BARAL, CHRISTLYN JOY B.

, 2020

BSA 2201 GED 103 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

When you look at the peso, who do you see there? He was a firm man and a man of great
respect. An outstanding example of genius who becomes the very hero of a nation, and this is the
Philippines. Many knew him as a hero, a hero who saved and opened the minds of Filipinos
from the ignorance during the Spanish period. He was a political martyr who devoted his life to
the redemption of oppressed people. Rizal was weak, sick and not blessed with stature, because
of this he was always at home, people around Rizal taught him the love of nature and instilled in
him a love of learning and importance education. He grew as a very intelligent man as he
travelled many places to study, learn and discover things. His love of his country is very
exceptional that it is the greatest reason behind his two great popular novels. All things
considered Rizal wanted to have the Filipinos rule their own country, Rizal fought to free the
Philippines from Spain all throughout his life. Jose was declared as the enemy of the state by the
Spanish authorities because his writings were against the Dominican Friars. Everything has an
end and the end is near to Rizal. He was closely guarded while he was aboard and he also learned
that he was blamed by the Spaniards for the insurgence in the Philippines. It was not the case that
his contemporaries tried to keep him in the hearts of people. The image is maintained so that the
memory is not encroached upon and modest life does not hold back a picture of its heart-
warming love for his nation.

“Filipinos are by nature and tradition a liberty-loving people. The pages of their history
are replete with revolts, uprisings, mutinies insurrections, and rebellions to free themselves from
injustices, abuses, vexations, discriminations and oppression of conquerors, whether Spanish,
Japanese or Americans. Filipinos have shed much blood, sweat and tears in their fight for human
freedom and national dignity” said Esteban de Ocampo of the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines.

It was at that time Rizal came to feel strongly the necessity of rewriting the Philippine
history by bringing his two novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that aims to enlighten
the society, at bringing the Filipinos closer to the truth. Noli’s main purpose was to expose the
abuses of the Spanish friars and government official’s while El Fili’s major theme is the
pretentious and often arrogant attitude of local Spanish Leaders. Noli becomes the bridge
between propaganda movement and the revolution of 1896. Fili becomes the book about
revolution, positing it clearly as an alternative to reform efforts that lead nowhere. Noli’s
objective is to show how the Filipino people lives during the Spanish colonial period and the
cries and woes of his countrymen against abusive official while El Fili’s objective is to defend
the Filipino people from foreign accusations of foolishness and lack of knowledge, to discuss
what religion and belief can really do to everyday lives and to expose. Rizal’s objectives of
writing these novels were most likely to expose the cruelties and corruption of the false
government and honestly show the wrong doings of Filipinos that led to further failure. Rizal
dedicated El Filibusterismo to the three martyred priests of Cavite mutiny. The execution of the
three priests is very significant to the title of his novel.

Reality of life during the Spanish period was clearly represented through Rizal’s
exceptional works of novels. These novels were written for the far-reaching and unveiling of
brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines. What was life like for Filipinos under
the Spanish period? There is no simple answer and way to describe what was life under the
Spanish rule. Just as no one word can describe the life of Filipinos today. Some says it is terrible
for the vast of majority people, but not everyone was enslaved. Life was hard to the Indio or the
low class Filipinos, they were descendants of those people who were already slaves in pre-
colonial times, but for the wealthy people, life was a lot comfortable, there was less
discrimination. Life then was different for the people of different places in the country. There are
places that are more prosperous than others, and places more organize than others. The life of
Filipinos during the Spanish period is somehow having the similarities to what is exactly
happening and what some of our fellow citizens are experiencing nowadays where we are under
the Enhanced Community Quarantine. We cannot deny that it has a profound impact and effect
on the lives of people today. In this day and age, the poor have always been poor, and the rich
have lived more comfortably and according to their wishes. It has also resulted in the emergence
of various problems especially in the way of meeting the needs of people who have stopped
working due to the threat of the widespread illness. Many people continue to express themselves
because of the discrimination they experience from people they hope to help in this crisis. A
major issue is the distribution of the financial aid, which should be distributes to people in need
of life especially now. Even so many years have passed there is still the undeniable effect and
impact of colonial nations to our beliefs.

There are lot of qualities that a hero can be described. Rizal’s greatest attribute is his
devotion and love for his own country. 1As a leader, Rizal was transformational, charismatic,
visionary, and most importantly incorruptible. He displayed the kind of leadership that was not
motivated by personal interest but the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the good of the
majority.

“I see Rizal as my idol. He is my inspiration and his life influenced me in positive ways”
said Pocholo Gonzales, known to be “The VoiceMaster” who has used his voice to inspire,
motivate and empower Filipinos towards greatness and excellence. 2 From my point of view,
Rizal had lived his life to the fullest, not only because he became the national hero, who fought
for the freedom of his country and its people but also for being such an inspiration to other
people from his and this time and age. He is an inspiration because he never stopped learning and
achieving new milestones that inspire others to never stop creating new ideas and bringing them
to life with the desire to support more people in taking actions for doing what is best for them.
Rizal live his life to the fullest, he spent much time in his self-improvement by his self-
education. He fights the injustices in the society and for night and day all he dreamed is to free
the people and manifested the highest virtues being a Filipino. He struggled and won in the most
arduous situation. For many, it is what they will always remembered about Rizal the
unconditional compassion towards the Filipino people and the country.

1
http://nhcp.gov.ph/a-few -thought-on-freedom-and-coloniak-culture/
2
http://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wheninmanila.com/impact-of-rizal-in-my-life/amp