Channeling Rizal

“He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.” – Dr. Jose P. Rizal
While Father’s Day and our own fathers will be the focal point of this special celebration, Filipinos will hold especially dear the father of Philippine nationalism — Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
Incidentally, Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary will also be celebrated on Sunday, June 19.
On June 12, hundreds of Filipino-Americans across America celebrated the 113th Declaration of Philippine Independence, and paid their respects to the heroes and patriots of our homeland — the brave who fought for our country’s freedom.
At the Kalayaan 2011 Grand Gala, Patricia Magdalena Laurel (Rizal’s great grand niece) graced the occasion as the special guest speaker.
Like her great grand uncle, Laurel is a writer of children’s fiction who has traveled the world. But more importantly, sharing her great grand uncle’s genes has made her determined to teach Filipino kids who were born in America about their roots through her magazine, Art Insite.
She laments that Filipino kids are losing sight of their identity both in America and in the Philippines and that she wants to change that mindset by continuing to write fiction for Fil-Ams and Filipino kids, so that they would imbibe a sense of appreciation for their roots.
Echoing a message similar to what was once reiterated by her great grand uncle, she said: “Look at your children. Look at them closely — they are full of hope, innocence and uncertainty, not knowing what the future will bring. Don’t let them lose sight of their cultural identity. Don’t forget where you come from, and where they come from. Teach them to respect our traditions.”
While Laurel may be biologically-related to our national hero, as Filipino-Americans, we all have a part of Rizal in us. Like him, we have traveled great distances, went through struggles and adapted to a new culture and eventually, a new home.
But the Filipino in us will always remain — for as long as we do not forget where we came from and who we are as a people.
Remembering and commemorating history every year is one thing, but retaining and imbibing the lessons learned from them is another story.
There may never be another Dr. Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda in our lifetime, but by emulating him and ensuring that his legacy lives on, each of us can become like him, in our own way.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend June 18-21, 2011 Sec A pg. 12)