Rizal as Teacher and Pupil

Author: Ambeth R. Ocampo

Words Highlighted

pilgrimage: a journey to a holy, special or unusual place

eccentric: strange or unusual
heroic: having or showing great courage
correspondence: the letters or e-mails that people write to each other
immortalized: to cause (someone or something) to be remembered forever
consolation: something that makes a person feel less sadness, disappointments, etc.
inflammation: a condition in which a part of the body becomes red, swollen and painful
studious: very serious about studying, reading, learning, etc.
embroidering: sewing a design on a piece of cloth
furnish: to supply or give
promising: likely to succeed or to be good
inculcate: to cause (something) to be learned by (someone) by repeating it again and again
apostolic: relating to the traits of an apostle
amid: in or into the middle of (something)

1. What is the purpose of the author?

- The purpose of the author on his article is to enlighten and describe to the
readers how Jose Rizal became a great and the Philippine National Hero.
He presented his views through presenting/telling some interesting and
important facts (letters) or stories about the hero’s life.

2. What are the questions on the article?

- How Jose Rizal became a great and national hero?
- How Jose Rizal’s life significant to the present?
- What are the events that could manifest that Rizal became a teacher and a
pupil?
- How Rizal’s life differs from the life of other heroes?
- How family of Rizal became important to his becoming as a hero?

3. What are your assumptions?

- Conventionally, Jose Rizal is viewed as a great hero because of his bravery
and extraordinary intelligence that he used to obtain the freedom of his
oppressed people; assuming that this fact is widely accepted without
knowing how he grown into that kind of man.
- Since, according to the history, he was so smart, that made everyone
assume and believe that he was an outstanding pupil or student during his
time; and because of that he became a teacher at young age, teaching
people practically
- Many believe that Rizal became great just because of those finest scholars
and scientist he befriended during his studies in some prestigious
universities here in our country as well as in some European nations
- Rizal is viewed only as an epitome in history and do not know how he is
significant even in present time
 - Since Rizal was a child of a big family with 10 siblings, we could assume
that he would be in favor on RH Bill if he is still living

4. What information and facts could you get from the article?
- Anyone who reads the Rizal family correspondence will discover his nine
sisters like Narcisa Lopez, his favorite, whose nickname Sisa is
immortalized as a tragic character in the “Noli.” Sisa wrote him on Feb.
27, 1886, saying: “I suppose you don’t know yet that I’m now the mother
of six children. In this letter you will see the names of the three older ones
(in their own handwriting), and of the last ones, the older was Isabel, the
deceased one, and the two, one girl and one boy, are called Consolación
and Leoncio López, who is as fat as a melon. The children of Sra. Neneng
are three: They are called Alfredo, Adela and Abelardo. Olimpia’s shortly
will be three, like Sra. Neneng’s. The two who are not here are called
Aristeo and Cesario; the older one called  Aristeo, what a lively boy he is!
His godfather is Sr. Paciano. He will be a useful boy when he gets older.
At the age of two, he already knows a great deal. He is the only
consolation of our parents, I tell you, because when you see this child,
even if you are angry, you will be obliged to laugh, he is so funny.”
- Another sister, Lucia Herbosa, in a letter dated Nov. 13, 1882, described a
son born to her in 1882, whom they named Jose: “I amuse myself with
José’s ear, which is like yours. I tell you that it is really like yours, but I
pray that the likeness does not stop there, but that he may have your
disposition, your goodness and diligence in good works.”
- In July 1886 Lucia’s husband wrote Rizal about their daughter Delfina
who was suffering from “a little inflammation of (the) eye, which is the
cause of her absence from school. What a pity she did not become a boy!
She is bright and very studious. Her mother is always telling her not to
read because her inflammation might worsen, but she is so hardheaded.”
Imagine, a child insistent on reading! Twelve years later, in 1898, Delfina
would assist Marcela Agoncillo in Hong Kong in the sewing and
embroidering of the first Philippine flag.
- Even Paciano, Rizal’s older brother, was concerned about education,
asking Rizal in July 1886: “Furnish me with information of the best  
schools there. We have many nephews, most of them promising. It is a pity
that these ones should fall into the hands of teachers who teach unwillingly
and do so only for show. It is true that they inculcate in children very sane
principles, such as fear and humility, the first being the beginning of
wisdom and the second of apostolic and civic virtue, but it is also true that
fear and humility lead to dullness.” Rizal replied that “children are not
allowed to be themselves, to make noise or to play. Instead, they are made
to recite the rosary and novena until the poor youngsters become very
sleepy and understand nothing of what is going on. Consequently, when
they reach the age of   reason, they pray just as they have prayed when
they were children without understanding what they are saying; they fall
asleep or think of nonsense. Nothing can destroy a thing more than the
abuse of it, and praying can also be abused.”

5. What inferences could you formulate?

 - Rizal during his time even on his young age, he once became a great
teacher who taught people practically about medicine, food preparation,
livelihood and business, etc.
- He was also a great pupil who was taught and disciplined first inside his
home which became important factors for him to excel in form education
arena. That’s why, we could infer that his family was his first teacher and
his home was his first school; and even during his studies both national
and international, his whole family supported him at all times through their
letters
- “Philippine National Hero” was not born great, he evolved over time,
developing as a hero amid interaction with his family

6. What concepts could you derive from the article?

- Great hero is not born, great hero evolves and develops over time, not only
by himself but also by the help of other he is living with
- Family plays important roles for the development of one’s individuality
- Rediscovering history requires adequate basis or evidence for deeper
understanding and analysis

7. What point of view do you have after reading this article?

- Rediscovering about Rizal’s life through rediscovering the artifacts that
could serve as good evidence of his great works could be one of the best
ways to make him relevant to modern times. In a broader sense, as
Filipinos, who are a product of a wonderful history, it is essential for us to
make ourselves interested on rediscovering our history and give more
emphasis on deeper understanding and appreciation to every part of it.
Furthermore, it could help us to seek its significance to our present era and
make it sustained for the next generation of explorers of our history. Jose
Rizal is not only an epitome of man in history of the past but a
quintessence in the history of the present and for the history of the future.