#14

Canatuan, John Aeron A. August 9, 2019

STEM S1-D 21st Century Literature

Dear Dr. Rizal,

A pleasant day, Dr. Jose Rizal! It’s such an honor and privilege to write a letter addressed to you,
because we, people in the present era, know that you once serve our nation and became one of the heroes
of all times. So as a Filipino, I won’t let the opportunity be wasted as I burst out my thoughts and feelings
with regards to you, Dr. Rizal.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude on everything you did for the
Philippines during your time. Even we did not witness the happenings back then, we became aware about
your heroism and how great you love our country. Thank you for being the eye-opener not only for me,
but also for the others who still care about this country— let us just say, you once tried to save.
As far as I know, I was born in Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial Provincial Hospital in Calamba City,
Laguna and it made me a Calambeño by heart just like you, Dr. Rizal. It has made my existence extra-
special because I can brag that I was born in the place that you were born. Haha.
Kidding aside, when I was a kid, your poem “Sa Aking mga Kabata” can really be found in every
Filipino textbook, even up to this day. It has been the mainstream poem piece of “Buwan ng Wika”
celebration simply because it tackles about Filipino— our National Language. Starting from that point, I
had a hint that you are really a big person, from the name of the hospital, the author of the famous poem
and the person in one-peso coin. As time passes by, I realized that you deserved to receive that kind of
recognition, that you are worth-knowing for.
I just can’t accept the fact that some of my countrymen today became ignorant of knowing and
learning that poem, of knowing you. If you’re not aware, English language has been dominating the
whole world. Some Filipinos think that English is the measurement of one’s intelligence. Some Filipinos
are studying other languages, but they can’t even master their own. Some Filipinos tend to laugh if
someone is speaking or using deep Filipino words. Some Filipinos imitate other nation’s fluency in
speaking their respective their language, not knowing that they’re being invaded ethnically by them. And
some Filipinos who are in the government excluded the ‘Filipino at Panitikan’ as core subjects in college.
You don’t know anymore what kind of sorcery this is, don’t you?
Furthermore, I also adore your ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ as it mainly depicts
Spain’s colonization in the Philippines. It made not only me, but the others also, realize the scenarios and
ideologies during their colonization here. In 333 years of invasion, I can say that your works really
showed the whole summary of those years.
On the other hand, we got what you are trying to say in the last chapter of ‘El Filibusterismo’ as it
was connected in your cliché and famous quote “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” Padre Florentino
really had a great impact on me as he is the one of the characters showed in the said chapter. When he
said that “Nasaan ang mga kabataang maglalaan ng magagandang sandali, mga pangarap at kasiglahan sa
ikabubuti ng bayan? Nasaan ang mga kabataang magbubuo ng sariling dugo upang hugasan ang gayon
karaming kahihiyan, ang gayon karaming krimen, ang gayong karaming nakamumuhi? Nasaan kayong
mga kabataan na nagtataglay ng lakas na buhay na tumaan na sa aming mga ugat ng kawagasan ng mga
kaisipang buamtik sa aming mga utak at ng lagablab ng kasiglahang namatay na sa aming mga puso?
Halina at kayo’y aming hinihintay?”
I felt an invisible slap, punch, kick and harassment on my heart when I read this transcript. I can
clearly remember that when I first read this last Grade 10, it gave me goosebumps, and I can say that it
still gives me one. It is a shame that I am part of what you or Padre Florentino is pertaining to: the
Filipino Youth. As I observe, most youth are not that patriotically inclined because they just think about
themselves. As you can notice, Dr. Rizal, innovation of technology is also one of the factors why the
Filipino youth nowadays are like these.
Maybe if you were alive today, you would also be using social media but in a good way. Most of
the Filipino youth are using the social media as their medium to show a negative humanity. In behalf of
those Filipino youth, I deeply apologize on disappointing you and being ignorant about you and your
deeds.
But this is not the time to give up, I will do my best to reach your expectations for the Filipino
youth. As a journalist, I’ll widen my knowledge and hone my skills as the best that it can be because
someday, we have high possibilities to be like you— to fight with ink, and not with swords.
You risked your life in return for the independence of this territory but let me tell you Dr. Rizal
with all due respect, that you and the other heroes, didn’t save any single thing— in all forms. Sorry.
Your death is not worth it for the nation itself, which is either being ignorant or uneducated. But one thing
is for sure, your death will always be in the hearts of Filipinos who still care, Filipinos who still have the
hearts of Filipinos, Filipinos who believe that courage, patriotism and heroism still run in their blood, and
Filipinos who don’t ever want to hear from you the line “Ang bansang ipinaglaban namin mula sa
kolonyalismo ng banyaga ay sa banyaga pa rin ngayon sumasamba.”
That would be all, Dr. Rizal. Thank you very much and have a good day ahead!

Sincerely yours,
John Aeron A, Canatuan
#35
Perez, Airish Ann T August 9, 2019
STEM S1-D 21st Century Literature

Dear Dr. Jose Rizal,

First and foremost, I would like to show my greatest appreciation through this for your bravery. I
know that this simple letter would not be enough for everything that you have done for our country. But
even so, I hope that you'd appreciate this even without me knowing.
I truly adore you for you fought with your very own ways. You may not use the sharpest sword or
even the piercing arrow but every word that said are much more powerful than any other blades. Your
works are an eye opener for those who are blind of the truth. A light for those people who have been
living helplessly in the dark, in the shadow of the Spaniard. I adore you, because regardless of the danger
and death ahead of you, you did not stop wanting and fighting for our rights and for our beloved country.
 Today's people should really be thankful for the men like you. We should be grateful because
there is someone who fearlessly fought for are freedom. Who did not hesitate to take the battle against the
people who dictates who will win? Thank you for giving us the peace and freedom you've been fighting
for.
I, as one of the youths you're looking up to as someone who will do great things in the near
future, know that we somehow disappointed you for we often think low, do less, act wrong, be not of
what we are expected to. I, we are truly sorry for we weren't able to fulfill are supposed duty. I am sorry
for I think I wasn't able to reach your expectation. Sorry for despite of everything that you've sacrificed
for us, we act as if were not treasuring the greatness that you have done. We're sorry.
And now that we are slowly opening our again, we hope that it’s still not too late to change. Still
not too late to think high, do more, act right, and be someone more than what we are expected to be. We, I
am not promising for I am afraid that it will just lead to another disappointment, but I will do my very
best to reach your expectation. To be someone you are looking up to. To be someone who'd do great into
the near future. To be the hope of our nation, generation, and future.
Thank you for reading this letter, Dr. Rizal! Have a great day ahead!

Sincerely yours,
Airish Perez