Padohinog, Christine P.

201P

JOSE RIZAL: Sa Landas ng Paglaya

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What do we know about Jose Rizal? Is he just a character on a one peso coin? Or just a
reflection of his famous works like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo? Almost all of us
learned about Rizal through our classrooms. But how did this person became the most famous
Filipino we know? And how does his legacy been known throughout this land? Do you think we
already know everything about him or it is more than that?

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines showcased a documentary entitled

“JOSE RIZAL: Sa Landas ng Paglaya” that served as an eye-opener for everyone who wants to
know who really is the Rizal that we have been admiring and been learning for. He is known by
many as the person who fought for the country’s sovereignty through ink and pen. All of us know
that he died for the sake of our country but is that all about it?

After watching the documentary, I have come to many realizations about Rizal’s life that I
have not known before. We might say that he is a womanizer, an intelligent child who grew up in
a prominent family from Calamba, and so on. I think he is more than that. To be honest, I easily
get bored when studying history but this particular video slap me with a reality that our past has
something to do with our life situation today and I should be aware of it. By that, Rizal is beyond
what the textbooks are telling us.

Prior to the knowledge of many, Rizal is a reformist that is why he does not seek a
revolution that may cause many people’s lives in danger. He sees Spain and The The Philippines
as two countries and one nation. As soon as he learned about Liberalism, he thought the
Philippine society will progress through reform. He does not like the idea of revolution because
he thinks that our fellow Filipino could not afford to make it happen. Knowing about this made
me a little disappointed with him. How can he say that to his fellow countrymen who are
determined for the betterment of this country? That the only goal is to be free in the hands of the
colonizers that have been oppressing them for ages. He only demands change and that what he
thinks is beneficial.

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 Well he has a point, one of the admiring traits Rizal has is the way he cares for the image of
his Filipino colleagues and how they should act to be respected. He is right that how can we be
respected by other people if we, ourselves are not the proper one? The country is still divided by
each other’s personal interests. Even in the present times, we still do ruthless acts that affect our
image and become shameful in the eyes of many. A relevant issue or cancer that Rizal is
pertaining to. If we want to demand change, then let us start it from ourselves.

His reform strategy did not go as planned because Spain got triggered by his statements.
Causing his family to pay for what he did. Thankfully, through his writings on La Solidaridad
and La Liga Filipina, together with his famous novels, the idea of change has been replaced with
a realization that the battle is not gonna be effective if it will be done through political aspects.
And yes, that is where the spark for revolution happened. Maybe he is not after the blood and
swords but the people who were long asleep have been awakened with the truth and need for it to
happen. Rizal’s writings served as the light that shines in the darkest days of our land. Indeed, a
man who served as the cornerstone of the revolution led to the Philippine society’s progress.

The concept of veneration without understanding by Renato Constantino is still applicable

these days. No one will stop you if you tell them you admire Rizal and no one will also stop you
if you do not like him. But make sure before we tell our side, we have to be aware of what we are
talking about. If we want to know about Rizal, we should not just read his novels. Perhaps, the
only way to know his true identity is to read about him. That will serve as a stepping stone for us
to realize his ideals and legacy that he left before he died for this country. By that, Rizal is not
just a character on a one peso coin that we use to buy candies. Nor a writer of Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo that we have been studying in our academe. He is more than the statue that
is scattered everywhere in and out of the country. Jose Rizal is the mind that tells us to fulfill the
duties he left and cure the cancer of society that is still relevant up to these days. And we as the
citizens of this country should live our lives in the service of something higher and apply his
principles of Virtue, Sacrifice, and Love. Filipino people should know the unknown Rizal that
has been the symbol and face of this country for many years. If we are aware of it then, maybe
we can also do something to erase the injustices of this society bearing his principles that have
not been paying attention to by many of us.

This study source was downloaded by 100000839862331 from CourseHero.com on 03-01-2022 08:03:28 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/118240728/Reflection-Paper-Jose-Rizal-Sa-Landas-ng-Paglaya-Padohinogdocx/
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