GAKO, LOVELYN A.

LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

BEEd 1 H1 TTH (1:00-2:30 PM)

FINAL PROJECT: REFLECTION PAPER

The film Jose Rizal (1998) directed by Marilou Diaz- Abaya and starring Cesar Montano as Jose
Rizal, recounts the life and works of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. In this self- titled movie “Jose Rizal”
produced in 1998 by GMA Films, Pepe's struggles up until the moment he was killed by a gunshot were
all depicted. Even a little portion of his works are shown in the film, which is incredibly admirable
because it reveals that what he wrote about actually occurred at the time and that he even personally
witnessed part of it.

Based on the movie, Dr. Jose Rizal's life is portrayed as a well-known individual (Cesar Montano).
He does this to demonstrate in the scene how the colonizer mistreats his country, especially his
countrymen, that life in the Philippines is truly cruel because even as a child, he was already aware of
what was going on. His eyes were wide open to the truth even at an early age. Because of his arduous
efforts to protect his country, he has developed enemies. The movie demonstrated how Dr. Jose Rizal's
rage drives him to demand the freedom that Filipinos are denied in the colonies, leading to his
accusation of subversion despite the fact that his primary motivation is to fight for the equality and
freedom of speech of his fellow locals.

The movie does a great job of showing the sacrifices made by the Filipino heroes for their love of
the nation. Scenes from Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo have been used to help the audience
remember how Dr. Jose Rizal incorporated events from his own life into the lives of his characters. He
was a man of honor; among other virtues, he exhibited honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and
perseverance. He applied these beliefs for the benefit of the Philippines as a Filipino. Unaffected by the
fact that doing so might endanger his own life, he worked hard to find a balance between the Spanish
and the Filipino populace. Jose Rizal set a high standard for patriotism, and contemporary Filipinos
would do well to follow in his heroic footsteps in little but meaningful ways.
 One will gain a greater understanding of how the Filipino patriots battled the Spaniards for the
sake of truth and freedom, as well as how they came to understand how to work together to accomplish
a common objective, after viewing the movie. One will also discover that when organizing a revolution,
one needs take great care and avoid making snap decisions. Additionally, it should be noted that Jose
Rizal wrote on topics that are still relevant and true today. His two outstanding novels' inclusion in
academia would not only foster admiration but also broaden Filipinos' perspectives, especially those of
the younger generation.

As Filipinos, Jose Rizal has always had a particular place in our history. He may also be the first
hero that some of us learned about when we were little. Of course, he wouldn't be honored as our
nation's national hero if he hadn't rendered some kind of patriotic service. The entire film is a bundle
that may also educate Filipinos and impart a number of life lessons. Each feature deserves praise.