MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – Gov Daniel Fernando urged Filipinos to follow Dr. Jose Rizal’s principles during the 129th anniversary celebration of his heroism at Casa Real de Malolos on Tuesday.
The governor emphasized that standing up for Rizal’s views is a must for today’s generation.
He said the memories of the hero are increasingly prominent amidst today’s issues to hold accountable those who have misused the public treasury.
It can be recalled that the aforementioned hero was one of the main personalities in fighting and exposing the corruption of the then Spanish Colonial Government in the Philippines, through the novel El Filibusterismo, ‘The Reign of the Greed’.
Dr. Rizal wrote it in Spanish to further instill the power of the language in the people who spoke it, which was first published in 1891 in Belgium and later sent to the Philippines.
This was supported by former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato Dela Pena, who served as the guest of honor at the memorial ceremony.
He explained that although Dr. Rizal strongly criticized the corruption of the Spaniards and was aggressive in exposing it, the hero did not forget to offer and present alternatives for the liberation and well-being of the people.
First, he modeled Dapitan, now part of Zamboanga Del Norte, as the ‘template’ of his dream for a free and prosperous Philippines.
It was learned that the Spaniards exiled Dr. Rizal here amid the spread of his novels exposing the corruption of the colonial government and the church.
The former secretary also emphasized that instead of sulking, this was an opportunity for the hero to advance and promote public programs and projects that are free from corruption.
This includes modernizing the farming and fishing system, a proper irrigation system for farms and clean drinking water, and the construction of schools and clinics.
It is said that Dr. Rizal funded a large part of it using the prize from the lottery bet and his private money.
That is why Dela Pena said that Dr. Rizal is a clear example of someone who practiced what he preached in English, a champion in awakening the consciousness of the common people to stand up for the truth.
Meanwhile, the former secretary recalled that it was fitting that the DOST recognized Dr. Rizal as a ‘Filipino Scientist’ in 2021.
He said this is a reflection of the qualities embodied in his surname if pronounced in pure Filipino ‘RISAL’, which means researcher, innovator, server of the people, adherence to truth and love of country.
Since 2010, memorial programs about Dr. Rizal have been held here at the Casa Real de Malolos, where the first Day of Mourning was held for him in 1898.
This was by order of then President Emilio Aguinaldo, whose capital of the First Republic was Malolos.
City Ordinance 87-2020, authored by then Councilor Enrico Capule at the initiative of the Order of the Knights of Rizal-Barasoain/Plaridel Chapter, was approved in November 2020 to make permanent the holding of commemorative programs on historical stages in the life of Dr. Rizal from his birth and heroism, the petition of the Malolos girls, his writing to the girls, and the bringing of La Liga Filipina to Malolos.
