WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Nursing

Luna St., La Paz, Iloilo City 5000

Iloilo, Philippines

MIDTERMS EXAMINATION – ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

in Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings

SS 105

Submitted to:

Mrs. Leah Mae Cabalfin

APRIL 2021
 UNIFYING THE NATION

Jose Rizal is dubbed as the greatest Filipino hero and martyr that has ever lived in the
Philippines. Through his several efforts and contributions, the Philippines was able to break
free from the Spaniards’ reign and obtain the freedom that Filipinos cherish today. One of
Rizal’s most significant contribution to the country was his act of unifying the Filipino nation.
He exposed and made the public aware of the Spaniards abusive and corrupt ways through his
several works and writings. Despite the threats of the Spaniards, Rizal never stopped from
revealing all the wrongdoings of the Spanish government and church. Eventually, Filipinos
found the courage to rise up to the Spaniards abuse and his writings became one of the main
grounds in starting a revolution.

Aside from revealing the Spaniards misdeeds, Jose Rizal also contributed in establishing the
national identity of Filipinos. He helped them understand themselves better and improve their
lives by educating and showing them their potential to grow as a remarkable individual. In
everything that he did, he always put his best to make his dreams and goals come true. He
maintained in living a life with virtue and integrity despite the temptations that surround him.
Jose Rizal believed that for Filipinos to attain freedom, they must unite and work hand-in-hand
together in overthrowing the Spanish government. However, his mission of gaining the rights
and freedom of Filipinos from the grasps of the Spaniards caused him his life. His death fueled
the unification of Filipinos and led to the success of the revolution.
 ESTABLISHING THE FILIPINO IDENTITY

Jose Rizal is known as the Father of Filipino Nationalism. He was an instrumental figure in the
creation of the conceptualization of the Filipino term as an ethnopolitical entity. In an
ethnopolitical perspective, the term Filipino referred to “a people” or “the people” in the
language of nationalism (Ramones, 2008). Jose Rizal was not an avid fan of war. He did not
desire a violent and bloody revolution. He was an academic seeking individual who sought a
peaceful, logical, and political way of attaining the Philippines’ independence from the hands
of the Spanish government.

Instead of waging wars, Jose Rizal preached and encouraged Filipinos to recognize their worth
and potential as Filipino citizen. He also reminded them of their duties and obligations to their
motherland. It was through him that Filipinos were able to proudly stand and say with
confidence that they were part of the Filipino race. However, Rizal’s dream of a bloodless
revolution did not come into fruition. His death resulted to several bloodbaths, which ultimately
ended in Filipinos achieving sovereignty in their own country. Despite his wish not coming
true, Rizal succeeded in his goal in unifying and establishing the national identity of Filipinos.
 HOPE OF THE FILIPINO

The Spanish government’s reign over the Philippines was a period filled with terror, corruption,
and death. Several Filipinos had to suffer numerous injustices and atrocities at the hands of the
Spaniards. Without power or rights, Filipinos were forced to accept and conform silently to
their daily horrific circumstances. These never-ending nightmarish ordeals extinguished their
hope, identity, and love for the country. However, Jose Rizal’s existence became a beckon of
light for most Filipinos. He was seen as the Filipino’s hero for gallantly exposing the
wrongdoings of Spaniards and actively fighting for the rights of every Filipinos.

With Rizal’s efforts and dedication, Filipinos eventually gained the courage and confidence to
fight for their rights and freedom. Filipinos became more aware of their identity as the rightful
inhabitants of their motherland. Despite the constant threats of the Spaniards, Rizal continued
in his mission in exposing their wrong doings, which sadly resulted to his death. However,
Rizal’s death did not dampen the spirits of the Filipinos. Instead, it motivated more the Filipinos
to fight for their freedom. The success of the revolution was dedicated to Rizal and to other
heroes who fought bravely during the revolution. Jose Rizal’s contribution were so great that
he was proclaimed as the national hero of the Philippines.
 A GREAT EDUCATOR

Throughout his lifetime as a Filipino citizen, Jose Rizal took on several mundane and
significant roles. To his family, he was a filial son, a loving brother, and a nurturing uncle. To
other people, he was a generous benefactor, a talented doctor, a devoted teacher, and a caring
surrogate father. And for the Filipino people, he was dubbed as the mighty hero who yielded a
pen, instead of a sword, to defeat the evil Spaniards. All of the positions Jose Rizal presumed
were remarkable and praise-worthy. However, his character as a teacher was probably the most
critical and notable out of them all.

Jose Rizal imparted his knowledge and wisdom to the Filipino youth through the school he
built in his home in Talisay. Through his guidance, several people were able to bring out and
harness their raw knowledge and talent and turn it into something greater. He showed other
people their capacity to grow as outstanding individuals that could make a difference in the
world. He helped the Filipino people see their worth as individuals that deserve respect and
happiness. Moreover, he taught the Filipino people to fight for their rights and freedom. He
helped them triumph over hardships and gave them hope for a better future. Jose Rizal made
several contributions that enabled the Filipinos obtain their land and freedom. He helped build
the country and Filipino identity of the Filipinos into what it is today.
 A HERO WHO WIELDED THE MIGHTY PEN

Jose Rizal was known as a hero who used his pen in fighting off his enemies. Despite his
weapon of choice diverging from the usual swords or guns typically used by other heroes, this
did not stop him in exposing the injustices and evil doings of the Spaniards. Jose Rizal used
his sharp intellect and cut-throat words in spreading the misdemeanors and grievances of the
Spaniards, especially the priests, to the Filipino nation. Because of his words and actions, a
strong desire for change burned in the hearts of every Filipino. His words awakened their sense
of nationalism and patriotism, which motivated them to fight for their motherland.

Jose Rizal fought off the Spaniards in his own way. His methods, though unconventional were
proven to be effective, as it instigated the start of the revolution. With his writings, he became
a prominent figure in the Philippine revolution. His works became extremely well-known to
both Filipinos and Spaniards, it even garnered some attention abroad. However, his writings
became the cause of his downfall. He was later on executed by the Spaniards believing that his
death would stop the uprising of the Filipinos. Instead of demoralizing the spirits of the
Filipinos, Jose Rizal’s death fueled even more their desire to seize their freedom. Today, Jose
Rizal’s story and writings serve as an inspiration and reminder to the 21st century Filipinos of
the many hardships its ancestors had to overcome to regain the freedom that they currently
enjoy today.
 CONNECTION TO THE PAST

Jose Rizal’s stories, writings, and works are the legacies that he left behind for the future
generation of Filipinos that will come and inherit the spirit of nationalism and love for the
country. His writings act as a gateway to the past that allow present day Filipinos see and relive
the events that transpired and helped shape the Philippines to its current state today. His stories
and writings serve as a constant reminder of the blood, sweat, and tears shed by the past
Filipinos in their battles against the Spaniards. By educating them about the past, they will be
able to appreciate and understand more the hardships heroes such as Jose Rizal had to endure
to attain the freedom they enjoy today.

Jose Rizal’s works also contain meaningful lessons that can guide present day Filipinos in
their daily lives. His stories and writings are extremely inspirational and motivating especially
to the youth who wants to make a difference in the world. Through his writings, Filipinos are
given the chance to know Rizal in a deeper and more intimate level. His works reveal the inner
workings of his mind and narrate the choices that he had to make to get him into his current
situation. His writings also contain stories or contributions of other Filipino heroes in the
revolution against the Spaniards. Jose Rizal’s stories, writings, and works act as bridges that
connects the past, present, and future. These stories from the past will guide the present in
making better choices for the future.
 INSPIRATION OF THE FILIPINOS

Jose Rizal lived a life full of virtue and integrity. No matter what hardship was thrown at him,
he always faced it head-on in a calm and collected demeanor. Despite having wealthy parents,
Jose Rizal was raised as a level-headed and practical individual. Growing up, he witnessed
several injustices and atrocities committed by other people for selfish reasons, which awakened
his sense of justice and nationalism. One of the prominent events that left a lasting impression
in Rizal’s mind was his mother’s unjust arrest. This event influenced Rizal’s ideals and
principles in life later on.

Although his life was full of unexpected bumps, this did not prevent Rizal from pursuing his
missions in life. He lived his life to the fullest, giving his best in making his dreams come true
with his efforts. He carried all his duties and responsibilities with dignity and respected the
rights of every people he crossed paths in life. Never once did he falter in the face of adversity.
He used the low points in his life as a motivation to further actualize his dreams for the country
and his fellow Filipinos. Jose Rizal’s life contains life lessons that can help guide people in
navigating their life. His life story is an inspirational tale to present-day Filipinos who suffers
from day-to-day injustices. It’s a life story that inspires people to do their best in achieving
their goals in life and to maintain their integrity despite the temptations of doing evil things.
 PROUD TO BE FILIPINO

Time after time, tales of Jose Rizal’s heroism ignite the feelings of nationalism and patriotism
in every Filipinos’ hearts. His acts of courage and bravery are well-known narratives that are
passed down to every generation of Filipinos. His works are the living proof that show the
unification of all Filipinos in fighting against foreign invaders that dared to conquer the
motherland. It details every blood, sweat, and tears sacrificed by past Filipinos to achieve the
freedom and rights that present-day Filipinos enjoy today. His stories, works, and writings are
inspirations that makes every Filipino proud to be one.

The Rizal Law was created to raise the awareness of every Filipino regarding the rich history
of the Philippines. Jose Rizal’s works and writings are one of the biggest contributors of
knowledge that present clearly the details of events that led to the Philippines’ freedom from
governance of foreign invaders. By learning the rich history of the Philippines, Filipinos would
be able to understand and appreciate more the efforts of Filipino heroes in fighting for the
country’s freedom. Moreover, enhancing their knowledge about the Philippines’ history will
raise their feelings of nationalism and patriotism for the country. Jose Rizal’s stories also
contain lessons that can guide Filipinos in living a virtuous life. Overall, learning about the
country’s deep and rich history can increase the national and personal identity of every Filipino
as they cruise through day-to-day life in the Philippines.
REFERENCES:

Images:
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/july-4-philippines-independence-
day-america-holiday
• https://mnltoday.ph/2018/12/28/rizal-sa-dapitan/
• https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/appreciating-filipino-identity-through-
literature-culture
• https://violetxplorer.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/the-martyrdom-of-dr-jose-p-rizal/
• https://www.rawpixel.com/image/654519/free-image-rawpixel
• https://www.zeotrip.com/attraction/philippines/manila/rizal-park/
• https://www.joserizal.com/my-last-thought/
• https://www.bayaniart.com/articles/joserizal-
biography/noli_me_tangere_el_filibusterismo/

Content:
• Ramones, R. J. (2008). Philippine Nationalism: An Analysis of the development of
Philippine National Identity. https://history.rutgers.edu/docman-
docs/undergraduate/honors-papers-2008/100-philippine-nationalism-an-analysis-of-
the-development-of-philippine-national-identity/file