Nicole Bornales

ANG BUHAY NG ISANG BAYANI TWO episodes/stages in the life of Jose Rizal that I think was crucial to his "heroism" I think the stages/ episodes in the life of Jose Rizal that was crucial to his “Heroism” is when he became a multifaceted intellectual through the help of education and died as a political activist in the name of Filipinas. The Filipinos in colonial times had to live in complete control and influence of the government. I believe this is evident in the time when Rizal himself observed in his childhood and sophomore years how the Filipinos were being deprived of their religious rights and that the Filipinos had to live depending on the government which did not care about them. I believe that these events serve as influences to the formation of his love for the country because he observed the many injustices which were being done to the Filipinos. Upon working to be an intellectual person and finishing his studies, he became an activist as a result of his desire to oppose the government of the Spaniards. I think Rizal always considered education as a medicine or something that could cure the problems of the Philippines in the colonial period. I came to realize that he is an individual who believed in education that is free from political and religious control. I believe that although not stated in the video, it was implied that a reform cannot be achieved if there is no suitable education, a liberal one available to Filipinos. Also, another thing that i think was highlighted in the video was the time quoted as “Patungo sa liwanag ng dunong at daigdig”. I think it is Rizal's experiences of political philosophy which I believe became a guiding element and tool to his study and application of reforms, the formation of his deeper understanding and greater value of human rights and training for selfgovernment. I believe his experiences of becoming a courageous activist, especially his death brought a new era for the Filipino people. Him being a political activist in the name of Filipinas (the Philippines) and its people questioned the Spanish tyranny and caused a movement that made the Filipinos more aware of their rights and demand for equality. His “Lakbayin patungo sa ligalig” gave birth to his principle to stand for what was right and reasonable. He opened the eyes of many Filipinos by the time he joined associations to speak out against the Spanish while sharing his thoughts on civil rights. His becoming part of “Liga Filipina” connects him with other Filipinos and activists who strive for equality and want reform. Despite the awareness of the danger it entails, he chooses to continue to dive in political values and arouse the spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality, inhumanity, sensitiveness and self-love. His travels outside of Filipinas became means of his discovering knowledge and deep understanding of things in relation to reality in the colonial times. Indeed, there is no doubt of why he has become a symbol of the Philippine struggle for independence; He does not only give sight to his patients but also vision to his beloved country, Filipinas. We should clarify the meaning of a hero to make it quite simple to understand how Rizal became one. A hero symbolizes goodness and it is one of his attributes since he fought from freedom in a silent but powerful way. He expressed his love for the Philippines through his novels, essays, articles and poems rather than a force of aggression. 2