Reaction Paper

Jose Rizal

The movie tells the life and struggles of Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero and martyr of the Philippines. It covers his life from his childhood to his execution at the hands of the Spanish forces colonizing the Philippines. The film show what kind of life we have under the Spanish colonizer and how the friars use the religion to control the Filipinos. Filipino’s life was full of misfortunes. The Filipinos were unfairly treated and discriminated by the Spaniards. This is the reason why Jose Rizal leaved the Philippines to acquire education and used his knowledge to create a novel that will awake the Nationalism of every Filipino for them to have courage to fight for their rights and for their country.

The two novels he made showed the entire country under Spanish regime. Both Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo the writings of Jose Rizal shows the poor condition of the Filipinos. We experienced discrimination, torture, violence, unequal rights, high taxes and corruption under the government of friars. The main reason why he wrote his novel is to expose the cruelty, greediness, religion as a business and power are the things he himself didn't want. The friars use their powers to the "ignorant" minds of the Filipinos. The book was prohibited when the officials discovered it. It is because the novel attacks the church and the government. For that, Rizal was excommunicated. Through that work, many Filipinos were enlightened and inspired; for the first time, his work served as the best way to live the national sentiment. Many organizations and strikes happened and conducted, such as the Katipunan which led by Andres Bonifacio. Through his works and writings touched the Filipino heart and made him a hero. No one except Rizal had a great impact against the Spaniards and the Filipinos. No Filipino during that time like him was greatly exalted and respected and highly opponent of the government.

While I’m watching the movie I remember his famous quotation which is “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa malansang isda” I just wonder why most of his novel, poem and other writings are in foreign language. I don’t know what his reason for this, but one thing I know whatever it is, it’s for the good of our country. After I watched the full movie of Jose Rizal, I realized that we don’t need to argue about the selection of our national hero between Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Jose Rizal deserved to be the national hero. In the movie, it showed how Andres Bonifacio idolized Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal is the reason why he joined in Katipunan. Because of the novel of Rizal it inspired Bonifacio to fight and to start revolution against the Spanish colonizer. I think without Jose Rizal, Bonifacio will still be an” indio” who is afraid to stand for his rights.