02 January 2020

Revolution Or Reformation? How Relevant Is Your National Hero?


Intellectual awareness: This is my 9th or 10th revision of this essay, now completely different from the original intent and content – except that it is still about Jose Rizal, our National Hero. If he is not your National Hero, sorry about that! But now I have a surprise hero, and you will meet him towards the end of this essay.

First, which side is your Jose Rizal? (above image from Flying Ketchup[1])

I am looking into the Facebook page containing the speech delivered by lawyer Michael Camilo Datario at Dagupan City's Rizal Park on Rizal Day. In the text of 1,418 words, he doesn't know but he mentions me.

The Facebook page of the Public Information Office of our City Government posted the announcement of our celebration of Rizal Day, and there was a comment... from a netizen asking if we already have a speaker for the event, and that had he been near he would have volunteered as he has a different view of Rizal. 

That's me! But first, here's more of him. Mr Datario makes 2 major points (my words):

(1)   That Rizal in opposing the Philippine revolution, is not worthy of being the National Hero.

(2)   That Rizal is an American-sponsored hero.

Of heroism, Mr Datario says:

The national revolution is invariably the one period in a nation's history when the people were most united, most involved, and most decisively active in the fight for freedom. 

No Sir! The Filipinos were not united in their Katipunan Revolution. Jose Rizal himself opposed it, yes. 

Still, the Spaniards had him executed. Because the friars were not using their heads! They did not recognize it but Rizal was pursuing a different kind of transformation of the Filipino, and I wrote about it in my book, indios bravos! Jose Rizal As Messiah Of The Redemption, published 2005. He was for Reformation.

Bonifacio was fighting for political independence;
Rizal was fighting for intellectual awareness.

Your second point, Mr Datario, is that Rizal is "an American-sponsored hero" and I say, "So what?!" The Americans were intellectually aware.

And now, Mr Datario, allow me to prosecute an entirely different national movement that we need right now, even if you do not realize it:

Reforming, Transforming,
even Revolutionizing
Philippine Agriculture!

We must follow the example of our National Hero and use our intellect. And I am looking at the Secretary of Agriculture William Dar/Manong Willie as the brave, selfless reformer in this case. He comes critically and creatively prepared.

Like Rizal, Manong Willie's weapon is a sharpened mind, this time mulling the "New Thinking for Agriculture" and pushing for the: 1) Modernization of Agriculture, (2) Industrialization of Agriculture, (3) Promotion of Exports, (4) Farm Consolidation, (5) Infrastructure Development, (6) Higher Budget & Investments for Agriculture, (7) Legislative Support, and (8) Roadmap Development.

He is the New Thinker. In English, the language of the intellectually aware. For whom did Rizal write his historical novels Noli and Fili in Spanish? The intellectually aware.

Reformation, nay Revolution, always proceeds in the intellectually aware!@517








[1]https://flyingketchup.ph/jose-rizal-manga-a-fun-way-to-learn-about-a-real-life-hero/



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