Philippines - Rizal And Class Of 2012

MANILA, Philippines — The View from Rizal — Would  Dr. Jose Rizal’s life inspire young Filipinos who are graduating in College this year?

I asked a few close friends this question. This was because I have to prepare for the inspirational remarks that I will deliver during this summer’s many graduation rites. Having gone through five previous graduation seasons, I have learned that today’s young people would rather hear about the life of an outstanding person than to be given a graduation sermon on how it is to be outstanding.

I was not sure if the national hero would still serve the purpose. The question on my mind was, would today’s young people still identify with him? Would they not think he is too ancient and therefore irrelevant?

The other question in my mind was this: would they not find Dr. Rizal “too perfect”? Would they not see him as being “not ordinary” and one whose example would be too difficult to follow?

I was also concerned that today’s young Filipinos may no longer be inclined towards political affairs and prefer role-models who are into sports or show business.

I pondered the questions and asked friends whose views I value what they thought about them.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my fears were baseless. Yes. At the end of the day, the hands-down choice for “most inspiring Filipino” would be the great Dr. R.

Can today’s young Filipinos identify with him?

The prevailing view is, yes. He was what most young Filipinos would be today.

Come to think of it, my friends pointed out, Dr. R was then preoccupied with what many young people would be so focused on today: friendships, romance, and sports. He was not an “abnormal” person.

He was then what every young person would be. He knew “fun” and had it in major servings.

Just like today’s young people, Dr. R had many friends, both among his countrymen and foreigners. And, since people tend to attract friends who have minds similar to theirs, Dr. Rizal’s friends were similarly outstanding. Among them were artists Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, patriot Dr. Maximo Viola, as well as the European scholar Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt .

And just like the way it is with today’s young people, Dr. R’s barkada influenced him in major ways. I presume he was also a major influence to them.

Was Dr. R too perfect?

It looks like that was not the case. He was human in every way.

My friends referred me to a site in the Internet administered by Dr. Robert Yoder. The website www.joserizal.info provides a very good description of the “human” side of Dr. R. Dr. Yoder included in his site the work of American scholar Dr. Frank Laubach entitled “Rizal: Man and Martyr.” Here’s an excerpt:

“Rizal was not a ‘born angel.’ The words he uttered just before he fell dead, “I forgive every man from the bottom of my heart,” were not natural to him, any more than they are natural for others. As a boy in Manila he was a ‘little terror’ when he fought with the Spanish students, as he frequently did. Once in his earlier years he was seized with rage and fought a cab driver. More than once in Europe, when letters arrived telling of atrocities against his family and Calamba, he was heard to swear with anger. Twice he challenged men to duels. One can see the bulldog tenacity in his jaw.”

Very human. Very imperfect.

Was he a nerd? Was he a bespectacled genius who did nothing but read, do homework, and submit school projects? Dr. Laubach does not think so. He says “it is a mistake also to call him (Dr. R) a ‘super mind’.” He adds: “Schoolmates in Biñan, the Ateneo, and Santo Tomas say there were boys with even more brilliant minds than Jose (Rizal) had.”

So, what made Dr. R different? Dr. Laubach writes: “He worked harder than anybody else.”

“He knew why he was studying and put his heart in every subject; that counts more than natural brilliancy,” he adds.

My personal view is that Dr. R was just like what every young person would be – he only wanted the best in life. And he would be willing to work hard to get whatever that “best in life” would be.

For many of today’s young people, the “best in life” would probably be a car, or the best Mac. An iPod with a Dr. Dre’ Beats Studio to go with it. Or a Kobe 7. Or the fastest smartphone that instantly connects to every available wifi.

Or maybe, to drive to the basket with the same grace and tenacity as the Knick’s Jeremy Lin.

Dr. R was consumed with the same youthful desire to have “the best in life.”

Except that, during his time, the “best in life” would be... Freedom and Human Dignity. Nothing short of it. Nothing more.

If Dr. R was “ordinary,” what set him apart from the rest, anyway? Why should the Class of 2012 be inspired by him?

Dr. Laubach says it well: “The flame which burned in his soul – a consuming purpose.”

That purpose sent him ahead of the pack. It set him apart, a cut above the rest.

So, to the Class of 2012, I say, Dr. R is still cool. Still tops. Still number one.

Let that flame burn in our soul. Let us find that “consuming purpose.”

Then, we’ll find Freedom and Human Dignity. Plus others that we think are part of what are “the best in life.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2012.

GOV. JUN A. YNARES, M.D.

mb.com.ph

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