By: Glennette Aldanica Alburo
Every hero plays his own unique role in history, which is that to defend and promote the interests of the nation at any particular time of national crisis, sacrificing his or her own life and self-interest. For a country that needs to grasp the ideals of freedom and nationalism and for a country who struggles for independence during the time of Spanish, American and Japanese occupation, a dedication of thanksgiving is offered to our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal who have lived and died for our country, the Philippines.
Rizal consciously planted and nourished the seed of nationalism. In his novels, essays and proclamations he promoted the idea of freedom and the eventuality of national independence. At first Rizal advocated reforms. But when the plea for reforms failed, he advocated independence, even through revolution. This is evident in his novel Noli Me Tangere, which emphasized reforms, and its sequel, El Filibusterismo, which preached revolution. The essence of nationalism is a unifying, integrating, all-pervasive fueling among Filipinos in the country, the Philippines.
In fact, it was Rizal’s writings and his growing reputation as a leader of Filipino nationalism that led Bonifacio to join Rizal’s La Liga Filipina, an organization that was in essence a shadow government for an independent nation. The organization of the La Liga Filipina by Rizal was cited in the indictment against him as one of the acts of treason he allegedly had committed against the Spanish regime.
Rizal planted the seed of revolution, and Bonifacio watered it. They were the twins of historical necessity. The dynamic of history brought them together, each to fulfill fated roles in the struggle of our people for nation-building and independence.
That their legacies should be made to compete against each other goes against the law of history, which mandates that each historical figure, like every generation, has a definite role to play in the destiny of a nation.
El Nacionalismo Filipino 