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Elias – Rizal

Dr. Jose Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) was initially released in Europe
in the year 1887. It was inspired by the title, which translates to An Eagle Fight and The Social
Cancer.Aside from the difficulties he had throughout the publication process, the book was
regarded as one of Rizal's most contentious works.

Years after first reading Rizal's books, I still find Elias to be a sympathetic character
because of his devotion and desire to aid his fellow citizens. Elias was a fugitive and rebel and
had a strong friendship with Crisostomo Ibarra. He had a significant role in the narrative. Some
have compared him to Andres Bonifacio, while others believe he embodies Dr. Jose Rizal’s
opposing viewpoint.

‘If I die without seeing the dawn over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome it – and
forget not those who have fallen during the night’ – Elias of Noli Me Tangere

In the novel, Elias spoke the abovementioned in his dying breath, where he instructed
Basilio to continue dreaming about the freedom of this motherland. These words reflect the
sacrifices of our fellow Filipinos who gave their lives in exchange for the freedom that we have
today. It also shows the heroes to whom we owe our lives, freedom, and the heroes worthy to be
remembered for how they loved the country, for their ‘Inang bayan’. Elias’ desire and goal upon
saying these words was to highlight his wish to let the younger generation follow their dreams, to
continue dreaming, and it also summarizes the way he lived, the way he sacrificed his life, the
way he shed his blood and tears in exchange for the freedom he never had the chance to see and
experience. Though he will not see the Philippines and the life he envisions, he has faith that
young people like Basilio will one day see the end of the path that he and our fallen heroes
created. The path that leads to where we are today was created by their undying love for their
Inang Bayan, a love so deep that they died for it.

This message is what Jose Rizal wanted to impart to us young people before his
execution 125 years ago. However, it’s been years since that day, and yet we haven’t seen the
dawn of the new tomorrow. Today, in the modern world, war breaks out, social issues have
grown into a more serious problem, and the younger generation forgets their dreams and settles
for less. Even after years of struggling for our liberation, Filipinos continue to appear to be
imprisoned by their own leaders and other citizens. Corruption, Killings, Poverty, Suicide, etc.
had become a major problem of our country and yet the government, the nation leader, had
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forgotten what Jose Rizal and our heroes taught us – to love our country, to dream big for the
country, to be a better leader for the betterment and stability of our Inang Bayan.

We should be living a life free of pain, sorrow, and death as a commemoration of those
people like Elias who gave up their lives for us to see a better tomorrow. However, Filipinos
share the same attribute – ignorance. We know where the problem lies, we know the solution to
the problem, and yet we ignore it. Even after Nino Aquino’s death in 1983 and the EDSA People
Power Revolution in 1986, corruption had never ceased to exist. In fact, it has worsened and
continued degenerating every fiber of our nation.

We are born to this cycle of life, if we don’t fight for what we deserve and what we think
is right, we are already disregarding the sacrifices of Jose Rizal, wherein he died in expanse of it.
The same problem years ago was encountered again in these years, the dispute against the land
grabbing of the Chinese people in the West Philippine Sea, our land in Scarborough Shoal. And
today, year 2022, similar to the killing of the Spanish people to our fellow Filipino people,
killings, rape, injustices are evident today and yet no has taken account of this problem.

welcome it – and forget not those who have fallen during the night’

Rizal’s death strengthened and made widespread the revolution, and every one of us who
knew the story was proud. Elias and Rizal died without seeing the future of their country, but
they paved the path to give us the opportunity to be free and to experience what they hadn’t.
Rizal wanted us to learn, understand life, be happy, live a fulfilling life, cure social cancer, and
live for those who have fallen during the night. In every darkness, there will always be a ping of
light that will guide us through, and we will create that ripple to create a path for the betterment
of the future generations