MANILA — As the nation commemorates Jose Rizal’s 157th birth anniversary, Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday called on the Filipino youth to emulate the national hero’s patriotism and unequivocal dedication to fight for the protection and preservation of the Filipino heritage.
“The values and principles of Jose Rizal as the country’s national hero has been instilled in all of us. I encourage the youth to emulate Rizal’s indisputable loyalty and love for the country and for our people’s heritage as the fate and future of our beloved Philippines rest upon them,” Legarda said.
She said the progress and freedom that Rizal fought for are still the very same challenges Filipinos face today as the country continues to strive for a strong independent nation.
“Instilling the love for country at an early age will inculcate the values of discipline and organization, and will impart common sense to the young generation of Filipinos'” she said,
Legarda, who believes that learning is an everyday process, also noted Rizal’s enthusiasm to learn and educate himself with skills and expertise which not only benefitted his growth as an individual, but most importantly, also contributed to the betterment of the nation and his fellow Filipinos.
“Rizal never got tired of acquiring knowledge and new skills. He never stopped learning because he knew and believed that for a country to be socially and economically progressive, its people must not remain ignorant but instead be empowered through quality education,” she added.
“For our part, we should develop within ourselves the same fervor Rizal had. There is an inherent creative genius that lies within each and every Filipino. Everyone has the potential to grow, excel and be the pride of the nation. All that is needed is to cultivate these and gain inspiration from the noteworthy contributions of other individuals, such as our national hero,” Legarda said.
Legarda also urged the Filipino youth to respect and preserve the nation’s heritage, stressing that Rizal himself had expressed the need to embrace one’s roots.
“While fluent in several foreign languages, Rizal had always expressed his love for his native tongue. He also recognized the exceptional artistry and craftsmanship of Filipinos and, perhaps not known too many, he was also fond of indigenous Philippine textiles. Many of his works also described the beauty of the Philippines and its people,” Legarda noted.
As an avid environmental advocate, Legarda also noted Rizal’s concern for the environment.
Citing historical accounts, she said that during his exile in Dapitan, Rizal engaged in farming and showed the local people how to improve their agricultural productivity through enhanced methods like irrigation and other scientific practices.
She said that the Filipino youth should continue Rizal’s work of caring for the environment, especially in light of the biggest threat to humanity and development — climate change – as a tribute to the national hero.
“As the future of this country, I urge the youth to follow the footsteps and the advocacies of Dr. Jose Rizal, not just in the aspect of protecting our rights and sovereignty, but also with regard to preserving our environment,” she said.
“We should continue to honor the sacrifices of Rizal. On his birth anniversary, let us all look back at his life, work and his fight to ensure that the Filipinos preserve their national identity. Without his life and sacrifice, there would be no Republic of the Philippines,” Legarda said.
The senator is set to file a bill anew, seeking to declare June 19 of every year as a special non-working holiday in the province of Laguna in honor of the birth anniversary of Rizal. (Senate PR)
