Title: sacrifice and martyrdom
Lesson introduction:
As life was snuffed out of him, great did he become, Rizal is known to have given his
life for his beloved muse, the Philippines. In all his undertakings, he knew his
ultimate goal was to lift up his motherland at the risk of his own life. Understanding
what he went through at various stages in his life opens a different avenue of Rizal
being a man first, then a martyr.
Lesson Discussion: There are a lot sacrifices made by Rizal in his lifetime.
Paciano, his older brother. arranged for him to study abroad. The young Rizal
has already reached his limit in the schools domestically and the brewing
censorship and inequality did not provide him with an environment conducive
for learning. His first sacrifice was separation from his family so he could pursue
his scholastic career abroad. Imagine the whirlwind of emotions he had to go
through in order to unlock a better world! Rizal had to adapt quickly and
transform into an adult for he was now alone with no brother or mother to lead
him.
His pursuit of his love for arts was overshadowed by his medical degree.
As a young man, he took up classes on the Bellas artes (Fine Arts) in Escuela de
San Fernando, but did not pursue it for the main reason that upon his arrival in
Spain, he continued his degree in Medicine. While undergoing medical school,
he became deeply immersed with the scientific method of problem solving. In
order to treat a patient, one must find the cause first. As he studied the human
anatomy and became fascinated about the different organs of the body, he
finally decided to specialize in the field of ophthalmology. As he began to see
the truth, he slowly knew that there was always a solution to every dilemma; so
he transformed his mindset and focused on the ills of the country.
On the morning of that fateful day, December 30,1896, Rizal was made to
walk from his cell in Fort Santiago all the way to Bagumbayan. The medical
doctor checked his pulse and was surprised by the evidence of his calmness.
Upon his final moments, Rizal remained firm that his death would also be part of
the fight to liberate his dear Philippines. As he offered his life that day, Rizal
became enshrined into the martyrs of heroes who fell victim to the harsh
Spanish colonial government who was afraid of what Rizal could do to the
colonizers.
Upon hearing news of his death, the Katipuneros in their respective
stronghold continued their struggle for emancipation knowing full well of the
sacrifice brought forth by one of their inspiring figures. Though he may not be
there to lead them, Rizal brought to light the shared angst and provided a new
hope for his fellow Filipinos.