Senators recall Rizal’s heroism, principles

Left and right, Senators Joel Villanueva and Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE

Senators paid tribute to national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal on Saturday, Dec. 30, the commemoration of his 121st death anniversary.

Detained senator Leila De Lima, citing a verse of Rizal’s poem “Huling Paalam,” described him as a political prisoner who fought against an oppressive government.

“Malinaw po: Si Gat Jose Rizal ay bilanggong pulitikal ng isang mapaniil at malupit na pamahalaang Kastila. Sa pagtataguyod ng reporma, sa pagtatanggol ng karapatang pantao, sa paglalahad ng katotohanan ukol sa baluktot na patakaran ng gobyerno, ipinakulong siya at hinatulan sa kasalanang hindi niya ginawa. Siniraan ang reputasyon at pangalan ng mga gawa-gawang paratang ukol sa rebelyon at destabilisasyon,” De Lima said in a statement.

The lawmaker detained on drug charges also called on Filipinos to emulate Rizal’s principles for the country.

“Tinatawag ang bawat isa sa atin na isabuhay ang prinsipyong itinaguyod ni Gat Rizal, at ng mga Pilipinong nakipaglaban para sa ating kasarinlan. Sama-sama nating buhayin at pag-alabin ang aandap-andap nang liwanag ng katarungan at pag-asa sa ating bayan na pilit kinikitil ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan,” she said.

Likewise, Senator Joel Villanueva urged the public to “contemplate Rizal’s teachings and principles, and ask what they can do to contribute in nation-building.”

“More than a century ago, a great man sacrificed his life to free his countrymen from the shackles of abuse and colonialism. Dr. Jose Rizal, the patriot hailed as our country’s national hero, is popularly known for his writings that ignited Filipinos’ hearts and minds to rise against an unjust and corrupt system,” Villanueva said in a statement.

“Let us further take this opportunity not only to pay tribute to Rizal’s heroic and selfless deeds, but also to strive to emulate his sense of duty and burning passion to bring progressive and nationalistic reforms for the love of our Motherland,” he added.

For Senator Francis Pangilinan, Rizal, also known as “Ka Pepe,” “left the haunting message that genuine independence cannot exist when Filipino farmers are still disrespected and poor.”

“We need to measure development by how abundant their own dining tables are,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

During Rizal’s exile in Dapitan, Mindanao from 1892 to 1896, he engaged in agriculture works and founded a cooperative that helped farmers use efficient farming techniques. 

Aside from being an agriculturist, writer and freedom fighter, Rizal was also an educator, engineer, and a surgeon, who “used his genius to help uplift lives of Filipinos,” Senator Grace Poe said.

“He served the people, and that’s what made the difference. We hope his legacy and story will remain alive among us, especially the youth,” she added. /cbb