Summary of Chapter 8:

RIZAL’S CONCEPTS ON NATION BUILDING

Rizal had a pervading constancy and love for his country which meant
love for justice, for liberty, and for personal dignity. He was the first Filipino
who gives expression to Philippine nationalism in his writings, to chart a route to
national unity for his people, and to elaborate nationalism as tangent to freedom
and emancipation. This was at a time when the Filipinos had no sense of national
consciousness or a desire for independence. In his novel he envisioned a fulfilled
society, an emancipated people, and a progressive nation mature in political
freedom. This dream was nursed at a time when it was political treason for a
Spanish subject to conceive of a society independent of Spain.

Rizal gave top priority to the importance of education in the pursuance of

liberty. To him, independence was an embarrassment if the people were not ready
for self-government. He advocated education as a necessary condition in a free
society. He explicitly expresses such an idea in his novel El Filibusterismo. Rizal
believed in the effectively of education as a solution to the political, economic and
the social problems of the country.
 Summary of Chapter 9:

THE RELEVANCE AND VALIDITY OF RIZAL’S CONCEPTS

Rizal’s versatility and genius encourage an array of clear guideposts –

hard work, courage, vigilance, patience and perseverance. But the patience of the
people long abuse was waning. In his absence from Manila at period of unrest, his
radical contemporaries organized the katipunan. These revolutionary leaders
needed his support but they failed to get it. They wanted immediate action and
prompt delivery from their sufferings at any cost. They were all willing to die for
their country. They were idealistic radicals and they looked up to Rizal as their
main source of inspiration and guidance.

Some of these revolutionary leaders were:

Andres Bonifacio
Emilio Jacinto
Emilio Aguinaldo
Apolinario Mabini
 Summary of Chapter 10:

TRIBUTE TO A MAN AND A HERO

Today, we live in an age some three score and more years from the day of
Rizal’s supreme sacrifice. We can assess the many qualities and characteristics in
the person of Rizal. To his contemporaries, he was a great leader. To the present
generation, he was a savior and redeemer. His contemporaries lacked the
historical perspective to evaluate his life. Today we are consciously aware of the
magnificence of his motives and we can deeply appreciate his dedication to his
mission and his people.

Jose Rizal today is the fulfillment of the leader and hero he idealized in his
writings. He set the standards with which he could be measured. The greatness of
a man lies not in being in advance of his century, which anyway is impossible –
but in foreseeing his people’ desires, and responding to their needs and in guiding
their inward march.
 Summary of Chapter 11:

A TRIBUTE TO OUR PEOPLE AND OUR LEADERS’ HEROIC LEADERSHIP FOR

THE 21ST CENTURY

Future Philippines scenarios for governance, democracy, and development

resound the urgent call for the people and their leaders to become better educated
learn to be more creative and productive, flexible and responsible, united and
cohesive as a people as they work with and through government and the other
institutions. This calls for a mission, for democratic and participatory governance,
a capacity for self-awareness if seeing problems and resolving conflicts,
achievement of national consciousness and cohesiveness.