When fighting for principles means going beyond parameters
A message for Rizal day
At first, the Filipino folk mark this day to honour the sacrifice of this great Filipino hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Be it from his talent to those of his dedication for the struggle to self-determination, Rizal is a person one would say worthy of emulation.
However, despite celebrating his martyrdom and recognsing his aspirations and contributions, the fact that most Filipinos venerate him as well as other heroes without understanding. That they only knew about he as using the power of the pen to convey sentiments, yet, fails to recognise that he himself acknowleges the power of the people-the need for revolution and going beyond the parameters of legality.
But realistically speaking, that Rizal, with all his talents, chose to sacrifice despite offering him escape by the Katipunan in the hopes that he will bring his thoughts to his grave. But no, his works resonate that Filipinos willing to fight, revolt against tyranny, only to have a country still in shambles and still led by local tyrants in connivance with interests. It is not surprising that some aspects from Rizal's life and works continues to be shown in different depictions.
It is no joke that Rizal chose to sacrifice. For him perhaps to die is to rest, a "noble death wish" as one may say, but for the folk who believed in him that death may give way to a renewed committment to independence and a new beginning. Sadly, the country Rizal wished for a "good life" remains in a continuining past where a backward, feudal, conservative culture continues to thrive even in an era where words like "freedom", "justice", "equality", "democracy" been overheard as alibis by interests. It is not surprising that leaders who preached about Rizal and other heroes' sacrificies be "worthy of emulation" while those who follow and adhere seriously to their aspirations as either being judged as fools who instead of "living a normal lives" rather chose to fight against an order that's unjust.
Yes, the desire for freedom, justice, democracy, and other words are reduced to empty phrases by the order and its apologists who favour maintaining entrenched interests, yet for those who adhere to it will continue to resonate and be defended even at the expense of their lives. Like Rizal and others, their commitment to freedom, justice, democracy, and other appealing words are more than just rhetorics.
It simply needs action even it goes beyond the parameters.