Laong Laan: My Favorite Filipino Author

written by: Jona-Mae de Torres

Thinking about all the fantastic Filipino authors and their works that I know, picking one
was like choosing between “choco na gatas?” o “gatas na choco?”. I mean, I got Lualhati
Bautista, Amado V. Hernandez, and Bob Ong in mind. Hands down to Bautista’s for her novels
‘GAPÔ, Dekada ’70 and Bata, Bata… Pa’no Ka Ginawa?, which exposed injustices and
chronicled women’s activism during the Marcos era. These works are superb, and it shows how
brave a writer she is. Then there’s Bob Ong. I’ve read all of his books as a fan. His books are
entertaining and comedic for me, but at the same time, it doesn’t fail to make me think and reflect.
His works mirror the Filipino culture and history. And of course, I wouldn’t forget Amado V.
Hernandez’s award-winning poem Isang Dipang Langit, written in Muntinlupa Prison on April
22, 1952. How hopeful and courageous at the same the last stanza of his poem this is:
At bukas, diyan din, aking matatanaw
sa sandipang langit na wala nang luha,
sisikat ang gintong araw ng tagumpay…
layang sasalubong ako sa paglaya!
-(Hernandez, 1952)
After a cup of coffee and about a hundred spins on my chair, my heart knows who it
chooses. As cliché as it may appear, but it’s Dr. Jose Rizal, and I’m proud of it. I am kind of
ashamed to admit that I only appreciate him and his writings big time when I took my Rizal class
back in my previous university in 2016. I can still remember that even though it was a 7 AM class,
I did my best not to miss it. As OA as it may sound, my love for the country and eagerness to serve
the people always felt renewed every time we’re done in our class. Well, here are a few of the
thousands of reasons why Rizal stands out.
Rizal’s Pen, the Most Powerful Tool He Had
Rizal’s pen-names were Laong Laan and Dimasalang. When he had been told to stop
writing, he mentioned in his letter to his mother in early 1885 that the only tool he had was his
pen. (Morris, 2003) His works, especially Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, helped fan the
flame of revolution.
It is evident in his works that he was advocating the importance of education, history, and
nationalism. Indeed, Rizal played a vital role in the social transformations that took place in the
country. Republic Act No. 1425 was then approved on June 12, 1956, under Ramon Magsaysay’s
administration. It is an act that mandates the study of Rizal’s life and works, particularly his two
tremendous and timeless novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. These novels, which are
also a constant and inspiring source of patriotism, portrayed freedom, and nationalism for which
the national heroes lived and died. (Republic Act No. 1425, 1956)
El Amor Patrio (Love of Country), 1882
Among all his works, El Amor Patrio (Love of Country), written in Barcelona, Spain in
June 1882, inspired me the most. It is one of the first essays he wrote, showing how great his love
for the motherland was. This was also Andres Bonifacio’s, the Father of Philippine Revolution,
inspiration in writing Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of the Native Land) in 1896. This essay
was the first to give Filipinos the idea of nationhood and love of country, the Philippines, not
Spain. It was also this essay that made Rizal the enemy of the Church and State. (Royeca, 2009)
Here are a few of the most potent lines from this essay that hit differently to me:
“Love of the country is perhaps the most constant of emotions if there ever be anything constant
in the human heart, and it seems, will not leave us even in the tomb.” (Rizal, 1882, p. 315)
“…, the love for country is never wiped away once it finds a place in human heart, for it
bears the divine seal which makes it eternal and indestructible.” .” (Rizal, 1882, p. 317)
“Love is an extremely powerful force behind most noble activities. Well, then, the love of country
has inspired the grandest, the most heroic and the most selfless of deeds.” (Rizal, 1882, p. 317)

This essay has a lasting impact on my heart, rekindling my love for the nation.

Influence: My Love of Country and Sense of Nationalism

Rizal’s work inspires me to serve the nation, and it amplified my sense of nationalism.
Love of Country taught me that serving the nation is when one chooses to act not only for the
benefit of his/her self but also for the country's benefit and his/her fellow countrymen. Once we
all choose to serve our nation, that’s when our holistic development as a country starts, which will
benefit us from eradicating poverty to having proper healthcare, quality education, and more!
As Rizal said in the last part of “El Amor Patrio’;

“Love her, yes, not in the ways of old through rough deeds rejected and condemned by genuine
morality and mother nature, but rather, by doing away with all display of fanaticism,
destructiveness, and cruelty.”

Every Filipino must strive for a country worthy of its independence, a nation free of injustice,
oppression, and corruption. In serving the nation, one should love the masses, love the nation,
and definitely, not idolize leaders with a mouth full of empty promises.

Works Cited

Rizal, J. (1882). In S. Raul J. Bonoan, Rizal’s First Published Essay: El Amor Patrio (pp. 313-319). Ateneo de
Manila University.

Royeca, J. (2009, August 25). Rizal's Love for the Motherland. Retrieved from Philippine Studies:
http://emanila.com/philippines/rizal%E2%80%99s-love-for-the-motherland/

Republic Act No. 1425. (1956). Retrieved from Official Gazette: http://www.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-
1425/

TagalogLang, A. (2020, September 13). Isang Dipang Langit: Tula ni Amado V. Hernandez. Retrieved October 23,
2020, from https://www.tagaloglang.com/tula-isang-dipang-langit/