Joaquin Anareta
Rizal Today We all know that Dr. Jose Rizal did not only spark a revolution but also added a huge chunk of fuel to the flames of Filipino nationalism through his writings and his philosophic ideals. But to what extent is the question. It’s obvious that our national hero loved our country and believed in something greater for our country –a brighter tomorrow, a future of equality. He believed in our potential as should any other country-loving citizen. Indeed, there was no man of that time better qualified to inspire the people. He definitely did not fall short on his credentials, considering he studied medicine in Manila and travelled to Spain to finish his medical degree and later studying ophthalmology in Germany in high hopes of curing his mother’s slowly failing eyesight. While he was in Europe, he became part of the Propaganda Movement, cultivating his nationalistic views which would much later be manifested by his two greatest works, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, two novels that spoke of the dark aspects of the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule, focusing mainly on the abusive friars and the power hungry politics that plagued the local government. This gives rise to the common misconception is that Rizal yearned for independence from our Spanish colonizers. There is no doubt that Rizal loved his country which begs the question “Why wouldn’t he want independence?” Well Rizal was a well educated man who lived most of his adulthood in Spain. During his stay there, he saw the potential of the Philippines to prosper as a nation with the help of our colonizers. He thought that the Philippines was not ready to govern itself at the time so instead, he wanted the Filipino people to have rights equal to the Spanish before the law. He wanted the Filipino priests instead of Spanish Augustinians, Dominicans or Franciscans. He wanted the