The Land He Died For

The land he died for is bathed with blood; the thorns of his words are getting sharp.

Growing up, I have been fed along with the information that our national hero was exiled and executed because of his outpouring devotion to our country. There stood a monument of his, surrounded with flags that swayed better than the others. Quite apart from this, I’ve relied the rest on the books.

Having the chance to study the life story of Jose Rizal piece by piece made me use the word surreal; it was like the one shown in a heroic movie, only his death didn’t put a halt to all the chaos. We have outlived his legacy because people thought bearing him as the Philippines’ epitome of a hero is enough. However, we didn’t pay attention closely, not until I had this class which succumbed me to a chamber of guilt, wariness, and remorse.

The land he died for has given birth to tyranny; the ink he spilled stopped running through the streams.

I’ve learned about his greatness; his desire for independence was the heart of his bravery. I’ve learned about his hope; his exceptional commitment to this country and to the future generation. I’ve learned about his sacrifice; the life he lived was his only choice for he yearned to claim the Filipinos. And I’ve learned about his love; not in every heartbeat but in every stroke of his pen, draining his sorrow between the pages, accepting his death, and surrendering his life to the hands of the oppressors.

I’m living in the twenty-first century and I can plot parallel lines to the chronicle of Spanish cruelty a hundred years ago. It’s as if I’m standing a ground where only the time has changed and the faces of the tyrants are masked; people bow at their names but they hideously slit our rights and freedom. Rizal’s story awakened the blood of a patriot in me – to love my country and correct the wrongs, to do what I must like what he has expected the youth for.

The land he died for is dying in the hands of the people he saved; the words he wrote stir up new warriors.

Little did we know, his works are timeless. As I speak and stare at the mirror, I feel shame for I haven’t been deserving of his sacrifice. Rizal might’ve known that our independence would still be justified by personal interest, hence, he imparted his will in writings and aspired for the youth to unlock the message.

I gained the responsibility to defend the vulnerable and speak for those who are robbed with voice. The history speaks a lot about the present because people barely change and learn. If Rizal trusted the youth then I should be able to trust myself too over the changes that I could offer because no matter how small it can be, we could be our own heroes.

But is the land he died for still ours or has it been too late now to realize?

After reading this article, I wish you have an in-depth realization about the relevance of Rizal in the 21st century. Well, he will always remain relevant because the social ills in the nation are still rampant, and his ideas are cogent. It makes us realize that we should do what is good for the betterment of the whole nation. As what Rizal taught us:

"It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice."

Should you want to read some of my articles, you may try reading Revisiting Knowledge, To all the women out there, Reviving the Dead, Are you guilty?, or No storm can bring me down. And if you are enjoying it, do not forget to show your support. Remember also that you are handsome/beautiful in your own way. So be brave and confident!

Thanks to my readers and sponsors for following my publications. May God bless you a hundredfold. Also, this is original content. Most of the photos I use are free images from either Unsplash or Pixabay.