Reflection Paper -The Life and Works of Rizal

A reflection paper on Renato Constantino's work "Veneration without Understanding," which also answered the question of "Does Rizal Deserve to Be Called a Hero?" Is he a hero or a traitor?

A reflection about whether Rizal deserves to be a National Hero and whether he is a hero or a traitor to the cause.

2024

The purpose of the paper is to give a full account of José Rizal's life, starting with his childhood and schooling. Later parts will talk about his writings and activities, including his part in the Propaganda Movement and the creation of the Liga Filipina. The story will then shift to show how Rizal's views changed over time and how he indirectly supported the more hostile Katipunan, which will make you think about the hero/traitor split.

Given that years and generations have passed since the famous Dr. Jose Rizal's death, yet his name, background, and contribution remain controversial. We are made aware that he also has a full name of Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Y Alonzo Realonda due to execution of the Claveria decree during the Spanish era which enforced the Filipinos to change their surnames for a better and organized tax collection. Just like us, students, he also made a way and maximized his academic opportunities to get ahold of knowledge and information. At the same time, those learnings that he instilled along the way in his journey in his studies with literature and medicine are applied by him producing mesmerizing poems and literary pieces. Not to mention, also, by attending to patients deeply in need of consultation from an ophthalmologist in which he is licensed. Although if we come to think of it, no matter how far it is in the past, it still comes into question if Rizal deserved to be our national hero? Is he really a hero or a traitor? Of course, each individual has different opinions. However, let's try to dive in deeper discussions of the factors that will greatly affect the answer to that very critical question. Based on the given article, it is usual for national heroes to be declared after a national revolution has taken place. Particularly, during that significant event, the "hero" is known to be fighting for an eager demand for freedom of its homeland. Now, if we try to rethink the events, did Rizal ever do it? Did he ever maximize his limitations in pursuit of the Filipinos' freedom? Upon reading the provided learning material, a lot of sensible points have been made. I could truly say that it is an eye opener and it did not sugar coat details, instead, provided factual informationat least, based on the teachings and available articles in today's accessible resources.

2023

Is Rizal deserving of the title of national hero? Is he a true hero or just a Betrayer? Veneration Without Understanding by Renato Constantino was a different and long read about Jose P. Rizal, who is our national hero. The article's critical assessment of the revered Rizal was a closer look at the "truth" behind the mystery of the hero without praising and criticizing Rizal's good qualities and actions too much. Instead, it gave his good qualities and actions a more realistic view without saying they were bad. The article talks about how Rizal came to be known as the national hero of the Philippines and how these events have affected the nation's nationalism today, especially how the idea of heroes and how they relate to their country creates an atmosphere of patriotism. The whole piece

This is a reflection paper questioning the position of Dr. Jose Rizal as the Philippines national hero. This paper do not have the intention to disrespect Rizal but more often that he should not the only national hero that Philippines must have. Let always put in our mind that an opinion without respect on the other side is not an opinion it was a mere foolishness of a man.

BSTRM 3-1N Does Rizal deserved to be our national hero? Dr. Jose P. Rizal the greatest man in Malayan race. He was a poet, an artist, a doctor, a nationalist etc. He was the Daniel Padilla of his time because he had all in one or he had everything (Nasa kanya na ang lahat). He finished more than two courses within and outside the Philippines. He is widely known in most parts of Europe, America, and Asia in his prime era. Disclaimer: Everything in this paper work is based on my reflective analysis among my trusted resources including books, articles, and from previous study about the life of Rizal. Rizal had a lot of highlights in his life and on his not too far existence he reached several milestones. He had plenty of notable works including his sculptures, poems, science discoveries, and especially his nobles. He also had successful career and love life, an intellectual, capable, and romantic man. He excelled on a lot of things and fields that made him popular inside and outside the country. However, do these accolades make him our national hero? I think its not enough, but during his time, in the reign of Spanish colonialization, it was very exceptional trait for a Filipino like him commendable.