Republic of the Philippine

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

PUP Biñan Campus Building, Barangay Zapote,
Biñan City, Laguna

RIZAL'S LIFE WORKS AND WRITINGS

ACTIVITY 1:

KATE COLEEN S. GONZALES BSBA-

HRM 2-1

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. WHY DO YOU NEED TO STUDY THE LIFE OF DR. JOSE RIZAL?

Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda also known as "Pepe" is the national
hero of the Philippines as he fought for the freedom of our country from the evilness and
interest of Spaniards during his time. His story and life was not easy but he still able to
open the eyes of many Filipinos from being colonized by the Spaniards, he is being
remembered by his popular novels such "El filibusterismo" and "Noli Me Tangere" that is
required to study in Highschool. Since, we are now free from being colonized by
Spaniards, it is important to study his life especially for those youth that serves as the
hope of our country just like his famous line "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan". His
life has a dramatic impact into our history because of his determination to learned and
save the Philippines that seem to lost its path because of lack of education.

We need to study his life because of his influence towards the freedom we had right now.
He is very intelligent, wise and smart person and that was his way to fight back against
the Spaniards, he fought for our country with the use of his education, knowledge and
power of letters that prevails the bad doing and evilness of Friars and Spaniards that
causes the suffering of all the Filipinos. We should be aware on how the sacrifices he
did, aside from that, his life was very inspiring and teaches us different lessons that is
related to our current issues and conditions in our society. It teaches me on how powerful
education is, that it is the only sword from the poverty of our country that we experience
right now.

It is important to know and learn his life to have a knowledge about our history, as a
citizen of the Philippines, we should be more aware on what happened to our country
before and to acknowledge and recognized our Dr. Jose Rizal's achievements and
sacrifices just to make the Philippines live in peace by getting rid from pain and suffering
 Republic of the Philippine
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PUP Biñan Campus Building, Barangay Zapote,
Biñan City, Laguna
causes the colonization of Spaniards. Our history is very important even though it is the
past and already done, past has a great impact for the Philippines and without the
history, the Philippines will never be a meaningful country. Just like what Rizal said "Ang
hindi marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan", it
means we should know where we came from or where this beloved country came from.
Knowing our own history makes us love our country more and increases our nationalism
and patriotism.

As a student, not because it is required in highschool to know his life and writings, I don't
have interest about him, as a good citizen of the Philippines, I really want to know the
history of my place, I want to have a deeper understanding about the past and by
studying about the life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, it is my way to appreciate his sacrifices, it is a
way to thank him and give him recognition all throughout his life fighting for the freedom
of our country. I have to know his Life because it is something we could be proud of, I am
proud that I am part of his sacrifices because it is what he want, to have a better future
for his countrymen and for all the children who experience discrimination, so they will not
go to school afraid of something, they will not let anyone step on their shoes because of
their education and that's what Rizal imparted on us today.
 Republic of the Philippine
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PUP Biñan Campus Building, Barangay Zapote,
Biñan City, Laguna

2. WHY DID DR. JOSE RIZAL BECOME OUR NATIONAL HERO?

Dr. Jose Rizal became our National Hero because he still fought for the hopeless
Filipinos before to have freedom in silence yet powerful way that open the eyes of many
Filipinos. He used to expressed his love and support for the Philippines through his
writings of novels, essays, poems, and articles rather than using strength and agression.
He used his pen better known as his "Pluma" to criticize and flaunts the Spanish
government, this used his intelligence to dedicate himself to the Philippines without any
hesitation, he sacrifice his own life to save his countrymen and his way of fighting against
the Spanish government lessen the agression and sacrifices of Filipinos.

In the year 1900 of June, when US accepted the Philippines as a vassal country, William
Howard Taft became the Chairman of the 2nd Philippine Commission, he is the
Governor General that time who appointed and suggested Dr. Jose P. Rizal as the
National Hero for the Philippines. As we all know, that right after the colonization of
Spaniards, we are being colonized by American with the use of education, Civil Governor
Taft, chooses Rizal to be the National Hero as a strategy to be a good example for many
filipinos to not be aggressive and bloody, so their interest and plan for the Philippines
would be successful and Filipinos will not revolt against the American. Though, Rizal still
become the National Hero of the Philippines because he is the most qualified to be a
National Hero during the American Period.

Dr. Jose Rizal fought in a non-violent way, he educate himself more to be aware in
everything that the Spaniards are trying to put in the Philippines, he achieved liberty in a
silent and peaceful way so it didn't have lose many lives, his reforms was the caused of
his execution by the Spaniards administration and still trying to face the Filipinos right
after he was shot to imply that he did it for his country, he didn't deceived the Filipinos
and his love for the Philippines is true and honest. His way of revolution is impressive, he
is an example of a good Filipino that's why he deserve to be the National Hero of the
Philippines because he is one of a kind, he is very different from other Heroes of the
Philippines who choose to fight with aggression and force. He died to be remember and
his death leave a wonderful legacy until now, he is one of the reason why we are living
with freedom.
 Republic of the Philippine
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PUP Biñan Campus Building, Barangay Zapote,
Biñan City, Laguna

3. STATES HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECT OF HIS

WRITINGS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION LIKE YOU.

As a part of this generation, his life and writings has dramatic impact to us, since his
writings is required to teach in Highschool, we had no choice but to study his novels.
Youngers today are now having their own voice especially when it comes to political
aspects, they are not afraid to expressed themselves and correct the wrong doings of the
Government just like how Rizal did with his novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El
Filibusterismo", youngers today are not blind on what is currently happen on our country
in terms of Politically, Culturally, Socially and Economically. We are now have the
courage in every discrimination we are dealing with, we never let anyone silence our
voices because we serves as the hope of the Philippines.

The effect of his writings awaken the sleeping Filipino awareness and the independence
of today's situation. Aside from that, Rizal had also an effect on Philippine society and
national identity, Philippines was also being known because of him. Youngers today are
now have the freedom to choose their religion, have the courage to exposed the
government issues in corruption, does not tolerarinf the people who abused the power,
preventing discrimination, and spreading facts and opinions that is related to every
issues of the Philippines. Youngers today value the Philippines so the history will not
ever repeat itself. This generation are now ready to fight for their rights because they
know the horror of our past.

Rizal also influence the youngers today on valuing of education, we know how much
Rizal did to pursue his education so he would able to fight against the Spaniard
government. His best way to have a revolution was his silent and peaceful reform with
the used of his intelligence through education. Youngers today value the education a lot
because that will make make our country survive from poverty, so other country would
not try to colonize us again. We are not what they used to call us "Mangmang" because
we are now more aware on our country. Moreover, his famous lines are now really
popular because it really make sense just like "Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay
higit ba sa amoy ng malansang isda", the power of his words makes the younger Filipino
further love the Philippines.
 Republic of the Philippine
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PUP Biñan Campus Building, Barangay Zapote,
Biñan City, Laguna

4. AS A GEN Z LIKE YOU, HOW DID HIS WRITINGS CONTRIBUTE TO

OUR SOCIETY AND TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATION?
STRENGTHEN YOUR ANSWER.

The greatest contribution of Rizal to our society was his famous novels "Noli" and "Fili",
these two was written by him on purpose. His writings has a great contribution in the
society that time to awaken the mind of the Filipinos who was being controlled by
Spanish Government and Friars. Spanish used to call Filipino "Mangmang" because of
lack of education, we are used to be an ill society or the social cancer because we lack
of education and knowledge, that's the reason why Filipinos before was easy to
manipulate, deceive and control by Spaniards but because of his writings he wants to
imply to Spaniards that stop taking control to the Philippines and leave it alone. His
writings help the society to know better and exposed the corruption and friar domination
under the Spanish colonial rule.

His writings, articles and poems has a dramatic contribution to the present time, youth
generation today know how to fight with their rights and how to voice out their opinions
with the use of words, words for us is powerful than forces and agression because we
educate ourselves a lot. Knowing the History of the Philippines make us more stronger
and capable, the present generation will never let any country take over again the
beloved Philippines because we do not want to waste all the sacrifices of all Filipinos
before. Filipino now recognized the importance of Dr. Jose Rizal's desire for the present
society and generation.

For the future generations, Rizal's writings make the history to be not forgotten. People in
the future will also recognize his intelligence and sacrifices for the Philippines so they will
value the freedom they will have in the future, they will value their education and they will
know how to taking up space for themselves. Rizal will able to influence youth by
encouraging them to support, serve and love the Philippines even more, just like his
famous poem entitles as "A La Juventud Filipina" (To the youth) affirms that even though
even in the youthfulness, anyone can have a contribution to his or her country and desire
for its best. Because of the writings of Rizal, it help people to be more vigilant about
Politics and criticize it in a good way. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo will always
 Republic of the Philippine
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
PUP Biñan Campus Building, Barangay Zapote,
Biñan City, Laguna
have something to put in the mind of students.

5. FOR YOU AS A 21ST STUDENT, IF YOU WOULD GIVEN A CHANCE

TO CHOOSE OUR NATIONAL HERO, WOULD YOU STILL CHOOSE DR.
JOSE RIZAL? YES OR NO? IF NOT, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CHOOSE AND WHY?

As a 21st student, I will still choose Dr. Jose Rizal to be the national hero of the
Philippines because of his hardwork, intelligence, bravery, pure love to the country and
sacrifices that already paid off. I have watched his life and one realization comes to my
mind that he still striving for his dream for the Philippines regardless of those
consequences awaits for his actions. He is not the powerful person during that time, what
power he had carried before was his education, and he just totally proven that education
is a sword from all the suffering that people may experience. Actually, all the Filipinos
before that fought for our country are a heroes for me, I just still want to choose Rizal
because he is the best for me, I admire him for his courage to sacrifice his life for the
Filipino people and he begin the revolution, his writings encourage Andres Bonifacio and
other katipunero to fight for freedom and get rid of afflictions caused by the Spanish
Government.

For the Filipinos, Jose marked the beginning of a new era. He became a national hero
because of his capacity to inspire others and his sympathy for his people. He motivated
his fellow Filipinos to take nonviolent action against the Spanish by joining this campaign.
His words sparked new thoughts across the Philippines. It made me fall in love with the
Philippines and everything about it. Furthermore, it motivated me to become a high
achiever in school and in my work in the near future. Simply expressed, Dr. Jose Rizal's
story has motivated me in such a way that it inspires my ambition to be a good citizen
and a good student. His way of being able hero was all about his good deeds and he is a
kind hearted person. I will always choose Dr. Jose Rizal to be the National hero of the
Philippines because he deserves it and he qualifies the quality of being a Hero, his
power was his knowledge and intelligence that really amazed me and most of the
people. For me, the revolution and progress of the Philippines started because of him,
and I don't know what would've happened before if Rizal did not choose to fight from the
Spaniards.