Senators urge nation to be inspired by Rizal’s heroism

A WOMAN walks past a mural of national hero Jose Rizal in Ermita district, Manila. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines—Ahead of the 122nd anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal on December 30, senators urged Filipinos to be inspired by Rizal’s heroism and work together for “national transformation.”

In a statement on Saturday, Senator Grace Poe said that Rizal’s deed “sparked the liberation of the nation from inequality and injustice.”

“May his martyrdom continue to live among us, especially the young generations,” Poe said.

“Let’s emulate him by spreading the message of love for country, critical thinking and peaceful reforms using social media in our present era,” she added.

READ: Palace to youth: Follow Rizal’s principles

For his part, Senator Richard Gordon looked back on the heroism of Rizal and honored him for “starting the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonizers through his writings” among others.

“These writings helped break the walls in the minds of his compatriots minds by awakening them to the country’s plight at the hands of the foreign colonizers,” Gordon said pertaining to Rizal’s novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

“Instead of taking arms, Rizal used his mighty pen to fight for our country to be free from foreign rule  and sacrificed his own life to help attain this goal,” he added.

Gordon said that may Rizal’s death “inspire all of us to work towards achieving genuine freedom for our country by overcoming all threats that may hinder our flag from swaying proudly in the air.”

“Let us all work together in starting a national transformation that would enable us to reach the Bagumbayan that Rizal and our other heroes deemed worth dying for,” he added. /jpv