The Philippines today pauses yet again to observe the martyrdom of Jose Rizal, whose persecution and nationalism in the 19th century highlighted the raising of the tricolors and wreath-laying rites in various national and urban parks.
As the nation marks Rizal Day—the 122nd anniversary of his execution at what is now called Luneta by the often restful Manila Bay —against the backdrop of current problems confronting majority of the 106 million people, questions have risen whether Rizal, born Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, remains relevant.
Observance of this date in the country’s Gregorian calendar dates back to the decree issued by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on Dec. 20, 1898 declaring Dec. 30 as the anniversary of the death of Rizal at 35 years old as a “national day of mourning” for him and other victims of the Spanish dominion throughout its 377 years rule.
We join the rest of this multi-ethnic, multilingual country in taking this occasion, a regular public holiday, to recognize once more Rizal’s nonpareil sacrifice.
We join other Filipinos, from Tawi-Tawi up to Batanes, in reflecting on his patriotism as, with the government’s lead, we continue to build a more united, more peaceful and more prosperous Land of the Morning.
During the Spanish colonization of this Perla del Mar de Oriente, the writings of Rizal, a multi-talented author, scholar, man of letters and learned man of medicine, acted as light that led the ancestors of today’s generation in the fight for true equality and independence.
With his pen, he scrawled—for the colonizers and his countrymen—his censure of the corruption, greed and other social ills that, in the eyes of many political and social observers, continue to infest our society.
That Rizal fought for reforms, social equality and freedom, far above the possibility of a longer life, should continue to inspire the generations of Filipinos.
That remains his relevance.