JOSE RIZAL’s PLUMA

Rizal was noticeably gifted. He showed exceptional talents in painting, molding,

sculpting and writing. But it was writing which served him well. At an early age, he
wrote the Memorias de unestudyante Manila, which is about the memoirs of his
childhood. At 8 years old, he wrote the famous Sa AkingmgaKabata. It was said that
his father, Francisco Mercado, owned almost 1000 books during that time, and that
he made Rizal read books like El Amigo de los Niños. This influenced Rizal’s
passion for writing.

He also wrote A La Juventud Filipina which was deemed as his first recognition to
the Filipino youth. His other work was El Consejo de los Dioses, won an award in
Manila. In 1882, Rizal left for Madrid, after the then-Governor General Jose Maria
dela Torre granted him a scholarship. In Madrid, Rizal wrote Pag-
ibigsaTinubuangLupa, his first propaganda sent and published in a Tagalog
newspaper in Manila.

When Rizal was in Europe wherein he started writing Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo. It also stated the challenges met by Rizal before publishing Noli Me
Tangere. Through the help of his friends, he successfully published 2000 copies of
the said novel before going back to the Philippines.

Rizal seemed to have never stopped writing. Four years after publishing Noli Me
Tangere, he continued writing his second novel, El Filibusterismo. In Dapitan, he
showed his fellowmen what he could do had he been given a chance to be a public
servant. He contributed in the town’s need for health assistance and education. It
goes on until he was he was sentenced to death in 1896. Mi Ultimo Adios, the poem
he wrote on the eve of his execution, became an inspiration to many Filipinos.

The Little Bad Boy

The state ment above made some of us think why Suzaine wrote that line in her
letter for Rizal. Some said that Rizal was a bad boy who played silly games with so
many ladies wherever he go…but others said that the statement was a complement
for Rizal amidst his medium built, he was able to mend with some people and made
them like him. We may never know exactly why she called him a "little bad boy." But
it does make our national hero come down to earth as a playful and genuine man
who aimed for better change.

All of us know that Jose Rizal is out national hero who proved to us that the stylus is
more potent than the claymore. He used his pen to move every Filipino heart and to
reveal how Spaniards abused our rights to be free in our own land.
Rizal is indeed a great hero…but when I watched the documentary video in I
Witness hosted by Howie Severino about Rizal, I figured out that our national hero
had also enjoyed like the way we enjoy and have a great time having fun while
learning and exploring at the same time.

In Europe, Rizal’s life was fun and free. He could do whatever he wanted and seize
the moments of his stay there and enjoy the company of some good friends. He
stayed in places that are now named after him, he did odd things like posing in a
photograph wearing a lady’s costume and partying in a bar and getting along with
some girls. I think, those experiences and things that he did made him into someone
who is genuine and a mere representation of a typical Filipino who is dynamic and
could mend with diverse cultures.

Rizal’s relatives are really proud that in their blood runs the immortal seed of a hero.
Rizal may not be a perfect person just what others expect and see themselves but
one thing I like most is the fact that he’s not too good to be true. He may be
imperfect but at least, he’s real---a real hero who is one of the reasons why we live
with sovereignty.

Ang Bayaning Third World

The most common thing or if I may say the only thing that people answer when you
ask them about Jose Rizal is that he is our national hero— idol and he is found in our
1-peso coin— icon. Sad to say that, in our modern times today, people have very
limited knowledge about our national hero. The facts above are the only two things
most of us know about Jose Rizal but for historians and experts; they have so much
adjectives to connect with our national hero.

Bayaning Third World, a “detective” story about Rizal being Philippine’s National Hero.
Commenting on the movie per se, at first I thought it was some boring documentary
about Rizal but understanding the facts exposed made me interested. The film was in
black and white but it didn’t hindered my amusement because of the funny way they
presented the most serious facts about Rizal. The movie was easy to understand if
you were able to read about his life story or if you have tackled his life in your Filipino
or Rizal subject but if not, you may get confused. Good thing, I have read and we have
tackled his life in our lecture— that helped me follow through the film. This film also
highlighted Rizal being a “Pilosopo” which reflected the Filipino attitude both in a good
and not so good way. They also showed Rizal’s letters and documents which was
commonly taken for granted to unveil the truth about his controversies. The movie
made it “viewer-friendly” by face to face interviews with the persons involved and that
is why I appreciated Rizal’s significant others behind their names.

The main point stressed in this film was Rizal’s Retraction, which involved his marriage
to Josephine Bracken and the rumors about her being a spy for the friars. There were
many possibilities and speculations brought about in this film, which also made me,
think.

First point, they said that Rizal died a catholic despite of him being a mason through
his signed letter, others said that the letter was real but the signature was forged given
the fact that Rizal’s signature was easy to copy. On the other hand, some said that the
letter was completely invalid and was just made by the insecure and threatened friars
to destroy Rizal’s reputation.

Second point, if you would ask me if he really retracted or not, for me, it doesn’t matter
because as long as his death gave credence to what he believed, fought for our
democracy and his convictions, Retraction really doesn’t make him less of a hero. I
believe that Rizal only became a mason because he was against the government,
which happened to be the church and vice-versa. He isn’t against about God and
Catholicism per se but in the “supposedly” instruments of God’s love and greatness
which were the priests who were ruthless to the Filipino people. Also, he was against
the people who sold their religion for wealth and for people who exchanged their
religion for power .

At the part where in Rizal almost burn the manuscript of Noli Me Tangere made me
think that it was a symbol of him letting go of what he strongly believed in connection
to him not involved with “Himagsikan”. He became hopeless and I think he became
afraid of death, probably, However, since he continued the publishing of Noli Me
Tangere, I believe, he gained back his strong convictions regarding our democracy
and showed his nationalism and patriotism.

I thought what I know about Rizal was enough to understand his life, works and writing
but having finished this independent film widened my understanding not only for
Rizal’s positive sides but also for his flaws. Jose Rizal being a national hero
considering his great influence not only in the Philippines but to other countries he had
gone also with his works, the great impact he left with our history as a country and
culture as its citizen, his weight to some indigenous religions also has his own flaws
and faults because he is also a human being capable of doing those things.

Less people know Rizal’s “dark side”— controversies, I myself was one of those before
I watched this film. We were focused on his good side, his achievements and
contributions for the betterment of our country but having the chance to know his flaws
which until now haunts him, we must understand him and not condone the fact that he
was still a human being. Rizal really don’t want to be a hero, he just wanted to prove
his great passion and love for our country. Indeed, Rizal chose to die because it was
one way to give weight to his beliefs and philosophy.

We all have our own Rizal. We have different perceptions and understanding
regarding his life, works and writings. As for me, though he is not as “perfect” as a
national hero should be, I still salute and look up to him for his immense contributions
and grand legacy which is applicable until now.

Despite his imperfection, it didn’t lessen his heroism. In fact, his controversies made
his life more interesting and it only made him more famous not only during his time but
now and in the future generations. I didn’t get surprised that many critiqued his life but
for me he is still the 3rd world hero of all time.

How can we become Rizal in our own little ways? By following simple rules and
regulations and by paying the right tax. There are a lot more and it is up to you to think
of whatever way it suites you. Let us be a modern-day Rizal to continue his legacy for
the future generation.

Bayaning Third World is a film of substance. It is very appealing and is highly

recommended for other students studying Rizal. It is effective for my learning.

Even if our 1-peso coin is in constant devaluing, Rizal still remain number one in our
hearts.

Rizal Sa Dapitan

Jose Rizal, a man with so many accomplishments. Jose Rizal gives all of us
inspiration in all the things we do. He is inspires us to be hardworking and diligent,
which most of us are not.
I am amazed that even though Rizal was in exile, he didn't mind the fact that he was
sent to Dapitan to live like a prisoner and yet he still manages to accomplish many
things. He has taught the poor Mindanao folk to unite for trading so that they may
become independent and free themselves from the Chinese and thus become less
exploited, in the sense that he organized a cooperative even in exile. While many
people would be in panic, despair or lose hope for any success in their lives because
of being exiled Jose Rizal continued to serve his country. This is what made Jose
Rizal stand out of the others as a hero to a nation. He was truly a man of action. He
always put his countrymen first before him.
He truly was a man of action, he did not only looked over the people nor just tell
people what to do, he helped them in their everyday work. Rizal was intelligent and
yet very humble.
Right now I wish that the tree he planted would somehow magically make Rizal
appear in this time of ours so that I can praise him for what he did for us.
Rizal truly was a person for his countrymen, he truly was a patriot and nationalistic
for he never wanted to see his fellow countrymen being oppressed and being
exploited.
I wish I could go to Dapitan for a glimpse of how our hero lived in Dapitan while
being exiled. Last June 19, we celebrated Rizal's 143rd birthday. That's two lifetimes
for the average Filipino, quite a long time. But not really so when one thinks about
the baluno tree he nurtured and which grows to this day as our living connection to
him and when one thinks about the issues he cared about and which continue to
challenge us today: health, education, poverty and inequality. It would be such an
honor to know more about our hero.