Academic Takeaway

In search for moral worth by Prof. Jefferson Mendez is very organized through
the arrangement of the topics about pre-colonial times to rizal days. Also, it is an
analytical type of webinar where the speaker attempts to establish on why the
increasing dismay and distrust of Filipino citizens to their country back then is still
occurring in this day, and how our heroes show us the moral worth of their actions that
lead to our country’s freedom. To make it short, it explains to us the importance of
history in our everyday lives.Today's issues have some similarities to the injustices that
happened in the past. The government focusing on wiping out the enemies and ignoring
the cries for help of its people is a sign and a clear picture of the challenges and issues
that happened in the past which resulted in the rising dismay and distrust of Filipinos to
their authorities. What I really don't want to happen is that this will lead to a revolution or
mass protest and acting now will only lead to a lose-lose situation for it will increase the
cases of infected pilipino because we are in the midst of a pandemic, a very disastrous
pestilence.A key behavior that we learn from our heroes is to be patient for all
wickedness will not triumph in this world.

In Kantian Ethics, Kant argues that a person is good or bad depending on the
motivation of their actions and not on the goodness of the consequences of those
actions. With this statement and his explanation, I realize that when we set goals in our
lives, there can be many reasons that urges you to commit those actions and what
really matter the most is your motive, for there are many examples of this just like many
politicians who gives goods and money for the poor but their real intention is to increase
their fame so that they will be remember in the time of elections. Even I who always go
to church because I am seeking answers and the outcome that I really wanted is that
when I die, I will go to heaven, for the thing that motivates me the most is that I am
really scared to suffer eternally in flames of hell. This kind of motivation is the basis if
the person is doing the right or wrong actions. My response to the motivations that drive
me to go to church is that I have made a bad decision. For my mind always tells me that
believing in God is just an obligation because I don’t want to go to hell. A morality like
this will help others to accept their mistakes and change their ways in making decisions.

In the 3 primary social ethics of Filipinos in Pre-Colonial times, I think that one of
those social ethics survived and is still being practiced in our present days. During the
arrival of the Spaniards, we are amazed with their clothes and fully welcome them even
if they are strangers. Unfortunately, they used our compassion as an advantage of
slowly grasping our country into their hands. Even today, we still have the highest form
of compassion, which is, to have mercy not just to one’s own but even to strangers.
Other countries categorized us and said that we are hospitable, friendly, caring and
respectful to other people.
 Academic Takeaway
Spanish Cultural Indoctrination and implementing systems to eliminate and forget
our culture, sanduguan, holistic worship of bathala and etc. to tell us that we Filipinos
are now in their hands and totally control us even in a bloody way. Is this the teachings
that they learn from the holy book? to fully deceive the innocent and steal their wealth?
To influence them with your beliefs is a huge achievement for their mission in saving
more souls but to use it for a selfish interest is the most disgusting way to put shame in
their reputation.

The greediness and brutality of Spaniards are really painful to hear and imagine
when you read them in many kinds of books, what more to the people that live on those
miserable days.Seeing your fellow Filipinos suffering in these tormenting injustices and
realizing that you have no power to tell your grievances and help them is like an agony
that will never stop and go away in your mind. Even the ministers of the church who
studied the Bible and teachings of being disgusted in sinful actions and living a
righteous life are evidence of their hypocrisy which are worse than other criminals who
are compelled to do those things out of necessity.
Rizal and other scholars have evidences of Pilipinos possessing a culture,
traditions and beliefs before the arrival of the spaniards which shows us our true identity
and rights of freedom from conquerors, for we have it since the 15th century so it is right
to fight for the restoration of our property and identity that they have covet and ruined.

Rizal is a good example of why we should visit and recognize our past, the
importance of our history helped him to reflect on what had taken place during the past
3 centuries and he also felt that he had no voice or authority to talk on what he did not
know. When Rizal discovered the book of Dr. Morga in an obscure corner of the British
Library and Museum, he had many observations which were used as a counter-
argument to what the religious missionaries had written about the philippines.
The philosophy of enlightenment and its ideas of advancement of individual
liberty, social progress, tolerance, scientific knowledge, constitutional government and
separation of state and church have massively influenced and developed Rizal’s works.
Rizal’s letters as a young man were chatty and covered mundane affairs, and not
intellectual ones.With his professional correspondence with Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt
and uniting with some organizations in Europe. He has studied German and French
Ideas that give him a high level of maturity. Use of language, Critical thinking, and
different aspects of decision making have made a huge impact in helping him change
the Philippines by spousing moral and material development.
As a person who always seeks for the truth and reason of everything that has been
created, even mysteries. I admired Rizal for his mentality and power to predict the future
which I have researched on the Internet. To see that almost all of his predictions come
true is really amazing, even foretelling the japanese invasion which I can say is
 Academic Takeaway
unbelievable. It made me more curious and encouraged me to learn more about Rizal
and his connections with the freemasons.

In conclusion, Even if Rizal died in Bagumbayan, the sacrifices and works that he left for
us will always be taken in the heart of the Filipinos. The past and our heroes should not
be disregarded and forgotten for their actions and sacrifices that gives us hope,
inspiration and an example of the right actions to take when facing serious issues,
conundrums, perflexes and injustices in our lives and even in our country. As what
Kantian Ethics teaches us in the second rule of categorical imperative is to not treat
others as a mere means or control other people to gain something for themselves. For
these wicked and unrighteous actions urges and ignite the hearts of the Filipinos to
unite and fight for our freedom. Our heroes wanted to give birth not only to a politically
independent nation but also a moral nation. History will sometimes repeat itself, we
have to fight for what is right for we have given the innate knowledge and power to
know what is good and bad.We have to learn our history, for our past help us to correct
our mistakes and know the right actions to obtain prosperity.