MEMORY AND AMNESIA

Why memory and amnesia?

 beauty of the present Luneta hides unpleasant past—of blood of criminals and martyrs
(19th Century)
o greenery  red blood
o afternoon musicals  executions
 very people get to know Rizal by reading Rizal which results to conflicting effects of
memory—amnesia

 Bagumbayan “new field”  Luneta

 December 30, 1896 – execution of prominent novelist and physician—Jose Rizal
 Before 1896 – 24 years (1872) without serious uprising, 3 secular priests GomBurZa
were executed by means of garrote
 Jose Rizal was a man of many gifts: multilinguist, poet, artist, scholar, and physician
 Filibuster to enemies - a person engaging in unauthorized warfare
 Christ-like figure who literally “gave sight to the blind”
 Spanish Governor General was sent a report dated March 29, 1897 (3 months after
Rizal’s death) that natives in Pandacan believed that Rizal is alive because of miracle
 Military prosecutors brand rosa; as the great agitator of the Philippines
o Birth of the religious sect – Rizalistas  Rizal as a god

Biography
 1907 Vida y escritos del Dr. Jose Rizal by Retana, a contemporary of Rizal, and anti-
indio and anti-Rizal
o “Rizal” is so profitable because of his fame
 1910 Los errors de Retana by (American) Craig – critique to Retana’s work
 1913 Life, Lineage and Labors of Jose Rizal by Craig
 They had the advantage of having the contemporaries and direct family members of Rizal

 1938 Commonwealth Gov’t of the PH sponsored a nationwide contest for the best
biography of Rizal—retired president of UP, Palma, won  Rizal as a victim
 1960 most books glorified Rizal, exaggerating his accomplishments and hidings his
defects
National Hero?
Rizal’s place in the was secure until the publication of Agoncillo’s biography of Andres
Bonifacio—Revolt of the Masses (1956)  Rizal vs Bonifacio
Solution: Creation of biographies that showed the human picture of Rizal

Birth of New Problem: Two Rizals—historical and mythical. (it is the latter that dominates)

Rizal became an official national hero when Aguinaldo declared December 30, 1898 a day of
national mourning—first Rizal Day.

Rizal as a Hero
 Anti-clericalism
 Non-violent stance
 Advocacy of universal education
 Peaceful reform

Conclusion
 We create Rizal in our own image and likeness, bending history, which resulted to both
memory and amnesia
 However, despite the confusion and conflicting images of Rizal, he remains a constant in
Filipino consciousness—as a hero and a representation of national identity