Rizal’s Life, Work and Writings

Reflection Paper

One of the most important people in the Philippine History

is Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda. Whenever I hear his
name, first thing that will come out to my mind is, he is the National Hero. My
Rizal subject has an important role to my life because I’ve learned more significant
insights and information about Rizal’s life and the importance of his works and
writings to me and my classmates. I became more aware of his sacrifices
and noble deeds and ideas. It’s good to know, his travels, his exile and execution,
his social, political and economic ideas, the similarities of Rizal to the other
Filipino patriots.
The first thing I noticed in Dr. Jose Rizal’s life was that
he lived a simple one. He did not choose to have a luxurious life like the most
of us have wanted. Even before he became under surveillance by the Spaniards,
he had lived his life as simple as possible. I think it was the work of his parents
that made him lived like this. I strongly believe that one’s lifestyle Is influenced
mostly by their parents. I l earned from the life of Rizal the importance of taking
part of the parents to their children’s morals.

I learned a lot while studying this subject. I’ve gained

knowledge about Rizal’s life and his contributions to our country. I’ve seen Rizal-
our hero in a different perspective. While some of us may just know him as our
national hero, but for me, I’ve realized that Rizal’s just like some of us. He’s had
his struggles and triumphs.

His life was a truly inspiring story. Not just as an ordinary

story of a Filipino but a story of a very intelligent and talented Filipino, who is
ready to sacrifice his whole life just to give freedom and peace to his family, and
own nation.

For this subject, I’ve known who Rizal is. It might not all
about him, but those learning’s and knowledge I learned, is enough to say to
myself and to other Filipino and even not, that he deserves to be what he has
known for today. And that is, the National Hero of the Filipino. His life was truly
amazing and colorful for the hero’s experiences mold him to what God purposely
do to him.

Jose Rizal, for my own insights, tells me the value of

certain things which is important for the success of his life. That Is God, Family,
Country and Self. He could not reach as that far without God. The Lords is the
most important one who could determine our success, just like as Rizal feared
God and in return, he have been bless abundantly not by material things only but
a spiritual one. That is intelligence, skills, love, and compassion. Moreover, Rizal
proved that pen is mightier than a sword.

Thanks to Rizal for he is inspires me and thanks to our

professor who imparts and explains all this knowledge for us to better understands
it. His books and the idea of nationalism caught my attention, while others used
force to fight the enemies, Rizal used the thing that he’s an expert at- writing.
His books opened the eyes of the people to the oppression of the Spaniards.
The people became more conscious of what they were experiencing and thus led
to revolutions. His idea of nationalism taught us how to love our race. It gave us
an identity- that we are Filipinos and that we should be proud of who we are
and where we’re from. I’m very thankful I have this kind of subject where we can
discover more about our National hero’s life and everything and help us to
appreciate more about his sacrifices for us.

But until now, I still don’t know how did Rizal managed to
have different girls while fighting for our freedom and for our country yet doing
very good with his academics at the same time. This is also one of the things I
adore about Rizal, is how intelligent he is, all his subjects were graded as excellent.

He graduated with flying colors and took up a preparatory

course in law at the University of Santo Tomas. He earned two doctorates and a
degree in medicine. A polymath, he was gifted in Science, Algebra, and a multitude
of other fields, including art and farming. He even tried his hand at sculpting, he
has a lot of courses and fields.

Every time I think about him and all his talents I felt proud
inside of me, well I guess because I am a Filipino. Every inch of his life taught
us lessons. Every one of his doings were dedicated for his country for every
Filipinos and for our freedom. His love to his fellow Filipino has nothing to
compared with.

I can say that Rizal is a very humane, compassionate and

benevolent citizen. He has dealt with social problems through his popular books
Noli Me T’angere and El Filibusterismo. He is an ambassador or social justice and
equality, which is a very good thing that we should follow. If there were only
thousands of persons like Rizal, I believe our society will be at good condition.

I always hope I could be like him in some areas of his

life, but I know that it is far from reality to happen, it reminds me of our professor
in this subject. He always says that “You can also be Rizal, you just need to study
more and take it seriously, read and read and read”. But what I am doing is that
I am performing at my best, making every effort to become a productive individual
in different aspects of life.

And now, our country finally restored its liberty and freedom
because of Rizal’s effort and love. His works and noble deeds greatly influence
the Filipinos. It is indeed a good reference for the country’s education in
developing student’s patriotism. Filipinos owe him a lot. I wish someday his
sacrifices never faded and be forgotten even in the next , next generations of youth
Filipinos, let us at least recognize all of his deeds as a payment for all of It at
least we honor him with all our heart and soul.