This article is in commemoration of the 112th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Philippine National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, observed December 30, 2008.
While certain groups paused and recalled the event on this date many Filipinos especially those who were born outside the Philippines do not see the relevance of the contributions of this great man to the building of the Filipino nation because his life and works are not a part of the education of the Filipinos outside the home country.
This paper is one of the several presentations on Dr. Jose Rizal that this writer had worked on for Filipinos outside Canada that she wants to share especially with the youth to enrich their pride in being Filipino.
Rizal and the Immigrant Experience
Leon Ma Guerrero called him the first Filipino, Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, the first Filipino, left the Philippines in 1882 at a young age on his first voyage to a new world.
What was his goal? He made the voyage at a time when crossing the oceans was much more difficult than it is now. He did not have much money. His elder brother raised the money. 356 pesos in all. His eldest sister gave him a diamond ring, which indeed came in handy.
Why did immigrants like most of us leave our country of origin? Was it not for the search for a better life?
An air of mystery surrounded and still continues to surround Jose Rizal’s voyage to Europe in 1882. Excerpts from a letter from his brother Paciano, dated May 26, 1882 stated and I quote: “As far as our friends, our acquaintances and strangers are concerned, both in our town and in the neighboring ones, your departure was the topic of conversation for many days, but nobody has hit the truth.
Here it is said that you will finish your medical course in Barcelona, not in Madrid. To my way of thinking the main purpose of your going is not to improve yourself on that profession but in other more useful things or what comes to the4 same thing, that to which you have greater inclinations: unquote.
Those who have read about Jose Rizal’s life and activities in Europe understand what those greater inclinations were.
Unlike us immigrants of this era who searched for a better life, Jose Rizal searched for ways to improve the way of life of the people in the Philippines during that last quarter of the nineteenth century, by trying to seek reform from the mother country, Spain.
While goals may not have been the same, the immigrant experiences are similar.
At first, Jose Rizal was lonely. He was the only Filipino in the thirty-seven passengers of that ship. He was seasick. He had a hard time communicating with the other passengers since at that time; he had not yet learned the various foreign languages. From his voyages Rizal emerged a linguist. He never, however forgot his first language. He urged a sister to write him in Tagalog when he was in Spain.
He said it was his way of remembering his roots.
The maintenance of the first language is one issue among Filipino immigrants. In a mini-study conducted by this writer in 1998 in preparation for a paper she presented at the “Pandaigdig na Komparensiya sa Paglilinang at Pagtuturo ng Filipino” which was held at the Traders Hotel in Manila, December 15-17, 1998, she derived the following pieces of information:
1. That Filipinos use their first language in informal communication.
2. That they are hesitant to use it in formal communication because they don’t feel adequate in speaking to groups in this language
3. That second and later generations of Filipinos in Canada can hardly speak the language.
Like a true Filipino then and now, Jose Rizal easily made friends. He did not remain lonely for a long time. We Filipinos, all over the world are known for friendliness. We easily adjust, Jose Rizal was not an exception.
He experienced the difficulties of new immigrants. He had very meager funds and so he had to make do with very modest lodgings while in Barcelona. He had to borrow money from some friends to make both ends meet.
Eventually, he received a regular monthly allowance equivalent to forty to fifty dollars. A the time that amount was enough for Jose Rizal to live a relatively comfortable life.
Relieved of his financial worries, Jose Rizal started to enjoy his stay in Spain and engage in an active life as an acknowledged leader of Filipino students in Madrid. He organized meetings and discussion forums. He contributed to the local papers replies against attacks on the Filipinos or their native land.”
These activities of Rizal in Spain were reminiscent of the Filipino movements in Canada and the United States in the 1980’s when Filipinos abroad joined in the fight to overthrow the Marcos Regime. Circumstance may not be exactly similar but the forces behind-nationalism and love for freedom- are the same.
In a paper entitled “Philippine Independence, Dr. Jose Rizal and the View from California” presented by Dr. Howard Dewitt of Ohlone College Fremont, California, to the International Conference on the Centennial of the 1896 Philippine Revolution, held at the Manila Hotel August 21-2, 1995 the researcher discussed how Dr. Jose Rizal provided California Filipinos with a symbol for political activism.”
The speaker talked about the period 1926-1946.
It will be recalled that early Filipino migrants to the Golden State worked as unskilled farm workers. Like the Chinese, labour contractors as well as limitations of civil rights subjected Mexicans, Japanese and Asian Indians and the Filipinos to barbarous working conditions and manipulations. But these Filipino migrants to California refused second-class citizenship treatment. Two factors influenced this assertion:
o Education received in the Philippines in the ways of American democracy
o Dr. Jose Rizal’s political ideas
When California Filipinos recall Rizal’s ideological importance they often suggest that “Jose Rizal was not only the first to proclaim himself a Filipino but he taught us how to deal with adversity.”
The paper also cited the statement of a well-known California Filipino labour leader Philip Vera Cruz, in an interview in 1982, who said “this sense of Being Filipino and identifying with the Philippines was Dr. Rizal’s greatest contribution.
The paper dealt extensively on how the celebration of Rizal Day, December 30 was used by California Filipinos to voice ideals as basis for their claims.
Dr. Dewitt named three changes brought about by Dr. Rizal’s ideas to Filipinos in California.
“Filipinos worded their arguments carefully in newspapers and expressed them articulately in fraternal organizations thereby gaining support for their demands for equality.
Rizal Day celebrations grew each year in importance and prestige and reminded Californians of Filipino economic successes.
Various Filipino organizations and leaders demonstrated their ability to work effectively within the American system. While many ethnic groups were plagued by fears of radicalism, Filipinos were considered a model minority who deserved that their voices be heard.
I strongly recommend this paper for reading to members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal outside the Philippines as a source of inspiration and information on how Rizal Day may be observed to go beyond pomp and circumstance. The paper discussed in detail the successes and failures of the California Filipinos to work together towards a common goal, the in-fighting of organizations and leaders, how the personal agenda of some leaders led to the loss of Rizal’s ideals in the celebration, the rise of the Filipino press in California, fighting discrimination and negative publicity.
The movement in California lasted for more than two decades. Several factors had led Filipinos to new interests and goals. But the California Filipino experience demonstrated lasting values that Dr. Jose Rizal, first Filipino, and all Filipinos possess – love for freedom, equality and respect.
Times have changed, circumstances have changed, goals have changed but the ideals of the first Filipino are still constant that find a place through all the changes.
Many issues that concerned California Filipinos are still issues that affect immigrants most especially Asians in North America and other parts of the world. As we move on to the new millennium, let us face the challenges expressed in the first Filipino’s ideals as challenges in the quest for freedom. equality and respect of all Filipinos outside the Philippines, seeking for a better life.