113th Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s Martyrdom
Manila Bulletin, Dec. 29, 2009
By Prof. DAVID LAPUZ, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal and Professor of The Life and Works of Rizal, December 29, 2009
More than at any period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication or re-consecration to the ideals of freedom, justice and nationalism. I refer to the 118th year of the publication of El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal which was September 18, 1891 and the 113th death anniversary of Rizal which is commemorated every December 30.
As for the first, the printing press, which Rizal found at No. 66 Viaanderen Street, was the F. Meyer-Van Loo Press and this printing press finished the printing of El Filibusterismo on September 18, 1891. Rizal pawned his jewels to pay advance money to begin the printing of El Filibusterismo and on August 6, 1897, the printing of the Fili was stopped because Rizal was not able to pay the corresponding installments. On this day, Rizal wrote his close friend Basa who was in Hongkong: “As you will see in the enclosed clipping, the printing of the second part (of the Fili) is advanced, and I am now on page 112. Because no money is forthcoming and I owe everybody and I am broke, I will have to suspend the publication and leave the work half-finished.”
Rizal was so desperate and so despondent that he was very close to burning the manuscript of his novel. Rizal wrote again to Basa: “Several times, I am tempted to burn my manuscript; but then I think of you. And I know there are many good people, many who truly love their country.”
Unanticipatedly, Valentin Ventura, who was in Paris, heard of the urgent need of Rizal for the printing of his second novel, and he forthwith sent him the needed money. As an expression of his gratitude, Rizal sent the original manuscript and a printed copy which he had autographed to Valentin Ventura. He also sent copies to Ferdinand Blumentritt, Mariano Ponce, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Trinidad Herminigildo Pardo de Tavera, Antonio and Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar: “To the Filipino People and their Government: Oftentimes we have been so frightened by subversion that a mere false alarm of it has acquired the posture of reality and the mention of which would make us commit the greatest errors. Putting aside the old habit of believing myths, in order, not to meet it in reality what was imagined, instead of evading it, let us face it squarely and with a firm, if inexpert hand, we shall raise the veil to uncover, before the multitude, the components of its skeletal mechanisms.
“If seeing it, our country and its government could react to a reflection, we shall consider ourselves happy, no matter whether they would censure us our audacity, no matter whether we have to pay for it like the young student of Sais who wished to penetrate into the secret chambers of frailocratic deception. x x x”
After reading the Fili, Mariano Ponce wrote to Rizal: “It is indeed excellent. I can say nothing of your book, but this: it is really marvelous like all the brilliant productions of your pen. It is a true twin of the Noli.”
Read the Fili, I entreat you, dear and gentle readers, and meet the characters that proverbially represent types and institutions in our present day society. Have you met the likes of Simoun, Doña Victorina, Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, Paulita Gomez, Ben-Zayb, Padre Sybilla, Padre Camorra, Don Custodio, Padre Salvi, Padre Irene, Padre Florentino, Isagani, Kabesang Tales, etc?
In a sense, Rizal has not died; he has acquired a permanent validity in our culture and has made an enduring contribution to the national heritage. Rizal was truly un Filipino de oro mas puro – a Filipino of the purest gold. Even today, Rizal stands shoulder to shoulder with the greatest men and women in the history of the world.
And in this season of grace and mellow fruitfulness, the genius of the race, Jose Rizal, has this to say about Christmas, which I quote from his letter to Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt dates December 24, 1896 (Rizal was in jail in Fort Santiago, Intramuros): “Today is Christmas. Whether or not Christ was born exactly on this date is not important. But chronological accuracy has nothing to do with tonight’s event. A grand genius has been born who preached truth and love; who suffered because of his mission; and on account of his sufferings the world has become better. x x x”
Thus spoke Jose Protacio Mercado Alonso Rizal whose skull, on December 30, 1896 – 113 years ago in our heroic history – according to the great Filipino poet Cecilio Apostol; in his “Eulogy to Rizal”, “was ravaged by a bullet but whose idea vanquished an empire!” Truly, a diamond of a man was our Dr. Jose Rizal, a Filipino of the purest gold.
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