by colonization. Rizal’s annotations helped the Filipinos in building their nationalistic identities by realizing how they should view themselves. In the analysis of Jose Rizal’s annotations of Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, Rizal’s annotations were classified into two main categories – geographical and anthropological. Rizal’s annotations' geographical aspects focused on the Philippines ’ weather, ecosystem, and places characterized as natural wonders. On the other hand, Rizal’s annotations on the anthropological aspects described the Filipino culture, society, and lifestyle. The classification scheme I used helped in classifying Rizal’s annotations based onther geographical and anthropological nature. Since Rizal had a lot of annotations right from the very start of Morga’s accounts, the topics of each annotation were first collected. Then, those with similar topics were grouped as one under a more general topic. For example, some of Rizal’s annotations particularly discussed the natives’ beliefs in power of size, curse, monsters, and supernatural beings. These topics were then grouped under beliefs, together with other subjects pertaining to culture. Rizal’s annotations starting from the Philippines’ geography to even the smallest of plants, along with the culture and way of life of the natives shows the partiality of past related accounts on the Philippines. Rizal’s annotations described a lot of how Rizal viewed the pre- conquest past of the Philippines. His annotations changed the misrepresentations and preconceived judgments from other articles. He wanted the world, or at least the Filipinos, to know that the Philippines is an independent nation with its own unique and rich cultural roots. Rizal wanted to emphasize how the colonization of the Spanish conquistadores hindered the cultural growth of the Philippines and its inhabitants instead of bringing forth the civilization they claimed they did. He supported his arguments of how the Philippines was a thriving country by presenting other accounts which support his claims, and even his own. SHAPING JOSE RIZAL: 19th CENTURY PHILIPPINES B Y C H R I S T I A N B E R N A R D S A S U M A N PAGE 5 PHILOSOPHY RZL YOUTH The 19th century can be considered an age of enlightenment. A renaissance per se. It was an era of challenges and responses, with major changes affecting man and society alike. POLITICAL CONTEXT The struggle of nationalism led to the French Revolution and the American Civil War. In Spain, there was also a divide among their intellectuals, the Conservatives and the Liberals. In the Philippines, the rule of friars or Frialocracy was evident. ECONOMIC CONTEXT The encomienda system of labor was slowly shifting towards the hacienda system for locals to keep working on the lands. As industrialization rose, the galleon trade between Manila and Acapulo opened . Exports for local resources grew in demand and expanded until the completion of the Suez Canal. At the same time, the privilege of provincial governors was to engage in and monopolize trade, Indulto De Comercio. Forced Labor was the norm including taxation which led to abuses and inequality among the Spaniards and the Indios. SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS Although Spanish Education was implemented at that time, it resulted in numerous defects and fallacies. Evil of the Unjust Colonial Power – instability of colonial administration Corrupt Officialdom No Philippine representation in the Spain Cortes Human Rights Denied to Filipinos No Equality Before the Law Maladministration of JusticeP Racial Discrimination Frailocracy Forced Labor or “Polo Y Servicios’ Haciendas Owned by the Friars The Guardia Civil The education system of that time was centered around religion. The Will and Fear of God was emphasized as the obedience to friars was instilled in the mind of the people. Indios were frequently told that their Intellect was inferior and that they were only suitable for physical labor. There was also an absence in academic freedom and racial discrimination. The majority of schools were closed to native students. Students were forbidden from expressing their views. Spaniards were hesitant to think of the indios as educated as they were. Additionally, education was limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic. THE PHILIPPINES OF RIZAL'S TIME The Philippines' skies were shadowed by the ominous shadow of Spain's decadence during Rizal's time. The Filipinos suffered under the weight of Spanish misrule because they were unlucky victims of an unfair, intolerant, and decaying colonial authority. Among these evils were as follows: NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO IN RETROSPECT B Y C H R I S T I A N B E R N A R D S A S U M A N PAGE 6 LITERARY RZL YOUTH Noli Me Tangere was Rizal’s first novel. He was 26 years old at the time of its publication. For depicting corruption and abuse by the Spanish government and clergy, this work and its sequel, El Filibusterismo (nicknamed El Fili), have been prohibited in various parts of the Philippines. Despite this, copies of the book were smuggled in, and Rizal promptly confronted with the local authority when he returned to the Philippines after finishing his studies. Governor-General Emilio Terrero called Rizal to Malacanang Palace a few days after his arrival, alleging that Noli Me Tangere included subversive comments. The Governor-General cooled down after their argument, yet he was still unable to defy the Church's pressure on the book. From Rizal's letter to Leitmeritz, we may deduce that he was persecuted: “ My book made a lot of noise; everywhere, I am asked about it. They wanted to anathematize me ['to excommunicate me'] because of it... I am considered a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, they say I am a Protestant, a freemason, a sorcerer, a damned soul and evil. It is whispered that I want to draw plans, that I have a foreign passport and that I wander through the streets by night... ” - Jose Rizal Rizal was exiled to Dapitan before being convicted for "inciting revolt" based on his writings. At the age of 35, Rizal was executed in Manila on December 30, 1896. Rizal expressed nationality by highlighting Filipino characteristics such as a Filipina's love and effect on a man's life, a strong feeling of appreciation, and the Filipinos' firm common sense under the Spanish authority. As many locals historically identified with their individual areas, the effort was crucial in establishing a cohesive Filipino national identity and awareness. Various aspects of colonial life were mocked, caricatured, and exposed. Maria Clara, who has become a depiction of the ideal Filipina lady, devoted and unyielding in her commitment to her husband; and the priest Father Dámaso, who depicts the clandestine fathering of illegitimate children by members of the Spanish church, have become classics in Filipino culture. Even though the author argued for direct representation to the Spanish government and a stronger role for the Philippines in Spain's political affairs, the book indirectly spurred a revolt. After publication, Noli me Tangere was considered to be one of the instruments that initiated Filipino nationalism leading to the 1896 Philippine Revolution. The novel did not only awaken sleeping Filipino awareness but also established the grounds for aspiring to independence. The Philippine Congress approved Republic Act 1425, often known as the Rizal Law, in 1956, requiring all levels of Philippine schools to teach the novels as part of their curriculum. To truly understand and rekindle Rizal's fight for Filipino nationalism. B Y S T E V E N A L O S Firm with its dogmas and catechisms, the Catholic Church fervently opposed the passing of RH bill back in the year 2011. This was not the only instance that the powerful religion whose influence in the lives of Filipinos still manifests today opposed a bill. Back then, they had opposed the passing of Rizal Law arguing that it put the Church in a bad light particularly on how it violated the “freedom of conscience and religion” of the vast majority of the Filipino people who are Catholic. Still, the Bill had been passed and signed into a Law. In contrast with this, their counter proposition to the RH bill was - the unborn child is still a human, and thus must enjoy the right to life, which is one of the main tenets of Catholicism. PAGE 2 RELIGION RZL YOUTH The objection of the Catholic Church to RH Bill and Rizal Law was rooted in their objective of keeping entrenched to the Filipino people, their teachings, and their influence. In a negative light, the passing of the Rizal Law means that the State validated, and furthered the criticisms of Rizal towards, not just to the ranks of the Catholic Church, but even more so its dogmas. This would tarnish the image of the Catholic Church being pristine, and godly as the Rizal Law exposed its failing which in turn may affect the long-term influence of the Church on the Filipino people because it attacks the moral ascendancy of the Church. In a similar manner, the Church’s opposition to RH bill means protecting their doctrines and interests over the lives of the people. This is beneficial when viewed from a humanistic perspective as they try to preserve the intrinsic value of life, however, it comes at the expense of devaluing the freedom of choice of the mother, and the equality of rights. With the continuous meddling of the Church on States affairs, I felt disturbed by the fact that it can impose political power on lawmakers through their dogmas and teachings. Despite years being free from Friars, the Church still has enormous influence even on politics which brings up the issue of the Separation of Church and State. Secondly, I found it ironic that the Church can passionately defend the right to life without ensuring the goodness of life of those affected. The humanistic lens that the Church used in arguing about the case disregards the economic aspect of the bill which is crucial to ensuring a good life. One thing that Rizal wanted many Filipinos to have is freedom of thought. Overall, the discussions about the RH bill and Rizal Law had made me more cognizant of the various perspective one must look at in understanding such a complex issue. What each party to the discussion should have done was to arrive at a compromise between principles, and the reality of the situation. Surely, it can be immoral to abort a fetus or a child, or blasphemous to pass Rizal Law from Catholic’s perspective, but it can also mean being more educated, liberated, realistic, and valuing good life through rational thought and decision making. The many discussion on such issues begs the question, who has the legitimate influence over the lives of the people - is it the State, the Church, or just the people themselves? RETHINKING CATHOLIC DOGMAS B Y S T E V E N A L O S Rizal believed that Filipinos can govern themselves when the proper time came. Though he didn't expound on the type of governance the Philippines must have, we can perhaps guess the qualities he was looking for in a leader. In this writing, I will attempt to guess the ideal leader that Rizal would have wanted the Philippines to have by mapping similarities in ideologies and principles, and by method of elimination. PAGE 2 POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES RZL YOUTH who would only vote for those who have attained a Bachelor's Degree, or who would cater to those who have advanced degree. Valuing education is not merely an attainment of a Diploma or a Degree. For him, it is about leveraging education in order to advance reforms and bring further awareness to the current issues of the Philippines society. This leads me to the elimination of Manny Pacquaio who famously said, Rizal is a fervent believer of Reforms through non-violent means, rather than abrupt revolution. WHO WOULD RIZAL VOTE FOR PRESIDENT THIS 2022 ELECTION? "Non-violent" is the keyword here. Who amongst the candidate is predisposed to violent means of effectuating change? That's right! Senator Ronald deal Rosa is eliminated outright. He was one of the administrators of Duterte's Drug War which took hundreds of lives of drug users, drug pushers, and those related to drug syndicates. Not just looking at the mechanism of solving the issue of the proliferation of drugs, the idea of turning against your fellow Filipino, and executing them is abhorrent for Rizal. This is supported by many portrayals in his Novels, such as the character of Doña Victorina. Education is an impetus for effectuating change, and attaining freedom. This is one of the main advocacies of Rizal. I don't suppose those who faked educational qualification, or those who belittle the value of thinking critically can win Rizal's vote. On this aspect, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would be eliminated on the basis of faking his degree qualifications. To be clear, I don't think that Rizal is an elitist - "Ang kailangan dito sa bansa natin ay puso hindi puro utak." It may be true that Manny Pacquiao is genuinely nationalistic and patriotic to the extent of giving his personal money and resources to our fellow Filipinos who are down-trodden. But seeking the highest position in the whole archipelago without having an ounce of critical-thinking skills, let alone the competencies and decency to attend to his jobs would put our country in grave danger. Without the "brains", one can be easily manipulated by corrupt advisors. And without the "heart", one can be elitist, and blind to the sufferings of his fellowmen. Thus, both are essential in pursuing public office positions. Overall, Rizal advocated for the Ideas of European Liberalism and Enlightenment. Believing in the concepts of individual liberty, constitutional government, and social progress. Only few are left, which are VP Leni, Mayor Isko, Sen. Lacson and Ka Leody. Who among these candidates do you think greatly espouses the ideas of enlightenment? Perhaps it is not about who will Rizal vote for this upcoming election, but who will you vote for that will determine the course of our country for the next six years.