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Rizal, Christ and the Farmers

By Charmaine Apolinario

On the 30th of December of the year 1896 at exactly 7:03 am, a great man later on
declared as the National Hero of the Philippine Republic succumb to the raging bullets from
the guns of his fellow Filipinos. With the command of the ruthless Spaniards, Jose Rizal died
as a martyr. It was the injustices brought by the colonizers and the not so secret conspiracy
among the abusive friars that led to this unfaithful event. Rizal died not just a hero, but as a
poet, a doctor, a scientist, a writer, a son, a lover, a father and the list continues. An ideal man
whose death was lamented and is being mourned by millions.

Jose Rizal is often called by so many titles such as "Ama ng Bansang Pilipino", "An
Immortal Spartacus" and "the destroyer of Empires" to name a few. Miguel de Unamuno, a
Spanish philosopher and writer meanwhile was the first person to call Rizal as the "Tagalog
Christ" in year 1907. He made significant remarks on how Rizal can be linked to Jesus
Christ.

An important commonality to ponder between Rizal and Christ is the fact that they
both acted as a redeemer. John 3:16 from the Bible goes "For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life". This verse depicts how the humankind were saved from all the sins in the world
by the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. When Christ came on the chaotic world,
everything started anew not as empty-handed as the results of the Great Flood, but as
peaceful as people learning meaningful lessons from His teachings about life and making
them better human beings. Jose Rizal had the same goal to save but on his point of view, to
save his beloved fellowmen from the hands of the harsh Spanish conquerors. So they both
redeemed the people but of different ideology. To redeem, as Merriam Webster Dictionary
explains is to buy-back. Christ wanted to buy-back the sinful people, making them children of
God once more. On the other hand, Rizal wanted the people to claim back their Mother Land,
the Philippines.

What also can be noticed common between Rizal and Christ is their manner of
struggle which was peacefully done by words and writings. Christ is known as a master to his
disciples and he goes from one place to another in order to spread His teachings. He is gentle
and forgiving that even in His last moments on Earth, he prayed for the people who were to
persecute Him.

Rizal did a "peaceful revolution" but in his time using paper, quill and ink. Behold
Rizal's greatest novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo sparked the dying silver tint in
the hearts of the Filipinos to break free. The people woke up because of his words and a
flame of rage was ignited towards the cruel Spanish government. Rizal, as recalled from
narratives, did not agree to the physical revolutions led by the Katipuneros but his writings
became one of their armors to execute their plans.

The crucifixion of Christ is the biggest injustice of humankind. And Jose Rizal
suffered the same. A group of angry friars conspired to sentence Rizal into death believing
that his death is deserved by the man after "tainting" the image of the church in his novels.
After Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade put up a set of good defenses in court to save Rizal, the
court did not hear any plea. It was a clear lost for Rizal even before the "mock trial" began.
Like Pontius Pilate, the then Governor Camilo Polavieja did nothing but bow down to the
friars who were self-convinced powerful people in the society. Both selfish men, Pilate and
Polavieja ordered the conviction of two great men due to treason; but truth to be told, the
conviction is more of due to the future of their respective positions.

A significant difference to point out between Christ and Rizal is the mere fact that
people believe in Christ and praise him even though no evidences entirely prove His
existence. Rizal had outputs and there are written documents to substantiate that he and the
333 years of Spanish colonization occurred indeed. Yet still, Christians celebrate Christ's birth
during Christmas and commemorate His death during Lenten season.

Connecting Rizal's life to a divine being is one thing yet linking it to one of the most
marginalized sectors in the Philippine Society is another interesting topic to highlight. The
sector aforementioned are our struggling Filipino farmers.

Every day when we eat rice, let us all be reminded that every grain is from the
hardships of the farmers. We will have no rice, vegetables, fruits and other root crops if the
farmers will discontinue their work. Hence, their presence in the society is of utmost
importance. Yet, the oppression lives on. Day after day, the number of dead farmers
especially from Negros increases. But, where does Rizal get in the picture?
Rizal, in behalf of the Filipinos was peacefully fighting for their struggles to be heard.
The struggles brought by the oppressive and abusive friars who led the land like chiefly elite
people who can buy any soul. This is exactly what the Filipino farmers were and are fighting
for as well. They are shouting, in the streets especially but their voices are just tiny muffled
whispers for the lords who only care about their own selfish interests. Rizal and the Filipino
farmers lived and are living in a society wherein one's "whims" can only be heard if one has a
golden tooth.

And like the linkage between Jesus Christ and Rizal, the Filipino farmers have been
through countless numbers of injustices. Their labors are being exploited yet the return they
receive is not even enough to suffice their daily family needs. Moreover when these poor
farmers humbly ask for a higher pay, revolving bullets are being answered right back at their
faces.

Rizal is but dead. We are "freed" from the Spaniards. The fight against Spanish
colonialism has ended more than a century ago. Yet, the Filipino farmers continue to struggle
and are struggling even more in the present age.

The death of Rizal, crucifixion of Christ and oppression of Filipino farmers over all
boils down to a very significant result which is the never ending hunger-and-thirst for a
classless society, where justice can truly be served.
References

Abaya, M., Jimenez, B. & Duavit, J. (Producers) and Abaya, M. (Director). (16 January
1999). Jose Rizal. Philippines

Trillana, P., III (2013). Rizal Honored with many names but none like the ‘Tagalog Christ’.
Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.net

Zaide, G. & Zaide, S. (2014). Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer,
Scientist and National Hero. Anvil Publishing, Inc.

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