The Relevance of Rizal Today
by: Eugene Lacson Camillo
“The youth has the freshest ideas, innovations and skills that the world demands for the present times.”
Today, we need REAL HEROES. People whose words are in their actions, who give flesh to what they preach, and who represent what they teach. For too often, there is gap a between what one believes and what one actually does. Because of this, we are fed up with the plague of empty rhetoric. At the challenging times of our history, the Philippines has been longing for an answer to this question, “What is the relevance of Rizal today?”
Trials and tribulations besetting our country today suggest the presence of a deeply felt need to keep connection in a dispersing nation. Now, let’s try to draw an answer to this question, “Why do we experience tragic situations?” Once we were considered as a great nation in Asia, but as we have observed, we now belong to those seemingly stagnant Asian countries. It is due to the fact that we are not capable of making distinction between illusion and reality, between myth and fact, between appearance and substance. We don’t need to blame others for our miserable condition; instead, it is the right time to awaken our minds to understand the very fabric of human existence.
Now that our nation is bleeding again, we do not need to choose a leader whose qualities are to be found on the silver screen, whose heroism is only in the movies, and whose merits are reel rather than real. The society that needs healing cannot only be cured by academic wizards well ornamented by medals and diplomas or even knocked out by right hook and Pacquiao’s punch; instead, a well-equipped individual whose skills match their pure hearts capable of giving and serving Filipinos. We need a leader like Rizal, who will empower and initiate positive changes and transformations in the society as a whole today and tomorrow. A leader who will utilize the best solutions to build a new model that will treat each experience with each part as a unique experience. A leader who will encourage us to give our best in everything that we do, and thus make it a habit to put our best foot forward every time. Somebody who will make us move forward and open the doors to a future full of genuine hope and possibility.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal, one of the greatest sons of Asia, expressed what is right in his political system. He wanted to have the presence of equal rights, justice, dignity, and peace. Rizal’s opinion, found in his own writings and speeches, aimed to establish unity, harmony, and alliance among nations. His in-depth study of political philosophy showed the evident manipulation of the Spanish invaders in governing the country, namely: the oppression and slavery of the dominated, the Spanish government’s practice of forced labor, the abuse of power by means of exploitation, the government judgment that no one was allowed to complain making people ignorant and poor, thus discouraging the creation of a national sentiment. He developed a political philosophy that proved to be the study and the application of reforms, the extension of human rights, the training for self-government and the touching of the spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality, and injustice. The solution to these horrible conditions was EDUCATION.
For Rizal, the real mission of education is to elevate the country to the top of glory and to develop people’s holistic formation. As we all know, education is the strong foundation of society and a requirement for social progress for only through it could the country be saved from the tyranny of Spain. Education should aspire to produce better living Filipinos who are proud of their culture and identity to finally fit into the world as universal men. Rizal’s philosophy of education centers on the condition of appropriate motivation to strengthen the vast social forces that make education a success, to create a great impact to the youth and an innate desire to nurture their intelligence and develop their skills and talents to their maximum potential. We can change and make a big difference in our society.
Talking about education, Rizal recognized its importance to the development of a nation and its people. His writings and various events in his life showed his ideas concerning education. He acknowledged that learning should be adaptable to the needs or real life of the people. His visions were not just for himself but for the benefit of his countrymen. The efforts in curriculum development of our present Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, TESDA, and the various learning institutions should be in harmony with the ideas and visions of Rizal. The government must give its full support and prioritize the education of the Filipino masses. Our educators should also follow and be motivated by the writings, deeds, and standard set by Rizal. If he were living today, he would definitely continue his endeavors in molding the minds of our youth. Just as he had said “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” ( "The youth is the hope of our Motherland.").
The youth weave dreams about their future, but they do not want to continue dreaming because of economic realities which are but a blanket over their dreams and aspirations. This finding is tragic and all the more puts a moral essential on educators to sustain the youth’s dreams and aspirations. It paints a dim picture of our country’s future. It makes a mockery of our national hero’s conviction that the youth is the hope of the nation. It highlights, however, the reality that an educator’s task cannot be separated from the task of other sectors of society, especially those in government and those good producers of the society.
Through his writings, ideals and aspirations, Rizal addressed the educators to have good traits, helping the youth to chisel and brush off the undesirable ones. Build effective partnerships in performing significant acts and raising noble roles for the youth. Inspire the young to love their country and their fellow citizens. Challenge and put responsibility on their hands as they are considered as the most active and most involved human constituents of the educational system. The task should come easy but considering the risks and the responsibilities, not just anyone who has finished a degree in education, in guidance counseling and psychology can handle the job. The job needs special qualifications most of which are not learned in school but naturally spring from the hearts of teachers – wisdom, tolerance, understanding and love.
Educators need to appropriate more commitment, effort, time, and resources for the development of youth, advocate change in them and more on the state of our present situation. Yet, the most powerful to achieve these things is the youth. The youth should learn to determine the power of their skills and use them in improving themselves, their state, in answering the undying problems in our society. For, the youth has the freshest ideas, innovations and skills that the world demands now. These would challenge every one of all ages to have the desire to offer a “global change”, live with the difference, and effect total transformation. If everyone shall commit himself/herself to the threefold task of self-discovery, self-actualization and transcendence, then that time is not so distant anymore, when our goals will produce not only first-class citizens, but world class persons and professionals as well.
Rizal also shared that in developing patriotism and national pride, there is a need for a new ideology. An ideology is a refinement of a collective expression of the visions and aspirations, thoughts and beliefs of the people. Rizal brought us a burning idealism which we hope to see now so as to be reawakened. In his approach to life, he worked for excellence and perfection which is truly inspiring. The single poem which he wrote in the final hours of his life, Mi Ultimo Adios, was a real expression of the nobility of his spirit, the true love for his fellowmen and human dignity as well as his uplifting and sincere faith in God.
Nowadays people seem to forget where they come from. We should bear in mind that we would not be whatever and wherever we are at present if it is not because of the great contribution of the nation for us. On one hand, people tend to forget that being nationalistic does not mean merely adoring the country; rather, it is simply giving back to the country what one owes it. We should be proud of the race we came from. It is the equally important aspect of an individual’s development to have the quality of socio-political behavior and the emotional fiber of the society atmosphere. Let us inculcate in our minds that we are doing this to gain self-glorification for God and for our country. Let us start embracing the words of God, the beauty that is our country and our fellow citizens so as to find real meaning in our actions and strive for excellence.
The school, home, and community play important roles in the development of people and should set examples of unity and harmony especially in issues that concern not only the people of the state but the people of God. Parents today need to cultivate ideals of nationalism into the young minds of their children instead of injecting in them the nonsense argument that living in other countries is the best way to live one’s life to the fullest. The Church also needs to preach not only angelic thoughts but also draw clear information about the great magnitude of having concerted efforts in the real concept of loving our own country and thus God. Our government should adopt Rizal’s positive characteristics in dealing with major problems and concerns of the citizenry. Having all these in mind, we should look more closely at Rizal’s examples rather than idolize him without knowing what he stood for. Perhaps then we can finally make a movement towards giving justice to Rizal’s dream of having productive citizen. This is where Rizal can continue to live in our hearts, thoughts and actions.
Every Filipino should be taught and should learn how to express and love to their country like what Rizal did. As we are into the new image of our nation, let us embrace the deals and importance of Rizal. May we reflect on the magnificent things which he had imagined and hopefully be the starting point of change and a sign of hope to our fellowmen. We are warriors fighting in the arena continuing the goal of winning despite the odds. We are ready for battle. We are willing to move forward and have more hands proud of proving we are real Filipinos whose gifts and skills we share with everyone – with our country and to the world. We need to journey together with a goal, with a mission. We need to work towards unity. And we have to learn against the strong wind…together. Add faith and perseverance and we can paint a positive portrait of our country and carry the common tag which one has to carefully read as: WE ARE THE NEXT HEROES, NEXT RIZAL!
by: Eugene Lacson Camillo
“The youth has the freshest ideas, innovations and skills that the world demands for the present times.”
Today, we need REAL HEROES. People whose words are in their actions, who give flesh to what they preach, and who represent what they teach. For too often, there is gap a between what one believes and what one actually does. Because of this, we are fed up with the plague of empty rhetoric. At the challenging times of our history, the Philippines has been longing for an answer to this question, “What is the relevance of Rizal today?”
Trials and tribulations besetting our country today suggest the presence of a deeply felt need to keep connection in a dispersing nation. Now, let’s try to draw an answer to this question, “Why do we experience tragic situations?” Once we were considered as a great nation in Asia, but as we have observed, we now belong to those seemingly stagnant Asian countries. It is due to the fact that we are not capable of making distinction between illusion and reality, between myth and fact, between appearance and substance. We don’t need to blame others for our miserable condition; instead, it is the right time to awaken our minds to understand the very fabric of human existence.
Now that our nation is bleeding again, we do not need to choose a leader whose qualities are to be found on the silver screen, whose heroism is only in the movies, and whose merits are reel rather than real. The society that needs healing cannot only be cured by academic wizards well ornamented by medals and diplomas or even knocked out by right hook and Pacquiao’s punch; instead, a well-equipped individual whose skills match their pure hearts capable of giving and serving Filipinos. We need a leader like Rizal, who will empower and initiate positive changes and transformations in the society as a whole today and tomorrow. A leader who will utilize the best solutions to build a new model that will treat each experience with each part as a unique experience. A leader who will encourage us to give our best in everything that we do, and thus make it a habit to put our best foot forward every time. Somebody who will make us move forward and open the doors to a future full of genuine hope and possibility.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal, one of the greatest sons of Asia, expressed what is right in his political system. He wanted to have the presence of equal rights, justice, dignity, and peace. Rizal’s opinion, found in his own writings and speeches, aimed to establish unity, harmony, and alliance among nations. His in-depth study of political philosophy showed the evident manipulation of the Spanish invaders in governing the country, namely: the oppression and slavery of the dominated, the Spanish government’s practice of forced labor, the abuse of power by means of exploitation, the government judgment that no one was allowed to complain making people ignorant and poor, thus discouraging the creation of a national sentiment. He developed a political philosophy that proved to be the study and the application of reforms, the extension of human rights, the training for self-government and the touching of the spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality, and injustice. The solution to these horrible conditions was EDUCATION.
For Rizal, the real mission of education is to elevate the country to the top of glory and to develop people’s holistic formation. As we all know, education is the strong foundation of society and a requirement for social progress for only through it could the country be saved from the tyranny of Spain. Education should aspire to produce better living Filipinos who are proud of their culture and identity to finally fit into the world as universal men. Rizal’s philosophy of education centers on the condition of appropriate motivation to strengthen the vast social forces that make education a success, to create a great impact to the youth and an innate desire to nurture their intelligence and develop their skills and talents to their maximum potential. We can change and make a big difference in our society.
Talking about education, Rizal recognized its importance to the development of a nation and its people. His writings and various events in his life showed his ideas concerning education. He acknowledged that learning should be adaptable to the needs or real life of the people. His visions were not just for himself but for the benefit of his countrymen. The efforts in curriculum development of our present Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, TESDA, and the various learning institutions should be in harmony with the ideas and visions of Rizal. The government must give its full support and prioritize the education of the Filipino masses. Our educators should also follow and be motivated by the writings, deeds, and standard set by Rizal. If he were living today, he would definitely continue his endeavors in molding the minds of our youth. Just as he had said “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” ( "The youth is the hope of our Motherland.").
The youth weave dreams about their future, but they do not want to continue dreaming because of economic realities which are but a blanket over their dreams and aspirations. This finding is tragic and all the more puts a moral essential on educators to sustain the youth’s dreams and aspirations. It paints a dim picture of our country’s future. It makes a mockery of our national hero’s conviction that the youth is the hope of the nation. It highlights, however, the reality that an educator’s task cannot be separated from the task of other sectors of society, especially those in government and those good producers of the society.
Through his writings, ideals and aspirations, Rizal addressed the educators to have good traits, helping the youth to chisel and brush off the undesirable ones. Build effective partnerships in performing significant acts and raising noble roles for the youth. Inspire the young to love their country and their fellow citizens. Challenge and put responsibility on their hands as they are considered as the most active and most involved human constituents of the educational system. The task should come easy but considering the risks and the responsibilities, not just anyone who has finished a degree in education, in guidance counseling and psychology can handle the job. The job needs special qualifications most of which are not learned in school but naturally spring from the hearts of teachers – wisdom, tolerance, understanding and love.
Educators need to appropriate more commitment, effort, time, and resources for the development of youth, advocate change in them and more on the state of our present situation. Yet, the most powerful to achieve these things is the youth. The youth should learn to determine the power of their skills and use them in improving themselves, their state, in answering the undying problems in our society. For, the youth has the freshest ideas, innovations and skills that the world demands now. These would challenge every one of all ages to have the desire to offer a “global change”, live with the difference, and effect total transformation. If everyone shall commit himself/herself to the threefold task of self-discovery, self-actualization and transcendence, then that time is not so distant anymore, when our goals will produce not only first-class citizens, but world class persons and professionals as well.
Rizal also shared that in developing patriotism and national pride, there is a need for a new ideology. An ideology is a refinement of a collective expression of the visions and aspirations, thoughts and beliefs of the people. Rizal brought us a burning idealism which we hope to see now so as to be reawakened. In his approach to life, he worked for excellence and perfection which is truly inspiring. The single poem which he wrote in the final hours of his life, Mi Ultimo Adios, was a real expression of the nobility of his spirit, the true love for his fellowmen and human dignity as well as his uplifting and sincere faith in God.
Nowadays people seem to forget where they come from. We should bear in mind that we would not be whatever and wherever we are at present if it is not because of the great contribution of the nation for us. On one hand, people tend to forget that being nationalistic does not mean merely adoring the country; rather, it is simply giving back to the country what one owes it. We should be proud of the race we came from. It is the equally important aspect of an individual’s development to have the quality of socio-political behavior and the emotional fiber of the society atmosphere. Let us inculcate in our minds that we are doing this to gain self-glorification for God and for our country. Let us start embracing the words of God, the beauty that is our country and our fellow citizens so as to find real meaning in our actions and strive for excellence.
The school, home, and community play important roles in the development of people and should set examples of unity and harmony especially in issues that concern not only the people of the state but the people of God. Parents today need to cultivate ideals of nationalism into the young minds of their children instead of injecting in them the nonsense argument that living in other countries is the best way to live one’s life to the fullest. The Church also needs to preach not only angelic thoughts but also draw clear information about the great magnitude of having concerted efforts in the real concept of loving our own country and thus God. Our government should adopt Rizal’s positive characteristics in dealing with major problems and concerns of the citizenry. Having all these in mind, we should look more closely at Rizal’s examples rather than idolize him without knowing what he stood for. Perhaps then we can finally make a movement towards giving justice to Rizal’s dream of having productive citizen. This is where Rizal can continue to live in our hearts, thoughts and actions.
Every Filipino should be taught and should learn how to express and love to their country like what Rizal did. As we are into the new image of our nation, let us embrace the deals and importance of Rizal. May we reflect on the magnificent things which he had imagined and hopefully be the starting point of change and a sign of hope to our fellowmen. We are warriors fighting in the arena continuing the goal of winning despite the odds. We are ready for battle. We are willing to move forward and have more hands proud of proving we are real Filipinos whose gifts and skills we share with everyone – with our country and to the world. We need to journey together with a goal, with a mission. We need to work towards unity. And we have to learn against the strong wind…together. Add faith and perseverance and we can paint a positive portrait of our country and carry the common tag which one has to carefully read as: WE ARE THE NEXT HEROES, NEXT RIZAL!
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