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Rizal Rocks (and Rolls, Too)

2011 marks the 150th birth anniversary of the famous Dr. Jose Rizal. Rizal Rocks created events to mark the celebration that will not only commemorate Rizal but will help restore patriotism among the Filipino youth as well. Values-oriented activities like Idol ko si Rizal, a talent show that will showcase the many talents of our Filipino youth; Food Trip, a food galore that will exhibit the hispanic dishes that Rizal loved; and Freedom Concert, an OPM (Original Pilipino Music) that will showcase famous bands in the country. All these and more are happening for the entire 2011.

Touted as a genius, Jose Rizal is considered special by many people especially the youngsters of the present generation. Rizal is thought to be special in a sense that he was able to do many things that ordinary people were not gifted enough to do equally. This is why the young generation should really look up to Rizal and must not forget the many things he has done for our country.

On Jose Rizal's 150th birth anniversary, let us help restore patriotism by bringing back the values that Rizal taught us.

Jose Rizal Rocks (and Rolls, Too)
Touted as a genius, Jose Rizal is considered special by many people especially the youngsters of the present generation. Rizal is thought to be special in a sense that he was able to do many things that ordinary people were not gifted enough to do equally.

There are several reasons why Jose Rizal is marked as an extraordinary man in history. At the age of 2, Jose Rizal could read and write. At 7, Jose Rizal wrote his very first poem “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” (To My Childhood Friends). A polyglot conversant, he grew up to speak 22 languages. All in one person, Jose Rizal is a scientist in various subjects. He is an ophthalmologist, educator, farmer, historian, economist, ethnologist, anthropologist, and sociologist. Jose Rizal is a master of various arts such as martial arts, fencing, pistol shooting, sculpture, painting, fine architecture, cartography, playwright, drama, essay, poetry and journalism and novel.

Had he both the brains and the looks? Some people argue that Jose Rizal was just blessed with wealth so he was able to attain world-class education. While it is impossible to determine Rizal’s real IQ, he unarguably has the brains considering his exceptional linguistic ability and his flexibility to tackle both arts and sciences making him an amazing polymath. Thus, Jose Rizal deserves having three animal species named after him- Draco rizali, a species of flying dragon, Rachophorous rizali, a species of toad and Apogonia rizali, a beetle species. Looks? Though a man of small built, he was a kind of a Casanova. For those who wonder, there are available retouched photos of him all over the internet. It’s up for you to judge.

Jose Rizal is a great man, indeed. On the other hand, many people often fail to see the Jose Rizal is just one of us- a human, filled with talents, gifts, and potentials. Together with those blessings are weaknesses that cause us to stumble and fall. And the choice to stand from every failure is in the hands of every individual. Let’s take a look at some accounts of Rizal’s rise and fall.

Did he ever fall? Of course, he’s a human. No offense to Rizalistas.

The Talented Jose Rizal
He was known for being able to read and write at the age of 2. He eventually grew up fluently speaking 22 languages. No pun intended but that was just a bit of the long list of the many reasons why Jose Rizal is touted not only as the national hero of the Philippines but as one of the most intelligent men in history. Being a polymath, Rizal was extraordinary both in the arena of math and sciences. On the other hand, little is being mentioned about Rizal as a musician. He was known for being prolific writer of novels and poems. But did you know that Jose Rizal was an excellent musician as well? When we link music to Rizal, what commonly comes to mind is that there are many musicals that are inspired by the life and writings of Jose Rizal. But when we talk about music, most Filipinos think that Rizal was just a writer of poems and lyrics. Not many people knew that Rizal played the flute aside from composing pieces of music. While busy with his studies abroad, developing his medical expertise and fighting for the freedom of the Philippines, Jose Rizal still managed to cultivate his appreciation for music. This is such an exemplary way of budgeting time and handling your various passions in life. Jose Rizal showed to the Filipinos that multitasking can be done efficiently when things are tackled well. All at the same time, Rizal was able to study medicine for his mother, write for the freedom of the Philippines, and still write poems and songs for his the women he loved. No matter how serious life is, as Rizal showed, we still have to find time to relax and celebrate with music. This 2011, let us commemorate the 150th anniversary of Rizal’s birth with festive music, as what we Filipinos are known for.

Rizal the Quitter and the Rebel
Is there such a thing as wise quitting? Is there a connection between quitting and rebellion? Has rebellion something to do with intelligence and vice versa? Too many questions, one basis of answers- the epitome of intelligence among Philippine heroes, Jose Rizal. However, little is mentioned about whether Rizal was a rebel or not. Better yet, had he ever been a rebel? If he had, was he in the reasonable reason? Rizal did experience being discriminated against and quit. But he didn’t stop there. Though an advocate of peace, Jose Rizal was not that small guy victimized by big bullies.

Jose Rizal literally was a small guy but when discriminated against, he knew that quitting was the best thing to do. He was a wise quitter who chose to rebel peacefully. When he learned that his Mom was going blind, he decided to study ophthalmology at the University of Santo Tomas. However, discrimination by the Spanish Dominican friars coerced him to quit. History books rarely mention that Rizal ran away from home, too. After quitting UST, Rizal traveled alone to Europe without the knowledge of his parents but with the support of his brother, Paciano and eventually earned a degree in medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid.

But if quitting school and running away from home are too frivolous to be considered rebellion, Jose Rizal is definitely a rebel in terms of fighting for the freedom of the Filipinos from the hands of the Spaniards. Using his intellect and education, Rizal wanted to rebel against the conquerors in a peaceful way. As a wise quitter and a peaceful rebel, it is but right to say that Rizal rocks! He was not that goody- goody guy who was taken advantage of. This 2011, let us commemorate Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary by declaring that Rizal rocks!

Rizal and His Casanova Escapades
Was it his intellect, wealth, or cuteness (for being small) or was he just a proof that man is promiscuous by nature? Either way, this touted genius was a certified Casanova. At 16, Jose Rizal met his first (puppy) love, Segunda Katigbak, his friend’s sister. Segunda, however, was engaged to another man. Then, Rizal met Leonor Valenzuela, whom he wrote love letters of invisible ink. But his longest relationship, which lasted for 11 years, was with another Leonor. While Rizal was studying abroad, Leonor Rivera’s disapproving mother hid all Rizal’s letter. Leonor Rivera thought Rizal forgot her so she got married with an Englishman.

Abroad, Rizal had mutual feelings with Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, to whom he dedicated one of his best poems, A la Senorita C.O. y R. The romance ended due to Rizal’s loyalty to Leonor Rivera and his friend Eduardo de Lete, who was also in love with Consuelo. Hurt when Leonor Rivera’s marriage, Rizal had a relationship with an Englishwoman, Nellie Boustead. His romance with Nellie didn’t last because of Rizal’s refusal to convert to the Protestant faith and Nellie’s mother’s reluctance to have a not so famous physician as a son-in-law. This makes Rizal the epitome of a Casanova with irrevocable principles.

Though hopelessly romantic, Jose Rizal chose patriotism over the lucrative job in Japan and his love for Seiko Usui, daughter of a samurai. He also had an affair with London’s Gertrude Beckett and Brussels’ Suzanne Jacoby. Then came an Irish girl, Josephine Bracken, his patient’s adopted daughter. For the first time, Rizal wanted to get married and had his first baby, who was born prematurely and died. That’s Rizal. He falls in love. He falls. And rises. His short life was worth lived. Rizal rocks! And in his 150th birth anniversary this 2011, let us all remember him for being one of us, for being our inspiration.

What Makes a Hero?
In the last 10 years, Filipinos have called the attention of the world in various ways. On the negative side, there were crimes and disasters that uniquely took place in the Philippines. On the positive side, many Filipinos proved that if there is one thing the Philippines can take pride in, that is the musical gift of the race. However, less is mentioned about the good deeds of some exemplary Filipinos, as the cliché says, the unsung heroes. What really makes a hero? What brings Jose Rizal on top of all heroes of the Filipinos? Was it his intelligence and willingness to die for his country?

In 2004, a taxi driver in New York drove all the way from New York City to Connecticut to return the US$80,000 worth of jewelry, which is rare black pearls, to his passenger who forgot it at the back seat of his taxi. The passenger offered a reward but the taxi driver refused. Instead, the driver just asked for a refund of his fuel for his travel. The taxi driver, Nestor Sulpico, is a Filipino. In 2008, he died of stomach cancer at his home in Iloilo City but the honor he gave to the country will never die, just like Jose Rizal.

1n 2007, a head waitress in Singapore found in a public toilet near the restaurant where she works a wallet containing 16,000 Singaporean dollars or US $11,000. The waitress immediately handed the wallet to the restaurant manager, who in turn reported the lost money to the mall’s management. The owner, an Indonesian woman, said she and her husband earned that money for their son’s ear surgery. The waitress, like Sulpico, refused the reward offered by the grateful owner. The waitress is again a Filipino, Marites Galam, a living proof that good judgment of the women of the Philippines are well known, according to Jose Rizal.

Nestor Sulpico and Marites Galam are great examples of the Filipinos doing simple but unforgettable heroism while working in a foreign land. We, Filipinos, are naturally heroic in one way or another. No wonder, in 2009, Efren Penaflorida awarded as CNN Hero. The whole world was impressed by Penaflorida’s mission educate street children in his own simple way. As a part of the 150th birth anniversary of our national hero, let us celebrate the heroism not only of Jose Rizal but every Filipino who shows good deeds. An event called Rizal’s Journey highlights activities for OFWs and their families through programs like business opportunities, investments and the like.