RIZAL SA DAPITAN Difficulties are not the reasons to give up but an inspiration to move on.

This dictum I think was on the mind of Dr. Jose P. Rizal when he was in Dapitan. He never gave up serving our countrys cause, even though the Spanish tried to deteriorate his life by threatening. Rizal sa Dapitan is a great historical movie depicting the life of our national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, during his exile in Dapitan. It illustrates how Filipinos at that time show their love for their country despite the injustice that they were experiencing from our Spanish conquerors. Filipinos at that time do not enjoy the same privileges as the Spaniards. In education for instance, not everyone were allowed to enroll in universities, unless you are of Spanish blood or from a moneyed Filipino family. The Spanish were terrified of the so-called Ilustrados, those wealthy and highly-educated Filipinos, because they knew that this class will eventually question the inequality in the system. This fear became a reality when these people helped open the eyes of their fellow Filipinos to the corrupt system through literature and art. This realization fueled the uprising of demonstrations against the Spanish government to achieve independence. In Dapitan, Dr. Jose Rizal engaged himself in several activities. He became a mentor of local youth, teaching about science, fencing and language like Spanish. He became a businessman, he bought and sold products; a farmer, he planted trees and crops, and put up an irrigation system for the community in the piece of land that he bought for just P18.00 at that time; a poet, he writes novels and poems. Also, Dr. Rizal indulged in sculpture and painting. He likewise practiced his profession as an ophthalmologist and operated on the eyes of his mother. It was during his exile in Dapitan that Dr. Rizal met and fell in love with Josephine Bracken. At that time, Dr. Rizal was already excommunicated by the Catholic Church thus, the clergy refused to solemnize his marriage with Josephine Bracken. The spouses found a way to be married by the presence of nature and of God. Later in the film, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, along with his blind friend, visited Rizal and sought advice from him concerning the planned revolution. He asked Dr. Valenzuela if the Katipunan, a group of Filipino insurgents led by Andres Bonifacio, is prepared for the war and adviced him to seek the help of wealthy Filipinos for their needs in the revolution. The Katipunans primary aim

was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. Andres Bonifacio was inspired by the two novels of Dr. Rizal. However, Dr. Rizal was against a bloody uprising. He believed that freedom cannot be obtained by force. His views were so because Dr. Rizal is a propagandist, not a separatist. He aimed for integration and not for separation. Watching the film, it made me think of Dr.Jose Rizals real motive for his disapproval to an uprising.Towards the end of the film, it became evident that he was not against the Katipunan. He was certain that the Katipunan is not yet ready for the revolution and his refusal to support it was because he does not want the unnecessary sacrifice of the lives of many Filipinos. He was of the opinion that independence may be obtained without a bloody revolution. He espoused that through his writings, he may be able to inspire many Filipinos to stand up against the Spanish regime. His advocacy was a peaceful revolution through the pen, one without bloodshed and suffering. Difficulties are not the reasons to give up but an inspiration to move on. This dictum I think was on the mind of Dr. Jose P. Rizal when he was in Dapitan. He never gave up serving our countrys cause, even though the Spanish tried to deteriorate his life by threatening.

FORT SANTIAGO

Reminiscing the past is one great way to rest ourselves. A great example for this is visiting a famous tourist spot in Intramuros, the Fort Santiago. It is known as a relaxing place where one can really feel what happened in the past for it is where kingdom of Rajah Suliman, chieftain of Manila of pre-Spanish era, once located; its reconstruction for Spanish conquistador by Miguel Lpez de Legazpi; and the fortress where Rizal was imprisoned. But aside from those facts, what is really in it that makes it a known visiting place for local and international tourist? Today, among the Forts most well-preserved attractions are the Japanese-era M4 Sherman tank, WWII artillery and underground tunnels used by the Japanese, the former Spanish dungeon of the main square or Plaza de Armas, and national hero Jose Rizals former prison, Rizal Shrine. The bronze footsteps on the forts ground represent the final steps Rizal took from his cell to his execution site. There is also a light and sound museum narrating the heroic life and the final poem (or Mi Ultimo Adios) of Rizal. Apart from attracting hordes of tourists for its history, the fort is also a renowned wedding and picnic destination for its well-manicured gardens, traditional calesas or Spanish-era horse-drawn carriages, and guardia sibil or guards dressed to their original attire during the Spanish colonial rule. The message of the Fort Santiago is very clear. Its to appreciate the past for it is what leads us to the present and the future. Yes, its an old place but many historical events happened there. From the past mistakes, we can now act and correct it if ever it will happen again. As we see the old ruins, we can easily remember what happened in that place. Walking around there makes us think again to live the life we want to avoid having regrets in the future just like what Rizal did. We must never forget that many people suffered to achieve the freedom we enjoyed today. Indeed, this place is a great escapade with a lesson from the busy life in Manila to the beautiful Fort Santiago.

Rizal as the First Malay

Rizal is considered as the first Malay because of his indigenous. He is a true Filipino even he have gone too many places around the globe. He still remains a Filipino even though he has encountered many foreign people. Rizal really loves his own country. He had proven it many times first, in his two novels and second, in fighting for our country against the Friars. He is very selfless. He sacrificed everything just for our freedom.

Rizal and Mahatma Gandhi A Renaissance man is a well educated person and one who excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields. There are only 28 men in the history of mankind who are recognized as such and Jose Rizal is the most recent and the last on the line. If India has Mahatma Gandhi, the Philippines have its own Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero. He is a man of exceptional intelligence and gifted with extraordinary talents.

Mahatma Gandhi and Indian Freedom Movement Mahatma Gandhi was an important part of Indian independence movement even when he was not in the country. He noticed the political condition of the country while he was still in South Africa and urged his countrymen to observe non-violence and remain truthful in order to achieve freedom from the British. Mohandas Gandhi and Jose Rizal have some certain similarities when it comes to their characteristics and advocacies. They were both influenced by their mothers than their fathers. They both had a brother who helped them to get some education to the colonial nations, England to Gandhi and Spain to Rizal. They both portray a sense of nationalism with which they have both dedicated their lives to their mother countries And for the welfare of their fellow citizen. They are both morally upright persons fighting for what is really right, fighting for liberty and equality. They are more of using non-violent actions to effect change in their country particularly referring to the leadership of the colonial powers in India and the Philippines. They also have great respect to women with which Rizal have even written letters to the Malolos women and Gandhi written some sayings on Women, Marriage, Sex and Birth Control.

Rizal and Sun- Yat sen

Sun Yat-sen has been attributed as the 'Father of the Chinese Revolution' but this may not be totally acceptable. To regard Sun as solely responsible for the making of the Chinese Revolution was but a fantastic inflation by hagiographers. It unfairly neglects the work of other revolutionaries like Huang Hsing who were also decisive in creating the Chinese Republic. Again, Sun has been termed 'an idealist rather than a statesman, an easy prey to any plausible new ideas.' Some went to the extreme to say that Sun had nothing to do with the actual work of overthrowing

the monarchy because the revolution was finished when he reached China. To accept this last view would mean a total rejection of the significance of Sun in the revolutionary movement and in the history of modern China. Yet this criticism was again not based on historical fact. For it is true that he was away when the Wuchang rising broke out. But well before the outbreak of the revolution, it was Sun that spread the revolutionary idea and urged for the support of the revolution. Even during the revolution, he sought for the neutrality of the Powers. Other contributing factors -- The other causes which contributed to the collapse of the Manchu rule in which Sun played little or no part need to be scrutinized. The Chinese revolutionary movement in general started well before Sun's advocacy. People of different walks of life had perceived the decadence of the Manchu rule and the threat of foreign imperialism. Intellectuals, especially, yearned for either reforms or revolution in place of the Manchu dynasty. They knew the essential difference between an ethnic dynasty and the concept of modern nationalism. Anti-Manchu feelings were also facilitated by the constitutional movement starting from 1905. Constitutionalists gathered together to debate and discuss vital current and political issues. They became the people who resisted Manchu re-centralization program and seceded from Manchu rule immediately after the Wuchang Uprising. The political, social and economic problems which coalesced with the railway controversy in 1910 and 1911 also produced a revolutionary atmosphere conducive to insurrections. The Railway Protection Clubs' movement became the focal point of anti-Manchu rule. The reallocation of troops into Szechuan, leaving Hunan and Hupei militarily semi-empty, finally provided the revolutionary spark.

Rizal and Ninoy Aquino They are similar in terms of being nationalistic. They both die for our independence; they die from a bullet and the rose up the Filipino spirit with regards to being patriotic to ones country. They both came from a prominent family of hacienderos. Ninoy was indeed a gifted Speaker and became famous for his very brilliant mind, as well as for his great ambition. Aquino and Rizal were both Ateneans meaning both of them were educated under the Jesuit system of education which instills into its students the value of truth and justice. Ninoy Aquino has once pursued a career in Journalism, a medium that Rizal also used to fight against the Spanish tyranny. Ninoy lived in a time wherein democracy prevails although threatened by Marcos lust for power. While Rizal lived in a time wherein democracy and liberalism were deprived from the Filipinos, thats why he needed to go abroad to fight our oppressors. Ninoy is inclined to Politics and is a very good politician, while Rizal is not. Although Rizal was arrested and exiled to Dapitan, we can never consider him as imprisoned because he can almost do anything in that place

except for moving out of Dapitan. Ninoy Aquino had been incarcerated in solitary confinement and was prohibited to do many things. Rizal and Ninoy both died for our country. They both gave their lives for our country to experience true democracy and liberty. These two noble men have inspired many people in different ways, especially the youth. Rizal and Ninoy thought us the virtue of Courage; despite of the danger that awaits them when they come back to the Philippines they still went home and continued whatever they started. These men do not only possess the love for their motherland but also the love and faith in our Creator, who have helped them in their battle. They have also served as an Inspiration for our countrymen to fight for their rights and to stand firmly on their Principles. And with their efforts and selfless actions, weve come to realize the true value of our country and our fellow Filipinos.

TO MY FELLOW CHILDREN As a read the poem I had notice that at his young age he was already awake with the reality that our country is enslave long time ago. Maybe he seen tortures done by Spaniards or he asked his dear mother when was Philippines enslaved by Spaniards .Above all I do salute him with the knowledge he has even though he still is a lad. Second he emphasizes that if a man really love his country he must strive for freedom, it is stated in the first paragraph of the poem. It is a clear thought of being a nationalist who wants to be free from Spaniards. Third he also emphasizes that we should love our own language which is Filipino, for it is like the Latin and Castilian which are also important. Fourth, because we give importance to our language, we should also give importance to our letters, which again a very important sign of being a free country. It is clear that he wants us to love our country, from dialects, to letters of its own, so that we can have the courage to fight for our freedom. And I think it is entitled To my fellow Children so that whoever going to read it especially the youth will be inspired to fight for our freedom. He also believes that ang kabataan ang pag asa ng bayan that is why he entitled this poem to his fellow children to have that courage to fight for our country at young age at any way, and at young age to love the country more that everything else.

Mi Ultimo Adios The poem "My Last Farewell" was Jose Rizal's goodbyes first to his country, then his family, friends and loved ones. To his country he said, "With gladness do I give you my life." He tried to comfort his parents and dear ones with these lines: "I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen; where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign." The last line of the poem says: "To die is to rest." At Fort Santiago, on the eve of his execution at the age of 35, he wrote the poem, expressing his love for his native land. He wrote this poem between 12 and 5 in the morning. He then allegedly married Josephine Bracken at 5:30 that morning before a priest with guards as witnesses and retracted his writings against the Catholic Church. This became the Spanish Roman Catholic Church version and its position over the last century, but disputed by convincing circumstantial evidence ever since. Rizal himself was aware of this possibility, perpetrated by Church leaders as in the case of Voltaire. In the Philippines, it was common knowledge among European residents that the friars published announcements of retractions that were allegedly made prior to executions, which during that period were rampant, the greensward on the Luneta being matted with dried blood. Some, like pharmacist Friedrich Stahl, even regarded these retractions as "ecclesiastical fraud." His 'Adios,' whose importance he emphasized to his sisters during his last moments, was meant to safeguard against such a possibility, and made sure no friar gainsaid the truth. Therein, for all posterity to see was his final comment on the Catholic Church of his day, I go...where faith does not kill, and that it was the friars, most specially, who demanded his

destruction. Hidden in a tiny alcove of an alcohol burner, and pried out with pins, the two small pieces of paper bearing his last testament were carefully hand copied and dispersed among the ranks of the Philippine revolutionaries in Cavite, and inspired their nationalistic zeal even more with its selfless patriotism: ...to die to give you life, to rest under your sky, and in your enchanted land forever sleep.

Song of the Travelers

Jos Rizal was a true Filipino, but he was also educated and acculturated to the European lifestyle and mindset. Imagine for him the feeling of returning from affluent and privileged society in Europe to his impoverished homeland, the Philippines, corruptly administered under Spanish "frailocracia" where the native Filipinos were treated as as inferior race of "indios". In his thoughts and writings he often straddles a difficult to reconcile line between the perspective of colony and colonizer. But in the end, to the Europeans, even his friends, he may have only represented little more than a curiosity, being educated and extremely articulate, but still an "indio" and an alien. Likewise, to the Filipino people, he had become something alien through his cultural and educational experiences that distanced himself from the perspective of his own mother culture. It is a beautiful poem because it captures so well the loneliness of an immigrant. In your new home you may never truly be accepted as anything more than an outsider, yet the culture you will inevitably adapt to will mark you for life in your perspective so that you can never return to your country of origin and fit in as seamlessly as you might once have done. In the end you are simultaneously a native and a foreigner to both nations. His sad conclusion is that once you begin your travels, your choice is made. Once outside of the circle, their is no way back inside: "Pilgrim, begone! Nor return more hereafter, Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth ;

Others may sing of their love while rejoicing, Thou once again must roam o'er the earth"

Hymn to the Talisay Tree