Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal Danton Remoto

July 30, 2017

Who is Pepe? Explain.

Pepe is Jose P. Rizal. He is our National Hero. The author of the famous book Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. He is the great and remarkable captain of
revoulution and one of the most notable propagandist and prominent contributor in
the Philippine history as well as in the Phillipine Literature.

Why does Pepe ask the persona about the purgatory?

Meriam Webster Dictionary stated that in Roman Catholic, purgatory is a place of
suffering of the souls who died. And I think he asked the persona about it because
he thinks that purgatory is the consequences for rebelling the Outsiders and waking
up the Filipinos to use the sword against them and on the top of that, he asked
about it because he nearly feel that his life is about to end.

The poem talks about the nature of stars. Can you explain what he means, in terms
of science?
A star is a big, hot ball of fire. Stars are born to do its duty and function in
the universe. It is to give heat and light to the planets and other heavenly
bodies. And once it reaches the coldest temperature, it will stop living but it
will continue to shine as if it is not dead.

This discussion of a star is also a metaphor. What is it a metaphor for? Explain.

The star refers to Jose Rizal. Like a star, he was born to do his purpose here on
earth. It is to bring hope and light not just to the Filipinos but also to other
nations who suffer the same way as we witness it to the hands of the foreign
subjugator. Like a star that is million miles away from us, his light will still
continue to shine conquering our mind and soul through his Literature Artworks.

Why was Rizal executed? How is this similar to the idea of a star? Relate this to
Philippine history.

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Rizal was executed because his writings are act of rebellion against the Spanish
Government. It is similar to a star because his works will remain as part of the
Philippine History. I am assured that Rizal and other valiant writers left a mark
that will always be remembered through generations.

What do you think the persona felt for Rizal? Give textual evidence.
�And on this day, with the year beginning to turn, Salt sting my eyes.� As
analyzing this phrase, I think the persona felt for Rizal is too painful and
forlorn because he knows that Rizal wants to be free in ur own country. And the
words are not enough to unite all Filipino as one to fight and to make the
Spaniards leave in our own land.

Do you feel the same way? Why or why not?

I feel the same way because First, Rizal just stated the fact about the way of
ruling of Spaniards in our nation and he just wanted to be free from their abusive
hand. Secondly, he also put an effort to write in order to know what is the true
face or identity of the outlanders. And lastly, as the bible says in the Ten
Commandments which is the teaching of the Roman Catholic, a man should not kill a
man. Rizal is a human, we don�t have the right to take away anyone�s life.

What would you say was Rizal�s greatest contribution to Philippine society?
I think the greatest contribution of Rizal in our country is his sayings and
published works, The Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo because without this, we
will not be aware of what they�ve (Spaniards) done to us as well as not knowing
what our history is.

If you were in Rizal�s place, would you have supported the Katipunan? Why or why
not?
If you think critically, a Spaniard with a big gun versus Filipino with a bolo.
Spaniards have tons of army who are trained well. Filipinos will never win against
their cannons and guns. If I were Rizal, I will not support the Katipunan.
Supporting them is a suicide. We have no match against the foreign subjugator.

Who do you consider as our national hero? Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio?
�Pen is mightier than the sword.� And because of that I will still consider Rizal
as our National Hero. Through his skills in writing, he use this to lead a
rebellion and he clearly stated the immorality and villainy of Spaniards toward
Filipinos. And because of his patriotism in his published works, every Filipino who
reads it awaken his mind and soul to start a revolution and be united as one to
fight against the vulgar Spaniards. Unlike Bonifacio who prefer a remorseless
bloody rebellion, Jose Rizal stays a silent warrior who leaves a primary source or
evidence of what he really did for our country.