COMMENTARY

Or do we admire the man just because it feels

Rizal 101: good to be part of this national

consciousness?

Remembering Has Rizal Day become just a day of ritual

the man
wreath-offering?

Does Renato Constantino’s “Veneration

By: Rado Gatchalian - @inquirerdotnet without Understanding” ring true in our case?

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:03 AM June 19, 2019

How many of us have read his novels “Noli

Today’s generation may see Rizal as an idea, a
Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”? How
symbol, an epitome of national pride,
many Filipinos have dissected the meaning of
excellence and patriotism. But this idea may
his last poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios”? Have we
either prosper or die in vain.
really understood what he fought for through
As we move to a sophisticated, more his works and writings? Some will even argue
technologically advanced time, everything that he never “fought,” as he was not a
changes. Every teaching is ultimately tested revolutionary man like Bonifacio but a
by a criterion known as pragmatism. An idea reformist.
can only survive the challenges of time if its
Do we really know him? And if we know him,
concept can be translated into actions, result-
do we follow him?
driven and predictable.

Knowing Rizal is different from “doing” Rizal.

So, how about Rizal and his teachings? How
Knowledge may blossom, but wisdom is rare.
can they prosper and last? How can they
influence the fate of our nation? How can we
It is time to examine our national
ensure that his legacy is remembered?
consciousness, particularly how we identify
ourselves and our sense of nationhood with
As we commemorate and celebrate his
this man we profess to admire.
birthday every June 19 and his martyrdom
every Dec. 30, we need to ask: Have we
turned into blind followers or, worse,
ignorant followers? Do we celebrate because There is no harm in admiring this hero. But
we understand his writings and teachings? Do the challenge is to live as Filipinos according
we commemorate because we emulate him? to Rizal’s teachings.
Who really is Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal? This is
the question every Filipino should seek and
understand. How we see him is how we see
our country.
Rizal was rational. A man of intellect and high
integrity.
He was a seeker of knowledge. Rizal was
prepared to question authority and the
Church.
Rizal was a reflective man. He translated his
ideas into voluminous words and writings.
Rizal was an action man. He was not idle.
Wherever he went, he achieved great things.
teachings will fade if we will fail to commit to
study and follow him.
Rizal’s love for his country was eternal and
sublime. Let this legacy remain vibrant in
each Filipino. 
A challenge, then, for all of us: Before we pay
our respects to him and offer flowers at his
statue, let us nurture the hunger to seek out
and learn from his writings and ideas. Then,
let us strive to follow his example, in words
and in deeds.
May his ideas become alive in all of us. Let
them not die in vain.
***

We Filipinos who say we admire him and

Rado Gatchalian is from Dagupan City,
take pride as the heirs of his heroism: Do we
Pangasinan. He moved to Sydney, Australia,
seek knowledge? Do we question authority,
in 2006. He is currently the vice president of
even that of the Church? Do we love to read
the Philippine Community Council of New
and write? Do we help our fellow Filipinos
South Wales, the peak body of Filipino groups
and contribute to our society?
in NSW. He writes poetry and regularly
contributes to The Philippine Community
We need to be truthful to the Rizalian cause. It
Herald Newspaper, a Sydney-based
is a challenge. It is a must that we read his
newspaper. He is an ardent admirer of Rizal
works. For how can we know him if we
haven’t read any of his writings?

Thus, a pragmatic issue is at hand. Will his Source: https://opinion.inquirer.net/122

works become obsolete? Will the new 060/rizal-101-remembering-the-
generation find joy reading his novels amid man#ixzz7ulcht9kf
the onslaught of technology? Rizal’s life and