Filipino Inventor and their Invention

Most Traveled Filipino Hero

    Dr. Jose Rozal was known as the "Most Traveled Filipino Hero" during his lifetime. Between 1882 and 1887, Rizal visited 13 nations, including the Philippines. However, his journey abroad was exhausting and challenging, yet meaningful and insightful. His adventure of living abroad was significant for his education and ultimately for his intention to help Filipinos suffering from slavery by Spaniards. It was exhausting because he didn't know what the future ahead of him was. He just took the risk of keeping on traveling, gaining more wisdom, practicing his skills, studying the culture, and befriending people. It was not all sunshine and rainbows. As a matter of fact, it was challenging for him to do all the work while saving and starving himself to survive and while thinking about his family in the Philippines.

    Rizal sacrificed a lot to put up a safe place for his family and his people in the Philippines. He even lost his lover and the time to be with his family. If I were to be in the shoes of Rizal, I couldn't find any courage to stress myself that much for the country, but for my family, maybe I could have had a little hope to do the same. Throughout the journey of Rizal, he was full of hope, dedication, patience, and wisdom. I could not blame all those women he met who were attracted to him because who wouldn't? He's a man who knows what he wants, he strives hard to excel in any field of his interest, and he doesn't stick with only a plan; he accomplishes it.

    His travels and accomplishments symbolize his willingness to save the Philippines in silence. He received death threats along the way, but he continued to fight in a way that he knew. With just a word of wisdom, the Spaniards were threatened and alarmed, which really made him a legend. He is the proof and a model for our young generation to go out of their comfort zone, seek opportunities, and gain more knowledge to help our nation be better. As he said, youth is the hope of the youth.

Consummatum est

"Consummatum est"

    Those were the last words heard from Dr. Jose Rizal before he was shot in the back on December 30, 1896, in Bagumbayan Field in Manila. In English, it means "It is finished." He was talking about his journey fighting the Spaniards. He served his countrymen and sacrificed his love and time for himself and his family. It is finished. His war with the Spanish colony is done, his trip is finally over, and he can now go to a place where there was no tyranny and slavery. A place where there is freedom and peace.

    I am not going to lie nor deny that I was a crying baby while reading the last days and execution of Dr. Jose Rizal. In fact, my eyes are now swollen because of crying so much that I even screamed in silence since everyone is now sleeping and I can’t make any noise. How much more if we played this in school? I would definitely pass out from heartache. It was indeed a tragedy for Filipinos. He is indeed our national hero. I can’t imagine putting my life in his shoes. I don’t think I can make all the sacrifices just for the country. He could have chosen a different path for his life, his lover, and his family, yet he chose to help the Filipinos and fight in the best way that he could. He chose the most difficult and unselfish destiny. He was so brave to risk his life with little hope of survival considering the power held by the Spaniards' officials. I don’t blame those women who were attracted to him. I mean, who wouldn’t be? He is a man with honor; he stands for his rights; he knows what he wants and how to get it. He deserves praise and a day for Filipinos to remember him. Actually, every year, the Philippines observes 18 national holidays. Four of these 18 national holidays are designated as "special non-working" days, including Rizal Day on December 30th. Honestly, I didn’t appreciate much of his day until now. I promise to give him the honor and respect that he deserves, especially on his day. A big thanks to this course for allowing me to better understand the life of Rizal, from the day he started to help the nation to the day he decided to give his life to our dear Philippines.

    I hope our younger generation will never forget what he did to achieve the freedom that we all share now. His sacrifice is a great message for every Filipino to seek opportunities to help the nation be better and be a united Filipino, lifting up each other for tranquillity, peace, safety, security, and the overall well-being of our nation. May we all be grateful for an independent land and value our worth and identity as true Filipinos, not just by blood but by heart. May our hero serve as the hope that we can do anything for the sake of love and compassion for everybody. And, for the younger generation, may we all be the hope of our land, as Dr. Jose Rizal said.

Who really is a Filipino?

    After watching the documentary about Eddie Romero’s 1976 film "Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon," I also asked myself the same question, but at the back of my mind is the Philippine Constitution Article VII, stating that those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the said Constitution; those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines; those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and those who are naturalized in accordance with the law are considered Filipino. However, citizenship doesn't fully mean you're a true Filipino, though it makes you identify as one by the constitution.

    The film is the key to answering the question of who really is a Filipino. Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon, captured the personalities, the culture, the environment, and the social and political entities of the Philippines during the regime of the Spaniards. Before, we fought for peace in silence. Our grandparents fought to live under the slavery of Spanish officials. They live to please the Spaniards who don't have the authority to be in our country in the first place. Some of them were imprisoned without committing any sin and were never given any privilege to speak up for their rights as Filipinos owning the Philippines. On the other hand, we embrace the practice of the church, making the Philippines the only Christian-dominated nation in Asia at present times.

    It's with this film that I realize how important it is to restore our identity as Filipinos, not just by blood but also by heart. Filipinos are among those people fighting for peace and humanity. Those people who are brave enough to speak up for their rights without hurting anyone. Those people stand up for the development and overall well-being of the Philippines. Those people who respect our nation's history and culture. Those people who don't slave anyone just to feel superior. Those who are not selfish and help those who are in need. Those who are smart in finding solutions to the nation's issues and problems. Those who serve the country and its people. Those who are willing to educate and motivate everyone in order to prevent them from getting fooled. Filipinos are those who don't forget the past and pay respect to our heroes and leaders who gave us all the freedom that we all needed. It is because of them that we have become one united Filipino community. So now, ask yourself, are you one of us? 

Icon of Democracy

" I am not an icon of democracy. You are all, collectively, the icon of democracy." -Corazon Aquino 

    Have you ever asked your parents what happened during the Marcos regime, especially when Martial law was implemented? Well, I did. 

    My mother once told me that during Martial law, the Philippines was indeed clean because people were prohibited to go out of their homes late at night. The military was in control of everything but was the Philippines a safer place to live at those times? Not for my mother since she felt like a prisoner even on her land. She was afraid to go out as a woman seeing those military people holding guns, and looking like a villain. 

    Added to that, the voices of Filipinos were unvalued. If you happen to speak up for your rights, you will either find yourself in the prison or cemetery. All of this happened under the late dictator's brutal regime, and thanks to Former Pres. Cory Aquino that she was able to end it with her presence. Former Pres. Cory Aquino was a recognized figure in national politics for more than a decade; subsequent leaders will find it difficult to fill her significance as an advocate of democracy and ethical exemplar. Democracy is her most significant legacy for the Filipino people and the country. She came into power in the Philippine government, along with the Filipino people overthrew Pres. Ferdinand Marcos through the famous “People Power” of the Philippines. So yes, she indeed deserves the hype but we must not forget that she won't be able to make it without the undying support and unity of Filipino. It was our parents and grandparents who brought us to Freedom. They were the real brave heroes committed to dying for the nation. 

"Filipino as one empowered group is the real icon of democracy which includes those leaders who fought for it."

A living light

The world is becoming wild and cruel as time passes by. So for this year, it is possible that life will be in so much danger brought by the epidemic, war, calamity and disaster, and even personal struggles.

Over the last two years, we heard more mournings than laughter and witnessed condolences than celebrations. The pandemic has gotten so many lives that affect not just the physical health of the people but also our mental health. For the record, Covid still exists, and there is still no medicine discovered to cure those infected by it. Pandemic has also contributed to the number of suicide attempts caused by depression. Added to that, natural calamities greatly affect our source of living. With all the things going on in the world; inflation keeps going high, leaders are becoming aggressive, and people are no longer following health protocol- for sure life will be much more difficult to deal with and survive with. However, I am still hoping that one day, everything will go back to normal and all our sacrifices will lead to something better. We may live in a world with people who either motivate us or put us down, but we still continue to live and cherish the moments we have in this world. 

    Every element applied significantly plays a big role in capturing the context of this art. The function of this art is to inspire people to continue living even if the world is against it. Living light is us. Let us all face and fight the battles of life, and be grateful for the privilege to live.