Reflection about Ambeth Ocampo Jose Rizal "without the overcoat"

Ocampo(1990),Rizal Without the Overcoat reveals the man behind the mythical figure of Rizal.
Ocampo takes Jose Rizal away from the mythos that history has made for him, and instead gives
us a strangely human character, thanks to his thorough research on the most unusual of
themes, delivered in his very accessible manner (Ocampo, 1990).

We know for a fact that during his lifetime, Dr. Jose Rizal accomplished more than any Filipino
could. He was probably well-known for his broad variety of knowledge and willingness to share
it with his fellow compatriots. On the other hand, the fact that his achievements elicit such a
high level of demand from us, for example, is excessive. When we strive for anything or
establish a goal, we put in a lot of effort, yet anxiety and stress often accompany us. Rizal's
curiosity and persistence are what drove him to achieve his goals.

It is probably difficult to follow Jose Rizal’s footsteps because he’s a national hero. Filipinos,
especially students, are pressured to emulate Rizal because he had top marks at school. Even
though he graduated with sobresaliente (excellent) marks in Ateneo De Manila University,
eighth of his other classmates (out of the 12 students) sobresaliente as well (capter 1,Many
Rizals) . But before he became a hero, he was a person. He was a human being just like the rest
of us. He ate the same food like everybody else, he read the same books that anyone could’ve
read, and he was also stingy just like some of us (chapter 4, Everyday Rizal).

Ambeth R. Ocampo, the author, underlines the importance of pupils living up to our national
hero's accomplishments while coping with the pressure of looking up to him as a role model. He
never outperformed his peers or became the class valedictorian, according to the book. His
philosophy of developing a good breed of pupils is that it should be based on an individual's
innate aptitude or pure skill.

References:

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https://www.coursehero.com/file/127120024/Rizal-without-the-overcoatdocx/
 https://arete.ateneo.edu/connect/rizal-without-the-overcoat

Ocampo, Ambeth R. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing, Inc. 2012. Print.

https://loraquitane.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/book-rizal-without-the-overcoat-chapter-4-everyday-
rizal/

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