GEED 10033: Readings in Philippine History

Diane Joy G. Libay

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

1st Year – 2nd Semester

Prof. Jacinto R. Valila Jr.

 VENERATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING (1970)

by Renato Constantino

When I was in elementary school, we had a presentation in one of our subjects that we should
research about Philippine heroes, and present what they contribute and why they’re called heroes. One of
those heroes is Dr. Jose Rizal and he doesn't disappear from people's minds when it comes to heroes.
He’s José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda or known as Dr. Jose Rizal, a medical student that
committed himself to the reform of Spanish rule. (Gorlinski et. al, 2010) As the author of two well-known
Philippine novels, El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere, he has earned a massive and mighty reputation
among our country's heroes. However, what if we find out what Jose Rizal really did to our country? Can
we still consider him a nationalist leader and one of the heroes of our country?

Renato's Veneration Without Understanding is all about doubts and arguments about Rizal's
status as the Filipino people's national hero. A more in-depth examination of Dr. Jose Rizal's status and
the factors that he helped to achieve widespread recognition. Constantino is trying to demonstrate how
shallow our knowledge about Rizal and nationalism is. Rizal repudiated the revolution and was
completely against resistance to the Spanish conquest. I realized that most of us were unaware of this
because it was never mentioned in any history books. That's why we grew up believing he was only a
writer, a role model to us, and one of our country's greatest heroes, and knowing how much he sacrificed
for our independence. We are so influenced by Rizal teachings that we fail to see the bigger picture
behind Rizal and the revolutionaries. Furthermore, this will enlighten us to see the truth and provide us
with a new perspective. In this paper, I will be stating my reflection and personal understanding through
the information I read in this article, and realization concerning the article that Renato Constatino wrote.

Constantino (1970) said that Rizal condemned the idea of revolution. This is why he has never
been a part of a revolution during this period and refuses to take the path that will lead to violence and
bloody battle. Because Rizal desires reform, with the purpose of becoming a province of Spain and
granting equal rights to Spaniards and Filipinos. It shows that he has never stated that he wants
independence, only equal rights for Filipinos people. Furthermore, he stated that revolution is not a viable
option for achieving independence and that the people do not require a mass movement to achieve this
because he believes that reform and education are the only solutions. Which is the contrary of Bonifacio's
belief that revolution is the only way to liberate the people from foreign control. Knowing that Rizal only
wants reform which is still in provision of Spaniards but not completely independent is absurd. Because
why would you fight or contradict your fellow citizen who only wants freedom in the hands of the abused
foreigners? And why would he seek independence, if he never believed in independence at all? Although
I also cannot deny that because if Rizal was not arrested, there would be no revolution led by Bonifacio
against foreigners. In either case, Bonifacio's resistance and Rizal's concept of reform were one of the
parts of the historic achievement of Philippine independence.

Constantino (1970) has repeatedly stated that Rizal is not interested in revolution. Which
Bonifacio mistook for support for the revolution, but the goal is reform. Despite the fact that this reform
never took place, and Spaniards misinterpreted Rizal's work, believing it was written to support the
revolution because of their mistreatment and abuses of the masses, the masses were tortured even more.
It's funny to think that he wants reform more than revolution, but he knows how powerful the colonialists
are and they don't care what he wants.

Aside from being a reformer, he also stated that people require education. He believes that
education can also be used to achieve liberation. How can education bring us freedom if conquerors have
only tortured us and deprived us for doing so? There is a better alternative to fighting so that colonizers
know and notice the suffering that people are going through at their hands, just like revolts. When greed
for power prevails, it is only right to use resistance and fight with revolutionary movements as a weapon
for the uprising of colonial power. Because their power is growing, and we are still suffering at the hands
of despised foreigners because some only follow the high, while others remain silent for fear of further
enslavement of themselves and their loved ones. Maybe yes, education can lead us away from liberty but
it will take us decades for us to achieve independence. Also, if education is only available to nobles and
wealthy people, how can we be certain that it will be available to everyone?

When the Philippine Commision was looking for a national hero, Rizal was an obvious choice.
Constantino (1970) also stated that the Americans took the lead in selecting Rizal as a national hero
because he never advocated for independence because the Americans did not want Filipinos to follow a
role model who advocated for revolution because it would have an impact on the Americans' colonial
policy. The use of Rizal by the Americans to cover up what they are doing has made us ignorant and
stupid again. Also, I realized that the Americans' choice of Rizal to be a national hero was another
cover-up of the attributes of a national hero.

Furthermore, Rizal and the elites used Filipinos who saw themselves as representatives of the
masses to manipulate them. The elites always claim to be there for the lower classes, but their true
motivation is always self-interest. It irritated me so much because they regard themselves as superior to
their countrymen. Is it because they are educated, rich and somehow have the power they hold in our
country? The fact that they simply obey and believe they are leaders, and that one who fights the abusers
who claim our country is a form of disobedience simply because they believe differently. Where in fact it
was one of the most successful uprisings and awakening in the eyes of the masses aside from Rizal’s
writings, which were just a glimpse of freedom in history, while the struggle appears to be lifelong if no
change is made. Some of us had this mindset up until now. I realize that some of us are angry or see it as
disobedience to the people who oppose them are the people who have enough privileges and even defend
the oppressive rich or the government, and in fact, if they are silent, we cannot achieve the freedom and
the things we have today. Because the resistance is not only for themselves but also for the mistakes they
see and the trampling on the poor people who are abused by the elites.

But the question is, does Rizal deserve to be the national hero?

According to him, if a man is a revolutionary and participates in bloodshed, he must be

considered a hero. (Constantino, 1970) But I believe that a hero is someone who stands on principles,
fights for his beliefs, and is not swayed by anything. And If I have to answer if Rizal deserves it, my past
self, will say that he deserves it but after reading the article of Renato Constantino, I think I would say it’s
a no. However, he deserves to be called a hero, but not a national hero. Due to the fact that because he
is opposed to, and even condemned to to take side of the revolutionary army and his fellow citizens that
yearning for independence, he also underestimated the movement, power, and the people’s knowledge.;
Next, he never really wanted independence because freedom is only for the educated and not a national
privilege, and he also wanted to reform so that the Spaniards could continue to govern while the elites
profited from it. This upset me because it was not taught or included in any history books prior to
discussing Rizal's life in school.

Rizal did not lead any revolutions, but I cannot deny that his notable works awakened the people
and his ideas aided us in developing a national identity for the Philippines. He believes that independence
should only be used by educated people who understand what it entails. In a nutshell, Rizal fought for
liberty rather than independence. Rizal had died by the time he was named the National Hero of American
Imperialism. To the extent that this imperialist takes advantage of the opportunity to introduce biased
education to the people, diminishing the importance of other revolutionaries and elevating Rizal above
them all. It’s sad because all the people who fought and yearned for the independence of the Philippines
and the ones who struggled the most and shed blood to achieve true nationhood were unknown to us
because we only know the wealthy illustrados. They deserve full credit for our current independence,
because if they had remained silent during this period, we would not be where we are today.
 We can’t change our past. What we can do is learn from it. We cannot change it, but we can
change the events of today using the history left to us. We still have a lot of analysis and a deeper
understanding of our history because some of the books that were taught to us had biased teachings
influenced by the colonialism of foreigners. We fight for our rights and against the obstacles that separate
us from and lead to our own abolition as a country. Whatever the decision, I still believe that neither Rizal
nor Bonifacio is useless without the people who fought alongside them and stood up for their rights will
never be successful.
REFERENCES:

Gorlinski et. al (2010) José Rizal. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jose-Rizal

Constantino, R. (1970) Veneration without the understanding.

https://www.docdroid.net/y33jmgn/veneration-without-understanding-doc#page=8