The National Teachers College

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THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
Submitted by: SAYSON, KIMBERLY Prof. Elena K. Parayno
61803053; 61803053@ntc.edu.ph
Correspondence- The Life and Works of Rizal
What would Rizal say?
The concept of education that Rizal emphasized that the youth have the
utmost capabilities to pursue something great. He even believed that Filipino
youth has the potential to keep pace internationally. Knowing this work of Rizal
dedicated to the Filipino youth made me realize how confident Rizal is to his fellow
Filipino to have that courage to create something big. By that, it literally increased
my motivation to never be tired of learning. In relation to today’s issues, I would
like to focus on how youth today is being ignorant and negligent as well as being
vocal towards crucial matters that is happening right now in the country
particularly the people who runs the government and its unjust system. In
supporting what I will say here in this paper, I will cite from RIzal’s work that
coordinates the focus of the issue and also what would be his reaction or
perspective towards the matter. In the making of this composition, it feels like RIzal
is all living and well that is why I enjoy writing this one.

I can say that youth today is divided or should I say mixed with their opinions
and what actions to be done when they sense that something is not right. Before,
the enemy of our land is the conquerors but now, it is our own blood who will bring
us down just because we're in a system that doesn’t feels right. Let’s consider how
awful what happened to the Kian delos Santos (Basilio in Noli Me tangere who
was wrongly accused of crime) case way back 2017, the police involved indeed
violated the victim’s right to live. Following that case, several protest outcrying to
stop the Extra Judicial Killings, not only the youth were there but also the general
public to convey the message and also to initiate a reform in the system. Rizal has
the fullest confidence that our youth will be the one to lead the country, he even
said that youth are capable to produce from nothing into majestic matters which
stated in To the Filipino Youth:

“You at th' impulse of your mind

The hard rock animate
And your mind with great pow'r consigned
Transformed into immortal state
The pure mem'ry of genius great;”

but the question is: what future of young people in this country if they end up
dead on a street alley after a 'legitimate police operation' done by fellow Filipino
itself?

In this timeframe, if Rizal is alive, I wonder what would be his reaction knowing the
fact that he vested the country to the Filipino youth. Maybe he would call out the
system because it is definitely inhumane, he would expose the current
administration doings through literature. He would also reiterate and educate us
on our rights to live for the sake of not only for ourselves but also for others because
for him, loving one’s country is doing for other’s sake and welfare. He will make us
realize the greatest importance of concern. Also, he would encourage us to be
extra vigilant to protect our rights because you may never know that the one who
is close or in front of you, may be the one who will fall you down just for the sake
of recognition, influence, or money (Kapitan Tiago in Noli me Tangere). He would
also encourage us to hold on to the hope that the victims of today would not be
the tyrants of tomorrow.

After decades, many had happened. Our national hero, in full confidence
for the youth, at the same time at peace in the Motherland’s soil—looking at us
slightly disappointed when he will know that fellow Filipino kills another Filipino just
because we are grounded within the ‘system’; the only thing that Rizal wanted
was to become united for us to fight against tyranny, and then I hope—that
someday, there are no killings on the news, that youth will not witness cruelty and
violation of human rights anymore.