Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Political Science and Public Administration

Name: Reyvin P. Costillas

Level and Section: BPA 1-1

VENERATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING

by: Renato Constantino

Renato Constantino is a Filipino professor who wrote: "Veneration Without

Understanding." This article will find out if Rizal is a hero or not, and what he did during Spanish
colonialism and alike. This article is valuable to all Filipinos; it will enlighten us since we can't
deny that some Filipinos are unaware of our history. Veneration without understanding is all
about questions and arguments about the identity of Gat. Jose Rizal.

After reading the article, I reminisced about my elementary and high school days
because my teacher taught me that Rizal is our most significant national hero. Thus, when I was
in elementary, I remembered that I glorified Rizal due to his knowledge, ability, skills, and
uprightness. I stirred him with the talent and skills that he has demonstrated in various
jurisdictions. His ability to speak different languages is one of the reasons why I have
tremendous reverence for him. Hence, I cannot withhold my appreciation for his great love for
the country, manifested in printed books such as Elfilibusterismo, Noli Me Tangere, and so forth;
it also includes novels and poems rather than revolutions or aggression. I was taught until high
school that Rizal's good contributions to antiquity made my understanding that he was a perfect
hero. However, upon analyzing and elaborating the article of Constantino, I didn't worship him in
the sense that he was a traitor to the Philippine Independence. Jose Rizal was one of the
enlightened people who studied in Europe, which paved the way for acquiring sufficient
knowledge. As far as I remember, the Rizal family was already wealthy and famous, so that's
why they sent him to a prestigious institution in Europe.

Because Rizal was inherently an expert, it became even more helpful when he acquired
the liberal mindset that resulted in reform. The main aim of Rizal's publication was to convince
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Political Science and Public Administration

the Spaniards to spread broad visualization and absorption throughout the country. They
demanded equal rights and privileges for the class to which they belonged, the principal, just as
the Spanish favored the will of the peninsular. Rizal did not allow them to be treated like this,
denying that they enjoyed a comfortable life like those who raised them. Therefore, Rizal and
the propagandists became the voice of the elitists against the Spaniards' denial of their selfish
interests. This time, Rizal incorporated the national aspirations of the Filipinos into their reforms.

Furthermore, the more significant opposition of Rizal and the illustrator's organized
uprising of the Katipuneros shows the large gap between their class in society and their actions
against the Spaniards. For the educated, referring to the upper ranks of the community-style, it
would be better to achieve reform through peaceful negotiations with the Spaniards. They seem
superior to the masses because they seem more educated, and Filipinos should listen to their
suggestions because they know right from wrong. Like what Constantino stated in his article,
the Spaniards killed Gat. Jose Rizal and the Americans who chose him to be our national hero.

Meanwhile, the only solution for the Katipuneros to suppress the Spanish repression
was to stage a large-scale revolution. Bonifacio believed that we couldn't end Spanish colonial
rule through peaceful negotiations, which opposed Jose Rizal's view. Because of the decades
of oppression, abuse, and torture experienced by Filipinos, they finally have to use violent
struggle to liberate our country. The people who joined in the Katipunan and rebelled against
the Spaniards were the Filipinos who were part of the lower classes of society who were fully
experiencing the abuse of the Spanish. The leaders of the Katipunan themselves also belong to
the lower and middle classes of society, and they see and understand the long-suffering of the
masses among the Spaniards.

Dr. Jose Rizal was against the revolution because he wanted the process to be planned
and systematic. He didn't want to risk the lives of Filipinos because he doubted they would win,
and there was no chance of winning against the systematic and militarized colonizers. Because
we can't deny that we're not well prepared in the upcoming revolution, lack funds, men, and
weapons, as far as I know, Rizal is supportive, so if ever the revolution is ready, I think Jose
Rizal will help. Nonetheless, it does not change that Rizal does not assist his countrymen
despite seeing them suffer due to the Spaniard's epoch. Consequently, I adored Andres
Bonifacio and those oppressed peasants for their braveness to stand up to the Spaniards and
succeed in freedom.
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Political Science and Public Administration

As a result, he's not deserving, unlike Bonifacio, who deserved to be respected and
honored more than Rizal. Andres Bonifacio came from a low-income family who encountered
the abuses created by the Spaniards. At the same time, Rizal lived a happy and comfortable life
and went to different places to study. Rizal didn't want the Philippines to be free from the
Spanish colonizers but rather a province. He only thought about himself and other Spanish
mestizos, like him being fair with the Spaniards. So, as we can conclude, Rizal did not fight for
the independence of the Philippines, but Bonifacio did! Rizal is also not an excellent model for
us Filipinos because he's a womanizer. And besides, the Americans chose Rizal to be our
national hero instead of Bonifacio because Rizal didn't oppose the government as Bonifacio did,
and he fought for his principles and rights.

Constantino's passageway to this is firmly opposed to those people's sacredness to our

national hero. For the following reasons, argues Dr. Rizal, we should be ashamed of having
named Dr. Rizal our national hero: In the primary, he declined to join the revolutionary army; in
the secondary, Gat. Jose Rizal underestimated the mass's strength and knowledge. Lastly, he
never truly supported true emancipation because he claimed it was a prerogative reserved for
professionals and not a common right. Constantino also criticized the Americans who initiated
the selection of Rizal as a national hero, claiming that it was portrayed as a spur for the
emergence of various cults that worshipped Rizal as their God. As a result, we seldom hear
about the courage of all our nation's other heroes due to this. Those who covered Rizal's
treason against our country during the revolution, especially the Rizalistas, were also labeled
traitors.

In conclusion, I agree that Rizal does not deserve to be a hero in modern times. I believe
in Constantino's idea that there needs to be a different protagonist in our time that will not only
be the voice of the oppressed but also join in the struggle towards absolute autonomy from the
dilemmas of our nation, to free the masses from poverty, human rights abuses, and foreign
influence. A hero who has confidence and has no doubt in the ability of every Filipino to
establish his own country. If you think about it, Jose Rizal's method is only suitable for his time.
His limitations and weaknesses will serve as a lesson for us, as the hope of the people, to
successfully achieve the national aspiration. According to Bonifacio, the revolution is not over.
Every Filipino and the other heroes who fought for freedom will face new challenges, and we will
continue to work toward national victory.
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Political Science and Public Administration

"For a people to be without history, or to be ignorant of its history, is as for a man to be

without memory - condemned forever to make the same discoveries that have been made in the
past, invent the same techniques, wrestle with the same problems, commit the same errors; and
condemned, too, to forfeit the rich pleasures of recollection. Indeed, just as it is difficult to
imagine history without civilization, so it is difficult to imagine civilization without history." -
American historian Henry Steele Commager (1965)

References:

Drona, B. M. (2005, October 15). Retrieved from

https://www.thefilipinomind.com/2005/10/veneration-without-understanding-by.html
Marasigan, C. (2014, August 31). Retrieved from Prezi: https://prezi.com/zba0fqe2bbee/bulag-
na-pagkadakila-ni-renato-constantino/
Veneration without Understanding by Renato Constantino. (2016, Aug 26). Retrieved from
https://studymoose.com/veneration-without-understanding-by-renato-constantino-essay
Veneration Without Understanding: Analysis. (2016, Aug 28). Retrieved from
https://phdessay.com/veneration-without-understanding-analysis/