A FILIPINO PATRIOT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 274, 15 August 1919, Page 10

A FILIPINO PATRIOT

4 DR. JOSE RIZAL, POET, NOVELIST, AND MARTYR Juno 111 was the birthday anniversary of one of the greatest personages of tho Malayan race, J)r. .lose llisal, the Filipino patriot. Since the moment of his dramatic execution by tho Spanish in Manila on December 30, 1891), his memory has been revered as that of the national hero of tho Philippine Islands, Pays the Pittsburgh "Chronicle-Tele-graph." The real undoing of Spanish rule in tho Philippines began with liizal's writing, when oven as a child at. school he indited versos passionate with lovo for country. R-izal appeared at a time when the government of his country was a government of men anil not of law. Bo early saw the high-handed methods of colonial Spain. Ho early witnessed deeds of oppression .that Kent shafts of grief into his poet soul. .And lie early dedicated his life to tho liberation of iiis "land adored." llizai's life, was a hostage to tyranny and hit; example immortalised him in the hearts of his countrymen. Ho taught them that they had a fatherland which was not Spain, lie mado articulate the etilled grievances of the voiceless multitude. For that he was executed by Spain. Put the death is one of those epochal dramas of history which have inspired peoples. Philippine nationalism lias its root in the writings of this hero. The challenge tiling against Spain in IBilli was tho sweeping manifestation of the national spirit of the race made conscious of itself by the ringing tones of tho leader. The .mendncious institutions of tho day were annihilated; the ground was cleared for a modc-rn scheme of government; and a republic was instituted clothed with all tho requisites of a genuine democracy. There were no deeds of valour in tho battlefield that can be cited to Hizal's credit. Ifis only weapon was the pen. Hut "all ho was, was patriotism, all he thought was patriotic." lii/.al 'was born in Calamba, province of La Lagnna, about three hours' journey from .Manila, on June IS), ISJfil. His lather was Francisco Mercado, who often used to "descant with pride on the intellectual progress of his soil at the Jesuits' school at Manila," who was winning prizes in literary contests. .Before the boy was fourteen years of age he wrote a 'melodrama, in verse entitled "Junto al Pnsig" ("JJesido the Pasig liivcr"), which was performed in public and well received. Ho could paint, was interested in clav modelling, and was nn expert in carving. When aged twenty-one years, he went to Spain and entered the Madrid University, where ho was graduated as Doctor of Medicine and Philosophy. He later supplemented his studies in Paris, Brussels, London, and at several sets of learning, in Germany. It was in Europo that ho acquired a clearer conception of the rights of humanity, it was there that lie brooded on plans by which his country could be placed on a level of material and moral prosperity with others. He studied the causes of his country's unhappiness anil to bring tlioso causey home to the people lie wrote anil published in Germany, in the Spanish language, a book which- ho entitle:! "Noli Ale T«ngere." It is a satirical novel exposing the inner life, tho arrogance and the despotism of the friars in their treatment of tho Filipino natives. Through ono of his characters, the old philosopher, he silid in -this novel that, ho was not writing for his own generation, but for a coming instructed generation. Ho wanted to show thn.t "not all were asleep in the night of our forefathers." The novel was supplemented in ISM by another book iu the form of romance, entitled "El Filibustensmo," the purpose of which was to show the Filipinos were goaded into outlawry. The two works had a tremendous influence on the .thought of tho country. They awakened the conscience of the masses. As a result of a controversy with tho Dominican Order with respect to a largo agricultural tract, of land, lie was forced to return to. Spain. While there lie contributed several articles in "La Soli-

■ dnridnd, trying to awaken the sympa- : tlictic interest of Spain in his own coun- , try's misfortunes. He advocated a wiser, i belter governed and more prosperous '■■ Philippines. Because of his frank adi mission that he hoped in time to see a i free Philippines, he was branded a traitor jto Spain. Immediately the machinery j of medieval religious Autocracy was set ! in motion; the preacher of "sedition and j rebellion,"' the arch enemy of tho friars, ! must be exterminated, j Friends of Kidal advised him not to j attempt a, re-entry into the islands. He ; returned nevertheless. His luggage was •ijsearchod, and seditious papers were al- ! leged to have been found among his bc- ! longings. j He was executed on December 30, 185IG. j The trial was a mockery, characteristic !of Inquisition days. He went to the ; execution spot with a demeanour that I was expressive of Ihis oft-quoted 'living: i "What is death to me? I have sown ] the seed; others are left to reap."