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“ Rizal In Dapitan”
Reaction Paper
Directed by: Tikoy Aguiluz
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Rizal sa Dapitan (Rizal in Dapitan) is a 1997 Philippine biographical film directed

by Tikoy Aguiluz and featuring Albert Martinez and Amanda Page as Josephine
Bracken. It was made available by Viva Videos. Pete Lacaba wrote an engaging and
patriotic film that lasted approximately an hour and forty minutes and truly caught my
feeling of nationalism.

The film began by showing the cruel treatment of the Spaniards towards the
natives of the Philippines, which pushed our hero to carry on his mission of rescuing
others, particularly those who were mistreated and uncivilized. Nevertheless, the
writer/author of the story would like to point out that Rizal's life was not only filled with
challenges and novel writing, but the writer also wishes for the viewers to imagine
Rizal's tranquil and serene life despite the fact he was exiled in Dapitan.

The film beautifully shows how this Philippines' most prominent hero
continually attempted to help his fellow citizens to the best of his ability, providing free
education and opening a school for boys, as well as rendering his services as a doctor,
including treating his mother, Dona Teodora Alonza. He also sponsored community
development projects, worked in farming and trade, and continued his artistic and
literary endeavors. It also portrays Rizal winning the lottery and purchasing
agricultural land, as well as his sweet side to his fiancée, Josephine Bracken.

However, as a result of a few modifications and mistakes, the film didnt 100%
accurately represent Rizal's life. In Religion, for example, Rizals and Pastells argue. It
all started with Fr. Pastells sent him a book by Sarda and advised him to abandon his
majaderas (foolishness) in viewing religion through the lens of individual judgment
and self-esteem, as well as the lack of information about Rizal and his father Sanchez.
But , a particular incident in the film that occurs prior to the outbreak of the revolution
taught me new information about Katipunan leader, Andres Bonifacio, looking for
advice from Jose Rizal. The group resolved in a secret meeting to send Dr. Pio
Valenzuela to Dapitan as their point of contact to notify Rizal of their plot to organize a
revolt over the Spaniards.

The film closed with Rizal bidding farewell to Dapitan, carrying with him the
good and bad experiences of the previous four years and thirteen days. People in
Dapitan will never forget him as he embarks on another adventure. Rizal sa Dapitan
was interesting, and the cast was well-chosen, but the screenplay, the use of
photography such as the use of frame for shots , and music might be improved. There
are also a few scenes that confuse me, such as the one with Rizal and Fr .Sanchez.

Overall, happiness and contentment filled my heart after viewing the film since
the author presented an argument that was persuasive as well as factual statements,
but it also left me with a challenge to create an influence and a sense of commitment in
order to keep distributing knowledge to the future generations and instilling a sense of
patriotism in them.