125 years after the execution of Jose Rizal, I am coincidentally revisiting Conrado de Quiros’ speech titled Youthful Exuberance which tackled how youth-led movements have a certain kind of fervor not present in any other generations. I may never know whether both those figures would agree on the aftermath of youth in the society but one thing for certain is how both regarded the young ones as the pillars of tomorrow.

Amidst the prevalence of social media and using it as a means to (mis/dis)inform the public, it is becoming imperative to re-examine Rizal’s works and see how it reflects today. Would he be tagged as a modern-day “reklamador” if he lived through our times? Would he be mad knowing the same weapon he used to show the ills that plague our society is now being utilized to craft false narratives?

Unfortunately, one of the many victims of this tug-of-war for truth is the youth sector who will be the next leaders of our country.

The fight for truth will always be an uphill battle but our social and political climate now makes it more challenging with many difficult terrains to be surpassed. The Us vs Them division is more apparent, and worse, even encouraged, with the social media algorithms designed to isolate us in our echo chambers.

While at the end of the day, we all strive for a better Philippines that Rizal dreamt for us, the danger lies in attributing a false sense of security to fanaticism masquerading as patriotism. It creates nationhood that is exclusive instead of inclusive; it fosters pride that is divisive instead of uniting.

To move forward, we must ask ourselves how Rizal’s works and teachings can affect our way of living beyond academic practice. In doing so, we can begin exploring the real essence of Filipino identity so we can instill a strong sense of nationhood and pride.

In this light, the Philippine Consulate General Elmer G. Cato in New York, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and Arts Chairperson Nicanor Lizaso spearheads the inauguration of Sentro Rizal in New York Center on December 30 joined by Lisa Tinio Bayot, the great grandniece of Jose Rizal.

This initiative aims to organize cultural programs and activities for Filipinos, especially for children overseas, to promote appreciation and understanding of Philippine culture and the arts.

At the age of 26, Rizal compared the condition of our country to a patient suffering from cancer so terrible that he did not dare to be touched. But instead of losing hope, he put forth his ideas and ideals using pen and paper and sacrificing his life for the country. As we look upon this day, may the youth of today not just recall the virtues he instilled but contemplate and take action as we are always in a constant battle towards our commitment to progress.

With this alarming question, the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde embarked on a mission to find an answer that led them to produce an award-winning documentary, “ALON”, written and directed by celebrated filmmaker Gabriel Fernandez.

(“ALON” A Documentary on Plastic Waste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTdKpNWmr4&t=777s)

As we mark the 159th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, we share with you this eye-opener as our own homage to our national hero’s devoted but often unrecognized contributions to improving community health and the environment.

From 1892 to 1896, Rizal had a vibrant life as a political exile in the town of Dapitan. He carried out community projects on health, sanitation and the ecology, including the installation of a water system and pipeline to give residents access to clean water, the draining of swamps to control the breeding of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the provision of the street lighting system using coconut oil lamps, and the beautification of the town plaza. While in Dapitan, Rizal discovered three new species of animals which have been named after him: Abogonia Rizalie, a type of small beetle; Drago Rizalie, a specie of dragonfly and Racoforus Rizalie, a specie of toad.

For more on Rizal’s water system and pipeline, click here: “Grandson of Rizal’s Dapitan student: Let’s restore historic water system”

On this historic day, may the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal’s love for nature serve as a wake-up call for our youth and the entire nation. According to the World Bank, 60% of Filipinos live on the coast and most depend on the sea. But tragically, 97% of reefs in the Philippines are under threat (United Nations Environment Program). With that frightening statistic, it is high time we stop the wave of plastic, ride the wave of change, and become eco-warriors ourselves. If he were alive today, Dr. Jose Rizal would do no less.

Known to a generation of students as the translator of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and a biographer of Jose Rizal, Leon Ma. Guerrero is a writer and diplomat whose work was translated to reach today’s generation through the LMG Centennial “History in 100 Tweets”. According to his son David Guerrero, “the exhibit imagines how he may have tried to reach today’s generation. And distills some of his writing into the 140-characther platform we have become so familiar with.” I myself have been following Twitter for updates, and it is amusing to see the perspective of a statesman whose influence in the academe, as well as political affairs, is notable. It is disclaimed that much of the context will be lost in the 140-character platform, but still, you can understand what he was trying to say.

The Ayala Museum and the Filipinas Heritage Library opened the interactive exhibit on the life of Leon Ma. Guerrero to share his works for today’s millennial generation. There is an audiovisual presentation of a typewriter with some of the tweets, and 100 white boxes with short quotations, not more than 140 characters, from the diplomat’s writings. The entrance of the exhibit features an interactive chance to hear some clips of the Noli Me Tangere audiobook, read in English. It is refreshing to hear again the voices of Crisostomo Ibarra, Sisa and Padre Damaso.

Leon Ma. Guerrero, known to his close friends and family as Leoni, is known as the writer of “The First Filipino,” a biography of our national hero Jose Rizal, which won him the grand prize at the Rizal Centennial Biography contest in 1961. According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, “Guerrero took the heart of stone from Rizal, exchanged it with a beating heart of flesh, and gave color to a life story that has since become my area of expertise.”

Some of the tweets mention how Rizal is a patriotic hero who was not able to experience the revolution he started, and on his soft side, how he truly loved Josephine Bracken. There are some tweets which also focus on Leoni’s life as an ambassador and an internationalist. It can be truly understood how he was an intellect and a fighter using the pen as a weapon, which is similar to how Jose Rizal used his writings to show his love for the Philippines. Leoni considered his typewriter as a “lucky typewriter” which he used to type the draft of “The First Filipino.” At the beginning of World War II, he buried it in the garden of his house, and found it when he dug it up after the war.

Leon Ma. Guerrero lives through his writings. His works surely inspire today’s generation to fight for the upliftment of our country through all possible means.

Unlike any other human being who was about to face a firing squad, Jose Rizal was not feeling any anxiety due to the fact that his blood pressure did not go up.

He was executed in Bagumbayan, Manila on December 30, 1896. The day before he wrote several letters and using words about peace, tranquility, dying with a clear conscience and preparing himself for the inevitable by talking about it and maintaining a calm state.

To read the letters he wrote of acceptance of his circumstances to his family click the link below:

http://islandsentinel.com/2011/02/22/how-to-face-a-firing-squad-execution-with-a-normal-heart-beat-rizal-30-december-1896/

Read this article by Ivy Vibar of abs-cbnnews.com as Jose Rizal’s life and execution are being recreated through a Twitter account named @tweetnirizal ran by an entrepreneur who is a member of Dead Heroes Society (a group of bloggers posing as national heroes online to increase citizen’s knowledge of Filipino history and current events). Click the link to read more about it.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/12/30/11/rizal-dies-twitter

Modern Take on Philippine Culture

Slim’s Fashion and Arts School students were challenged to explore what could make them truly Filipino designers. Turning to all things Philippine for ideas, they tapped into everything from history, culture and literature to run-of-the-mill things like local delicacies and flowers.

While historic garments and tribal costumes were a natural resource, most of the creations are not literal interpretations. The pieces offer a fresh, totally modern take on traditional influences; a far cry from the often cliché renditions that have become synonymous with this theme.

Roald Sena left, Ivan Ruiz right

Many students took everyday objects, incorporating them into the contemporary garments. Ivan Ruiz’s red carpet gown features satin that’s subtly woven like ‘palaspas’, as seen during Palm Sunday rituals. Strong Catholic influences were undeniably present: in Rum Corvera’s fashion sketch inspired by stained glass windows.

Sketch of Rum Corvera

In Stephanie Estanislao’s design ideas sparked by ecclesiastical garments and in garments that incorporate Christian icons into their sleek designs, almost like ‘badges’ of our country’s faith.

Justine Wayne

Some went as far as creating ‘statement’ pieces that verge on conceptual art. Like Justin Nalangan’s piece, which takes a tragic literary figure (Maria Clara) and transforms her into a ‘kawaii’ character, bringing to mind works of Jeffrey Koons and Andy Warhol.  And Roald Sena’s bold hand-painted statement about colonial mentality, transposed on a flamboyant gown. Others used non-visual sources of inspiration, like Marc Carcillar who created handwritten pages from ‘Noli Me Tangere’ on silk organza, his source of inspiration.

Marc John Carcillar with his Noli dress

Marc recounts “dying Filipino soldiers fought and sacrificed their lives for freedom, the design I  created is modern, with the working woman in mind. She is modern, assertive, fighting for who she is.”  The skirt features a custom print blood splatter design; the collar is a take off from the Maria Clara dress. The accent on the white peplum top are “pages” of text from the Dr Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.  The garment’ s enclosure resembles an embossed leather bookmark.

The depth of conceptual thinking in some of this year’s work is a heartening break for anyone who believes fashion is purely superficial.

Novel ideas aside, the garments boast of superior construction; many feature extremely complex techniques.  This has come to be expected from Slim’s students, given the school is widely known for in-depth technical training. Every garment on display was designed, cut and sewn by the student. In their pattern-making course, each student produces roughly 20 full garments over an average of 12 months. Surprisingly, many of the pieces on display were created by students who are only halfway through their course with ASEAN integration just around the corner, the school’s directors have encouraged students to get to know their own culture, and to develop a distinctive identity that could potentially set them apart from designers of other nations.

Slim’s Fashion & Arts School: The Best of Student Work 2014  is on exhibit  at the 2^nd floor of Greenbelt 5 from October 15-21,2014

Photos courtesy of Slims Fashion School 

Translation:  “He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly fish.”

“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan”

Translation: “He who does not know to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination”

Jose Rizal was born to parents Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso. He had 10 siblings with Saturnina Rizal being the eldest followed by Paciano, then Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria then Jose Rizal himself, the Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad and the youngest, Soledad.

The Rizal family is considered as one of the largest families during Spanish colonization.

Although Jose Rizal went away to go abroad he continued his communication with his family through letter writing telling them about his experiences studying, staying abroad, his observations of news, people and advices for his family. They exchanged letters throughout his trips.

Jose Rizal’s mother wrote letterz to his son encouraging him to acknowledge the Catholic Church and the act of praying.

(Click for the letters here: http://thinkinglikeabubblehead.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/rizal-and-his-relationship-with-his-family/)

To name a few, he was very fluent in the Spanish language. He was able to use and express himself in idiomatic, smooth, funny, nuanced, contextually appropriate verse and was very metaphorical and literary.

Aside from Spanish, he also communicated in Tagalog, German and a little French.

In his personal letters to his family he would write between Tagalog or Spanish. To Blumentritt, he first wrote in Spanish but later converted to German, French and in English.

He studied English in London and his French skills improved when he visited the Indios Bravos.

The question is “How was Dr. Jose Rizal’s English?”

Find out by clicking the link below to read page of letter from Jose Rizal along with his grade and comments from an unsuspecting English teacher at a San Francisco high school.

http://islandsentinel.com/2011/09/17/how-good-was-dr-jose-rizals-english/

Rizal in Wilhemsfeld, Germany

Rizal is positioned in the center of the ideological spectrum of the 19th century which makes him a Liberal.

First, believed in the thrust of Liberalism that instead of a revolution, the society needs reform, and it should come from above because they are the learned people who have the knowledge in politics and governance, as well as liberation coming from being educated. In Rizal’s letter to his countrymen dated December 15, 1896, he insisted that revolution should not be tolerated because it is absurd and it dishonors Filipinos, and instead, reforms should be made and it must come from above to become beneficial to everyone. Also, like the Liberals, Rizal believed that everyone has the capability to become rational, and it can be achieved through education. Like the Liberals who believe that a person is who he or she thinks, Rizal believed in the primacy of thought…

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