The Rizal Sesquicentennial may be drawing to a close. I would think that one of the results of this nationwide celebration should be to bring about—in all of us—a better, more direct, more contextual understanding of Rizal and our country.
For a quick, efficient and thoroughly entertaining understanding of Rizal in context, I recommend a slim volume of eight essays written over recent years by the historian, Benito Legarda, Jr.
Why?
First, because the thoughts are brief and clear depicting Rizal in our national life and thus becoming our own personal experience as participants.
Second, because the essays range not merely in the biographical but also in the contemporary and post-Rizalian times in this country. This way they explain economically but thoroughly enough the impact of Rizal as a Filipino, a hero, an admired foreigner outside Philippine soil and, finally, as a lasting eminent and deserved historical figure and influence.
Third, the essays are very entertaining. In clear prose with factual details and insightful comments, we enjoy hearing about the Rizal Park, for example, an early 20th century real estate development near the University of Sto. Tomas, promoted by an American realty company that used Rizal as its development theme. It was a commercial enterprise, of course, but it contributed to Rizaliana in the names of its streets. Calamba for Rizal’s hometown, San Diego for his fictitious name for it in his novels. Rizal’s pen names were honored with streets—Dimasalang and Laon Laan. The characters of his novels—Sisa, Ibarra, Elias, Simoun, Maria Clara were street names of Rizal Park. Some them, alas, have been changed to the detriment of our historical sense and sensibility.
Dr. Legarda is particularly incisive when he delineates the historical Spain of reality, a nation which at the beginning of the 19th century was a society stirring with liberal ideas and libertarian inclinations on one hand as witnessed by the 1812 Constitution of Cadiz, a liberal document if anything, as against the other part of Spanish society – conservative, obscurantist in some ways, unmodern. It was the liberal faction that took note of and admired Rizal. As, in turn, Rizal came to know and was influenced and inspired by it.
As Dr. Legarda states, Rizal was a hero in the hearts of his countrymen and his liberal Spanish and European admirers long before he was exiled to Dapitan or was executed in the Luneta.
When his end came, after his political ideas, his novels, his many intellectual and practical accomplishments, his revolutionary and evolutionary ideas that influenced the rising, young Filipino leaders and youth, he had become a legend.
Dr. Legarda’s eight essays in a slim book available at La Solida-ridad Bookshop, gives us the chance to know Rizal before he became the legend which means we get a close, clear and direct link to him as person, Filipino and hero.
Indeed, the essays help us understand and embrace the legend rather than be intimidated or indifferent to it.
For a quick, efficient and thoroughly entertaining understanding of Rizal in context, I recommend a slim volume of eight essays written over recent years by the historian, Benito Legarda, Jr.
Why?
First, because the thoughts are brief and clear depicting Rizal in our national life and thus becoming our own personal experience as participants.
Second, because the essays range not merely in the biographical but also in the contemporary and post-Rizalian times in this country. This way they explain economically but thoroughly enough the impact of Rizal as a Filipino, a hero, an admired foreigner outside Philippine soil and, finally, as a lasting eminent and deserved historical figure and influence.
Third, the essays are very entertaining. In clear prose with factual details and insightful comments, we enjoy hearing about the Rizal Park, for example, an early 20th century real estate development near the University of Sto. Tomas, promoted by an American realty company that used Rizal as its development theme. It was a commercial enterprise, of course, but it contributed to Rizaliana in the names of its streets. Calamba for Rizal’s hometown, San Diego for his fictitious name for it in his novels. Rizal’s pen names were honored with streets—Dimasalang and Laon Laan. The characters of his novels—Sisa, Ibarra, Elias, Simoun, Maria Clara were street names of Rizal Park. Some them, alas, have been changed to the detriment of our historical sense and sensibility.
Dr. Legarda is particularly incisive when he delineates the historical Spain of reality, a nation which at the beginning of the 19th century was a society stirring with liberal ideas and libertarian inclinations on one hand as witnessed by the 1812 Constitution of Cadiz, a liberal document if anything, as against the other part of Spanish society – conservative, obscurantist in some ways, unmodern. It was the liberal faction that took note of and admired Rizal. As, in turn, Rizal came to know and was influenced and inspired by it.
As Dr. Legarda states, Rizal was a hero in the hearts of his countrymen and his liberal Spanish and European admirers long before he was exiled to Dapitan or was executed in the Luneta.
When his end came, after his political ideas, his novels, his many intellectual and practical accomplishments, his revolutionary and evolutionary ideas that influenced the rising, young Filipino leaders and youth, he had become a legend.
Dr. Legarda’s eight essays in a slim book available at La Solida-ridad Bookshop, gives us the chance to know Rizal before he became the legend which means we get a close, clear and direct link to him as person, Filipino and hero.
Indeed, the essays help us understand and embrace the legend rather than be intimidated or indifferent to it.
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