Eloisa Jasmin F.

Perez
I2AC – Rizal

What have you learned in the midterm lessons?

From our Midterm Lessons I have learned a lot about Rizal, starting from his schooling during
his’ childhood days up until he finished his Medicine Course. I have also learned that Rizal is really strong
person because ha have faced various challenges in Life, starting when he was little until he grew up.
Rizal spent much of his time in self-improvement via self-education. Not only was he busy academically,
but he also learned sculpture, painting, languages including Spanish and Latin. He had been into Ateneo
Municipal in his secondary schooling and graduated with highest academic honors, there he had shown
us that despite of the schools’s method of instruction was tight and strict – which they called “ ratio
studorium” while their aim is to become a lifelong Catholics which they called “Ad Majorem dei
Gloriam” or “For the Greater Glory of God”, which means that as a student they needed to follow as
they center their lives to the Chapel, where Rizal also became an officer in Religious Confraternity, they
focused their schooling on being religious. Because Friars are the ones who have control over these
institutions, the students have to follow everything that they implement or else there will be a
corresponding punishment over them. He have also several writings back hen and they were the
following; Mi Primera Inspiracion (My first Inspiration) which was devoted to Rizal’s mother, Al Nino
Jesus (To the Child Jesus) which was devoted to his Catholicism, Un Recuerdo De Mi Pueblo (In memory
of my town) which was dedicated to his hometown, Through Education The country Receives Light – the
context was all about being enlightened individuals who could help to elevate the country in having
prestige and honor and, lastly La Alianza Intima Sobre Reigion Y La buena Education (The
intimatealliance between religion and Education – that is all about Religion that serves as a guide in
having true and good education. This became the reason on why Rizal became proficient in his
academics due to his early level of learning.

During his Student days in the University of Santo Tomas, I have also learned that Rizal endured
many forms of discrimination, bigotry and, hostility from the Friars and the instructors. That the Filipinos
back then were really facing a difficult life since they were always been looked down and belittled by
these Spaniards. Despite of all these experiences, Rizal still took a Medicine Course, with the
specialization of Opthalmology because he knew that his’ mother was about to go blind. I saw how
dedicated and loving Rizal was, he wanted to achieve something in life for the purpose of curing his
mother’s illness. You can clearly see how devoted Rizal was for the sake of his own family, he made us
realize that no matter how hard the challenges in life were, our family is still there for us – to support us
wholeheartedly. I have also learned that Rizal also, like an ordinary person, did fell inlove – with
Segunda Katigbak and Leonor Valenzuela. Especially with Leonor Rivera, where there love lasted for
about 11 years. As a Man, Rizal was indeed a gentlemen, he is a loving one, he respects every women
just like how he respects his mother and sisters. I have also learned Rizal have written pieces of poems
and play such as the, A La Juventud Filipina – dedicated for the Filipino Youth as “the Fair Hope of
Motherland”, El Consejo De los Dioses – this reveals the humanistic education in the Philippines as well
as Rizal’s answer to scholasticism and lastly, Junto Al Pasig – this is inline to honor Nuestra Senora dela
Paz y Buenaviaje de Antipolo. These are some of Rizal’s written works and we could clearly see how
passionate he was in writing as well as sharing his own insights and thoughts towards a particular
matter.

There was also this Lesson regarding Noli Me Tangere, on how it was formed and what kind of
novels it was inspired from. I have learned that the said Novel was indeed revealed the evils of the
church and the state where the Friars continously manipulates their power over Filipinos and how they
were discriminated and belittled during Spanish Colonialism. Throughout the story, there is a lot of
symbolism and real-life incidents that inspired the Filipino people to revolt against the Spanish
conquerors during Spanish colonialism. In order to fight for the country's liberation, each character in
Noli Me Tangere takes on a specific role in Philippine society. Real-life events such as the Friars'
command choices being more powerful than the Governor- General's, social concerns, injustice, and the
Philippines' status as a poor country during Spanish colonization were all depicted in the story. Noli me
Tangere taught us to fight for what is right especially to love our own country. It showed us Rizal’s
Nationalism, that he really loves our country, that he can turn back to any opportunities in life just to
protect and fight for the freedom that our country has been longing for.

On the other side, Rizal also went to various places like in Hongkong, Japan, London, America,
Paris, Spain and, many more. This is where he spent most of his time just to push through his fight
against the Spanish Tyranny. Rizal manifested the highest virtues being a Filipino. He struggled and won
in the face of the most arduous situations, and inspired the Katipunaneros to revolt. Also, Fighting
injustice in society was Rizal’s sole motto. Where he became a leader of the reformist movement called
Propaganda, an unwavering campaign for political and social freedoms. He did not feared on protecting
his fellow countrymen just to be free from all the discrimination and hostility that Filipinos faced during
this time. He helped them to attain justice from the evil and corrupt Friars and Spaniards who are
mistreating them in their own land for God has created us to extend our help with our fellow as a
symbol of glorifying Him. This makes himself grow to wisdom and knowledge to use it in God's purpose.

Rizal won’t reach this far without his faith and devotion to God, every success and failures in life,
he offered it to God. This is the reason behind he was blessed abundantly not only on material things
but also spiritually. Rizal proved that the pen is mightier than a sword, he became successful in
convincing everyone to seek justice because to his skill as a writer. Like the proverbial saying goes, with
great power comes great responsibility. He fought for justice and freedom using pen, without any
bloodshed and bloody revolution. Because he knows that God is the only one who can judge us, that the
law are the ones who can justify our wrong doings and we should not put the law into our hands. We
Filipinos should have a clear conscience and a fear of God in order to enact constructive changes since
Rizal had a God-fearing heart, which allowed him to ignite change and peace.

That is why I am inspired so much, that even my smallest actions can affect changes in our
surroundings especially when we are being abused by those who are in power and authority. If we know
that we are in the right position, then we should fear nothing. Even if I have the chance to go to other
country, I will always be proud that I am a Filipino. My forefathers fought the freedom we have right
now and without them, probably, we are still under the influence of the colonizers. The love of Rizal for
God, for Family and, for the country will always be an inspiration for me.