RIZAL IN THE EYE OF AN ICONOCLAST

RIZAL IN THE EYE OF AN ICONOCLAST

(Unfinished / on process)

By: Paul Cuaresma Basea

I am not an iconoclast. I do not know how to write as an iconoclast. I don’t know how to become an iconoclast. I don’t like iconoclasm, it just make things more complicated. But I really hate lies. So, I will do whatever it takes to unfold this lies. I am pro-Andres Bonifacio, I love him, and I really do. But it doesn't mean I didn't love Jose Rizal. I love him too, it’s just that I love Papa-Boni so much. And please don’t expect too much! I am just a student who search a way to upgrade the beliefs of Indios!

Iconoclasm - the doctrine, practice, or attitude of an iconoclast. (Merriam-Webster)

Iconoclast - a person who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted. (Merriam-Webster)

In the lens of an iconoclast, let us disturb Dr. Jose Rizal’s well-built foundations. Let us disturb the settled “legends of Rizal” or the Rizal’s in Filipinos heart.

This is my first attempt to debunk or try to attack a well established person, belief and theory. It is my personal belief, opinion, suggestion/recommendation and findings. Any false idea, statement in this blog has nothing to do with others. It does not reflect my family, profession and school.

xxx

San Juan City, Philippines (December 16, 2014) - Dr. Jose Rizal is considered by most of Filipinos as national hero, even it is not yet official. To become a national hero there should be a law passed through the legislative branch of our government declaring him as national hero. We all know that there is a guy who lived in the past and had been a part of our history. He is so genius that he created so much literary works and created a name in different field of expertise. We all know him as Dr. Jose Rizal. But his name had mystery that we will try to unfold. His real name was Dr. José Rizal Protasio Mercado y Alonso Realonda^[1]. Many wonder why he used “Rizal” while his father was Francisco Mercado. He should have been Jose Mercado right? So why did Rizal’s surname become Rizal instead of Mercado? Jose’s real last name, Mercado, during those times was a hot name, targeted by the Spaniards. He changed his surname to protect his identity. So he just used his middle name, Rizal, instead, which was considered as illustrado during the Spanish time. But if historians or some other persons who had the power (i.e. Emilio Aguinaldo during those time was the president of the Philippines) knew it, at least by the time when Pres. Aguinaldo declared December 30 as national day of mourning for Rizal. Then Pres. Aguinaldo issued it thru a decree dated December 20, 1898. Two years after the execution of Rizal. Why he didn't correct it? Why they have to stick to that name even though they knew what Dr. Jose Rizal’s real identity? Is there any hidden agenda as to why they did this? It is very uncommon to Filipinos to praise and acclaim, to honor a hero with a name that is not their real name, considering that it has no connection to his great achievements. I wonder why they have to continue this. After all the public already know this mystery, a bunch of online articles had already revealed it. When Civil Governor-General William Howard Taft declared him as national hero, why he didn't corrected the name of this man. Is there any possibility that the American Colonization hides the real reason on it? If there is, what and why? It is very unpleasant to say that our national hero is not him for the reason of it’s not his real name, like his parents and siblings. The point of discussion here is why they didn't corrected the name of Jose Rizal and left this confusion pass to next generation.

Another belief in Rizal that we Filipinos are wholeheartedly accepting is the poem, Sa Aking mga Kabata. Historically and academically, this poem was an original creation of the little Jose Rizal when he is only eight (8) years old. And it is written in Tagalog. It is in the year 1969 when even the GOMBURZA has not yet executed ^[2]. The poem is;

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig
Sa langit salitang kaloob ng langit
Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapi

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid
Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan
Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian


At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay
Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.
Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda

Kaya ang marapat pagyamanin kusa
Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala
Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin,


Sa Ingles, Kastila, at salitang anghel,
Sapagkat ang Poong maalam tumingin
Ang siyang naggagawad, nagbibigay sa atin.
Ang salita nati’y tulad din sa iba


Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,
Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa
Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.

In this poem, the word Kalayaan was mentioned twice and once for the word wika. In this era/generation when liberty, freedom – kalayaan was not yet materialized, it is hard to believe that one can write this poem and exerted the said word. Even the word wika, when in this time, has not yet acknowledged as the idea of having a definite language when there is numerous dialect that everyone is using. Is it possible that an eight (8) years old kid can conceptualized a poem bringing or arising the idea of having its own liberty and freedom? Is it possible that an eight (8) years old kid can actually write a poem with a definite format? Is it possible for an iconic hero Jose Rizal? If its possible, I doubt. (As an iconoclast think). The thinking of refusing to the Spaniards/friars abusive actions to the Filipino people for Jose Rizal, began in the execution of the three martyr friars namely, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, Jacinto Zamora or the GOMBURZA on February 17, 1872. It is when Jose Rizal actually saw the execution by garotte to these priests for the issue of secularization. Paciano, elder brother of Jose Rizal was an apprentice and a friend of Father Jose Burgos. It is when Paciano told Rizal everything about the issues and the reasons why these priests fought the Spaniards. Therefore, this poem is not a Rizal creation. It belongs to somebody in different time and era, and it is because authorities gave it to Rizal as part of image building for him as national hero ^[3]. I envy the one who originally created this poem; he was deleted to the history just for the sake of Jose Rizal.

Another is the sense of nationalism of Dr. Jose Rizal. It is said that he is against the revolution and he just wanted that the Philippines should be a province of Spain and all Filipinos therefore, should be called Spanish Citizens. in Veneration without Thinking by Renato Constantino..........

[1] Rizal in focus – 2004, Jose Rizal University retrieved from joserizal.com

[2] Works of Jose Rizal – 2004, Jose Rizal University

[3] Joey A. Lopez – Class discussion – Rizal Course, Far Eastern University

to be continue... 

updated December 18, 2014