Rising early is not one of my strengths. Throughout my nine years with the National Historical Commission, I would often find myself participating in sunrise flag raising and floral ceremonies at national historical sites and landmarks. While waking up at dawn wasn’t the issue, enduring the never-ending speeches that preceded the events was a true test of patience. It felt like being trapped in one of the circles of hell.
However, last Monday, I had the opportunity to visit the Rizal Shrine in Dapitan. Mayor Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos and I laid a bouquet at the foot of Rizal’s statue. To my relief, the program was considerably shorter than usual, and the wreaths were presented after our speeches. A coincidence occurred as both the mayor and I focused our speeches on celebrating Rizal’s life rather than his martyrdom. After all, it was Rizal’s 162nd birthday. Dapitan, where Rizal was exiled from 1892-1896, served as the place where he applied his knowledge and experiences gained in Europe. He dedicated himself to designing and beautifying the town plaza, creating a relief map of Mindanao with his favorite Jesuit teacher, establishing a medical clinic where payment was accepted in various forms, and even engaging in dentistry due to the absence of a dentist in town. Rizal’s accomplishments extended to writing poems, essays, and drafting novels. He even compiled an English-Tagalog dictionary that began and ended with the letter “A.”
Despite the passing years, Dapitan remains a peaceful town (it was granted city charter simply because Rizal lived there!). To reach Dapitan, one can either fly from Manila to Dipolog or fly from Manila to Cebu and then take a three-hour boat ride. Can you imagine what Dapitan was like in 1892? Especially for a man who was well-acquainted with prominent cities like London, Madrid, Berlin, and Paris. Being cosmopolitan, Rizal’s exile to Dapitan could have easily driven him to madness out of sheer boredom. However, he dedicated himself to improving the lives of others. He noticed that the Dapitanons, despite living by the sea, did not know how to use fish nets. Rizal decided to educate the townspeople on efficient fishing methods and even requested his family to send a professional fisherman to assist him in this endeavor. He also constructed a dam on his beachfront property and distributed water throughout the estate using bamboo tubes. Rizal’s most notable achievement was reclaiming marshes to combat malaria and organizing the building of a water system that connected a mountain stream to the town using roof tiles.
In simple terms, Rizal exemplified what it means to be a “bayani.” In the 1832 edition of the “Vocabulario de la lengua tagala,” compiled by Jesuits Noceda and Sanlucar, the term “bayani” does not solely refer to a hero but emphasizes someone who selflessly provides services towards a shared goal. My friend Tina Cuyugan reflected on Rizal’s civic and public works in Dapitan, highlighting that he performed these acts not for personal gain but for the betterment of the community. Rizal was not “epal,” seeking attention or promoting himself through billboards or banners. His actions were not driven by a desire to hold political office. He performed public works because they needed to be done, not because he sought a government contract.
While December 30th is a national holiday, June 19th is only officially commemorated in Calamba and now Dapitan. Isn’t it time to start our celebrations on June 12th, Independence Day, and culminate with Rizal’s birthday on June 19th? Mayor Jalosjos and I questioned why the ceremonies for December 30th and June 19th are the same. Can’t we introduce innovation by celebrating on June 19th with a joyous occasion instead of a solemn funeral procession? Rather than wreaths, couldn’t we offer a birthday cake and pancit (a popular Filipino dish) at Rizal’s statue and have a picnic afterward? Shouldn’t we teach young people that heroism is not always about sacrifice but also about living for the country? The closing line of our national anthem emphasizes dying for the country, but shouldn’t we place greater emphasis on living a purposeful and meaningful life for the nation?
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