Jose Rizal: Philippines National Hero PDF

First of all, we should clarify the meaning if a hero to make it quite simple to understand how Rizal became a hero. A hero symbolizes goodness. Jose Rizal became the National hero because he fought from freedom in a silent but powerful way. He expressed his love for the Philippines through his nove...

First of all, we should clarify the meaning if a hero to make it quite simple to understand how Rizal became a hero. A hero symbolizes goodness. Jose Rizal became the National hero because he fought from freedom in a silent but powerful way. He expressed his love for the Philippines through his novels, essays, articles and poems rather than a force of aggression. He was a very amazing person at his time. He was humble, fighting for reforms through his writings instead of through a revolution. He used his intelligence, talents and skills in a for more peaceful way. Rizal became a National Hero because he passed the criteria during the American period: 1. He must be Filipino. 2. He is already dead. 3. He displayed unconditional love for his country. 4. He was a low temper. 5. He had died dramatically. Jose Rizal became a national hero of the Philippines as a reformist who advocated peacefully for liberty rather than violent means. He was forerunner of Gandhi and along with Sum Yat Sen and Tagone, the thought climate will change throughout Asia. His work and the work of others led to the attrition of colonialism. Who Made Rizal Our Foremost National Hero? BY: ESTEBAN A. DE OCAMPO Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso, or simply Jose Rizal (1861-1896), is the greatest hero & martyr of our nation. The day of his birth & the day of his execution are fittingly commemorated by all classes of our people throughout the length & breadth of this country & even by Filipinos & their friends abroad. His name is a byword in every Filipino home while his picture adorns the postage stamp & paper money of widest circulation. As the biographer Rafael Palma said, "The doctrines of Rizal are not for one epoch but for all epochs. They are as valid today as they were yesterday. This signifies the immortality of Rizal’s life, works, and genuine character. And as our beloved country’s National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal will be remembered, forever. However, there are still some Filipinos who entertain the belief that Rizal is a "made-to-order" national hero, (one that personifies what we want to see in a person, or in a hero, for this matter) & that the maker or manufacturer in this case were the Americans, particularly Civil Governor William Howard Taft. And lastly, we repeat the question "Who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines?" The answer is: No single person or organization can be held responsible for making Dr. Jose Rizal our national hero. Rizal himself, his own people, and the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero and martyr of his people. This is because; Dr. Jose Rizal didn’t become our National Hero by way of traditional election. The fruits of his exceptional dedication and conviction to his life’s purpose are seen in our everyday lives. If he hadn’t, and among other note-worthy heroes of our history fought for our well-deserved freedom, maybe we’ll still be in the hands of our unjust captors. His “excellent qualities and merits” made him Our Foremost National Hero. Rizal's legacy for the 21st century: Progressive Education, Social Entrepreneurship, and Community Development. By: Floro Quibuyen Progressive Education The progressive school movement deconstructed the taken-for-gratnted idea that the school is an enclave where the student learns first and then later, after graduation gets a job and hopefully, becomes a productive member of the community. Against this notion, it advocated and practiced the principle that the school is an integral working and promoting the well-being of the community all at the same time. Rizal's school in Talisay may be viewed as one such "educational web". Social Entrepreneurship Rizal formed Dapitan's first farmers cooperative the Sociedad de Agriculturos Dapitanos (SAD), whee capital was to be provided by Sociosindustriales (Industrial Partners) and Socio Accionistas (Share Holders). January 1, 1895, the cooperative aimed to improve/promote agricultural products, obtain their profits for them, provide capital for the purchase of these goods and help to the extent possible the harvesters and laborers by means of a store where articles of basic necessity are sold at moderate prices. Community Development Rizal developed Dapitan's first park, complete with street lamps and a garden/flower relief map o the whole island of Mindanao. he built a one-doctor hospital, and paid his own money for the medical supplies and instruments. People of Dapitan are not charged of any consultation. A English man who came for consultation was charged 500 duros for the extraction of his cataract. The money was donated to Dapitan for the public lighting which they didn't have. José Rizal became a national hero for his part in the Filipino nationalist movement. Rizal wrote about the discrimination that was occurring in the Philippines under Spanish occupation and called for significant reform. He is applauded as one of the first individuals to work for independence in the Philippines. Rizal was born in the Philippines' Laguna Province. He studied medicine in Manila but left to complete his degree in Spain in 1882. While in Europe, Rizal wrote multiple works that exposed the immorality of Spanish colonial rule and advocated for reform in the Philippines, particularly rallying for equal treatment of Filipinos, curbing the power of Spanish friars and allowing for Filipino representation in the Spanish political system. When Rizal returned to the Philippines, he founded a group that championed non- violent protest. Despite his peaceful ways, he was exiled from the Philippines to the island of Mindanao. Eventually, Rizal was allowed to return to the Philippines as an army doctor, but within a year of his return, a Filipino nationalist society called the Katipunan revolted. Though Rizal had no connections to the group and did not approve of the group's violent methods, Rizal was nonetheless arrested, tried, convicted of sedition and executed by public firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896. Rizal's execution further sparked opposition to Spanish rule, and in 1898, the Philippines were liberated from Spanish rule. I. INTRODUCTION "What matters death if one dies for what one loves, for native land and cherished ones?" “A hero may be easy to spell but it is never easy to become. Heroes are people who have gained enormous identity among others. They are role models, well-respected, nationalistic and have contributed to society causing national unity resulting to something really big like freedom”. Between the different faces of heroes we know who stands out among the rest? Is it Rizal or is Bonifacio of better identity? Would it be Aguinaldo or Mabini? If there is a need to place someone as national hero then who should we pick between those huge names? “It is always said in many cultures that the pen is mightier than the sword, the blood of academic scholars are better than that blood of warriors, wars are not won in the battlefield, it’s pure politics.” Let me give you the criteria in choosing a National Hero as set by the Philippine National Heroes Committee in 1993-1995 which follows: 1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom. 2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation. 3. A hero is part of the people’s expression. 4. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations. 5. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero. With these criteria that was set, Dr. Jose P. Rizal is more than qualified. These criteria is much exemplified by Dr. Jose Rizal than Andres Bonifacio. According to Gregorio T. Zaide, a prolific historian, he mentioned that as early as Rizal was 8 years old, he has bestowed his nationalism when he wrote a poem in Tagalog “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” in which he encouraged the Filipino children to love their native language. “One who doesn’t love his native tongue, is worse than putrid fish and a beast,” which is in Tagalog, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa Sariling Wika, ay higit pa sa mabaho at malansang isda”, who can ever forget those lines from his poem (To My Fellow Children). His name can be found in almost all corners of the Philippines. Roads, schools and even a province are named after him. His image can be found in peso bills and coins. Monuments are erected in his name (foremost of this can be found in Rizal Park in Manila). These are manifestations of the country's reverence accorded to Jose Rizal as a national hero. Why is Rizal a national hero? What are his contributions to Philippine history that makes him preeminent among other Filipino heroes? Here are some of the reasons Rizal is a national hero of the Philippines. In late 19th Century, Rizal became the voice of a people long oppressed by centuries-old Spanish rule. As an educated man, he was exposed to some of the abuses by Spanish friars and government officials. As a founder and member of the La Liga Filipina, he originally pushed for reforms of Spanish colonial rule. He wrote Noli Me Tangere and El Felibusterismo. Although fictional, the novels described the abuses committed by Spanish officials against the locals. Alarmed over the threat posed by the two novels, angry Spanish officials pushed for Rizal's arrest and exile in Dapitan. While exiled in Dapitan, Rizal devoted himself to improving the conditions of people in Dapitan. During this time, the concept of "Filipino" was taking shape among the inhabitants of the islands. Before, society was divided among Spanish citizens and indios (locals). Some began to form nationalistic ideas. Rizal's two novels inspired locals to call not for Spanish government reforms but for independence from Spain.  This alarmed the Spanish colonial government. In 1896, Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan (Rizal Park) on charges of sedition and treason. The execution did not prevent the calls for independence to stop. The Katipunan led a full scale revolutionary war against the Spanish colonial government. Although Rizal did not push for independence, his writings and execution inspired many to revolt against Spain. This is the primary reason Jose Rizal is a national hero. He instilled the sense of nationalism among citizens oppressed by centuries-old Spanish rule. Rizal did not advocate for armed struggle. He is the epitome of the saying "The pen is mightier than the sword." He was also a learned man who pushed for the emancipation of the people through education. He advocated for equal rights be accorded to locals and not just limited to Spanish colonials. And finally, he was a martyr that stood for his beliefs. This article will attempt to answer the following questions that brings curiosity to people about Rizal being the National Hero. Of all the Filipinos who fought for freedom, why Rizal? Questions: 1) Who made Rizal the foremost national hero? 2) Why is Rizal our greatest national hero? 3) Why did Rizal, become the greatest Filipino hero? 4) Why is Rizal the greatest Filipino hero that ever lived? 5) Who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines? Before proceeding to answer these queries, it will be better if we first know the meaning of the term hero. According to Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, a hero is "a prominent or central personage taking admirable part in any remarkable action or event". Also, "a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger". And finally, he is a man "honored after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to mankind". II. DISCUSSION Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso, or simply Jose Rizal (1861-1896), is unquestionably the greatest hero & martyr of our nation. The day of his birth & the day of his execution are fittingly commemorated by all classes of our people throughout the length & breadth of this country & even by Filipinos & their friends abroad. His name is a byword in every Filipino home while his picture adorns the postage stamp & paper money of widest circulation. No other Filipino hero can surpass Rizal in the number of towns, barrios, & streets named after him; in the number of educational institutions, societies, & trade names that bear his name; in the number of persons, both Filipinos & foreigners, who were named "Rizal" or "Rizalina" because of their parents’ admiration for the Great Malayan; & in the number of laws, Executive Orders & Proclamations of the Chief Executive, & bulletins, memoranda, & circulars of both the bureaus of public & private schools. Who is the Filipino writer & thinker whose teachings & noble thoughts have been frequently invoked & quoted by authors & public speakers on almost all occasions? None but Rizal. And why is this so? Because as biographer Rafael Palma said, "The doctrines of Rizal are not for one epoch but for all epochs. They are as valid today as they were yesterday. It cannot be said that because the political ideals of Rizal have been achieved, because of the change in the institutions, the wisdom of his counsels or the value of his doctrines have ceased to be opportune. They have not." Unfortunately, however, there are still some Filipinos who entertain the belief that Rizal is a "made-to-order" national hero, & that the maker or manufacturer in this case were the Americans, particularly Civil Governor William Howard Taft. This was done allegedly, in the following manner: "And now, gentlemen, you must have a national hero". These were supposed to be the words addressed by Gov. Taft to Messrs. Pardo de Tavera, Legarda & Luzurriaga, Filipino members of the Philippine Commission, of which Taft was the chairman. It was further reported that "in the subsequent discussion in which the rival merits of the revolutionary heroes (M. H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Gen. Antonio Luna, Emilio Jacinto, & Andres Bonifacio—O.) were considered, the final choice—now universally acclaimed a wise one—was Rizal. And so history was made." Why is Rizal a hero, nay, our foremost national hero? He is our greatest hero because as a towering figure in the Propaganda Campaign, he took an "admirable part" in that movement w/c roughly covered the period from 1882-1896. If we were asked to pick out a single work by a Filipino writer during this period, more than any writer writing, contributed tremendously to the formation of Filipino nationality, we shall have no hesitation tin choosing Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere (Berlin, 1887). It is true that Pedro Paterno published his novel, Ninay, in Madrid in 1885; M. H. del Pilar his La Soberania Monacal in Barcelona in 1889, Graciano Lopez Jaena, his Discursos y Articulos Varios, also in Barcelona in 1891; & Antonio Luna, his Impresiones in Madrid in 1893, but none of these books had evoked such favorable & unfavorable comments from friends & foes alike as did Rizal’s Noli. Typical of the encomiums that the hero received for his novel were those received from Antonio Ma. Regidor & Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt. Regidor, a Filipino exile of 1872 in London, said that "the book was superior" & that if "don Quixote has made its author immortal because he exposed to the world the sufferings of Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring you equal glory…" Blumentritt, after reading Rizal’s Noli, wrote & congratulated its author, saying among other things: "Your work, as we Germans say, has been written w/ the blood of the heart... Your work has exceeded my hopes & I consider myself happy to have been honored by your friendship. Not only I, but also your country, may feel happy for having in you a patriotic & loyal son. If you continue so, you will be to your people one of those great men who will exercise a determinative influence over the progress of their spiritual life." If Rizal’s friends & admirers praised w/ justifiable pride the Noli & its author, his enemies were equally loud & bitter in attacking & condemning the same. Perhaps no other work has, up to this day, aroused as much acrimonious debate not only among our people but also among reactionary foreigners as the Noli of Rizal. In the Philippines the hero’s novel was attacked & condemned by a faculty committee of a Manila university (UST) & by the permanent censorship commission in 1887. The committee said that it found the book "heretical, impious, & scandalous to the religious order, & unpatriotic & subversive to the public order, libelous to the govt. of Spain & to its political policies in these islands", while the commission recommended that "the importation, reproduction, & circulation of this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely prohibited." Coming down to our time, during the congressional discussions & hearings on the Rizal (Noli-Fili) in 1956, the proponents & opponents of the bill also engaged themselves in a bitter & long drawn-out debate the finally resulted in the enactment of a compromise measure, now known as RA 1425. The attacks on Rizal’s 1st novel were not only confined in the Philippines but were also staged in the Spanish capital. There, Sen. Vida, Deputy (& ex-general) Luis de Pando & Premier Praxedes Mateo Sagasta were among those who unjustly lambasted & criticized Rizal & his Noli in the 2 chambers of the Spanish Cortes in 1888 & 1889. It is comforting to learn however, that about 13 years later, Cong. Henry Allen Cooper of Wisconsin delivered an eulogy of Rizal & even recited the martyr’s Ultimo Pensamiento on the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives in order to prove the capacity of the Filipinos for self- government. He said in part: "It has been said that, if American institutions had done nothing else to furnish to the world the character of George Washington, that alone would entitle them to the respect of mankind. So Sir, I say to all those who denounces the Filipinos indiscriminately as barbarians & savages, w/o possibility of a civilized future, that this despised race proved itself entitled to their respect & to the respect of mankind when it furnished to the world the character of Jose Rizal." The result of this appeal was the approval of what is popularly known as the Philippine Bill of 1902. The preceding paragraphs have shown that by the Noli alone Rizal, among his contemporaries, had become the most prominent/ the central figure of the Propaganda Movement. Rizal became the greatest Filipino hero because according to people, no Filipino has yet been born who could equal or surpass Rizal as a person of distinguished valor enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering. A Filipino and an American biographer said:  Rafael Palma – wrote “What is most admirable in Rizal?” This is all about Rizal’s complete self-denial, his complete abandonment of his personal interests in order to think only of those of his country. He could have been whatever he wished to be; considering his natural endowments; he could have earned considerable sums of money from his profession; he could have lived relatively rich, happy, prosperous, had he not dedicated himself to public matters. But I him, the voice of the species was stronger than the voice of personal progress or of private fortune, and he preferred to live far from his family and to sacrifice his personal affections for an ideal he had dreamed of. He heeded not his brother, not even his parents, beings whom he respected and venerated so much in order to follow the road his conscience had traced for him. Rizal did not have great means at his disposal to carry out his campaign, but that didn’t discourage him; he contented himself of what he have, suffered rigors of the cold winter of Europe, hunger, privation and misery. But when he raised his eyes to heaven and saw his ideal, his hope was reborn. He complained of his countrymen, complained of some of those who promised to help him but did not; until he profoundly disillusioned that he wanted to renounce his campaign forever, giving up everything. But some moments were evanescent, he soon felt comforted and resumed the task of bearing the cross of his suffering.  Dr. Frank C. Laubach – an American biographer of Rizal said: It was about Rizal’s courage, that his consuming life purpose was the secret of his moral courage. Physical courage was one of his inherited traits. But the trait that cannot be inherited was the high courage to die loving his murderers, which he at last achieved. It must be forged out in the fires of suffering and temptation.  Laubach also said that as we read Rizal’s life, we can see how the moral sinew and fiber grew year by year as he faced new perils and was forced to make fearful decisions. That it required courage to write his two novels, telling nothing that no other man had ventured to say before , standing almost alone against the most powerful interests in his country and in Spain, and knowing full well that despotism would strike back. Rizal had reached another loftier plateau of heroism when he wrote those letters in Hongkong, which is “To be opened after my death”, and sailed into the trap in Manila without any illusions. Then in his Dapitan exile, when he was tempted to escape and say “No”, not once but hundreds of times for four long years, and on his way to Cuba, Pedro Roxas pleaded with him to step off the boat of Singapore upon British territory and save his life, but he refused to do so. When the sentence of death and the fateful morning of his execution brought the final test, December 30, 1896, he walked with perfect calm to the firing line as though by his own choice, the only heroic figure in that sordid scene. To the bigoted Spaniards in Spain & in the Philippines, Rizal was the most intelligent, most courageous, & most dangerous enemy of the reactionaries & the tyrants; therefore he should be shot publicly to serve as an example & a warning to those of his kind. This was the reason why Rizal, after a brief mock trial, was sentenced to death & made to face the firing squad at Bagumbayan Field, now Luneta, in the early morning of 30 Dec 1896. The answer to the question raised for the third time, “Why is Rizal the greatest Filipino hero that ever lived?” the answer is, because he is a man honored after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to mankind. Even before his execution, he was already acclaimed by both Filipinos and foreigners as the foremost leader of his people. Writing from Barcelona to the Great Malayan on March 10, 1889, Marcelo H. del Pilar said: “Rizal no tiene aún derecho á morir: su nombre constituye la más pura é inmaculada bandera de aspiraciones y Plaridel y los suyos no son otra cosa más que unos voluntaries que militant bajo esa bandera”. Fernando Acevedo, who called Rizal his “distinguido amigo, compañero y paisano”, wrote the latter from Zaragoza, Spain, on October 25, 1889: “I see in you the model Filipino; your application to study and your talents have placed on a height which I revere and admire.” The Bicolano, Dr. Tomas Arejola wrote Rizal in Madrid, February9, 1891 saying: “Your moral influence over us is indisputable.” And Guillermo Pautu of Bulacan wrote this tribute to Rizal, saying: “Vd. A quien se le puede (Ilamar) con razon, cabeza tutelary de los Filipinos, aunque la comparacion parezca algo ridicula, porque posee la virtud de atraer consigo enconadas voluntades, zantar las discordias y enemistades rencorosas, reunir in fiestas a hombres que no querian verse ni en la calle…” Among the foreigners who recognized Rizal as the leading Filipino of his time were Blumentritt, Napoleon M. Kheil, Dr. Rheinhold Rost, & Vicente Barrantes. Prof. Blumentritt told Dr. Maximo Viola in May 1887 that "Rizal was the greatest product of the Philippines & that his coming to the world was like the appearance of a rare comet, whose rare brilliance appears only every other century." Napoleon Kheil of Prague, Austria, wrote to Rizal & said: "admiro en Vd. a un noble representante de la España colonial." Dr. Rost, distinguished Malayologist & librarian of the India office of London, called Rizal "una perla hombre", while don Vicente Barrantes had to admit that Rizal was “the first among the Filipinos." Even before the outbreak of the revolution against Spain in 1896, many instances can be cited to prove that his country here & abroad recognized Rizal’s leadership. In the early part of 1899 he was unanimously elected by the Filipinos in Barcelona & Madrid as honorary pres. of la Solidaridad. Some months later in Paris, he organized & became chief of the Indios Bravos. In Jan 1891, Rizal was again unanimously chosen Responsable (chief) of the Spanish-Filipino Association. He was also the founder & moving spirit in the founding of la Liga Filipina on Manila in 3 Jul 1892. History tells us that the revolutionary society known as Katipunan likewise acknowledged Rizal’s leadership & greatness by making him its honorary President & by using his family name Rizal as the password for the 3rd-degree members. A year after Rizal’s execution, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo & the other revolutionary chiefs exiled to Hong Kong held a commemorative program there on December 29, 1897 on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the hero’s execution & martyrdom. Of utmost significance in the public’s appreciation for Rizal’s patriotic labors in behalf of his people were the tributes paid by the revolutionary government to his memory. In his opening address at the congress assembled at Malolos, Bulacan on September 15, 1898, Pres. Aguinaldo invoked the spirits of the departed heroes of the fatherland, thus: Illustrious spirits of RIZAL, Lopez Jaena, of Marcelo del Pilar! August shades of Burgos, Pelaez & Panganiban! Warlike geniuses of Aguinaldo! (Crispulo---O.), & Tirona, of Natividad & Evangelista! Arise a moment from your unknown graves! Then on 20 Dec 1898 at the revolutionary capital of Malolos, Pres. Aguinaldo issued the 1st official proclamation making 30 Dec of that year as "Rizal Day". The same proclamation ordered the hoisting the Filipino flags at half-mast "from 12:00 noon on December 30, 1898" and the closing of "all offices of the government" during the whole day of 30 Dec. actually, the impressive Rizal Day program, sponsored by the Club Filipino, was held in Manila on December 30, 1898. It should be further noted that both the La Independencia, edited by Gen. Antonio Luna, & the El Heraldo de la Revolucion, official organ of the revolutionary government, issued a special supplement in honor of Rizal in one of their December issues in 1898.  Two of the greatest of Filipino poets in the Spanish language paid glowing tributes to the martyr of Bagumbayan in acknowledgement of the hero’s labors & sacrifices for his people. Fernando Ma. Guerrero wrote on September 25, 1898, thus: "No has muerto, no. La Gloria es tu destino; tu corona los fuegos de la aurora, y tu inviolable altar nuestra conciencia." And Cecilio Apostol, on 30 Dec of the same year, wrote these lines: "!Duerme en paz las sombras de la nada, Redentor de una Patria esclavizada! !No llores de la tumba en el misterio Del español el triunfo momentaneo: Que si Una bala destrozo tu craneo, Tambien tu idea destrozo un emperio! The Filipinos were not alone in grieving the untimely death of their hero & idol, for the intellectual & scientific circles of the world felt keenly the loss of Rizal, who was their esteemed colleague & friend. Dr. Camilo Osias & Wenceslao E. Retaña both spoke of the universal homage accorded to Rizal immediately after his death. Dr. Osias wrote thus: Expressions of deep sympathy came from Blumentritt & many others such as Dr. Renward Braustetter of Lucerne, a scholar on things Malay; Dr. Feodor Jagor, a German author of Philippine Travels; Dr. Friedrich Ratzel, an eminent German geographer & ethnographer; Señor Ricardo Palma, a distinguished man of letters from Peru; Prof. M Buchner, director of the Ethnographic Museum of Munich & a noted Malayologist; Monsieur Edmont Planchut, a French Orientalist, author of various works & writer on Philippine subjects; Dr. W. Joest, eminent German geographer & professor at the University of Berlin; Dr. H. Kern, professor of Sanskrit in the University of Leiden & celebrated authority on Malay affairs; Dr. J. Montano, a distinguished French linguist & anthropologist & author of a Memoria on the Philippines; Dr. F. Mueller, professor of the University of Vienna & a great philologist; a noted Dutch literary woman who signed H. D. Teenk Willink, author of a touching & conscientious biography of Rizal; Herr Manfred Wittich, writer of Leipzig; Dr. Betances, Cuban political leader; Dr. Boettger, a noted German naturalist & author of works on the fauna of the Philippines; Dr. A. B. Meyer, director of the Museum of Ethnography at Dresden & eminent Filipinologist; M. Odekerchen of Leige, director of l’Express, a newspaper where Rizal wrote articles; Dr. Ed Seler, translator in German of Rizal’s My Last Farewell; Mr. H. W. Bray, a distinguished English writer; Mr. John Foreman, author of works on the Philippines & Rizal; Herr C. m. Heller, a German naturalist; Dr. H. Stolpe, a Swedish savant who spoke & published on the Philippines & Rizal; Mr. Armand Lelinsky, Austrian engineer & writer; Dr. J. M. Podhovsky, a notable Czech write, author of various works on the Philippines & Dr. Rizal. Among the scientific necrological services held especially to honor Rizal, the one sponsored by the Anthropological Society of Berlin in 20 Nov 1897 at the initiative of Dr. Rudolph Virchow, its president, was the most important & significant. Dr. Ed Seler recited the German translation of Rizal’s "My Last Farewell" on that occasion. The newspapers, magazines, & other periodicals throughout the civilized world – in Germany, Austria, France, Holland, London, the US, Japan, Hong Kong & Macao, Singapore, Switzerland, & in Latin American countries—published accounts of Rizal’s martyrdom in order to render homage to his greatness. Did the Americans, especially Gov. W. H. Taft, really choose Rizal out of several Filipino patriots as the No. 1 hero of his people? Nothing could be farther from the truth. In the preceding pages, we have shown beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Great Malayan, by his own efforts & sacrifices for his oppressed countrymen, had projected himself as the foremost leader of the Philippines until the moment of his immolation, & this fact was spontaneously acknowledged not only by his own people but also the elite of other lands who intimately knew his patriotic labors. We have likewise shown that immediately after his execution, his own people had justly acclaimed him as their foremost hero & martyr. The intellectual & scientific world, as we have also demonstrated, was not slow in according him signal honors as a hero of humanity & as an apostle of freedom. Mr. Taft, as chairman of the 2nd Philippine Commission, arrived in the Philippines in June 1900. This commission began its legislative functions on 1st September of the same year. On June 11 of the ensuing year the Philippine commission approved Act no. 137, w/c organized the "politico-military district of Morong" into the "Province of Rizal". This was the 1 st official step taken by the Taft commission to honor our greatest hero & martyr. It should be borne in mind that 6 days before the passage of Act no. 137, the Taft commission held a meeting at the town of Pasig for the purpose of organizing the province. In that meeting attended by the leading citizens of both Manila & Morong, a plan was presented to combine the 2 districts into one, but this proposal met w/ determined & vigorous objections from the leaders of Morong.  "At this point", reads the ‘Minutes of Proceedings’ of the Taft commission, "Dr. Tavera, of the Federal Party, who accompanied the commission, asked that he might make a suggestion w/ reference to the proposed union of Manila & Morong provinces. It was his opinion that in case of union neither the name of Morong nor Manila ought to be retained. He then stated the custom w/c prevailed in th US & other countries of naming important localities/districts in memory of some illustrious citizen of the country. In line w/ this he suggested that the united provinces be named ‘Rizal’ in memory & honor of the most illustrious Filipino & the most illustrious Tagalog the islands had ever known. The president (Taft—O.) stated that the commission, not less than the Filipinos, felt proud to do honor to the name of Rizal, & if, after consideration, it decided to unite the 2 provinces, it would have the pleasure, if such action met the desires of the people, in giving the new province the name of Rizal". It is obvious then that the idea of naming the district of Morong after Rizal came from Dr. Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino, & not from Judge Taft, an American. It is interesting to know that 2 countrymen of Mr. Taft—Justice George A. Malcolm & Dr. Frank C. Laubach—who both resided in the Philippines for many years & who were very familiar w/ the history & lives of great Filipinos—do not subscribe to the view that Jose Rizal is an American-made hero. Justice Malcolm has this to say: In those early days (of the American occupation—O.), it was bruited about that the Americans had ‘made’ Rizal a hero to serve their purposes. That was indeed a sinister interpretation of voluntary American action designed to pay tribute to a great man. (29) Dr. Laubach’s view about the question is as follows: The tradition that every American hears when he reaches the Philippine Islands is that W. H. Taft, feeling that the Filipinos needed a hero, made one out of Rizal. We trust this book (Rizal: Man & Martyr—O.) will serve to show how empty that statement is. it speaks well for Taft that he was sufficiently free from racial prejudice to appreciate in some measure the stature of a great Filipino. It was a Spaniard who did more than any other to save Rizal for posterity—Retaña whose work (Vida Escritos del Dr. Jose Rizal, Madrid, 1907), is by far the most complete & scholarly than we have(in1936—O.). Like Rizal, he lost all his money in the cause of the Filipinos, & died a poor man. Granting for the sake of argument that the Taft commission chose Rizal out of several great Filipinos as the No. 1 hero of his people, still we can say that what the commission did was merely to confirm a sort of fait accompli, & that was that Jose Rizal had already been acclaimed by his countrymen & the scientific world as the foremost hero & martyr of the land of his birth. Nay, we can go even farther & concur w/ Prof. Blumentritt, who said in 1897: Not only is Rizal THE MOST PROMINENT MAN OF HIS OWN PEOPLE but THE GREATEST MAN THE MALAYAN RACE HAS PRODUCED. His memory will never perish in his fatherland, & future generations of Spaniards will yet toutter his name w/ respect & reverence. Perhaps the following quotation from the late William Cameron Forbes, an ardent admirer of Rizal & the governor-general of the Philippines during the construction of the Rizal Mausoleum on the Luneta, is appropriate at this point. He said: It is eminently proper that Rizal should have become the acknowledged national hero of the Philippine people. The American administration has lent every assistance to this recognition, setting aside the anniversary of his death to be a day of his observance, placing his picture on the postage stamp most commonly used in the Islands, & on the currency, cooperating w/ the Filipinos in making the site of his school in Dapitan a national park, & encouraging the erection by public subscription of a monument in his honor on the Luneta in Manila near the place where he met his death. One of the longest & most important street in Manila has been named in his memory—Rizal Avenue. The Filipinos in many cities & towns have erected monuments to his name, & throughout the Islands the public schools teach the young Filipinos to revere his memory as the greatest of Filipino patriots. Now and then we come across some Filipinos who venture the opinion that Andres Bonifacio, & not Jose Rizal, deserves to be acknowledged & canonized as our first national hero. They maintain that Rizal never held a gun, a rifle, or a sword in fighting for the liberty & independence of our country in the battlefield. They further assert that while the foremost national heroes of other countries are soldier-generals, like George Washington of US, Napoleon I & Joan of Arc of France, simon Bolivar of Venezuela, Jose de San Martin of Argentina, Bernardo O’Higgins of Chile, Jimmu Tenno of Japan, etc., our greatest hero was a pacifist & a civilian whose weapon was his quill. However, our people in exercising their good sense, independent judgment, & unusual discernment, have not followed the examples of other nations in selecting & acknowledging a military leader for their greatest hero. Rafael Palma has very well stated the case of Rizal versus Bonifacio in these words: It should be a source of pride & satisfaction to the Filipinos to have among their national heroes one of such excellent qualities & merits w/c may be equaled but not surpassed by any other man. Whereas generally the heroes of occidental nations are warriors & generals who serve their cause w/ the sword, distilling blood & tears, the hero of the Filipinos served his cause w/ the pen, demonstrating that the pen is as mighty as the sword to redeem a people from their political slavery. It is true that in our case the sword of Bonifacio was after all needed to shake off the yoke of a foreign  power; but the revolution prepared by Bonifacio was only the effect, the consequence of the spiritual redemption wrought by the pen of Rizal. Hence not only in the chronological order but also in the point of importancethe previous works of Rizal seems to us superior to that of Bonicacio, because although that of Bonifacio was of immediate results, that of Rizal will have more durable & permanent effects. And let us note further what other great men said about the pen being mightier & more powerful than the sword. Napoleon I himself, who was a great conqueror & ruler, said: "There are only two powers in the world; the sword & the pen; and in the end the former is always conquered by the latter". The following statement of Sir Thomas Browne is more applicable to the role played by Rizal in our libertarian struggle: "Scholars are men of peace; they bear no arms; but their tongues are sharper than the sword; their pens carry further & give a louder report than thunder. I had rather stand in the shock of a basilisk than in the fury of a merciless pen". And finally, let us quote from Bulwer: "take away the sword; states can be saved w/o it; bring the pen! For those who may still doubt & question the fact that Rizal is greater, far greater than Bonifacio, or any other Filipino hero, the following observation by Retaña will be sufficient: Todos los paises tienen su idolo mas ninguno tiene un mayor idolo; que Filipinas. Antes desaparecera de los Estados Unidos---! y ya decir!---la memoria de Washington, que de Filipinas la memoria de RIZAL. No fue rizal, como medico, un Mariani, ni como dibujante un Gustavo Dore, ni como antropologo un Virchow, ni como poeta un Goethe, ni como filipinista un Blumentritt, ni como historiador un Macaulay, ni como pensador un Hervas, ni como malayologo un Kern, ni como filiosofo un Descartes, ni como novelista un Zola, ni como literato un Menendez y Pelayon in como escultor un Querol, ni como geografo un Reclus, ni como tirador un Pini…Distinguiose en muchas disciplinas; pero en ninguna de ellas alcanzo ese grado supremo que asegura la inmortalidad. Fue patriota; fue martir del amor a su pais. Pero en caso de Rizal hay otros Filipinos; y?en que consiste que Rizal esta a miles de cudos sobre todos ellos? Sencillamente, en la finura exquisita de su espiritu, en la nobleza quijotesca de su corazon, en su psicologia toda, romantica, soñadora, buena, adorable, psicologia que sintelizo todos los sentimientos y aspiraciones de un pueblo que sufria viendose victima de un regimen oprobioso…El espiritu de la Revolucion tagala se juzga por este solo hecho; Fue, como es sabido, el brazo armado de aquel movimiento Andres Bonifacio; he ahi el hombre que dio el primer grito contra tirania el que acaudillo las primeras huestes el que murio en la brecha…Y a ese hombre apenas se le recuerda; no se la eregido ningun monumento; los vates populares no le han cantado…Mientras que a RIZAL, enemigo de le Revolucion, que califico de salvaje y deshonrosa, le glorifica el pueblo deificarle…?No se ve en esto un pueblo eminentamente espiritual, que tuvo en RIZAL un resumen viviente? Todo Filipino lleva dentro de si algo del demagogo Bonifacio. La inmortalidad de RIZAL esta asegurada de cien maneras. Pero como mas asegurada esta es poque los millones de Filipinos de hoy, de mañana y de siempre beben y beberan espiritu de RIZAL; no se nutren de otra cosa. In the preceding pages we have tried to show that Rizal was not only a great hero, but the greatest among the Filipinos. As a matter of fact, the Austrian savant Prof. Blumentritt judged him as "the most prominent man of his own people" and "the greatest man the Malayan race has produced". We have also shown during his lifetime, Rizal was already acclaimed by both Filipinos & foreigners as the foremost leader of his people & that this admiration for him has increased w/ the passing of time since his dramatic death on the Luneta that fateful morning of December23, 1896. Likewise, we attempted to disprove the claim made by some quarters that Rizal is an American-made hero, & we also tried to explain why Rizal is greater than any other Filipino hero, including Andres Bonifacio. The answer to the fourth question is: no single person or groups of persons were responsible for making the Greatest Malayan the No. 1 Hero of his people. Rizal himself, his own people, & the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero & martyr of his people. No amount of adulation & canonization by both Filipinos & foreigners could convert Rizal into a great hero if he did not possess in himself what Palma calls "excellent qualities & merits" or what Retaña calls "la finura exquisite de su espiritu,…la nobleza quijotesca de su corazon,… su psicologia toda, romantica, soñadora, buena, adorable, psicologia que sintetizo todos los entimientos y aspiraciones de un pueblo que sufria, viendose victima de su regimen oprobioso…." III. SYNTHESIS Jose Rizal is the Philippines’ national hero. He was a unique man of outstanding talents. A patriot and physician, a poet and novelist, a linguist and ethnologist, a sculptor and economist, an educator, and engineer. Above all, he was a man of conviction. His love for his country, and his observations of Spanish rule impassioned him to speak out about injustice. He was a peaceful man and used the power of the pen to express himself. It would eventually lead to his imprisonment and execution. He studied and travelled extensively in Europe, America and Asia. He mastered 22 languages including Latin, Spanish, German, English, French, Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Russian, Tagalog, as well as many native dialects. As exemplified by his two great novels which no other literary works could surpass, he proved that the pen is mightier than the sword.. He greatly affects his fellowmen through his courage to write just to instill in their minds the real panorama during his era is so admirable. His influence to the Filipino race through his intellect is as well not a sufficient basis to say that he deserves the title but his complete self-denial. Although gifted with immeasurable talents, he completely abandoned his personal interests in order to think only of those of his country He chose to live far from his family, forego his personal affections and profession for an ideal that he ought for. He could have settled stable being endowed with riches, valor and intellect, but he wished to fight for his country utilizing these natural endowments. Rizal, through his ideas had been Filipino martyrs’ principal source of inspiration in the launching of the revolutionary in 1896. His ideas inspired as well most Filipinos in beholding dignity that once had lost. His revolutionary ideas conveying national consciousness to the defective educational system and violations of human rights to the Filipinos alarmed religious authorities for it enlightened the minds of his fellowmen. His ideas exposed the social malady affecting the country and redeemed his people from their miserable conditions. He instilled native pride and dignity to Filipinos and the willingness to sacrifice for motherland through his economic and political ideas which are vividly inscribed in his novels. He preferred dying for the country than to live his life with his principles ruined. His death did not finish his mission. It just begun. For his death inspired many others and became the rallying force of the revolutionary leaders who were also willing to sacrifice and die for the country, if necessary. According to Renato Constantino, when the American government conquered the island of the Philippines from the Spanish government in 1896, the American government established a commonwealth government after the Spanish revolutionary government ceased to govern the country. At this time of the Philippine history, Filipinos under the commonwealth government started to frame up Filipino national identities. When the question on who would be the national hero arose, whether Rizal or Bonifacio, the American government "guided" the Filipino people to choose Rizal. The American rationale was based on Rizal's peaceful propaganda and diplomatic approaches in attaining Philippine freedom and independence, unlike Bonifacio who chose a bloody revolution. Whether this assessment is accurate or not, Dr. Rizal has been considered a hero of the Philippines from the outset: a public holiday was declared honouring Dr. Rizal in 1898, whereas that for Bonifacio was not declared until 1921. Dr. Rizal was considered to be his inspiration by Bonifacio himself. Even without the assistance of US propaganda, Rizal would have been honoured as a hero in the Philippines. Perhaps the effect of the propaganda was less to boost Rizal and more to denigrate Bonifacio. But whether a national hero or not, he did a very good job for us considering the fact that he had set us all free from slavery and better education. He’s a very good example and an inspiration to us, most specially to students because of his intelligence and boldness. He was not a traitor. He had faced death with boldness. He had proven the saying that goes, “A pen is mightier than sword”. Rizal wrote: "I die just when I see the dawn break, Through the gloom of night, to herald the day; And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take, Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake, To dye with its crimson the waking ray". -My Last Farewell- 1896  REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died; WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have shaped the national character; WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused; WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore: Section 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo of their English translation shall be used as basic texts. The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette. Sec. 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal's other works and biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and universities. The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university. Sec. 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country. Sec. 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school. Sec. 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act. Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. WHAT IS THE RIZAL LAW? http://teamcrisostomo.wordpress.com/about/ The Rizal Law, also known as RA 1425, mandates the study of Rizal’s life and works, as shown in section 1. This Republic Act calls for an increased sense of nationalism from the Filipinos during a time of a dwindling Filipino identity. According to the judicial system, a republic act is a law that has already been passed and implemented. In contrast to this, a bill is merely a proposed law, in other words it may or may not be passed by the Congress. The Republic Act was signed by the President on June 12, 1956. From the notes preceding the body of the document, one may infer that the bill was originally proposed in the Legislative arm of the Philippine Republic, in the Senate and House of Representatives. According to the Official Gazette, the law was made effective thirty days after its implementation. The mere fact that the Act was passed on the date of our independence seeks to stir up a greater sense of fervor in the Filipino, to believe in their own country and national identity—who we are as a nation. It was this time when the Philippines was heavily dependent on the American government for support and guidance. Also, based on the fact that Jose Rizal is honored by the Philippines as the Philippine national hero, it is but appropriate that the document written to commemorate his accomplishments is written here, in the land of his birth. It is Senator Claro M. Recto who authored the Rizal Bill. While Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education, sponsored the bill in the Senate. Both of them were known for their great sense of nationalism. This nationalism served as the foundation to come up with this republic act, to set our country free from the hands of others and stand up on our own—exactly the ideals and values that Rizal strove to fight for. It was written for the Filipino people, specifically the Filipino youth, who may have lost their sense of nationalism. The writers endeavored to rekindle a lost spark in each Filipino’s belief in their country. A republic act as drastic as the Rizal Law, which requires the study of Rizal’s life and works—something that does not need to be required in the first place—can only be born out of the fact that Rizal and his works were not given a high priority in the educational system of the country prior to the release of this act. It is clear that the government had to make drastic changes to resolve the issue. This is evident in section 3 of the act, legalizing all forms of translations for Rizal’s works, as well as section 2, obligating all schools, colleges and universities to keep an adequate number of copies of Rizal’s works. This makes them more accessible to a greater audience. It is hard to make out any form of emotion from any legal document; however, the choice of words is still able to convey a fiery passion. To highlight this, they also use words or concepts that can easily relate to the common Filipino man. Such passion is vital, as the audience is presumably of dwindling nationalism. In this regard, the writer attempts to show the audience the identity they have slowly been losing, and show them how they can undo this. There are important points that the author cited in this republic act that is worth noticing. First, “Whereas, today, more than other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died.” This document was written in the year 1956 during Magsasyay’s regime when the country was still recovering from the Japanese occupation and still very dependent on US governance. Ideals of freedom and nationalism were very essential during those times since the Philippines was still struggling for independence, and the country was still gradually developing its national identity and integrity. During those times havoc also existed within the Filipinos since there were numerous uprisings against the Philippine government. Moreover, even though this document was written decades ago, it is still striking because this clause is very timely for this present generation when our culture is being overpowered by foreign influence and Filipino diaspora is widespread. Another important point from RA 1425 is “Whereas, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and to teach the duties of citizenship.” It is very important to use our educational institutions to instill these values to the children who are at their prime years of growing and learning. During one’s educational years especially the college level is when individuals formulate their priorities and career tracks in life, and it is essential that institutions make students realize that the country should be a part of their priorities and serving one’s country is an innate and inborn duty for all. Also, embedding a profound and authentic moral character and a strong sense of personal discipline in the youth would yield proficient, genuine, and selfless Filipinos of the future who would turn the Philippines from an impoverished country to a globally competitive nation. Lastly, “The Board of National education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and the Barrio Councils throughout the country.” To provide a specific way to carry out this act is very helpful. It makes the goal very SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. It is also important that the effects of this act would be experienced by all students even those who are financially troubled. It is commendable that in the context of this act, the poor is well represented and that it is attainable regardless of ethnicity, social stature, and language barriers. This document was obviously written during a time when patriotism and nationalism was lost and needed, and a time when people were inspired by the initiative of the authors of this act. It was during this time when the Philippines and its’ citizens relied on the United States for guidance, support and welfare. It was written in order to seek aide from the same brilliant mind that drove the Filipinos of the past to fight for freedom from colonists entails another need for another meaningful revolution in spite of the absence of invaders; the country may have needed a slow-paced revolution driven by patriotism against dormancy, apathy and futility. EFFECTS OF THE RIZAL LAW Positive: According to Hernan Abaya, 1984, the nationalist reawakening began on the UP campus, sparked by the teaching of Rizal’s life and his writings made compulsory by the Noli-Fili law, coauthored by Recto and Laurel. This is a statement from a person who was able to witness the condition of the country before and after the Rizal law was implemented. He saw the change and the positive effect of the law to our country back then. the youth was made aware of the contributions and the principled life of Jose Rizal who was an emblem of substantial nationalism and unconditional love for the country. He embodies brilliance coupled with humility and prestige that goes along with service. This Republic Act has pushed for Rizal to be a role model for the youth of this country. Through this republic act the essence of freedom and independence was emphasized to the youth. Also, it has been implied through this act that national identity is a very important legacy that our heroes have achieved through sacrificing their own lives. They have passed it on to us, and it is our role to nurture and protect it. Negative: The RA. 1425 just caused havoc within educational institutions. Take the case of UP a couple of years after this law’s implementation. The UP Student Catholic Action and numerous publications and students were pushed to go against their President, Dr. Singco because they feel that the University is starting to become godless. It has just caused a mass confusion between faith and nationalism. The faith of the people is being compromised. This law is endangering the Christian growth of the students who are still in their formative years. This can drive the youth to question the credibility of the church and its teachings and traditions. According to a survey that we have conducted in our university, the Rizal course is not actually significant for the students. It has just been a laborious subject that adds unnecessary work load to students, and it sometimes drives the students to lose focus on their majors. Republic Act No. 1425 Republic Act No. 1425, popularly known as the Rizal Law, directs all public and private schools, colleges, and universities to include in their curricula courses or subjects on the life, works, and writings of Dr. Jose Rizal, particularly the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The Board of National Education is given the mandate to carry out and enforce the Rizal Law. It was approved on 12 June 1956. History Senate bill 438 known as Rizal Bill which was first authored by Senator Claro M. Recto - requiring the inclusion in the curricula of all private and public schools, colleges and universities the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo - is considered as one of the most controversial bills in the Philippines. Normally, before the bill was approved and implemented in all schools and was signed into a law known as Republic Act 1425, it had been brought to the Upper and Lower House of the Congress for deliberations. But what made it controversial is that the bill was not just fiercely opposed by people from Legislative Arm but also by the Catholic Church due to the inclusion of compulsory reading of Rizal's novels in which according to them, catholic dogmas are humiliated. Senator Recto brought the bill to the Senate and Senator Jose B. Laurel Sr. who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education sponsored the bill that consequently led to exchange of arguments from the Congress. The bill was headedly opposed by three senators namely Senator Francisco Rodrigo who was a former Catholic Action President, Senator Mariano Cuenco and SenatorDecoroso Rosales who was the brother of Julio Rosales, an archbishop. Other oppositors were from Lower House namely Congressmen Ramon Durano, Marciano Lim, Jose Nuguid, Manuel Soza, Godofredo Ramos, Miguel Cuenco, Lucas Paredes, Congressmen Carmen Consing and Tecia San Andres Ziga. The Catholic Church was indirectly included in the debates and played a major role for the intervention of signing of the bill into a law. Allied with the church in battle against Rizal Bill were the Holy Name Society of the Philippines, Catholic Action of the Philippines,Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabela. Oppositions argued that the bill would go against freedom of conscience and religion, The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) submitted a pastoral letter to which according, Rizalviolated Canon Law 1399 which forbids or bans books that attack or ridicule the catholic doctrine and practices. Oppositors argued that among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only 25 passages are nationalistic while 120 passages are anti-catholic. While upon scrutiny of thetwo novels by some members of catholic hierarchial, 170 passages in Noli Me Tangere and 50 in El Filibusterismo are against catholic fatih. Furthermore, oppositors pointed out that Rizal admitted that he did not only attack the friars who acted deceptively on the Filipinos but also the catholic faith itself. They suggested a reading material for students as to what they called Rizalian Anthology, a collection of Rizal's literary works that contain the patriotic philosophy excluding the two novels. Of course, Recto and Laurel defended the bill and argued that the only objective of the bill is to keep the memory of the national hero alive in every Filipino's mind, to emanate Rizal as he peacefully fought for freedom, and not to go against religion. Senators Lorenso Tanada, Quintin Paredes and Domocao Alonto of Mindanao also defended Rizal Bill which was also favored by Representatives from the House namely Congressmen Jacobo Gonzales, Emilio Cortez, Mario Bengson, Joaquin Roxas, Lancap Lagumbay and Pedro Lopez. Other supporters of the bill were Mayor Arsenio Lacsoncall anti-rizal bill "bigoted and intolerant" and walked out of a mass when the priest read a pastoral letter from the Archbishop denouncing the Rizal Bill aqnd General Emilio Aguinaldo with groups like theKnights of Rizal, Women Writers of the Verrnacular, Philippine Veterans Legion, Colleger Editors' Guild and Philippine School Teachers' Association. Excitement and intense scnenes were eventually arisen in settling the Rizal Bill. One of which was the debate of Cebu Representative Ramon Durano and Pampanga Representative Emilio Cortes that ended with a fistfight in Congress. Bacolod City Bishop Manuel Yap threatened to campaign against pro-rizal bill legislators nad to punish them in future elections. Catholic Schools Representatives threatened to close down their schools if the Rizal Bill was passed. Recto told them that if they did, the State could nationalize the catholic schools. When there was a proposal to use the expurgated novels as textbooks and put the original copies under lock and key in the school libraries, Recto rejected this amendment and expressed: "The people who would eliminate the books of Rizal from the schools...would bot out from our minds the memory of the national hero...this is not a fight against Recto but a fight against Rizal...now that Rizal is dead and they can no longer attempt at his life, they are attempting to blot out his memory." Due to apparently never-ending debate on the Rizal Bill, approved amendments were formulated through ideas of three senators. Senator Laurel' created an amendment to the original bill in which, other that Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, works written by Rizal and works wriiten by others about Rizal would be included and reading of the unexpurgated revision of the two novels would no longer be compulsory to elementary and secondary levels but would be strictly observed to college level. Senator Lim suggested the exemption to those students who feel that reading Rizal's novels would negatively affect his or her faith. Senator Primicias created an additional amendment that promulgates the rules and regulations in getting an exemption only from reading the two novels through written statement or affidavit and not from taking the Rizal Course. According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, no student has ever availed of this exemption. After the revised amendments, the bill was finally passed on May 17, 1956 and was signed into law as Republic Act 1425 by President Ramon Magsaysay on June 12 of the same year. Rizal Law not being followed By Ambeth Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 23:06:00 02/21/2008 While the Senate is now looking for other anomalies to investigate, of course in aid of legislation, maybe we should go back to the laws of the land that have not been fully implemented. I’m sure there are a lot of these around, but just recently I was reviewing some specific provisions of Republic Act 1425, more popularly known as the “Rizal Law.” This law turned half-century last year, and one wonders how much of it has been complied with, how much of it is continuously being applied. True, Jose Rizal is studied in school, but the manner of teaching is inconsistent, the textbooks and reading materials while voluminous vary a great deal in quantity and quality. The last time RA 1425 came to public attention was when then-President Fidel V. Ramos ordered the Commission on Higher Education to fully implement the Rizal Law. Memos were exchanged, opinions were sought, then the issue was forgotten. One wonders about the real state of the teaching of Rizal in Philippine schools, colleges and universities today. Young people today are different from the youth half a century ago. Can we force Generation X to read the novels when their generation is more attuned to moving pictures than hard text? Would it help if the “Noli” and “Fili” were available as graphic novels or short YouTube video clips? With the continuing decline in English and the nearly extinct reading proficiency in Spanish, how can we make Rizal’s novels better known, better read? I’m thinking aloud here and soliciting suggestions. I read through the law last year to prepare for a seminar on the teaching of the Rizal courses, and I noted that Section 1 of the law says: “Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo,’ shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private; Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ or their English translations shall be used as basic texts.” When my students took their Noli/Fili test last week, I saw that many had the versions of the novels I required: Soledad Lacson Locsin for those who read English and those of Virgilio S. Almario for those who preferred to read in Filipino (the original Spanish is the best, of course, but nobody opted for it). Walking on the aisles as they took the test, I saw students with the awful “komiks” [comic- book] version. Others came with their high school textbooks, actually dated primers, readers and textbooks that provided chapter summaries and guide questions. Some downloaded material from the Internet -- chapter summaries again -- while a minority studied in groups and came with such very detailed notes on every character and event in the novels that I think they missed the point. It pained me to think that they read Rizal to pass the test rather than for pleasure, but then that is what the law requires. I did not stress the fact that there is a little-known escape clause in the law that grants exemption from the reading of the novels based on religious belief, but not from the course. We are told that until now nobody has applied for this exemption simply because anyone who wants to avail of it will not know how to go about it. I have challenged students to make history and test the limits of the law. So far, no takers. What has not been complied with are two sections of the law making the novels available and accessible: “It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and expurgated editions of the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo,’ as well as Rizal’s other works and biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and universities. The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.” Will we find enough copies of the novels on the shelves of libraries to serve entire school populations? What was the intent of the law? To make copies available for free for every student? Or just enough for reference? Section 3 makes this clear: “The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo,’ as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and the Barrio Councils throughout the country.” This last section is a financial bonanza for textbook publishers. Now, try walking into your barangay hall and ask for “Noli Me Tangere.” We have so many laws and yet we continue to craft new ones. With RA 1425 as an example can’t we just make sure old laws are fully implemented before we resume investigation in aid of legislation? *** Nationalism can refer to an ideology, sentiment, a form of culture, or a social movement that focuses on the nation. While there is significant debate over the historical origins of nations, nearly all specialists accept that nationalism, at least as an ideology and social movement, is a modern phenomenon originating in Europe. Precisely where and when it emerged is difficult to determine, but its development is closely related to that of the modern state and the push for popular sovereignty that came to a head with the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century. Since that time, nationalism has become one of the most significant political and social forces in history, perhaps most notably as a cause of both the First and Second World Wars. As an ideology, nationalism holds that 'the people' in the doctrine of popular sovereignty is the nation, and that as a result only nation- states founded on the principle of national self-determination are legitimate. Since most states are multinational, or at least home to more than one group claiming national status, the pursuit of this principle has often led to conflict, and nationalism is commonly associated with war (both external and domestic), secession, and even genocide in contexts ranging from imperial conquest to struggles for national liberation. Nationalism does not always lead to violence, however, and it plays an integral role in the daily lives of most people around the world. Flags on buildings, the singing of national anthems in schools and at public events, and cheering for national sports teams are all examples of everyday, 'banal' nationalism that is often unselfconscious. Moreover, some scholars argue that nationalism as a sentiment or form of culture, sometimes described as 'nationality' to avoid the ideology's tarnished reputation, is the social foundation of modern society. Industrialization, democratization, and support for economic redistribution have all been at least partly attributed to the shared social context and solidarity that nationalism provides. Nevertheless, nationalism remains a hotly contested subject on which there is little general consensus. The clearest example of opposition to nationalism is cosmopolitanism, with adherents as diverse as liberals, Marxists, and anarchists, but even nationalism's defenders often disagree on its virtues, and it is common for nationalists of one persuasion to disparage the aspirations of others for both principled and strategic reasons. Indeed, the only fact about nationalism that is not in dispute may be that few other social phenomena have had a more enduring impact on the modern world. Jose Rizal’s imprints on the Philippine Revolution Inquirer First Posted 04:05am (Mla time) 01/01/2007 IN HIS DEC. 25 COLUMN, MANUEL L. Quezon III counters his review of Harold Augenbraun’s excellent English translation of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” with a plug for a tendentious biography of Rizal by Javier de Pedro. A member of the Opus Dei, De Pedro can only see “Rizal Through a Glass Darkly.” The Catholic Church in the Philippines had, after all, banned “Noli Me Tangere” and burned copies of it for being anti-friar and anti-government. Quezon noted that even as De Pedro sees Rizal as a “patriot,” the priest doesn’t see him as a “nationalist.” De Pedro is utterly wrong in asserting that in the “Noli,” Rizal did not treat our country as a “nation” under colonial bondage. In the novel, the boatman Elias, after complaining of the common brutalities and cruelties of the friars and the Spanish government, appealed to Ibarra, the “Noli’s” protagonist, to “Take up the people’s cause, unite the people, don’t ignore their voices, be an example to the rest, give them the concept of what one calls a nation!” In that part of the novel, Ibarra still expressed his loyalty to Spain. But in “El Filibusterismo,” the sequel to the “Noli,” Ibarra metamorphosed into Simoun, the terrorist and revolutionary. Through Basilio, another victim of clerico-fascism, Simoun plots to bomb a gathering of Spanish officials, priests and Chinese businessmen, and trigger an uprising against the colonial rule. Contemporaries of Rizal, like Andres Bonifacio, a member of Rizal’s revolutionary La Liga Filipina, correctly interpreted Rizal’s “Noli” and “Fili,” together with his other writings, as a call for revolution, and so they formed the Katipunan. The Katipuneros used Rizal’s name as a rallying cry for the nationalist revolution. In his definitive biography of Rizal, titled “Rizal: Filipino Nationalist and Patriot,” another Englishman, Austin Coates, wrote: “The awakening of Asia to the concept of nationalism, and to the demand for independence from the colonial powers—the Asian independence movement—began in the Philippine Islands with the publication of Rizal’s ‘Noli Me Tangere’ in 1887. From that date till 1901, the Philippines provided the main scene of this movement, the continental nature of which was not yet apparent.” One hundred ten years after his execution by the Spanish government, Rizal remains controversial, despite the common tao’s undeniable veneration of him, because of the Catholic Church’s and the ruling class’ ceaseless efforts to misinterpret, distort and obfuscate his teachings and actions. The Rizal Law, enacted through the efforts of nationalists Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel, is now practically a dead law, as Rizal courses on his unexpurgated writings have been suppressed in both public and private (sectarian) schools. The colonial mentality, as shown by our government’s position on the Smith rape case, persists. —MANUEL F. ALMARIO, spokesman, Movement for Truth In History (MOTH), via e-mail Filipino Nationalism The Philippines nationalist movement was the earliest of its kind in Southeast Asia. Many of its leaders saw their movement as a beacon for other Southeast Asian colonies. In reality it had little impact. Nationalism took a decidedly different course in the Philippines than elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Philippine intellectual and political elites identified themselves more with Spain and later the United States than they did with anti-colonialists elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Philippine export crops were grown predominantly on land owned by the Chinese mestizo community. The haciendas developed by powerful regional families were worked by tenants. The landowners became rich and powerful while the tenants became increasingly impoverished, trapped in a grossly unequal relationship with the landowners. Here lie the origins of the major Philippine families who continue to control the rural Philippines in the 1990s and from this economic base continue to exert enormous political power. Their wealth by and large continues to be based on large estates, even though many have diversified their investments in recent decades. The landed elite which emerged in the 19th century, unique in Southeast Asia for its social, economic and political power, educated their children in Spanish schools, seminaries and universities. Their Spanish-educated children, known as ilustrados, were influenced by the liberal reforms in Spain after 1868. From the 1870s they began to demand the same rights as Spaniards, including representation in the Spanish parliament. Avowedly anti-clerical, they demanded the separation of state and church, the expulsion of the Spanish friars who dominated rural areas and the introduction of native clergy. Their demands were disregarded by both the colonial government and the Catholic Church. In the 1890s, disillusioned by Spain’s refusal to treat them as equals and its dismissal of their proposals for social and economic reform, the ilustrados began to call themselves Filipinos. They were led by Jose Rizal, a wealthy fifth generation Chinese mestizo. Hitherto the Spanish had appropriated the term Filipino for Spaniards born in the Philippines, referring to natives as Indios. The term Filipino now became a symbol of nationalism. The ilustrados – the educated, wealthy mestizo elite – wanted to rid the Philippines of clerical domination in order to assume leadership of their society. In contrast to their moderate nationalism, in 1896 a rebellion broke out in Manila organised by a far more radical group known as the Katipunan and led by Andres Bonifacio, a relatively poorly educated Manila clerk. Fighting broke out in the Manila area between Katipunan forces and the colonial army. The Spanish responded by arresting not only Katipunan leaders but also many ilustrados as well. Rizal was arrested, charged with treason and publicly executed. Philippine nationalism now had a martyr. At the same time as Spain was confronted by open rebellion in the Philippines it was fighting a major rebellion in its central American colony of Cuba. The drain on its limited resources was immense. United States intervention in Cuba resulted in the American–Spanish war. As a consequence the United States Pacific fleet sailed into Manila Bay, destroyed the Spanish fleet and laid seige to Manila. Philippine nationalists took advantage of a weakened Spain by declaring independence on 12 June 1898 under the ilustrado leader Apolinario Mabini. The Filipinos were the first people in Asia successfully to fight their colonial power and create a modern nation- state. Unfortunately for the nascent Philippine Republic the United States decided that occupation of the Philippines would provide it with a base in the western Pacific from which it could promote its political and economic interests in East Asia. Early in 1899 warfare broke out between the Philippine Republic and the United States, eventually involving more than 10,000 United States troops. Most hostilities ended in 1901 when the United States effectively bought off the ilustrado elite, promising to maintain their wealth and power in return for collaboration with American colonial rule. However, the Muslim south remained under American military jurisdiction until 1913. Even then sporadic violence continued against American authorities for some years. The agreement of 1901 consolidated the power of the landed Chinese mestizo elite enabling them to dominate the political and economic structures of the Philippines in the 20th century. It also created a Filipino elite that looked to the United States not only for economic and political patronage but also as its intellectual and cultural model. The ilustrado elite in the Philippines was a powerful landed elite with no parallel elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Its members’ social and political power stemmed from an economic base independent of the colonial state. United States Colonialism It has been argued that if Spain occupied the Philippines for ‘the glory of God’ then the United States occupied the Philippines for ‘the democratic mission’. Certainly, Americans were uneasy about their status as an imperial nation. It ran counter to their self-perception as a people who had thrown off the colonial yoke to become the beacon for free, democratic and egalitarian values in the world. Americans’ own history of anti-colonialism ensured that there were significant differences in United States rule in the Philippines from colonial rule elsewhere in Southeast Asia. From the start the United States made clear that its goal was to lead the Philippines to independence. Nationalism was a legitimate force, if possible to be moulded in its own image of course, but not to be distrusted and repressed. It followed from this that the role of the colonial state was to tutor Filipinos in the administration of a modern nation-state in order that they learn the skills necessary for independence as quickly as possible. Given their views of themselves as being in the Philippines for the best of reasons – ‘the democratic mission’ – it is not surprising that United States colonial administrations stressed the development of education, health and democratic processes. Electoral systems were introduced at all levels of society and the national parliament was encouraged to invigilate officials and influence colonial policies. By 1934 the United States Congress mandated Philippine independence within twelve years. As a first step, in 1935 a Philippines Commonwealth was established, autonomous in domestic affairs with Manuel Quezon as its first President. Political developments in the Philippines were unique in Southeast Asia, though in the long run the effect was to increase the wealth and power of the landed elite. The United States government expended money on the Philippines rather than extracted money from it – another unique occurrence in colonial Southeast Asia. Much of this money was spent on developing education and health systems far superior to anywhere else in the region. At home the United States was committed to mass education at all levels, in contrast to Britain, France and Holland which restricted access to high schools and believed that a University education was only for a small elite. Education policies in the Philippines reflected American domestic educational philosophies, in the same way as education policies in British, French and Dutch colonies reflected their domestic policies. The contrast between the Philippines and Indonesia on the eve of World War II is illustrative of these differences. In the Philippines in 1938–39 there were 7,500 students at the University of the Philippines in Manila. In the same year in Indonesia there were a mere 128 students at Colleges of Law, Medicine and Engineering. In 1941 the literacy rate in the Philippines was five times that in Indonesia. Nationalist movements in most of colonial Southeast Asia flourished from the 1910s, demanding independence, by and large rejecting colonial cultural mores and vigorously debating the need for radical social and economic reform. They were generally led at the ‘national’ level by the western-educated sons of either the traditional aristocracy or the bureaucratic elite and at the local level by upwardly mobile clerks, schoolteachers and government officials. There was a wide spectrum of parties, ranging from conservative ones, which wanted independence and little social or economic change, to the communist parties which wanted revolution. The Philippines was once again an exception. Its nationalist movement was dominated by the Nationalist Party under the leadership of Manuel Quezon. Leaders were from the landed elite, even more wealthy and powerful under American rule than they had been under Spain. While publicly demanding immediate independence, in fact their personal economic interests were well served by continued United States rule. Enjoying self-government after 1935, and under a relatively benign colonialism, the Filipino nationalist elite remained pro-American. In many ways they were bi-cultural. The shape of Filipino nationalism – in ideology, myths and symbols – was very different from elsewhere in Southeast Asia. With no need to foster a strong ‘national’ consciousness and few ‘national’ symbols, regionalism and regional loyalties based on regional landed elites remained strong. This had significant consequences after 1945. Filipino nationalists were barely conscious of the events going on elsewhere in Southeast Asia. It left a legacy of separateness from the rest of Southeast Asia which had only partially changed by the 1990s. Entry Number: 00273108 The evolution of Filipino nationalism Nationalism is intrinsically second nature to all Filipinos. The spirit of nationalism came to exist even before the era of Spaniard occupation of the Philippines. The ardent bravery and the heft fortitude to fight the conquerors to preserve the land of our own and the future generation were inherent in our blood. Several factors paved the way for the developmental gestation of Filipino nationalism. Tracing to the root where nationalism first came to emanate, history tells that the racial prejudices of the Spaniards against the natives had proved to be one of the strongest unifying factors. The racial discrimination controversy that led to the execution of the fathers Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora led to the birth of Filipino nationalism in the year 1872. The powerful force that charged it all out, igniting a fresh volley of courage was the time of Dr. Jose Rizal's martyrdom. We experienced three centuries of Spanish rule but our ancestors always attempt to resist the colonizers, and never desist on dissenting the Spaniards imposing nefarious laws to the natives. U.S intervened in the year 1898, but they never succeeded in stifling the Filipinos' love for his country and made her submit to their authority. U.S. recognized the ballast of Philippine nationalism, and they established Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935, which eventually led to Philippine independence in 1946. In 1986, Marcos was forced out from the Malacanang palace by an overwhelming massive revolt, which led to the parturition of "People Power". The Philippines is the First South East Asian country to experience political and cultural nationalism that touched even our Asian brothers and gained fine adulations all over the world from many enlightened figures. Time and again Filipinos did the same thing in behavioral genealogy of expressing frustration and indignation sentiments by ousting Ex-president Erap from the power of presidency, forcing him to leave Malacanang and left him swimming into an ocean of lawsuit charges. And now in the age of 21st century world working at full pelt, Filipinos' spirits are still felt diametrically raging with a different sense of nationalistic gamut, even in a fast paced time zone where science and technology is highly galvanized by transporting us to a different world of luxurious convenience. And where global information and communications revved up an undulating wave in making us all au courant to the events and most talked about issues of the world. But with all these information superhighway breakthroughs, Filipinos remained traditional in spirit, never fading in character, and yet always dauntless and vigilant to rampart its freedom, peace, and democracy. The heroism of overseas Filipino workers abroad is a paragon proof of human sacrifice for the love of family and the love for country. To be away from home and deal with the difficulties of life in a country whom you knew no one and to risk yourself into a lot of foreboding perils are exemplary especially when serving a well-formulated mission of helping the needs of our family back home by sending remittances that would in turn help boost the country's economy, making it more stable through the dollar reserves. For most Filipinos, the essence of existence is to make their family and their country a part of their lasting commitment. They may even express commitment to unpopular decisions that are born to benefit the majority (meaning, our extended families). We feel a strong attachment to our commitments. Filipinos make an all out effort working around the clock over the weekend drudgeries, and making personal sacrifices. These values, teamed with bottomless reservoir of patience, were inculcated to our young minds by our beloved parents. Aling Ising is one of our many domestic helpers that have proliferated from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and as far as Israel. She should be regarded with great veneration for she is our first line of defense. She hesitantly leaves her motherland to a foreign country, had there any signs of an ailing economy in the Philippines, making her own family's day to day living unbearable. Aling Ising is on her 40s and yet she still thrives to work. She constantly sends dollars in the hope to give her children the passport for a better future. She dreams that her children would turn out to become responsible, educated, and highly skilled members of the society. These future Filipino warriors would one day emancipate our country from being poor to a developed industrialize nation. And even afar our fellow "Kababayans" are united together by being always on the rescue of each other by forming non-governmental organizations that would help the traumatized fellow Filipinos who are in a morass predicament, easing their pain to a degree lower through moral and financial supports and outpouring commiserations. Ka Mario has been in the Middle East for 10 years and he has been successful in combining Filipinos belonging to different ethnic dialects together by putting up programs and activities that will develop nationalism, unity, camaraderie, encourage sportsmanship, and creativity that would in turn prevent the frequent strikes of the pangs of homesickness, which all of them are not exempted to suffer. With his wife Ka Josie shading the occasion with more color by consistently presenting the culture of Filipino gustatory delights through sharing Filipino home-made dishes, like "adobo", "lechong paksiw", "menudo", "sinigang na baboy", hmmmm and many more. This is where eating and drinking involved strain the toughest gastric stamina, under fine friendship, good cheer, and grandiose conversations - a very remarkable traits of a Filipino. Our engineers, nurses and caregivers strewn all over the world are world class professionals, intelligent and supremely empathetic to the grueling demands of their work and even in terms of emotional whims of their foreign employers. Even with the chromatic experiences of their explorations abroad they have always been Filipino at heart, conservative in values yet aggressive at work. They are fraught of achievements and yet remained low-profiled. Mrs. Liza Cruz is a computer programmer in one of the most respected and reliable company here in Japan. Mrs. Anna Casis is also working in a well-established Nippon company. Both of them are playing the role of a loving wife, and at the same time, caring mothers to their respective children. Noteworthy to say that our Filipino women are also jostling their way up to the precipitous corporate ladder and not only confined to the bounds of a talent occupation. Mmes. Liza and Anna are the modern day Filipino women who are able to manage both success at work and family, without sacrificing their growth to learn and achieve more, and fulfill their duties as a devoted wives and doting mothers to their children. This is an exemplary Filipino tradition of a happy and a complete family, with a tinge of the 21st century attitude. Nationalism is also self-evident especially in spite of Filipino diaspora all over the world. More than 8 million Filipinos now outside the Philippines support Philippine-made goods and products. With the advent of information-based world economy propelled by free trade, market economy, and open capital markets, everything is possible. I especially like mangoes (from Guimaras), avocado, and papaya. We have bought clothes from Guess (Japan), with a brand "Made in the Philippines". The Philippine products in all modesty meet the quality standards of global competition. The migrant Filipinos who practically grew most of their lives abroad almost always come back to the Philippines and explore our beautiful beaches and the feature sights offered by a country comprising of 7,107 islands. Filipinos like me and most housewives keep a regular subscription of TFC to get in touch with everything Filipino, to forget homesickness while in abroad, and to instill the Filipino values we see on TV to our children that we be able to preclude our propensities of adapting or copying the culture of our adopted country. Everywhere you go you will recognize a person a Filipino because he or she has always been respectful to the elders and others, using the hackneyed but definitely classic "ho", "oho", "po" and "opo". And even while in abroad we have kept ourselves in the prism of our national uniqueness with our passionate affair to our political, social and economic freedom as the zenith of our concern. We may be full of plurality in terms of our divided islands, language, religion, and ethnicity but we do share a common LOVE for our country, and vision for a better Philippines. Time may have changed, technology may have advanced, and Philippine history may have been written down with stories of different characters, time, scenarios, and events. Yet the message and the theme of the story remained clear - Patriotism, Nationalism, and Heroism. To this day, we have been fighting for our principle, and we have never budged in. Filipinos are like diamonds, the more we chip it the more it shines.