CHAPTER 1 LESSON 4

RIZAL AND NATION-BUILDING

LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. identify the role of History in the process of nation-
building;
2. realize the function of studying the life, works, and writings
of Jose Rizal to the process of nation-building; and
3. offer practical ideas to contribute to the process of
nation-building
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Rizal had envisioned in the past a future generation of enlightened and
educated Filipinos; a time when Filipinos would read his writings not
as a heretic but as a person with the same national sentiment as he
had once. Today, Rizal is not just read out of appreciation but also a
primary weapon to dictate the identity of the Filipinos, which in turn
has a direct correlation to building the nation. This lesson aims to
point out the role of Jose Rizal in todays’ process of nation-building.
LESSON DISCUSSION

Philippine history is a repository of the nation’s collective

memory. It should not be seen as a mere subject waiting to be
memorized by students. It should be taken from the heart. Like
breathing out and breathing in, studying History should be second
nature to all Filipinos. This is the reason why History is translated
in Filipino as kasaysayan. Its root word is Saysay (essence).The
narrative of the past must be seen as vital to their existence.
• Likewise, studying the life, works and writing of Rizal must be well
entrenched in every Filipino’s soul. Lessons about his life, like his
education, lovers, past time , etc. are all useless if not applied in
real life. The same idea can be seen in the logic behind the annual
commemoration of Rizal Day. How many among the youth to day
imbibe the essence of Rizal Day? Rizal Day is not just a non-
working public holiday to serve as an opportunity to stroll around
the malls, swim in beaches, and watch movies on Netflix.
• It is an opportunity for everyone to fulfill what Gemino
Abad referred to as the crucial initiatives in life, “to read,
to think and to write.” Just like what Rizal did in the
past, everyone is enjoined to participate in political and
social processes of building the nation, not necessarily
great things right away but in small yet impactful ways.
Especially the youth, they are expected to be “Rizal-like”
in terms of deep nationalism.