The Philippines today: "Independent" with a democratic government whose leaders expand their frame and fortune by dishonesty and injustice, apportion more funds to the military than to education and connive with the media to control the thoughts of the masses. Consequently, many Filipinos are still uninformed, impoverished and extremist, retarding the formation of better nation.
What difference does today make? Now that we are free from the Spaniards, can we say that we are truly free? Aren't we still oppressed and worse, by our own countrymen?
Whatever happened to the equality our national hero wrote about? "All men are born equal, naked, without bonds. God did not create man to be slave," Dr. Jose P. Rizal wrote in a letter to the young women of Malolos, " nor did he endow him with intelligence to have him hoodwinked, or adorn him with reason to have him deceived by others."
A hundred and fifty years have passed since Rizal's birth. Filipinos who hail his ideals believe he was right when he said the youth are the country;s future. What the youth become will determine the course of new chapters in the country's history.
However, elders struggle to teach the youth as they themselves find it hard to walk the talk and escape form the darkness of oppression. This is why our national hero continues to be relevant today. From his life and writings, we, the youth have a lot to learn and emulate.
Jose Rizal was awake to the harshness of reality. This endowed him with a deep love of country that transcends the common concerns of the young: family, romance, friendship, pride, safety. By this, he encouraged his fellow youth to resist abuse and lift the Philippines to freedom and independence.
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