Case Analysis on Jose Rizal: Against the Revolution?

I. Introduction
This paper is an analysis and discussion about the issues and controversies
about our hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Particularly, it will center on the analysis of the case about
the invalidating support of Jose Rizal towards the revolution. This paper as well will
present the arguments, factual claims, and evidences that are linked to Jose Rizal whether
he may or may not be against the revolution. At the end of this paper is my objective
conclusion on this particular case under analysis.

II. Presentation of Arguments/Evidences

According to Renato Constantino, the author of the Veneration without
Understanding, that Dr. Jose Rizal does not deserve the honor and admiration that the
Filipino people afford him because of the following evidences stipulated hereafter.
1. He ran away from his enemies.
2. Most of Rizal’s life was spent on travel and writing.
3. He did not engage himself in an actual battle.
4. Rizal was against the idea of the Katipunan for a revolution according
to Pio Valenzuela.

However, despite the statements of Renato Constantino there are factual

evidences gathered that contradicts the aforementioned arguments. The following
evidences stipulated hereafter are statements that contradict to that of Renato
Constantino’s.
1. In 1917 Pio Valenzuela altered his prior statements.
2. Pio Valenzuela asserted that Jose Rizal was actually not against the
revolution.
3. Jose Rizal was concerned with the unpreparedness of the Filipinos for
an all-out uprising against the Spanish government according to Pio
Valenzuela’s assertion.
4. Jose Rizal advised the Katipuneros to obtain the aid of the rich
Filipinos.
5. Jose Rizal recommended Antonio Luna as the over-all commander.
6. Jose Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo with a theme of hostility and
revolution.
7. According to an author, El Filibusterismo is a bitter cry of a suffering
soul, more revolutionary, and more tragic than the first novel which
was Noli Me Tangere.
8. As a matter of fact, if a Jose Rizal does not agree to something, he
wouldn’t waste time on it, much less write about it.

III. Conclusion/Reaction
Based on the contradicting statements aforementioned, I am convinced
that Dr. Jose Rizal was not against the revolution in general. In my opinion, Jose Rizal is
not against the revolution because it was clearly stated in the assertion of Pio Valenzuela.
However, Jose Rizal had conditions that the Filipinos should be provided with arms and
shall wait for the right time to achieve victory towards the Spanish government.
He may not be engaged in the actual battle but he provided advices and
recommendations for the benefit of the revolution. It is false to say that Jose Rizal only
spent his life on travelling and writing without considering the novel that he wrote with
theme of hostility and revolution because after all what Jose Rizal wrote is a product of
his thoughts and by that we can say that Jose Rizal was thinking of the revolution most of
the time. Above all, it is delusive to say that he ran from his enemies because he was
exiled and he let the enemies struck a bullet to his back without hesitation.
Given by the conditions aforementioned, it is safe to say that Dr. Jose
Rizal after all was not against the revolution.

CLARK VINCE CAEZAR J. AFABLE

BSAR – 5A