Jose Rizal is regarded as the national hero of his countrymen, his fellow Filipinos. His contributions to the nation’s road to freedom were one of the main reasons, and they are well-celebrated up to the present time. Here I will discuss some of the lesser-known facets of Rizal’s life as a Filipino who lived and died for his countrymen. Let's review Rizal's history. In the 19th century, he was born into one of the wealthiest families in the Philippines. His family's principalian heritage allowed them to live differently from the general population. They had more wealth than some friars, but it did not shield them from prejudice. He and his siblings were able to receive a complete education. His life was lived with the goal of learning new things and applying them to promote peace. Due to his attaining a proper education and even going outside the Philippines, he was exposed to other kinds of ideas and possibilities that will enable the country to achieve independence (Britannica, 2011). Rizal developed an idealistic outlook and believed that assimilation and reformation would bring the Philippines up to par with Spain. He developed a harsh criticism of the Filipinos, highlighting the disparities between elites and impoverished Spaniards, elites and wealthy Filipinos, and elites and poor Filipinos. He believed that reformation and assimilation, rather than revolt, were the best ways to achieve independence. He didn't entirely sympathize with the general public's viewpoint on the revolution. This may be because he believes that violence was not the solution to the problem and that the Filipino people weren't ready for the revolution. Rizal did not pass away with assimilation and reformation in his mind. This was demonstrated by other pieces of evidence, including the Manifesto a Algunos Filipinos, Luis Taviel de Andrade's defense of Rizal, Pio Valenzuela's declarations, and Jose Dizon y Matanza's testimony (Melendez, 2011). In the end, Dr. Jose Rizal thought that the changes would never be accepted by the Spanish people and that the peaceful struggle would always remain a pipe dream. In Valenzuela's remarks, Rizal stated that if the Katipunan were ever discovered, they should not allow themselves to be slain and that a sense of revolution was necessary. Because resisting oppressors is preferable to running away from them. Rizal's support for the revolution and his allegiance to the Katipunan are demonstrated by the available evidence. Rizal was a nonviolent nationalist who also understood that if Spain denied democratic rights, revolutions and uprisings would break out. Later, when the Katipunan stopped believing in peaceful exchanges, this occurred. During the revolution, many Filipinos turned to Rizal and his writings as a powerful source of inspiration for their rebellion and sense of nationalism. Rizal, like other nationalists who gave their lives for the cause, was not a non-nationalist; rather, he was a peaceful nationalist who fought for the Filipino people. It is significant to remember that Rizal was a hero for many nations that were fighting for independence and freedom, in addition to the Philippines. He was a strong supporter of human rights and a loud opponent of colonialism and imperialism. His thoughts and works have had a huge impact on several people and movements all around the world. The legacy of Rizal continues to be relevant, which astounds me. His work and life serve as a reminder of that insurmountable obstacles cannot hinder the strength of a person’s mind and the value of what is right. I am pleased to be a Filipino, and I am appreciative of the achievements made by heroes like Jose Rizal, who have improved both our nation and the world. References: Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, June 15). José Rizal. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jose-Rizal Melendez, C. (2011). Rizal issued a 5-pt. manifesto to prove his innocence. Inquirer. https://opinion.inquirer.net/20087/rizal-issued-5-pt-manifesto-to-prove-his-innoce nce
