Jose Rizal is Philippines’ national hero. He died for our country. He sacrificed his personal freedom for the sake of his fellowmen. A real hero. But oftentimes we only look at the facts surrounding him, his life and works. Have you ever put the study of Rizal in your personal perspective? Have you given your own thoughts about his life and decisions?
Republic Act 1425 states that the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal must be taught in educational institutions. Thus, here I am now taking up PI 100: The Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal. Personally, I don’t know much about our national hero. Many years have I been exposed to Rizal studies but a lot just don’t seem to stick to my mind. Is it because the previous teachers weren’t so effective in making Rizal somebody to look up to the rest of my life? A possibility. But now that I am enrolled in a Rizal course (the only one non-Computer Science for this semester), I expect our teacher to shed more light from the blurriness that history has perceived upon me in the past.
So given the knowledge about Rizal left to me from my elementary and high school days, combined with opinions from friends, I have formed my first Rizal homework, the Ten Things I Like and Dislike About Jose Rizal. I don’t intend to post this to let the next batch copy it because I know this homework entails personal judgment and not merely a technical one.
Here is the text form.
Ten Things I Like and Dislike About Jose Rizal
- I like Rizal because he is one of the most intellectual men throughout Philippine History. Though I don’t consider him a pure genius, I appreciate that his critical mind has procured great literary and revolutionary writings that changed the course of our history.
- I like Rizal because of his having word of honor. He could have fled away from the hands of the Spaniards with the help of the KKK but he declined that offer because he has promised to the Spanish authorities that he would stay. Even though this might seem an impractical move, his having word of honor is a plus for him.
- I like Rizal because he could speak in at least 10 languages. In short, he is a polyglot. I admire people who are able to converse in several languages without difficulty.
- I like Rizal simply because he sacrificed his freedom, his life, his happiness, and his individuality, all for our country’s sake.
- I like how Rizal values friendship. He gave in to his contemporary Eduardo de Lete to someone he loved named Consuelo Ortiga y Perez. Some sort of a love triangle but Rizal sacrificed his feelings just for his friend.
- I like Rizal because he gave us the Philippines that we are in now – not perfect but at least things were better than being under the Spanish rule.
- I like Rizal because he possessed a lot of great and useful skills. He is therefore not a nerd. He has theater skills, fighting skills, creative skills, science, literature, language and many more. He is generally one great and lucky man.
- I don’t like Rizal because he does not represent the struggling Filipino masses at that time. I know it isn’t his fault that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but he continued to live on like how an ordinary Spaniard would live his life – luxury, best quality of education, travel and many more. I have doubts whether Rizal really understood poverty and the struggles of the common man.
- I don’t like Rizal’s hot-headedness and sensitivity. He usually challenges someone (e.g. Lardet and Retana) into a duel when he gets angry. Maybe just because he is a sharp shooter and a skilled fencer. But understandably, Rizal’s human (and not a demigod) and he has the right to become sensitive.
- I don’t like Rizal’s being a womanizer. I even doubt that he is true to some of his women. I think he was just using the other women to accompany him on his stay on certain places (more like as a tour guide). His wit (transformed to charm) may have caused all this.
Those ten are for now. Along the course, any of those opinions may change. I just hope my experience with PI 100 would be a great one given it is my only non-major subject.
Let me also share this article entitled Putang Ina 100: Rizal, Rizal, bakit ka namin dapat pag-aralan?, an interesting article made by a teacher regarding how Rizal is taught in institutions. The title may seem very catchy but the article holds much thought and reflection in it. A must read.
We Filipinos must really know Rizal. Our teacher told us that we have forgotten that where we are now is the fruit of the hardships of our heroes. We must not only consider Clark Kent, Hiro Nakamura or Naruto as our life’s heroes. We must not forget the heroes of our nation, the real heroes.
If you have any thoughts about Rizal, please do share. :kiss: 5mc6a8pry7
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may point ka sa number 8 ha..
at syempre naalala ko ang subject ko nung college, Tagalog version yun—
‘Buhay,Gawain at Kaisipan ni Rizal.’
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Posted June 24th, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Haha uu, yung number 8
pag mga debaters na maguusap-usap nyan, aabot yan sa question kung karapat dapat ba na si Rizal yung national hero at di si Bonifacio. 
Wow Tagalog? English sa amin dito sa Cebu eh.
nindot ka’g agi. suya ku. wahahahaha.
i don’t remember much of our discussions about rizal. high school pa to last. i think ma-refresh ra nya ku ani next sem.
one thing i can’t forget is his full name, Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda [or Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda]. or whatever ky ga.libog pd ku sa order sa iya mga apilido. hahaha. unforgettable lng coz our teacher taught us how to write our name nga in.a2 ka-complete. mine: Michelle Louise Herrera Maglasang Sanchez y dela Cerna. wahahahahahaha. okay, kidlatan na ku ani. baw.
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Posted June 24th, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Anyways, wala ko kamemorize sa name ni Rizal though kelangan siguro nana nako i-memorize. Weird lang kay naganahan ko nagread sa Chapter 1 sa Rizal na book — about sa childhood ni Rizal. Interesting man diay. Mao to paghuman nagread nuon ko about our flag, everything about our flag. Na-adik sa history for a while.
LOL nakahinumdum ko sa amung teacher sa Rizal, na halos amu na g impeach! I think 1st sem 2nd year to? hahaha.. asked my classmates diba medjo mypagka yabag pud to amung teacher sa Rizal..woooooots.. astang kapoya anang subjeka!
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Posted June 28th, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Dili ni kapoy kung di mo kapoy-kapoyon sa teacher! Nyahaha
Impeach lagi, :down:
Posted June 28th, 2009 at 9:40 AM
uu g impeach to namu hapit.. haha. radical mn au ug utok amu mga classmates..hapit gud ni hilak amu teacher…or nihilak ba to xa?
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Posted June 28th, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Hahaha sa UP nalang unta mo mga radical man diay mo haha
kung buhay lamang si Rizal
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Posted June 28th, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Kung buhay siya… ano?
naa jud koy na share dra hahaha
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Posted June 26th, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Thanks pib
since we already studied rizal in my UP high years, the college subject was a breeze. i don’t like rizal because I want a different ending of the Fili. haha.
had Rizal not died early and went on to become the first President of the Philippines, i doubt if he’d become our national hero. obviously. i’m not a Rizal fan.
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Posted June 26th, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Obviously you are not really a Rizal fan. And another thing, we’re from the same high schools.
Posted June 29th, 2009 at 10:19 AM
bryankarl, i also found out earlier na parehas ta nga UPhigh grad. i was there at the centennial reunion. Mr. Manlunas, one of your teachers, is a classmate of mine.
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Posted June 30th, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Wah, how did you know teacher nako si Sir Manlunas before? Sayang wala ko niadto sa Reunion. Good to hear from a fellow iskolar!
Hey, have you seen this news article?
New details about Michael Jackson’s Death Emerge
I was wondering if you were going to blog about this…
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I used to teach Rizal for College Students. It is always a challenge to teach him to the youth but I innovated my style and tap their talents to present him in a contemporary context. Rizal is so overrated in some books. I always strive for an unbiased presentation of his life.
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Posted June 28th, 2009 at 9:25 AM
That is so you Atty. I wish you are our Rizal teacher
I don’t think siya dapat ‘yung pambansang bayani.
Oh well.
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Posted June 28th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Interesting. Eh sino dapat?
LOL at PI Rizal bakit ka namin dapat pag-aralan LOL! Kay rizal naten natutunan na hindi sa lahat ng pagpprotesta ay kailangan dumanak ng dugo.
Ang galing nung #8 mo.
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Posted June 28th, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Haha oo nga. Binasa mo ba yung “PI Rizal bakit ka namin dapat pag-aralan” article Ada?
Maraming tinuro si Rizal and I still have to learn it more sa classroom
And thanks, btw. 
my Rizal 101 professor gave me a flat 1 after I screamed on the top of my lungs while playing sisa. i’m not even an actress, i just screemed! mababaw ang kaligayahan ng prof ko. ahahaha!
love,
nobe
http://www.deariago.com
http://www.iamnobe.wordpress.com
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Posted June 30th, 2009 at 7:04 AM
Haha, then you must be a terrific actress!
Woot! ngayon ko lang nabasa ito ah!
Hmmmm… parang natetempt akong magsulat ng something about Rizal, pero parang masyadong late na hehe
madami rin akong mga tanong sa isipan ko katulad ng anak ba talaga ni rizal si hitler? sino ba talaga ang mas matimbang? si leonor rivera o si josephine bracken? bisexual kaya si rizal? kung may facebook kaya si rizal palagi niya itong inuupdate?
Pasensya na bangag lang
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Posted June 30th, 2009 at 7:06 AM
Woot Mica and likot ng isip mo. Anyways, yan rin yung mga tanong ng teacher namin na sana daw ay masagot namin by the end of the semester. Sana nga “fun” tong Rizal na subject na to.
What I dislike Jose Rizal is that he is chick boy pero hindi siya naka isang baby he he he he..
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Number 8 is Good topic?
Sa aking pag ninilay sa sumulat nito na siya ang parin ang “ISIP KIDDO”. Natapos mo na ba ang libro?
Ikaw ba ay isang MAYAMAN? MIDDLE? DUKHA?
Si Dr. Jose Rizal ay nag mula sa kilalang pamilya ng mayaman at may pinag aralan. Sa tingin ko hindi na niya kasalanan na ipanganak sa ganun katayuan. Bagamat mayaman ay alam niya ang salitang POVERTY. Sa tingin mu ba tutulong siya sa mga Filipino at sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong ng walang hinihintay na kapalit kung hindi niya naintindihan ang bawat LETRA sa salitang POVERTY? Living in a LUXURY LIFE ang sabi mo, natanong mo naba sa isip mo kung siya isang simpleng Jose Rizal lang ng panahong iyon ay madali siyang makakalapit sa mga kilalang PERSONALIDAD? Mayaman nga siya PERO isang bagay ang nghihirap siguro sa kanya NGAYON kung buhay pa siya ay ang mabasa ang mga kumento or mapag tawanan ang front page ng libro niya sa simula pa lang ng makita ng isang “KIDDO” ang buhay niya. Oo ikaw ang KIDDO, ang gumawa ng blog na ito. Nakakatulong ka nga sa ibang tao para makilala si Jose Rizal, eh IKAW natutulungan mo ba ang sarili mo? Or gianagawang katatawanan ang isang Bayani. Kung nabuhay ka ba sa panahong si rizal ay nakikipaglaban PARA SA MGA NINUNO MO ano ba ang gusto mo maging? Don’t take this personally KIDDO, the thing is si Dr. Jose Rizal ay EXTRAORDINARY KIDDO pero IKAW sa NGAYON ay hindi.
if you want to answer my blog to you:
ito ang yahoo messenger ko
neverheard1929@yahoo.com
GOOD DAY? Number 8 palang yan.
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Posted August 21st, 2009 at 8:36 PM
Yeah number 8 is a good debate topic and I guess even our school’s debate team would agree to that.
and yes, isip bata pa ako. Pasensya!
I am from the middle-class given the description of such as a family that’s able to eat at least three meals a day.
“Sa tingin ko hindi na niya kasalanan na ipanganak sa ganun katayuan. Bagamat mayaman ay alam niya ang salitang POVERTY. ” I also said “I know it isn’t his fault that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth…” which meant I understood that part.
I get your point but I don’t get why you’re making this point. If you read my entry again, I assure you I have nothing against Rizal. Know that opinion and doubts does not fall under disagreeement or something negative. As my blog says “Events, Entertainment, and Opinion”, this blog can and will contain my opinion. Besides the semester isn’t over. I also wasn’t pushing it to my readers that #8′s the real thing.
If you think I don’t respect Rizal and I bring disgrace to his patriotism, then you are wrong. I am taking my PI 100 now and I’m loving every bit of it and I think Austin Coates’ book is equal to that of Rowling’s Harry Potter and I remember Rizal everytime Lupang Hinirang is played.
And about the Extraordinary Kiddo part, I’m not offended really. I loved how you called Rizal that.
“GOOD DAY? Number 8 palang yan.” What does that mean?
Posted August 21st, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Erratum: [...]that opinion and doubts do not fall[...]
Posted August 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 AM
I have all the reason to believe that Neverheard misunderstood what the extraordinary kiddo is trying to convey in his blog about the ten things he like / dislike about Rizal. And also you’re asking if he had finished reading the book, so what book are you referring to?Because there are so many books about Rizal, is it the Rizal without the Overcoat by Amanda Ocampo, Life of Rizal by Austin Coates, or the First Filipino by leon Ma. Guerrero?There are so many books about Rizal, and I doubt if anyone have finished reading all of those books at the same time. So can you be a little more specific?Or maybe the real thing is that you haven’t read any book about Rizal, and that’s why you didn’t mention the title of the book that you are referring to.
“Mayaman nga siya PERO isang bagay ang nghihirap siguro sa kanya NGAYON kung buhay pa siya ay ang mabasa ang mga kumento or mapag tawanan ang front page ng libro niya sa simula pa lang ng makita ng isang “KIDDO†ang buhay niya”–>
I think there’s nothing wrong with making any comments about the life of Rizal, since he is a topic that is worth commenting about. And you mentioned about the Kiddo making fun of Rizal or more specifically “pinagtatawanan”, where is that line? I can’t seem to find that line or that word that says he is making fun or even laughing about the life of Rizal. I think you’re just playing with your thoughts mister. So are you not ashamed of yourself for pinpointing false accusations to a person who did not even do those things that you mentioned against Rizal.
P.S: I think Rizal would be much happier if he read this blog. Because he would be proud that there are still some people out there(like the Kiddo), who are interested in his life and have shared his own views, thoughts and opinions about him to the world.
And also, this is just an assignment for his PI 100. This is his own opinion and every person has his/her own right to make an opinion. I also respect Neverheard’s opinion, even if I don’t agree with your statements. But that’s life, we have different opinions. So I hope Neverheard would learn to respect that (that is, if you have respect in your system)
peace!
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8.(I don’t like Rizal because he does not represent the struggling Filipino masses at that time. I know it isn’t his fault that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but he continued to live on like how an ordinary Spaniard would live his life – luxury, best quality of education, travel and many more. I have doubts whether Rizal really understood poverty and the struggles of the common man.)
Answer to Neverheard by Kiddo:
(Sa tingin ko hindi na niya kasalanan na ipanganak sa ganun katayuan. Bagamat mayaman ay alam niya ang salitang POVERTY. I also said I know it isn’t his fault that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth which meant I understood that part.)
Conclusion: I will go with nbevrheard medyo magulo yung sagot mo sa knya..
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