José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda’s legacy is almost forgotten by Filipinos and most especially the youth these days. But what is Jose Rizal’s Legacy to us? Rizal was a different person to different people. He traveled the world, not only as a mere Official Filipino Tourist at the time but one who learned from the different places he has been and left even a mark there.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal is the Philippine’s National Hero. He was born June 18, 1861 and died by firing squad at Luneta Bagumbayan in December 30, 1896. He is academician, a linguist, writer, historian,scientist and a doctor. He studied in Ateneo de Manila , University of Santo Thomas, Universidad Central de Madrid, Paris and Germany. In a way, he was also an activist, a reformist, a non-violence rebel and an advocate of peace.
A man who changed the course of Philippine history, he influenced most of our revolutionary leaders through his writings and example. I remember taking up a “Rizal” subject in highschool’s social studies and history and also a course in college, which was a requirement in order for us to graduate in college. At that time, I was somewhat disinterested due to the same thing being talked and presented about him over and over again. I believe one semester of a subject is not enough to fully understand and grasp the life and achievements of Jose Rizal. Other nations even recognizes his achievements, there are even Jose Rizal Monuments in Madrid, Sweden, Singapore and many more aside from what we have in Luzon. There is even a research group/center in singapore dedicated to researchin Jose Rizal's life.
“Not only is Rizal the most prominent man of his own people but the greatest man the Malayan race has produced. ” -Ferdinand Blumentritt, 1897.
My interest in him was re-ignited when I attended a seminar of “The Brown Raise Movement.” Which was basically one of the tipping points in my pursuit of not only excellence but also as my identity as a Filipino. He...