Embrace Rizalism As a Way of Life

Submitted by admin on Sat, 09/07/2013 - 03:30
“Viva España! Viva España! Viva España! Muerte a los Traidores!”
 
These were the irritating shouts and abominable invectives by the Spanish spectators on the 30th of December 1896 as one lifeless body fell on the ground, after his public execution by musketry at Bagumbayan. 
 
“... I have always loved our poor country and I am sure that I shall love it until my last moment, in case men betray me. My career, my life my happiness all I have sacrificed for love of country. Whatever happens, I shall die blessing it and hoping for the day of its freedom.” 
 
Are there any other parting words sweeter, more noteworthy, and more feeling than these words, which could have come only from just one man – DR. JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL? From whence did this man draw his brand of courage to the point of spurning and scorning death in the face? And who among us could readily forgive an enemy and die loving his murderers?  
 
And then, again, he also said, “What matters death, if one dies for what one loves, for native land and beings held dear?” Let me ask you – who among us, today, can sacrifice his personal interests for love of country. You? You, perhaps? Not even one of us can willingly commit himself and surrender his interests for the service of mankind without favorable returns and practical reasons. Who among us can forgo personal affections for the people’s sake? Tell me. Was there any justice for this man to have died in the hands of his foes to prove he cared for his people? (Read: Jose Rizal Biography)
 
No other man, in the annals of Philippine history, has exceeded his bravery, gallantry, and unwavering love for his country. No one, even among the new breed of heroes, has equaled or outclassed his greatness. What makes his life worthy is that, he is both a hero and a common man like you and me, with weaknesses and limitations.
 
Mind! He was very amorous, so some historians said, but perhaps, his weakest point as a man was to love his country more than his love for himself. This set him apart from you and me. This made him a hero. We claimed him to be our National Hero; then, we should spread his passion and heroism.  
 
Fellow countrymen, we are no longer under the dominion of the Spanish tyrants nor are we supposed to be dogs on leash in the hands of the Americans nor do we have to vow to the Japanese flag but do we feel free?  No, we have not freed ourselves! See how the power of democracy has been abused! Feel how the littlest of our people are treated in the society, how the poor plead for justice, how we destroy one another for self-aggrandizement.
 
Our government reeks with irregularities. Do we blame the powers that be? We feel brow beaten and unjustly treated. Do we accuse the government? We go out into the streets and shout to the high heavens how rotten the government is. Have we solved any problem at all? We hold rallies and strikes but at what cost? DR. JOSE RIZAL once said, “The tyranny of some is possible only through cowardice and negligence on the part of the others.” As we blame the government for all our miseries, we blame ourselves. He believed, then, as we believe that such indiscretions, misdeeds and imprudence may only be dissipated through proper education.  
 
DR. JOSE RIZAL was an ophthalmologist, a teacher, a farmer, a businessman, an inventor; he was all of these and more only because of a strong foundation in education, only because his mother was his first teacher. She was able to inculcate in Pepe the love of education. This is exactly what he, in return, wanted us to have – EDUCATION. This is the only way we can alleviate all the miseries, difficulties, hunger and ignorance of our people.
 
We may never be all that DR. JOSE RIZAL was as a person but we can become the teacher like he was, whom the young minds need today so that they can be moulded and guided to become the genuine youth of tomorrow. We can become the farmer like he was then we can help feed millions of Filipinos by introducing better crops, rich produce and harvest. We can become the doctor, the businessman, the writer, the inventor and all that ever he was– if we are educated. 
 

Can we become like what he was without the tender loving care that only a mother could give? Don’t ever think that we can we possibly talk about RIZAL without mentioning the women in his life! Please allow me to talk about the kind of women he appreciated. Women, DR. JOSE RIZAL believed, must give importance to education. He admired the Filipino women because of their devotion, fine manners and hospitality. But these are not just the qualities that women must possess.

DR. JOSE RIZAL once remarked of the Filipinas, “If only they can cultivate their intellect by education and by taking more interest in worldly affairs, they can command the respect of all men.” If the women are uneducated, irresponsible, indolent and immoral, then who will give light to the world?  

 
If you have a son like me whom you imbued with love of education, motivated to work for his fellowmen and reared with love and affection and there are millions and millions of women like you with sons like me, wouldn’t this land be a land of the truly free?  If we love our country we should never forget how our heroes, much more our national hero, shed blood to free us from tyranny.
 
We should bring to mind, every step of the way, the desire of DR. JOSE P. RIZAL to attain freedom through the most peaceful means possible. If all of us young and old, men and women, rich and poor, will think, act, and work for our country, we can sleep peacefully in the night knowing that tomorrow is another beautiful day.  
 
Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
¡Salud te grita el alma que pronto va a partir!
¡Salud! Ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.
 
“My lifelong dream, my deep burning desire, This soul that will soon depart cries out: Salud! To your health! Oh how beautiful to fall to give: To die to give you life, to die under your sky, And in your enchanted land eternally sleep.”
 
If there is one ism that we are supposed to live and breathe all the days of our lives, it is RIZALISM, LOVE OF COUNTRY, A WAY OF LIFE.

Related: Why Adolf Hitler is NOT Jose Rizal’s son; Jose Rizal son; Jose Rizal's son

 
About the Author:
Kristoffer M. Morada, the contributor, is a College Instructor in Rizal Technological University, Pasig City, Philippines. His Facebook email account is: topemorada@gmail.com.
 
QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION:
Do you agree with the author? Why or why not? Elaborate your answer.
 
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Tags: History, Rizal, Philippine Studies, Sociology, Embrace Rizalism as a Way of Life
 
 
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Comments

dickson (not verified)

Mon, 09/09/2013 - 12:46

SIYA LANG TALAGA ANG TAONG NAKILALA KO NAS MAY TUNAY NA PAGMAMAHAL SA ATING BANSA NA WALANG TAKOT NA KINALABAN ANG ANG MGA MAGNANAKAW NA DAYUHAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KANYANG TAPANG AT TALINO. #MABUHAY SI DR.JOSE P. RIZAL

dickson (not verified)

Mon, 09/09/2013 - 12:48

SIYA LANG TALAGA ANG TAONG NAKILALA KO NAS MAY TUNAY NA PAGMAMAHAL SA ATING BANSA NA WALANG TAKOT NA KINALABAN ANG ANG MGA MAGNANAKAW NA DAYUHAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KANYANG TAPANG AT TALINO. #MABUHAY SI DR.JOSE P. RIZAL

raniel (not verified)

Wed, 09/11/2013 - 15:30

I agreed in what the author sys because I really admire what Dr. Jose Rizal or simply Pepe did for our beloved country and it is really impossible as of today particularly in our young fellow countrymen .We are really far from Rizal in terms of dedication for our home land. After I took up my subject in history II entitled Jose Rizal the martyrdom and National Hero. “His childhood revealed that he had a poetic mind. he started to write short verses on sheets of paper and on the pages of textbooks of his sisters” that was according to the book. Meaning to say that he use his knowledge, his passion as his sword in surpass his obstacles not only for himself but for the entire country who are suffered to the hand of Conqueror. All in all, Dr Jose Rizal as what the author of this article said that “if all of us, young and old, men and women, rich and poor will think, act, and work for our country we can sleep peacefully in the rising knowing that tomorrow is another beautiful day.” And that was because what Dr. Jose Rizal Did for our country and now as our inspiration in doing good deeds and serves as our pattern in serving our beloved country.

Kristopher Dalmacio (not verified)

Wed, 09/11/2013 - 15:49

I agree that EDUCATION is the best way and solution to our government and country's problem. I believe that the ignorance of our people may also refer to as a sickness and can be cured with proper education. DR. JOSE RIZAL is just a normal person like us, so any of us may be able to step and go further as our national hero did.

raniel (not verified)

Thu, 09/12/2013 - 04:59

I agreed in what the author sys because I really admire what Dr. Jose Rizal or simply Pepe did for our beloved country and it is really impossible as of today particularly in our young fellow countrymen .We are really far from Rizal in terms of dedication for our home land. After I took up my subject in history II entitled Jose Rizal the martyrdom and National Hero. “His childhood revealed that he had a poetic mind. he started to write short verses on sheets of paper and on the pages of textbooks of his sisters” that was according to the book. Meaning to say that he use his knowledge, his passion as his sword in surpass his obstacles not only for himself but for the entire country who are suffered to the hand of Conqueror. All in all, Dr Jose Rizal as what the author of this article said that “if all of us, young and old, men and women, rich and poor will think, act, and work for our country we can sleep peacefully in the rising knowing that tomorrow is another beautiful day.” And that was because what Dr. Jose Rizal Did for our country and now as our inspiration in doing good deeds and serves as our pattern in serving our beloved country.

nicehanna (not verified)

Thu, 09/12/2013 - 06:50

..how the poor plead for justice, how we destroy one another for self-aggrandizement.. bihira na lang ang mga taong may pakialam sa mga nangyayari sa bayan .. sana may mga kahit konti pang mamamayan ng Pilipinas ang napamanahan ng pagkamakabayan ni rizal. at lalo na sa Gobyerno.

raniel (not verified)

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 13:59

Embrace Rizalism As a Way of Life.. Kristoffer M. Morada comment I agreed in what the author says because I really admire what Dr. Jose Rizal or simply Pepe did for our beloved country and it is really impossible as of today particularly in our young fellow countrymen .We are really far from Rizal in terms of dedication for our home land. After I took up my subject in history II entitled Jose Rizal the martyrdom and National Hero. “His childhood revealed that he had a poetic mind. he started to write short verses on sheets of paper and on the pages of textbooks of his sisters” that was according to the book. Meaning to say that he use his knowledge, his passion as his sword in surpass his obstacles not only for himself but for the entire country who are suffered to the hand of Conqueror. All in all, Dr Jose Rizal as what the author of this article said that “if all of us, young and old, men and women, rich and poor will think, act, and work for our country we can sleep peacefully in the rising knowing that tomorrow is another beautiful day.” And that was because what Dr. Jose Rizal Did for our country and now as our inspiration in doing good deeds and serves as our pattern in serving our beloved country.

tope (not verified)

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 14:51

just a thought..

Danna Louise Besagre (not verified)

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 13:22

Rizalism is synonymously to Patriotism. I agree in the author's point of view. The importance of EDUCATION as well as the women in our lives. It is also relevance in the issues that are country facing today like the pork barrel. May this article enlighten the minds of the Filipinos.

hanbaylon (not verified)

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 07:56

I further more a Hero is born cared to know Rizal, the peerless, genius and greatest hero of our nation. Most of the People whom the hero were sad unfamiliar with entire life’ story and achievements. Filipino sleeping souls awakened greater interest on things much less knew courses the life,work and writings of Rizal particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibustirismo.At long last our people have awakened from their apathy towards Rizal.RizaL in the truth one of the worlds greastest personalities and perhaps of all mankind. All Pilipino people been thankful for Rizal deeds for making Freedom on our one nation Philippines. Rizal sacrifies labored and died not only for his people but also for all Asians.He is happy to die for his beloved country. For what all his nationalism I’ve hope he one inspiration for all of us to keep our country peacefully.

serafino (not verified)

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 07:10

i agree to the author, because Dr. Jose Rizal use his ability to write than to fight using a sharp " BOLO " or gun to say what his heart desire, and that is, to have a freedom to his motherland and countrymen.

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