MARIANNA ESTHER G.

GAYATIN

BSHM MH 2-3

MODULE 2
THOUGHT PAPER
"Without education and liberty, which are the soil and the sun of man, no reform is
possible, no measure can give the result desired." was one of the famous lines of our
national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Indeed, he has contributed a great deal to our country, and
I believe we, the Filipinos, wouldn't be where we are today without him.

Most of today's youth may not be aware of the battles and sacrifices that many people
made for our country to have freedom; some may even take it for granted. Which is why
I believe Republic Act No. 1425, also known as the Rizal Law, mandates all educational
institutions in the Philippines to offer courses about Jose Rizal is a great way to honor
and remember our national hero's patriotism. His life, works, and writings are a great
source of inspiration and motivation for the youth, particularly in their crucial
developmental years in school.

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born in 1861 in Calamba's town in
Laguna province. He was the second son and the seventh child out of eleven. From an
early age, he showed intellectual advancement and was taught the alphabet at three
years old by his mother, who played an essential role in his first educational years.
When he reached 5, he could already read and write, and at 11 years old, he entered
the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He was a brilliant student who was skillful in different
foreign languages and won many literary honors and prizes. In 1877, Jose Rizal
obtained a bachelor of arts degree with the highest honors. For a time, he studied at the
University of Santo Tomas, and in 1882 he left for Spain to enter the Central University
of Madrid, where he completed his medical and humanistic studies.

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the “twin novels,” are among the most influential
books written by our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. These books aimed to enlighten the
Filipinos on the country’s harsh reality and fight for freedom and independence. While El
Filibusterismo brought Filipinos closer to the truth, Noli Me Tangere or “Touch Me Not”
is considered among the key instruments that started Filipino Nationalism, leading to the
Philippines Revolution in 1896. It was a historic event showcasing the awakening of
Filipino awareness and aspiration for independence.

In conclusion, the study of Dr. Jose Rizal’s life as part of a curriculum is essential for
today’s young generation. It is a way to recognize our national hero’s teachings and
ideals concerning society’s current situations and conditions. Consequently, we hope
today’s youth applies such values and principles to their personal and social problems
and develops a deep understanding and appreciation for nationalism and what Rizal
truly stands for because he fought and died protecting that ideal. We Filipinos should
not tolerate and be passive to the greediness of people in power as they poison our
country. Corruption is deep-rooted into our government system’s cores. The only way to
truly progress is for future leaders and officials to have the same principle and ideals as
our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal ─ today’s youth, tomorrow’s leaders!