CHAPTER 1 ACTIVITY- THE RIZAL LAW

1. What is your view about Rizal Law? Is it effective in instilling patriotism among college students?

Rizal Law is a mandated course that educate people about the life, works and writings of our
national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Supposedly, it aims to instill or re-establish the nationalism and
patriotism to develop every Filipino character. Especially, about his novels that could give an ample
background about how Rizal hand over his life for the country. The implication of this law has a great
positive goal that could help and benefit the youth and help them apply the ideals and teachings
bequeath by Rizal, it could also help develop moral character, personal discipline and civic
conscience, which is ideal because as Rizal’s qoute said Children is the hope of the country.
In my opinion somehow, this Rizal law is an effective way of instilling patriotism among
students. Considering that if all students discern and understand deeper the context of studying
Rizal’s life and works they would realize that the life story of Rizal and his works is all about the love
of country. It is about fighting for the rights and freedom of your fellowmen and country even
without the use of armed weapons. Rizal showed that pen is mightier than sword because through his
works he awakened the nationalism of Filipino and manage to urge them to fight for their rights and
freedom. He also showed martyrdom, which I believe made hade him to become such a great
national hero. For these reason I believe that Rizal in general showed great patriotism and studying
his life and works is an inspiring source of patriotism and set the mindset of the students to practice
nationalism, though I think it should be possible if and only if students will try their best to learn and
discern this subject.

2. What is your conceptualization about a “Modern Hero”?

Many qualities, shapes, race, powers and sizes that people define a hero. In fact, the variation
of heroes throughout the centuries is irrefutable. For conceptualization, a hero for me can be
someone who can transform compassion into heroic action, someone who has no fear of laying
his life down for another, is willing to fight and sacrifice for the sake and rights of others and is
someone who lives with pure intentions of helping others. We should realize that heroes may not
be in the shape or form that we expect them to be. Considering that heroes might be someone
who is closer with us and doing small deeds for us just like our front liners who is battling in the
pandemic brought about by the Covid who is securing and saving the lives of our humanity. It
could also be our teachers who is a great role model that inspires and mold us to become a better
individual. A hero could also be our OFW’s who sacrificed a lot for the good and betterment of
the life of their family. All of us have our own concept of a hero and someone whom we look up
to but I believe everyone could be a hero and has the potential to become a hero. Actually all
heroes are found around us some are just not well known in the public eye, so we should
appreciate even a small good deeds of a person because those small things are heroic deeds.