DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte – More than a century after Jose Rizal tried to create his ideal society in this town, Dapitanons are challenged to reflect on the relevance of the national hero in their lives today.
“I believe this year’s theme 'Jose Rizal: huwaran ng Pilipino sa ika-21 siglo' is very much relevant as it is an admission that nothing much has changed in our society since he died,” said Rex Angelo Hamoy, an official of the Dapitan Historical Society.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Hamoy noted that during Rizal’s time as it is today, "there was discrimination, inequality in the application of the laws, rampant corruption that placed the Indios (lowest-ranked social classification in places under Spanish rule) in very deplorable situation”.
Hamoy, who is also a history professor at Jose Rizal Memorial State University here, added it was because of these inequalities that Rizal wanted to change the Filipino society “the way President Rodrigo Duterte want it changed”.
He said Rizal can be a model to emulate by Dapitanons in particular and Filipinos in general. “First we can pursue quality education so that we cannot be fooled or blinded by others,” he said.
He cited Rizal’s letter to the women of Malolos, in which he advised them that “God, fountain of wisdom, does not expect man, created in His image, to allow himself to be fooled and blinded”.
In today’s age of wi-fi and social media, Hamoy also lamented that many Filipinos have always been victims of “fake news". "How many of us accept as Gospel truth the rantings of media personalities who glorify one and degrade the other?” he added.
He said ignorance has deeply divided Filipinos, a modern-day factionalism that also plagued the Philippine society under Spain.
“But if we have quality education, we would be capable of recognizing fact from fiction so that we can move forward without being tangled in the snags of factionalism,” Hamoy said.
Hamoy said “we can learn from Rizal how to give the best of ourselves in the worst circumstances”.
The local historian noted that Rizal--a city boy, educated in the Philippines and in Europe and was able to visit other countries--was suddenly sent to the remote Dapitan that had nothing to offer.
"But in his exile in this city, Rizal was able to live the last but best four years of his life. It was here that he was able to use his knowledge and talents in ophthalmology, engineering, arts, agriculturist, teacher, entrepreneur and others," he said.
“And it came to his mind to make Dapitan (City) his ideal society – a society whose people are educated, have great love to their country, having a sense of civil service, are economically advanced and taking care of each other,” Hamoy added.
Hamoy said Dapitanons should also rekindle Rizal’s critical yet courteous ways in dealing not just to people at his level, but most particularly to lowly individuals.
“When in Dapitan, Rizal was always the first to greet the people he met,” Hamoy said. “Asked why he did so, Rizal answered it is up to the more educated to lead and give example so others may learn.”
Today, Hamoy said Filipinos are still far from Rizal’s ideals of what society should be because the social evils he fought before are still present today.
“While there are no more Spaniards who take advantage of Filipinos, it is sad to know that it is now Filipinos who are taking advantage of their fellow countrymen,” Hamoy said. “I hope we can still change ourselves, the way Rizal wanted us to be.” (PNA)
