Unus Instar Omnium

Why should Rizal be considered the father of Philippine nationalism?

Today’s lecture mainly revolved around answering this very enigmatic thought. Rizal’s ideas on nationalism and the long process of nation-building revealed much of his adherence to liberal thinking. Much importance is given to the collectivity and its role in raising enlightened individuals. Solidarity must reside in the hearts of every individual who wishes to attain freedom. It is only inside the national community that a person can realize oneself. Professor Fernandez likened the critical role of the collectivity to nationhood to that of the Japanese culture. The Japanese is a testament that through the community, any calamity can be overcome. They exemplified the duty-conscious citizens. In the end, their sense of collectivity is what saved them from further destruction and chaos from the recent massive earthquake and its subsequent tsunami. It is interesting to note that Rizal himself was very much fascinated with the Japanese solidarity. He noted in his 1886 trip to Japan that the Japanese ethics found privilege inside the collecitivity. Aside from his fascination in Japanese theatre and arts, he also admired the Japanese discipline. In contrast with the duties-conscious Japanese, Filipinos are characterized by being duties-blind but rights-conscious. In the mindset of the most Filipinos, the government owes the citizen. It is in this skewed thinking that enables the Filipinos to neglect their duties to society and, instead, focus on availing their rights from the State.

One life is for all. This was the motto Rizal provided for his writing the constitution of the La Liga Filipina. Even at the early age of 19, Rizal conceptualized in his prize-winning poem To The Filipino Youth the Philippines as a sovereign country for the Filipinos. Dr. Rafael Palma noted that this new inspiration gave Rizal a definite idea that the Philippines is the motherland of the Filipinos, an idea that he would carry with him for the rest of his life. Rizal’s selection as the father of Philippine nationalism is a logical choice since he laid the foundation to what nationalism should be. Immersed with the influences of the 19^th century western political ideologies, Rizal further reasoned that the basis of the Filipinos solidarity should take off from their common abasement to the Spanish colonizers. He also exercised due caution in any ill-prepared revolution; he points out that any revolution from below shall be brutal and bloody, but peaceful and orderly if from above. Until his last breath, Rizal stood for what he believed in: that the Filipinos, like any other race in the world, deserve their share of respect and dignity. True to his words in Mi Ultimo Adios, Rizal faithfully gave his life without doubts, without gloom. (03/15/2011)