RIZAL Day galvanizes national pride. Now on its 113th year, this day is a special day to celebrate the life and sacrifices of the greatest Filipino martyr.
As a glimpse of history, December 30, 1896 marked the execution of José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, the Filipino polymath, nationalist and advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era.
Throughout history, many debates were made why Rizal was chosen as a national and not Andres Bonifacio. Choosing Rizal was politically expedient and advisable as he wouldn’t antagonize the ones who were technically the controlling Philippine affairs then.
But the choice was noble. Rizal did not advocate armed insurgency and he was foremost in favor of equal rights for the Insulares, Mestizos, and the middle class. Except that he was a damn good novelist, author, poet, essayist and playwright his writings antagonized the Church and the Friars that had him executed because of it.
Rizal, again, is considered a prophet of Philippine independence. But what would be his thought seeing the present-day Philippines? You bet he would turn in his grave seeing a proud race humiliating their dead hero with their withered attitude of dishonesty, corruption, idleness and immorality in all forms.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) once said that the country is experiencing a critical point in history, having had to go through political instability, economic decline and growth in armed conflict and Filipinos have neglected to see a more deep-seated crisis that lies at the root of many of our economic and political problems.
The banana republic and its administration, with the multiple hostage dramas, killings, kidnappings and human rights violations playing out in Mindanao are the obvious contrast between the bungling performances of a weakened government and the ideals Rizal once stood for.
This Rizal Day, let us therefore remember the ultimate sacrifice that our national hero made for us. Let us remember that this nation is founded upon sacrifice and love of country, nationalism and unselfish nature.
It would not seem appropriate that we end each year by celebrating Rizal’s death but then let’s observe likewise the hero’s life, our heritage and reflect the punishing year that passed by while looking into another bright New Year ahead.