Kristine T.

Serentas Paper 1
Professor: Yvan Gumbao Date: June 18, 2020

The Rizal Law mandates that all schools should teach the life and works of Rizal.
His writings play a vital role in our country. We were able to get an inspiring source of
patriotism and nationalism. Also, it is one way to commemorate his deeds. Rizal serves
as the identity of the country. He embodied and realized the best of what the Filipino
can be. Even if it is not required by the law, we should still study and taught the life and
works of Rizal. I admire, Rizal for being a great hero where his way of fighting against
the colonial rule is through his writings. His bravery and love for our country in which
made me realize do I love my country. Rizal is one of a true Filipino, where he devotes
his life for us to achieve the freedom that we have right now.
Moreover, I haven't watched the classic movie entitled "Ganito kami noon, Paano
kayo ngayon" because it is not on youtube. I have only watched the documentary
somehow, it gives me ideas about the content of the movie. This movie is quite
interesting because it portrays the life of the Filipino people in 19th century during the
Spaniards colonization. Filipinos don't have the right to defend themselves and allowing
the Spaniards to belittle them. The movie tries to awaken us to love our country and to
restore our nationalism. Also, Kulas, the boy characterizes as being passive that
accepts whatever he may encounter in life. Sometimes, I admit I'm being like that. But
the main point of the movie, what or who is Filipino? Even, I am a Filipino, it made me
question myself. Honestly, I'm not fluent in terms of speaking Tagalog. Also, the
Baybayin even single of it, I don't know how to use or pronounce it. And I don't have
enough information about Rizal and the past ages ago because I tend to ignore it. I
know I'm not the only one who is being like this. Some students do not give importance
to the History of the Philippines because it is already in the past. And it made me feel
ashamed as a Filipino and to our great national hero, he even stated "Ang Kabataan
ang pag-asa ng bayan." Here I am doing nothing and giving importance to the things
that are not worthy of. Am I really a pure Filipino?
In conclusion, today,I have realized that it should be the thing that we must study
to feed us some knowledge of how did the country overcome colonization. Rizal
teaches us that we need to fight to change our future so that we will not be a slave
forever of the people who colonize the Philippines.Lastly, we must love to do good
things for our country to be peaceful and in solidarity.