Today, December 30, marks Rizal’s death 124 years ago. We are reminded that his sacrifice for the nation did not go to waste for it fueled the re-awakening of our forefathers to stand up against the abuses of our colonizers.
We celebrate today as it serves as an inspiration for our modern-day heroes — our frontliners in this time of pandemic, for example — to remain steadfast on the challenges of the present times and to become beacons of hope for this country.
The legacy of Rizal’s (life and) death is a walking testament to a Filipino’s magnificent and consuming love for his country that sparked a leap for freedom and is an assertion of national dignity.
Hence, today similarly forms part of our collective imagination of our continuing revolution against foreign institutions or entities which still treat our nation as a vassal or inferior state.
In these challenging and crucial times, we need equally courageous and principled Filipinos stripped of apathy and selfishness to sustain our fight for freedom from all the ills of society.
As we commemorate the anniversary of Rizal’s death, may we be inspired by his life story and emulate the principles that made him our country’s national hero, one of which is to live a life that is consecrated to a vision and in fulfillment of a great ideal.
It is also during this occasion that we make Rizal’s death relevant in our day-to-day lives by being in the service of others, rooted in and strengthened by the love of the people.
May Rizal’s sacrifice, therefore, push us to be the better versions of ourselves and become agents of genuine change.
Happy New Year to all!
