Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal: An icon for the Millennials

Today is the birthday of our national hero. The doctor, painter, poet, novelist, world traveller, lover, and nationalist, Dr. Jose Rizal. He was deemed greater than Gat Andres Bonifacio (although many disagree) because Rizal was a visionary and long-term thinker. He was also considered greater than Apolinario Mabini because Rizal had global perspectives. Rizal studied many different cultures and systems and spoke German, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch, and English. Rizal was also greater than General Emilio Aguinaldo because he was able to prove, by his novels that, indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword.

Many of our millennials today do not really know who Rizal is. They know many iconic superheroes, not realizing that the Philippines produced a very great man. Once called the greatest Malayan who ever lived, Rizal was and still is respected by Muslim Filipinos, Malaysians and Indonesians. Many Muslim men have been named after him. Rizal has written over 20 poems and these were all about loving our country, and being ready to die for it. Rizal was always at the top of his class, here and abroad. He gained the respect of others because he was a deep thinker, and could talk about so many concepts, ideas and philosophies that others could not even see, much less discern.

During his time, there was no internet, photocopying machines, or cellphones. He had to study under the flickering light of a kerosene lamp. He was a voracious reader and a tireless researcher. He copied the pages of ancient books in the hallowed libraries of the University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo, and San Juan de Letran. He had to walk many miles from Calamba to many of his places of study because there were no “Uber’’ or “Grab’’. His family just worked on the land of the friars in Calamba, but he had the fortune of having an amazing mother, Teodora Alonzo, and a hardworking father, Francisco Mercado, and an elder brother who would die for him, Paciano, and many doting sisters who worshipped him as a genius.

Rizal is still relevant today as the Filipinos’ greatest model and inspiration. His love for country was beyond question. His bravery and courage to stand up against the powerful friars and military oppressors was legendary. His talent in writing two novels about the struggles of Filipinos under the Spaniards could not be surpassed by any other Filipino. His variety of knowledge and his multi-ranged talents in the arts, sports, literature, science, agriculture, philosophy, political science, and international politics were all beyond the level of the ordinary and the normal talents of any other Filipino. He was human and he made wrong choices too. But in totality he surpassed others in all areas of greatness and excellence.

The millennials can learn more about life, politics, art, and science from Rizal. We should expect that his soul is now in the bosom of God, despite all his human failings and imperfections.