Summative Assessment #2

Capapas, Gem Tristan Peter G.

Crescini, Bianca W.
Manansala, Jeslaine G.
Gonzales, Lester Q.
Ortile, Wilyrose E.

Far Eastern University – Manila

GED0102 – The Life and Works of Rizal
Mr. Paul Anthony L. Tecson

December 16, 2022

 Reflection Paper

Jose Rizal was revolutionary as his radical ideas on freedom were made known to have a
permanence to the present time and beyond. He explained that reforms must “also come from above,”
because reforms that “come from below are upheavals both violent and transitory.” He sought our
country’s freedom as he has seen that education and hard work could make the Filipino people deserving
of that freedom. From Rizal's perspective, freedom is not something to fight or take other lives over; it
was not something that was wrung from our oppressors through retributive violence, nor something that
was achieved through any measure of bloodshed. To the esteemed writer-turned-hero, freedom is
something that is earned through the development of knowledge and the cultivation of wisdom. "The pen
is mightier than the sword,” despite how saturated a proverb is, proves appropriate for the perspective
being described. Rizal believes that Filipinos would only be capable of exercising and enjoying freedom
if they possessed the right knowledge to do so – for individuals armed with weaponry would fare well in a
battle. Still, individuals equipped with a vast arsenal of knowledge would fare better in the war. Rizal
emphasizes the importance of education as a prerequisite towards earning freedom – for Filipinos to be
able to exercise individual liberty without infringing upon that of their countrymen. Education is an
immensely efficient countermeasure against ignorance – a point that Rizal succinctly conveys in a
manifesto he wrote in 1896: "What is the use of independence if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of
tomorrow? And no doubt they will because whoever submits to tyranny loves it . . . the gift of reason with
which we are endowed must be brightened and utilized in order to overcome ignorance which causes
slavery."

In fact, just the mention of freedom alone would be enough to earn you a few glares and a handful
of indignant scowls – probably from older adults or the elderly. They are attached to our conservative
roots and values, which they have grown up with and essentially lived with for the entirety of their lives –
so it is understandable as to why they value tradition and "the old ways" so much. Make no mistake: there
is no shame in wanting to honor or uphold one's tradition as a means of keeping your cultural identity
intact or alive –  but it does become a problem when the tradition in question leaves one ignorant and
complacent. This is the ongoing war of attrition that is being waged between generations today. The old
and new worlds clashed in a long-standing dispute of ideals and beliefs. The young seek progressive
means of living while the old seek to retain the way of life that many of them had grown accustomed to.
Sometimes, we must learn to set ourselves free from what we believe in because sometimes, it is those
beliefs that keep us in captivity. There's no shame in honoring tradition – but should we still uphold this
tradition if it is not humane?
 On the other hand, fighting for one's rights in different means such as press freedom in our
country which media serves as the backbone of democracy wherein they avoid us to be ignorant of the
truth and helps us to gain knowledge of factual information. Filipinos should blaze one's spirit in voicing
out and taking part in influencing change for the betterment of welfare by opposing the injustices and acts
of violence of the government – making them accountable to their country and its citizens.

The youth are generally disconnected from the older generations - whether that's for better or
worse is anyone's guess. Today, the youth have the benefit of technology and augmented connection at
their disposal – with the world practically at their fingertips, it would make sense that they have a
considerably far reach. When the weight of tradition and our conservative ways fall upon the shoulders of
the younger generation, it becomes easy for them to take a pessimistic angle and think that they do not
have a say in the matter. However, the availability of technology and social media begs to differ. Now
more than ever, an opportunity presents itself to the youth for them to be able to make themselves heard;
to declare, in one collective voice, that they are their own people and as such, they reserve the right to
tread a path of their own, free from having to walk in the shadow of their predecessors. Thus, having
an initiative is the beginning with the self in the influences of Rizal’s great works to amplify coordination
among the youth.
References:
Filipinas Heritage Library. (2018). RIZAL’S STAND ON FREEDOM. Filipinas Heritage Library.
https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/articles/rizals-stand-on-freedom/
Pugay, C. (2012, September 18). Jose Rizal and the Revolution. GOVPH. https://nhcp.gov.ph/jose-rizal-
and-the-revolution/