How would one define peace? Is it the absence of war?

Personally, I would define peace as having

freedom and equality, for one is never at peace when he is incapacitated to act in his own will. Peace
starts from peace within oneself. Back then in the Philippines, during the Spanish colonization, there was
no peace. For the people were oppressed and was deprived of their basic rights. There was no formal
education offered for the natives, they were treated as lower creatures compared to the superior ones
the Spaniards. As time went by, people have realized that to attain peace, they must fight the Spaniards,
they must fight for their rights. Rebellions have started from different parts of the archipelago,
propagandists have begun to attack the Spaniards through their literary works. These were a good sign
for the Filipinos. A symbol for progress. Progress towards peace.
Jose Rizal was one of the persons in our history who have greatly contributed to the ideals of peace and
progress. It was demonstrated in some of his works. His Noli Me Tangere, which helped in opening the
eyes of the natives to what was really going in the Philippines at that time. It unraveled the dirty secrets
of the friars, the discrimination given by the Spaniards and their greediness. Rizal aimed to help the
natives to realize that they should fight for their rights, to reject subjugation from the Spaniards, to walk
towards peace. Another of his influential works is his second novel, El Filibusterismo, which talked about
the possibilities of having a rebellion. It projected situations wherein failures may arise during a
rebellion. This novel was the genesis of Andres Bonifacios cry for freedom and equality. Rizal reason in
writing this novel was to help instill in the minds of the Filipinos what could happen if they would decide
to retaliate to the oppression of the Spaniards. He suggests that they should think about it first before
acting impulsively. The Message to the Young Women of Malolos, was also one of the works of Rizal that
depicted progress for the Filipino, during the Spanish era, the women were treated as inferior to men. In
the said essay, the women of Malolos bended this principle. Rizal praised them and for the battle that
they had fought. Rizal proposed that women in the Philippines should have equal opportunities as with
men. He stated the real duties of a mother and a wife. That mother and wives are an important key for
the progress of men. For with them, noble and righteous people are made. Another of his essays,
entitlted The indolence of the Filipino People was very vocal when talking about progress. The
Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes why the people did not, as was said, work hard during
the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos were
industrious and hardworking. However, when Spanish reign has come, the natives, apparently, has lost
their love for work for a couple of reasons brought about by the Spanish people. As opposed that what
Rizal had said in his conclusion, a man in the Philippines is an individual; he is not merely a citizen of a
country, he is trying to tell the Filipinos to work hard again, to strive for progress. One of his poems
entitled, Por la Education Recibe Lustre la Patria was a very eye-opening one. It talked about how
education is the key for a man to succeed because in the Philippines, education was not given to the
natives during the Spanish era. The saying what you reap is what you sow is applicable here for
anyone with good education have a great future ahead of them. A quotation from this poem, Thus
education without measure gives to the country where peace securely dwells, says what is need to be
said.
Dr. Rizal was very nationalist. He believed in the idea that to achieve peace, one must appreciate and
love what is given to him. In the case of our natives, the land that was bestowed by them. He was
against the subjugation of the Spaniards and reasoned that the Philippines belong the Filipinos and not
to them. The Filipinos should fight for and love the Philippines. For with it, there is serenity and peace.