Essay on Jose Rizal

“No Legend, Jose Rizal was Truly a Brave Man...”

By Jenelle Mecija

We live in a world where many heroes and heroines walk the earth, where people show their courage and bravery, where legends and legacies are made, where people fight for the right to be free. The world is filled with many people who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. These are the people who make a difference in the world. These are the people such as Dr. Jose Rizal. Dr. Rizal was a great, admirable man who was proud to be a Filipino and who was not afraid to stand up and fight for his country.

Through his many words and several remarkable works, Dr. Rizal stood and fought for his country. He chose and used writing as a peaceful way to stand up and fight for his country and at the same time express his feelings. He wrote many novels and newspaper articles that explained the terrible and disturbing situations that were occurring in the Philippines. Many of these stories exposed the Spanish friars who took advantage of the Filipinos and treated them as slaves. He was not afraid to speak out his thoughts and feelings and was not afraid to say what needed to be said. Dr. Rizal was on a journey to find independence for his country, howver, he was not the only one. Along with Dr. Rizal, came the overseas Filipinos who were also on the quest for freedom.

Dr. Rizal and the overseas Filipinos underwent hard work, frustration and sacrifice in order for Filipinos to have their rights and their freedom. Both of them were faced with many of the same obstacles which seemed to block their way. The government and the means of communication were just two of these obstacles which they faced. Instead of ending their journey each time they were faced with a problem, they did not give up and always appeared to go through a long, hard struggle in order for the freedom of the people of the Philippines. They knew they had to put an enormous amount of time, effort and hard work to reach their set goal. They knew that at the end of the struggle, there would be a big reward and that all their hard work and effort would have been worth it. They were very determined and very focused on reaching their goal. They were very determined to attain the freedom which they deserved.

Like Dr. Rizal, the overseas Filipinos were not in the Philippines when several of the frightful events happened. However, that did not stop them from standing up and fighting for their country’s rights. With a lot of will power and a lot of knowledge, Dr. Rizal and the overseas Filipinos spread the word about what the people of the Philippines were going through. They figured that if they could show the evildoers that most of the world knew what they were doing, they would stop and give the Filipinos their freedom. The dream that someday they would be free and the Philippines would be an independent country was Dr. Rizal’s and the overseas Filipinos’ motivation throughout their whole journey.

Dr. Rizal was a very courageous and brave man who did everything that he could to reach the destination for freedom. Even when he knew that there were many dreadful things happening in the Philippines, Dr. Rizal decided to return home. There, he began a non-violent society and began a school and hospital for the people. He did a lot of scientific research on many things. He made a big difference in the lives of so many people.

One day, a Filipino revolt broke out. This revolt was not connected to Dr. Rizal in any way, however, he was arrested and accused of having caused it. He underwent trial and was found guilty by the military. He was to be executed publicly by firing squad a few days later.

On the evening before he was to be killed, Dr. Rizal wrote one last masterpiece called Mi Ultimo Adios, which means “my final farewell.” The next day, he was taken in front of a firing squad and was told to face backwards so that his back was facing the shooters. He did not want to, but he did. The captain of the firing squad yelled out the number one and when he did this, the firing squad got into position. When the captain yelled out the number two, the firing squad aimed their guns at Dr. Rizal. As soon as the captain yelled out the number three, Dr. Rizal turned around to face the bullets and the firing squad began to shoot. In an instant, Dr. Rizal was dead. He was considered the first national martyr of the Philippines, His courage and struggle shown for the Filipinos’ rights and for the independence of the Philippines was a big inspiration to many others who underwent the same struggle and journey for their country.

Dr. Rizal was a courageous man who died for his strong beliefs. He was, and still is, the national hero of the Philippines. He taught and showed people not to give up and to keep all hope because all things were possible. He taught and showed others that there was always a peaceful way to work things out and that it was not easy to do so. He also pointed out that not all struggles and conquests ended in death, or war.

The dream of the Filipinos to be free is a dream which has come true. Dr. Rizal is truly a great example of what it means to be proud of who you are and where you came from. He is not a legend, but a real brave man who cared a lot about others. When Dr. Rizal died facing the bullets, he left behind a great legacy. This legacy of pride, courage and bravery is what makes Filipinos proud of who they are. The legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal is an inspiration to all. It is a legacy which lives on.

Jenelle Mecija recently graduated from St. Joseph High School in Lakewood as a California Scholarship Federation seal bearer. She is involved in KIWIN’s Club, a youth service club sponsored by the KIWANIS club. She was named KIWIN”s Member of the Year (1997-98) because of her dedication to serving others, and became the club’s president the following year. She will be attending the California State University, Long Beach this fall as a Scholar’s Choice student and majoring in nursing. Her essay, written when she was in 10th Grade, shared the First Place in the Essay Writing Contest for High School students sponsored by the Philippine National Press Club of America three years ago.