“Jose Rizal: The Best the Filipino Could Be”

By: Conrado de Quiros

I. Summary
Jose Rizal: The Best Filipino Could Be is an article written by Conrado de Quiros, a popular
columnist, showing the significance of Jose Rizal’s role in helping the Philippines to be on its current
condition. Also, the article provided several justifications on why Jose Rizal deserves to be recognized
as the national hero of the Philippines. Furthermore, the writer shared his own stand and opinion of how
Rizal showed the true Filipino identity that the countrymen must possess, and how he fought for the
country’s freedom uniquely.

II. Highlight

“Revolution is not about taking over a state or grabbing power, it is also about empowering people
and making them realize that their destiny is in their hands.”

Rizal may not have verbally spoken these words, but his deeds and efforts to fight for the
Philippines in his own way were enough to derive the deeper meaning of his actions. For the Philippines
to stand alone and established its identity, every Filipino must understand such significance. Rizal knew
it. He was aware that the journey to freedom starts in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos. Moreover,
he knew that one determined man is not enough to save the whole country. Using the talents and
capabilities he possessed, he became an instrument for the Filipinos to wake up and become
independent. Having said that, Rizal had imparted us a lesson that fighting does not necessarily require
bloodshed or death, it is about using your own unique capabilities to stand for what you believe in and
for what you deserve.

III. Reaction
The Philippines today is a product of a diverse culture and remarkable history. Our ancestors have
suffered a lot from our colonizers, and it took several challenges and sacrifices from different people to
help our country move forward and stand independently. In connection, Jose Rizal was undeniably one of
the greatest Filipino heroes who fought for our country. It took a lot of courage to speak on behalf of our
fellow countrymen who suffered in the hands of the Spaniards. Some may have doubted his recognition
as our national hero since he did not fight in the battlefield like how Andres Bonifacio did. Nevertheless,
in my opinion, both deserves to be equally recognized. We don’t need to compare and identify who is
more superior and better than the other because both their bravery brought us to where we currently are.
Rizal and Bonifacio possessed different strengths and the two of them knew that they would carry out their
plans and achieve their goals of saving our country in their own unique ways. The article had provided
enlightenment to those people who fail to acknowledge how the works of Rizal changed the life of many
Filipinos. Additionally, the author’s stand with regards to him is agreeable. Despite the unpleasurable
experiences they have, our national hero had managed to establish a measure on what it means to
become a true Filipino. Rizal played an important role in setting our individuality, uniqueness and national
identity. He did not just represent our identity using his physical strengths nor did he intend to do it alone.
He stayed where his good at and used his writing skills to open the hearts of the Filipinos. From my point
of view, I think that Jose Rizal knew that he needs to change how people think and enable them to
understand the reality because the country needs to be saved not just by one person but with the help of
everyone. He provided our ancestors a purpose, a common goal of being free from the hands of the
Spaniards. It was admirable that someone like Jose Rizal took a step to become the voice of the early
Filipinos even if he may have anticipated the possible consequences of his actions. To think about it, he
could have just remained silent and used his excellent skills to become more successful, but he did not.
He unselfishly chose to use his capabilities to save us. Apparently, Rizal had proved that his love for his
country is greater than any achievements or opportunities that he could have possibly get when he stayed
out of saving our land and our fellowmen. He was a great man and an inspiration to others. Hence, I am
hoping that the Filipinos of today will be able to appreciate and understand how big his sacrifices were
and will not let such sacrifices be put into wastes. Freedom was not easily given to us, they fought for it.