Hero Reminiscing:Who is Jose Rizal?

by: Regine Bernadette C. Echano 

#2

 I remember a topic wherein our great professor taught us again about Rizal on his 151st birth Anniversary June 19, 2012 on the four corners of our classroom for 1 and a half hours. She taught us on how to deal and what to answer with a tourist asking "Who is Jose Rizal"? and this is what I learned. 

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda is the Philippines national hero. (It's our country and I am proud to be one.) He was born on June 19, 1861 in the town of Calamba, Laguna. Even if he's not the hero type like Spiderman, Superman or the Avengers, he become the hero of our native land. Las Islas Filipinas was its former name, named by Roy Lopez Villalobos in honor of Philip II of Spain after Ferdinand Magellan claimed the island for Spain. (You remember him? the one Lapu-Lapu killed in Mactan?) Anyway, going back to our Hero, he just celebrated his 151st years last June 19, 2012. He was only 35 years old when he was executed, yet he experienced a lot on his age. He shows complete courage, using his power of intelligence rather than using violence in fighting Spanish ruler. 

He was also a loved child and the only son of the family? He loves his mother so much as well as his sisters. When he was a child he was an artist, draws sketches and paints with his heart. Rizal was a fast learner and considered a genius one, that's why a lot of women are fascinated and love Rizal because of his witty intelligence. He gives so much respect with women, but he is "not a playboy" (guys, you should not use that word to describe Rizal, it’s a big no no!) He just wants to care with those women, like his care towards his mother. I'm just stating the facts to clear his image, no hurt feelings ok?

Have you ever visited some of Rizal's historical sites? Did you know that the first ever Rizal monument ever built in the Philippines is in Daet, Camarines Norte? (That’s our home town and I'm proud to promote it =)...

Going back for the second time,...When you visit his home in Calamba, Laguna, you'll see that his house was freshly painted in green, removing its traditional look. Why? There's an idea why they changed it. They say that the name "Rizal" symbolizes spring time or green pasture. But I certainly still love the old one since it preserves its historical value. Anyway, there are a lot of historical sites to visit in the Philippines. It becomes a must that every municipality in each part of the Philippines should have a monument of Rizal. Later on, it becomes a tourist spot on every destination in the Philippines and even in the other country. A lot of landmarks are also being preserved because it becomes a part of his life, like the hotels he stayed while he is traveling and expanding his knowledge on every parts of the world.

He learned 22 major languages to 100 local languages. He become a scientist and discover new species, becomes a doctor that specializes in ophthalmology to cure his mother's Katarata. He also become an anthropologist, biologist, businessman, writer of his famous novel agains the Friars, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo", a carpenter and an engineer who made his own water system and becomes a teacher while he's on exile. He made himself his last poem named "Mi Ultimo Adios" that means "His Last Farewell" and has been translated into at least 38 languages into different parts of the world.

He died on December 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan, Manila that become Luneta Park that's being monitored, beautifies and protected by the government to maintain the cleanliness and security of the park because it is one of the major destination of the Philippines. We must remember his productive life of heroism and being patriotic towards his love to our native land because he saw the oppression of the Filipino natives who become the slaves of the Spaniard colonialism that give him the urge to fight because "They are, and We are" the true owners of the humble island of the Philippines.

Now, you know the right answer to the question: Who is Jose Rizal? Even though it’s lengthy to memorize, it's just a matter of knowing and understanding our history and pride, and to share our history and culture that creates our own identity as True Filipinos.

(Pictures: google.com.ph/images)