One of the most common vandalism done during high school was to place an infamous mustouche on Rizal. This was because one of the most popular gossip about Rizal was that he was the father of an Austrian who would later on become Der Furher of the Third Reich, Adolph Hitler. Who had started this rumor no one can tell but it was there. Almost as persistent as the portrait Rizal in an overcoat. There are probably more people know about it than people who knew about the retraction controversy or Rizal’s essay on the laziness of Filipinos or his prediction about the country a century after his time.
For most of us Rizal is the National Hero. But do we know Rizal beyond Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterisimo and Mi Ultimo Adios ? Or do we just accept him as the National Hero who was shot in Bagumbayan?
If he was not shot that fateful day would we know him? Do we know him now?
If Rizal had lived beyond Bagumbayan one of the people in Filipino Society and The world would probably know him because of dragons.
During Rizal’s exile in Dapitan, he was able to do a number of things that he probably would be unable to do one because he had the time and two because he was in Mindanao.
Rizal became a school master and he started a school where he developed his own curriculum his own O.B. Rizal. And with his students, Rizal the naturalist began collecting the several specimens of flora and fauna or plants and animals of Mindanao.
At that time he had one of the largest private collection of sea shells in the country. His collection had around 340 shells composed of more than 200 species.
Rizal and his students collected a big number of birds, insects, butterflies, shells, snakes, and plants, most of which he sent to Europe, mostly to Director A.B. Meyer of the Anthropological and Ethnographic Museum of Dresden in Germany.
For instance, in October 1893 , Rizal sent Meyer the following : twelve snakes; one sea horse; two scorpions ; and a number of butterflies.
In exchange Meyer paid Rizal in kind : Meyer sent back scientific books and journals; artificial eyes; microscopes and surgical equipment.
And Rizal kept on sending specimens to Europe. But it was not only volume or amount of specimens he and his boys sent that mattered. Mindanao was not yet fully explored at that time and there were several scientific gems found in the treasure Rizal and his students to Europe. Naturalists and biologist praised the rare specimens discovered by Rizal and company. Now one way naturalist and biologist honored people was by adding their names to the scientific name among them can be found the following:
The Beetle Apogonia rizali HELLER 1897;
The Fungus Beetle Spatholmes rizali;
The rare frog Rhacophorus rizali Boettger,1899;
And the Dragon: the flying Dragon : the Draco Lizard or Draco Rizali. Here is a specimen and picture of the dragon collected by Dr. Edward Harrison Taylor on March 11, 1923,
The flying dragon are tree lizards that only come down from the trees to lay their eggs. And they got their name from their ability to glide. This is because they can extend their ribs and skin flaps to form wings.
Rizal being Rizal a Renaissance Man was not limited to teaching and biology. His interest in geography and archeology were also important since he was able to make contributions to that body of knowledge about the Philippines.
In a letter (written in Spanish by Rizal and translated by scholars into English for us ) to his Austrian friend Ferdinand Blumentritt, Rizal speaks of his life in Dapitan. Buying land and becoming farmer naming the trees he has on his land. He also mentions the weather how it is more personally more agreable than Manila; his inability to practice medicine ; and how he missed civilized life :
“I am very far from the incessant and indefatigable life of civilized Europe where everything is discussed, where everything is placed in doubt, and nothing is accepted without previous examination, previous analysis – the life of the societies of linguistics, ethnography, geography, medicine, and archaeology… ”
He does mention though Nature
“…But on the other hand, I am nearer nature, I hear constantly the song of the sea, the murmur of the leaves, and I see the continuous fluttering of the palms stirred by the breeze.”
I would like to think that based on what Rizal and his students have done that in fact Rizal had found a way to appreciate the Nature and Culture of Dapitan and Mindanao and at the same satisfy his thirst for knowledge and discovery … Becoming the Rizal without the overcoat or Rizal and the Dragons of Dapitan.
Even when he was incarcerated in Dapitan, he manages to be productive. His astounding mind never ceases to amaze. Just imagine what more he could have contributed to society had he not been executed!
On another note, Rizal’s death was a monumental moment in Philippine history. We can say that the killing shots were heard around the country — figurative speaking — and fanned the flames of nationalism and rebellion.
This is not to say though that Rizal’s death was fortunate, for on that day, the Philippines lost one of its most prolific heroes.
Bartolo, Paolo Miguel P.
2014-20244
STS X2
Of all the questions we have about the heroism of Rizal, it is inevitable to say that what he did in Dapitan shows a clear manifestation of him being a Filipino scientist.
I, myself is also wondering on all the “what if’s?” of Rizal’s death. What if he didn’t have to die? What if he died not because of the conventional reason that he have as a standpoint ? What if Rizal was not really a “hero” material? Then who will be our national hero? Who is right to be called the Philippine national hero? But with all these questions, it always boil down to the feeling towards the years Filipinos have considered him as a hero. What is it now to question his identity?
With all the times he spent in Dapitan, his naturally bright and wondering mind was able to make every moment productive. For whom it became productive besides him is a question. Still, I would like to believe that him and his students sending those specimens to Europe had brought good effect for the country.
It is also probably because of his many expertise that I feel the battle between his thoughts in the quoted lines from his letter. He surely still have some uncertainties in his decisions but he’s struggling to pick the better one and the one that will make him happy as an individual exploring the wonders of life (like any other person looking for satisfaction and happiness).
Caballero, Chelse Racar R.
STS X2
Although he is mostly known for being a literary maven, his contributions in science should not be discounted. He was a scientist at heart, evident during his short time in Dapitan, in which he made numerous discoveries. He thought like a scientist; ever curious and resourceful.
segovia
STS X2
Ever since kindergarten and grade school, my teachers would tell me about Jose Rizal being our national hero and how he exhibited the famous line- “The pen is mightier than the sword”. Indeed, we all are familiar with Rizal being the person who wrote Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. But, I’m glad that this blog was able to capture another side of Jose Rizal, which most Filipinos aren’t aware of.
Reading this article made me look up to Rizal even more. I can now proudly say that he’s my idol. If you’d ask me about what I think of Rizal today, I’d probably say that he’s the most well-rounded person that I know of. Normally, people excel at just a thing or two. But, Rizal? He is the epitome of greatness. It is as if he could do anything he wanted and no one could stop him from doing what he loved.
His stay at Dapitan was just another proof of his superbness. Despite being there for his exile, Rizal was able to use his time efficiently by even creating a school and making new discoveries such as the flying dragon.
This blog brings light to Rizal as a scientist- not just an author of the books that we Filipinos were forced to read during high school. Truly a good read!
Jessica Megan Lim
2013- 72200
STS X2
I have always known Rizal to be a great writer and a medical doctor but I didn’t know that he had such contributions in different scientific fields such as Biology and Geography. It can be inferred from the article that Rizal had a thirst for knowledge which was always present no matter where he went. Despite being in isolation and far away from civilization, he found ways to satisfy this thirst and more importantly, he shared his knowledge by establishing a school. His eagerness in gaining more ideas can be proven authentic through the fact that he was contented with scientific journals and equipment in exchange for his discoveries. Though I have spent some time in the past studying Rizal’s life, I realized that there is still a lot more to learn about our national hero.
Ed Vincent R. Chan
2014-27979
STS X2
I’m amazed that despite being exiled to Dapitan, Rizal still showed his immense desire for knowledge. This can be seen in the species he discovered and even named after him.
What would happen if Rizal wasn’t killed? Would he discover new species? Would he be part of the revolution? there are al lot more possible questions that we want answers to but we are certain that Rizal could have done more if he was not executed just because of what he did in Dapitan.
Umali, Miguel Luis
STS X2
After I read this post, I realized how great Dr. Jose Rizal was, not only as a great writer as I’ve known him through his literary works but he was a great scientist as well. His positive attitude towards learning new things was very strong despite the unfortunate circumstances that he experienced. Rizal’s thirst for knowledge had made him contribute to the different fields of science like medicine, geography, biology, etc. like a true scientist does. In short Rizal had the passion to learn new things making him a great Filipino scientist.
Though Rizal’s way of living changed when he was exiled to Dapitan, it was clear that he made use of his free time wisely. He could’ve just sat and sulked about his exile, but no; the scientist in him made sure that his mind will be preoccupied with a lot of things and discovering new species was one of them.
Only a few people knew about Rizal as a scientist. Most of us only recognize him as the national hero – the writer, the doctor and the revolutionary. Being able to recognize Rizal’s contribution to Science makes him a Renaissance man indeed. Being able to be an expert in different subject areas really makes him worth knowing.
Rizal’s retraction is still a mystery for me. I also find it intriguing that it was one of the most highlighted issue in Bayaning Third World. I guess, his retraction, if proven true, would be detrimental to his whole body of work. It’s amazing how a small piece of text can make or break a plethora of texts.
There are a lot of things left unsaid with regards to the life of Rizal. Most people even find his heroism questionable. But it is indeed a heroic act to be able to discover life forms in a place deemed undiscovered by most scientist. And with that, Rizal is a hero.
Salinas, Rebecca Isabel F.
2012-11080
STS – X2
Although Rizal was detained in Dapitan, he still managed to contribute something to the Philippines. This shows another factor to his heroism. He was imprisoned in Dapitan by the Spaniards to prevent his further influence in their social and political matters, but he still found a way to help the Filipinos through education and science!
There are various issues about Rizal being a national hero and his heroism. There are a lot of “what ifs” to question. What if he didn’t become a national hero? Then, I think, he can surely become a national scientist.
Tayamora, Chinarah Agatha A.
STS X2
Ipinanganak si Rizal sa tamang panahon, sa tamang lugar.
Nang banggitin ito ng aming guro sa PI100, ang unang pumasok sa isip ko ay ang salitang bakit. Bago matapos ang klase, gusto niya maintindihan namin kung bakit niya iyon nasabi.
Tamang panahon, June 19, 1861. Halos kasabay na kapangakan ni Rizal ay ang pagbabalik ng Heswita sa ating bansa. Ang mga Heswita ay nangialam sa sistema ng edukasyon. Sila ang unang nakapagpatayo ng paaralan sa ating bansa. Noong panahong iyon, ang mga tao lang na may pera ang kayang makapagpadala sa kanilang anak sa eskwelehan. At alam naman natin na ang pamilya ni Rizal ay makaya. Maari nating sabihin na nasa tamang panahon si Rizal sapagkat may lugar na siya na maaring kuhanan ng kaalaman.
Tamang lugar, Calamba, Laguna. Sa unang kabanata ng librong Rizal: Makabayan at Martyr, sa bahay nila Rizal nahubog ang kanyang kakayahan sa pagsulat, pagguhit ng mga tanawin sa likod-bahay at pagbuo hg mga tula. Marami siyang naging katanungan tungkol sa mga bagay. Katulad na lamang ng, “ano bang meron sa kabilang dako ng dagat(Laguna de Bay) at bundok (Mt Makiling)?”
Di pa rin natin maiiwasang isipan na paano kung di namatay si Rizal. Maari kayang siya ang mamuno ng ating bansa? Maari kayang di na ganun karami ang mga mahirap ngayon? O di naman kaya ay magiging edukado na ang mga Pilipino.
Para sa akin, sapat na ang panahon ni Rizal. Katulad na lamang ng kanyang pagtira sa Dapitan. Marami siyang nagawa roon na nakatulong sa mga mamayan ng Dapitan. Sa pagpapatayo ng eskwelahan at pagdiskubre ng mga hayop sa lugar, malaking tulong na yun sa mga tao. Nakakabilib nga naman talaga si Jose Rizal.
Catembung, Antoine Renz T,
2012-51184
STS X2
Rizal’s stay in Dapitan proved how amazing he truly is, not only as a nationalist, but also as a naturalist. Through his incredible mind, he was able to make people realize that his situation can never hinder him from discovering new things that can be of great importance in the future. At the same time, these discoveries allowed him to be closer to the nation that he belongs into.
Given the issues and controversies that Rizal has faced when he was still alive, a lot of people are trying to question the authenticity of him being our national hero, and I certainly have no intention of questioning them because we all have different opinions regarding this matter. As for me, I still believe that he is worthy of being called as such because he was able to prove that he can be the hero of our nation even if the December 30, 1896 incident did not happen.
Hugo, Jonnah Bianca N.
2014-51442
STS X2
I think being able to appreciate Rizal’s entire life is just as important as recognizing him as a national hero. Most people just focus on the things that made him so, however, there is so much more to his life than just that, and as stated in this article, he appreciated nature, and was a naturalist. (I honestly only learned of this after reading this article.) Its also great because it gives us, the future generation, more avenues to relate to him more, and it shows us how human he was, where most films and documentaries glorify him too much, and place him on a high pedestal where people just worship him.
Seeing these aspects to Rizal’s life made me appreciate him more, and made me realize that he was a normal human, and he enjoyed several things just as we do, and that he was able to channel these pastimes of his to contribute to bettering society and science in the Philippines. This, I think, greatly contributes to his title as a national hero.
Chua, Kyle Cedric K.
2013-71072
STS X2
All throughout grade school, up until high school, we were made to study about Rizal and his works making me feel like I had already known who Rizal really was. But little did I know that what I knew about him was just who he was on the surface. There are still so many things, questions, issues and mysteries that are yet to be discovered about Rizal.
One of the things revealed about Rizal which I didn’t know before was this side of him as a scientist. I knew he was a doctor, a writer, a traveler, a scholar and our National hero but never as a scientist. He spent most of his time in Dapitan discovering new species and sending them to Germany. Indeed, Rizal’s contributions made a significant impact not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world.
Gianna Maxine Santos
STS X2
The controversy of having Rizal as our National Hero had always been there ever since he was chosen for it. Many strive to know the truth to Rizal; his beliefs, his ideologies, his life, and in all these stories, articles, investigations–an image was brought forth. It was a disturbingly blurred image – full of assumptions and supposed “facts” that have been put together roughly by different people – but an image nonetheless.
Sad to say, we might have killed his very memories right there and then. And all he is now are fragments of what we think he is–what we want him to be. It’s not that difficult to speculate on his life when there is no one there to confirm it (much more so when there are people who wants to mislead you from the truth). It suddenly feels like being a hero would either make people look up to you with twinkling eyes or look at you with disdain and criticism. Or both.
Digging into Rizal’s life and death would be a never ending struggle, especially with the evidences (Rizal himself) buried underneath the country’s soil.
One thing we could be sure of though is that Rizal had a mind curious enough to act (one that the Filipinos lacked back then and were probably envious of). He obviously yearned for knowledge and if he had not died on that fateful day he might have done more, discovered more. It is not difficult to see that he would’ve done it for himself (to satisfy his curiosity), not for anybody else, not even for the country. He wasn’t living to be a hero, no, because no one (Rizal included) would live purely for others when they could end up dead in the process. He would be a hero, yes, but still dead.
Regardless of whether he is appropriate for being the National Hero or not, There is no doubt that he is one of the memorable people, albeit a very controversial one, who helped in shaping the country’s history. It certainly could’ve been better–but It also could’ve been worse.
Cuenca, Catherine R.
STS X2
I think that we do not know enough about Rizal because of the inconsistencies of different texts about him. It is an exciting notion to imagine what our country would be like if he did live beyond Bagumbayan. Rizal was a brilliant person and he could have done so much more for our country. He could have liberated so much more people and would have been a very useful person because his expertise is so diverse. It is astounding to think that even during his exile, he found the motivation to contribute to the field of science by discovering several rare species of flora and fauna.
Based on what’s discussed in PI, he didn’t just collected animals and plant species during his stay in Dapitan. Basically, he got himself busy by helping the people, building cooperatives, teaching the kids and even built a dam and water distribution system for the place using bamboo stems as pipes. He made the place better than what it was before he was there. He proved that even an individual can make a difference.
I think what makes him a scientist isn’t the mere fact that he collected species and submitted it to Europe but it was his desire to make the lives of the people better by putting into action the things and principles that he know.
With this, I think that what really makes him a hero and a scientist is his love for letting people know and experience science along with his desire to make the country and the lives of Filipinos better–something that all present Filipino scientists should view as an ultimate goal.
Salison, Arse John P.
STS X2
I really find this article very interesting and kind of surprising since this shows another side of our national hero, Rizal. He who, in this particular time, is far away from any revolution and very near to the sciences making someone think what might could have happened if he died not as a national hero but rather as a scientist. What might be his contributions to the world of science particularly in medicine and biology had he not died? Or rather, would he choose to revolutionize our educational system in the county? There are a lot of possibilities and opportunities for Rizal to contribute to this country in whatever field had he not been shot to death. But still, even with this overwhelming ‘what ifs’, he chose to do what needs to be done. Thus, we now enjoy this freedom handed down to us with the responsibility of keeping it safe and to contribute to this country as much as we can to honor those people who bled for this nation.
Omar Renz V. Regalado
STS X2
Rizal’s numerous discovery and productivity during his exile in Dapitan reminds us that learning never stops wherever and whenever you are. There is always opportunity to learn, but people just need to look for these as to not waste them.
I was struck when Rizal compared Europe’s modernization to the Philippines, saying that in Europe, “everything is discussed, where everything is placed in doubt, and nothing is accepted without previous examination..” which shows the advancement of knowledge and science that they had before us. To place something in doubt such as questioning how things happen and how things came about tells us about the existence of the scientific method early on. Following a process, we observe a natural phenomenon, make a hypothesis or an educated guess, conduct an experiment or an examination, then arrive at a conclusion.. which can later be disproved. This is what Rizal adapted during his exile in Dapitan. Although he was staying in a society that’s more “backward”, he continued to expand his knowledge by gathering data, specifically the different type of species found on the island. He then sent this to Europe so that it can be studied more deeply, and later on he was even named after some of these newly discovered species because of the initiative he took to discover something new.
Only during STS did I learn about Rizal’s side as a scientist (aside from being a medical doctor).
King, Natasha Ilyne
2012-12407
STS X2
The identity of Jose Rizal differs primarily on how one is able to get to know him. For most Filipinos, he is a great novelist and poet, whose works are nationalistic and revolutionary. Some might remember him as a scientist, or a doctor, while others might know him well as a visual artist.
Rizal had become much more than a person, he is an identity, an image, a vision. His works as a scientist, his discoveries in the field of science, manifest on how wide Rizal’s knowledge is. It only tells us that his life is generally a huge learning to seek. We knew little of his life, however, bit by bit we are introduced with his works in different fields. And yet, it seems that there are still missing pieces.
The article had me thinking about how we should continue to discover more of his life, just as how he managed to contribute a lot in certain fields. Because from then, we might not only think of Rizal as an image in a one peso coin, or the date of his execution, or even only with Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. But rather, we can also remember him together with his dragon.
Delgado, Gian Carlo F.
STS X2
For me, this piece actually depicts RIzal more as a human than a figure larger than life. While this piece does indeed add ‘scientist’ to Rizal’s ever growing list of occupations, it also shows a RIzal that has finally grown weary of struggling for a country. It shows a Rizal that has found peace and tranquility, a break from the constant fight for reform in the country.
Even if Rizal was incarcerated, it would seem that it wasn’t the case. He found the time to discover yhings that are essential in environment. He didin’t think about the lack of instruments or the materials the knowledgeable Europe has. Instead, he found a way to give this contribution to Europe and be studied further. Without the novels he wrote, it is good to know that Rizal would still be known as a different entity in our history. This aspect of Rizal’s part should be taught to different schools for them to know that there is another side of Rizal, the scientist/naturalist.
Senica, Charmille Riamae L.
STS X2
I can fairly say that Rizal is really magnificent as he managed to be still very productive despite the fact of being exile. It is also commendable that he was able to satisfy his thirst for knowledge while enjoying the nature and the existing culture and being able to share this to people around him. He maximized his talents and intelligence to the fullest in this part of his life. However, it is just a bad thing that these works of Rizal were not given emphasis in high school.
Cabana, Ma. Suzette
STS X2
Rizal is accepted by many as the national hero of the Philippines without even knowing him thoroughly. I, myself, do not know everything about him but one specific scene in his life made me appreciate him, as a scientist and as a hero. This scenario was his exile in Dapitan. Though guilty of longing for civilized means of living and urbanization, Rizal still managed to appreciate the culture of Dapitan and embrace the environment around him. He also learned to expand his fields of interest rather than just concentrating on one aspect of science. He was able to practice his scientific knowledge, leading him to the discovery of the aforementioned species. Dr. Jose Rizal, as many of us know from his biography that we read from our textbooks, is a great and accomplished scientist, and these discoveries have undoubtedly proven his credibility as such. Just imagine if Rizal was not accused of being part of the Katipunan, he would then live longer and who knows what more could he contribute to the scientific community. Although a lot of speculations and rumors arouse and spread in our society today about Rizal’s heroic deeds, I still think that he is still an undeniably substantial scientist.
Dizon, Michael Laurence G.
2014-08314
STS X2
Jose Rizal, I really amaze how brilliant and talented he was. You can see here the other side of Jose Rizal that we all know, not just a propagandist, reformer, novelist, and ophthalmologist but also a naturalist who contributed well to the field of science and to the Philippines.
I believe about Rizal’s idea that on knowledge, that it should be use for enlightenment, clarification and freedom not for domination and cruelty. However, most of his life spent in Europe; Rizal He never disregards his goal of fighting for true sovereignty and sharing his idea, knowledge and discovery.
In my opinion, He can be one of the most influential and one of the greatest scientists if he lives longer.
Honestly, this information about Rizal discovering species of animals is new to me. This gives me a new image of Rizal besides the common things that are known about him. It’s amazing how his exile did not hinder him from new knowledge, and at the same time contributing to different fields of science. More respect to Rizal, he was very outstanding in so many fields.
Perez, Maria Mikaela S. [2013-19824]
STS X2
It’s amazing how little we know of the person whose name we’ve memorised since Grade 1.
Before reading this article, Rizal, to me, was just a brilliant novelist who liked to fool around in Europe. But after reading this, you see more of the heart of Rizal. You see him not as a monument, nor as a national icon, but as a person.
You see in him a thirst to discover something new, and to appreciate nature. You see in him a heart to share that same thirst and appreciation with younger people. You see him as a real hero. One who does not rely on guns, gore, and glory.
Coming from Mindanao, a place borne from blood and war, knowing people like him gives me hope — hope to see something better beyond the conflict. Hope to find something new. Seeing his dedication to the youth of Dapitan, and the environment of Mindanao, I realised that he, indeed, is a hero in that he chose to uphold the beauty of the very place he was sent to exile in. He chose to see beauty in the midst of suffering.
That, I believe, is one quality a real hero should have.
There is no questioning that Rizal’s set of achievements and skills are considered one of the greatest in history. However some might have gone a bit too far in admiring him. A certain group believe in the divinity of Rizal, and is still living and that he will deliver his followers from oppression and poverty.
Rizal would not have wanted to be treated as such. He wanted people to admire his work, belief, and ideas. But in no way worship him as a god.
Ocampo, Joshua Martin
2013 – 19765
STS X2
Rizal is a landmark, a genuine gold the Filipino nation has to treasure time now and come time generation after generation. His works, actions, ideologies and dogma though does not necessarily been accepted and conformed by all Filipinos but his spirit of nationalism and thirst for knowledge will always be a firm justification for him to be considered as a national hero, a model that each Filipinos must look up to.
As I learned from my PI 100 class, Rizal felt so much loneliness and depression since his exile in Dapitan, for me this just goes to show how “human” Rizal is. Rizal had his own slice of life just like how every individual i guess would go through as well. In his case, he managed to be productive and resilient despite all the misfortunes in his life. I would definitely say that resilience is truly one of the traits the Filipino nation should be proud of. Rizal made it a point to still continue his endeavor specially in the field if science (biology, geography, medicine) by contributing knowledge through research. Most especially, it is really important to point out how Rizal used education to uplift the state of identity and dignity of the filipino people especially the youth.
Miguel, Reuchelle P.
2012-48286
Sts x2
a
As a Biology student, Rizal’s work in Dapitan is something I aspire to follow, to discover new species of animals, meanwhile being able to appreciate the rich biodiversity of our Nation. Although it seems I do not need to dream so hard because even today, more species of plants and animals are still being discovered in the oceans, the rivers and the jungles of the Philippines.
His archaeological work on Lumanao Hill also showcased Rizal’s scientific mind. The detailed documentation of his dig is still helpful to modern-day archaeologists studying his work on the site. This also showed Rizal’s desire to learn which is a trait that every student should have if they desire to follow the path taken by Rizal.
Having taken up PI100 last semester, I could say that I know things about Rizal, his works and his life. However, having watched the previous documentary – though there were parts that I do not believe in (e.g. Manifesto as evidence for Rizal being against the rebellion when it was written at the time Rizal was in the hands of the Spaniards) – and having read this article, I realized that there are still a lot of stuff that I am yet to know about our National Hero. Rizal, to us, would always be that man shot in Bagumbayan, whose name became the battle cry for the rebellion for the nation’s independence. However, this is just one aspect of Rizal. His works and contributions in the sciences in the Philippines are often not highlighted in discussions about his life, for reasons still not clear to me. For one, it may be that this part of him is not seen as an important information validating his being our National Hero. Or others may not see the use of these discoveries in their lives as being relevant. Either way, Rizal as a scientist is not well known by most Filipinos.
The way I see it though, these contributions of Rizal could not be uncounted for. His thirst for knowledge helped inform our fellow Filipinos at that time, given that he shared it to others. It was also empowering how an indio could be educated of such knowledge. Another important point is that he was able to use this in the service of the people. His discoveries of new species may have started the development of the field, which also shows how diverse the species are in our country. Although at first I did not see the importance of discovering such new species, I realized this knowledge helps us understand how nature works. Each species has their role in the environment, and knowing this may help humans improve our own lives and theirs.
To keep it short, Rizal as a scientist is not really different from Rizal as our National Hero. Both aspects of him actually gave service to the Filipinos, for our independence from the colonizers, including our freedom to pursue knowledge.
Saisho, Arisa B.
2011-19886
STS X2
Despite being in exile, not being able to practice medicine and not living a civilized life, it’s amazing to see how these things did not hinder Rizal from seeking out his interests and discovering new things. Rizal’s contributions were also significant for it showed what makes Mindanao unique through the new species he discovered, and the diversity of species, through the flora and fauna he collected.
With this, I can say that Rizal left us a lot of learnings before his death, showing us that life should be well lived and that obstacles should not hinder us.
Senia, Joanne
STS X2
In my opinion, the people shall refrain from believing certain rumors until there is a solid evidence regarding the matter. I researched regarding the possibility of Jose Rizal being the father of Adolf Hitler, and yet I was not able to read any significant article about it. Filipinos shall look more upon the less recognized works of Rizal in order to appreciate the essence if his works. For instance, his scientific contribution is often overshadowed by his literary works.
In my opinion, if Jose Rizal was not shot and lived at an old age, he would still be recognized by the people because at a young age, he was already had significant contributions to the country, (literary, scientific, nationalistic aspects and a lot more). He was able to make the blind people see, both literally (people with eye diseases) and figuratively (Filipinos that are ‘blinded’ by the influence of the colonizers. Rizal could have provided more help in the revolution and he also could have changed the tide of how the Philippines would gain its independence. Today, the primary concern regarding Rizal is the validity of some of his writings. For instance, his retraction letter wherein he refuted everything he said against the church is questionable, since the signature might possibly be forged by members of the church. Also, the poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kabata”, may be attributed to him, but according to some historians, Rizal was not fluent in speakin. How could it be possible that he was able to write such a wonderful poem in Filipino if he is not good with the language?
Even when he was exiled in Dapitan, his excellence never wavered. He was able to use his time and resources well in order to collect several organisms for naming of unknown species. During his time, this was already a great contribution, since there are a lot of areas in Mindanao that are yet to be explored. Therefore, as a form of acknowledgement for his works, the new species of organisms were named after him (ex. Draco rizali). Therefore, it can be concluded that Jose Rizal is a naturalist, due to his extensive work of discovering and naming new species of organisms.
-BELANO, Jethro Ian G.
STS X2
To fully attribute the Revolution only to motives such as “Spanish cruelty” or “pang-aapi ng mga prayle” is very simplistic and very unfair to those involved because the Revolution in itself has been grounded on theory from the start. In fact, it wasn’t the mostly-oppressed “kasama” caste who truly revolted, but the upper-middle class “inquilino” who wanted more privileges like the “peninsulares”. It is in this position of privilege Rizal as we know him was born into, and his background plays a big role in his involvement of state affairs.
Rizal in Dapitan reminds me of a passage in “V for Vendetta”, where the protagonist, Evey Hammond, examines in a soliloquy the story behind the English rebel and pop culture icon Guy Fawkes:
“Remember remember, the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason, why the gunpowder treason, should ever be forgot. But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know that, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the houses of Parliament. But who was he, really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught. He can be killed and forgotten. But four hundred years later an idea can still change the world. I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of ideas. I’ve seen people kill in the name of them; and die defending them. But you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it or hold it. Ideas do not bleed. They do not feel pain. They do not love. And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man. A man that made me remember the fifth of November. A man that I will never forget.”
Touché.
NEMO, JOSE CARLO G.
2012-38416
STS X2
I have always believed and looked up to Dr. Jose Rizal and the contributions he made in the revolution. However, upon closer inspection, there are a lot of controversies regarding his life, especially his views, ideals and actions that made me question whether he really is fit for the title of “National Hero.”
Despite these issues, there is another thing that i think defines Rizal well— being a naturalist.
As said in the article, having discovered several unkown species of plants and animals in Dapitan, there is no doubt that Rizal has largely contributed in the field of science.
In my opinion, if he pursued and focused on science instead of the politics in the country at the time, he might have discovered much more species and he might have lived longer.
He might have died not as a national hero but a celebrated scientist of his time.
This part of Rizal’s life is not known to many so knowing this made me look up to our national hero even more. He was not just a big fan of the arts but of science as well. Even with limited resources, he found numerous ways to continue his research and made the Philippines known to a lot more people.
Imagine if he were to live in this day and age? With today’s technology and his thirst for knowledge and learning, it would be hard not to recognize a man of his work.
Anna Isabel C Consulta
STS X2
2012 63063
2 things i Learned after reading this blog.
1. Si Rizal na. (background music, “Nasayo na ang lahat by Daniel Padilla”).
I know that he is a doctor, a writer, a nationalist, a free-thinker and a sweet talker. But I didn’t know that he is also a scientist. This made me respect him more and somewhat made me proud as a Filipino knowing that my country has contributed to the world. This also shows that Rizal is not just words but also has actions in helping the society.
2. I can also leave a legacy.
If there is one question that arises to me as i read it is the thought of what will i contribute to this world? Or how do i want to be remembered someday? Will i put my name on some technology or some discovery? But more than leaving a name, I want to leave a legacy that will make a better society and inspire others to do the same.
Napao, John Mark
Sts x2
We normally know Rizal as the national hero, author of Noli and El Fili, founder of La Liga Filipina…even yesterday during the discussion it took a long time before a student mentioned the scientific side of Rizal. Growing up from an affluent family, Rizal must initially be dismayed upon his exile in Dapitan, with nothing to do and not being used to the place since it is far from where he grew up, but then Rizal used his time productively, by exploring the area, the natural beauty of it, examining and collecting species of different kinds for the school he is building. Rizal’s continuous search for knowledge not only did valuable contribution for his school, but for Mindanao as well.
On a personal note, I like how Rizal is being productive, by applying what he learned over the past years in exploring the area, and sharing what he learned to others. I admire Rizal for having that desire to be of service to other people, to continuously fight for the truth even at the expense of ones life. I also admire him for not settling on what he knows, even if it is at a greater extent compared to others, but to continuously search for new knowledge. And thinking about it, if Rizal wasn’t shot at Bagumbayan, we would then have more readings (e.g PI 101, 102,103), more species discovered, more schools developed, and Rizal, famously known as the National Hero, might as well be also known as the National Scientist.
Lopez, Ana
2011-09519
STS X2
We normally know Rizal as the national hero, author of Noli and El Fili, founder of La Liga Filipina…even yesterday during the discussion it took a long time before a student mentioned the scientific side of Rizal. Growing up from an affluent family, Rizal must initially be dismayed upon his exile in Dapitan, with nothing to do and not being used to the place since it is far from where he grew up, but then Rizal used his time productively, by exploring the area, the natural beauty of it, examining and collecting species of different kinds for the school he is building. Rizal’s continuous search for knowledge not only did valuable contribution for his school, but for Mindanao as well.
On a personal note, I like how Rizal is being productive, by applying what he learned over the past years in exploring the area, and sharing what he learned to others. I admire Rizal for having that desire to be of service to other people, to continuously fight for the truth even at the expense of ones life. I also admire him for not settling on what he knows, even if it is at a greater extent compared to others, but to continuously search for new knowledge. And thinking about it, if Rizal wasn’t shot at Bagumbayan, we would then have more readings (e.g PI 101, 102,103), more species discovered, more schools developed, and Rizal, famously known as the National Hero, might as well be also known as the National Scientist.
Lopez, Ana
2011-09519
STS XS
There was a time when I questioned whether Rizal deserved to be our national hero or not. For us, his life is so full of grey areas and speculations leading me to question whether I should accept or reject him. However, there is no denying his extensive contributions in the advancement of science and in the society today.
After reading the article, I recognize Rizal as a naturalist and as a scientist. He’s done more than I’ve imagined. His commitment in broadening our knowledge in different fields with his many discoveries is encompassing. Not only did he demonstrate interest and excellence in his work, he also inspired others to pursue and engage in such tasks. Rizal has his own way of influencing others, including me, through his words and acts which is still felt at present times.
I am astonished to see Rizal’s accomplishments considering his held-back situation in the past. What more could he have done if the freedom and technologies present today were made available to him? I who have these things have yet to prove my worth in these fields. His wide variety of interests such as biology, geology, and archeology only made me appreciate him more. As a Chemistry major, I am enlightened by his interest in science and in turn makes me think of what I am capable of doing too. Like Rizal, I want to do something worthwhile that would contribute to the betterment of our society. He is a true Filipino Hero!
Garcia, Audrey
2014-41669
STS X2
Jose Rizal became the country’s national hero because of his countless contributions for the country today. He fought for our freedom through his novels, poems, and other forms of writing. His sincere services to his countrymen as a doctor during times of need reflected to be one of his heroic deeds for our country.
Rizal died in the country in an honorable way. He was shot in Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896. However, to make things clear, THIS WAS NOT THE MERE REASON WHY HE WAS CALLED THE “NATIONAL HERO”. Because just like him, other Philippine heroes also sacrificed themselves for the country which also undeniably shows nationalism. What makes Rizal rightfully to be called as the country’s National Hero was the inspiration he brought to them.
Everything started with him. Jose Rizal, through his writings, ignited Andres Bonifacio to start a revolution against Spaniards. However, unlike Bonifacio, Rizal desired for a peaceful way to achieve freedom. No guns and swords involved. Moreover, he disagreed with the notion of revolution. Rizal used his intelligence which proves that being brave doesn’t require a bloody way. Through all of these, Jose Rizal set an example of great nationalism to his countrymen.
Sibayan, Dianne Therese L.
STS X2
One of the good characteristics that Rizal possesses is that he always strive for the pursuit of knowledge no matter what situation he is going through. Even when he was sent to Dapitan for exile, he still managed to do things different this that did not just help his fellow Filipinos but also the world. His hunger for knowledge inspired those men (his students) even us in this generation who did not even had the chance to meet him in person. Through his works, he will be eternally remembered and he will continuously be an inspiration for us. He did not just instill nationalism in us, he also educated us in his works- a scientist, an educator, a doctor and everything that is coined to him. Truly a National Hero.
Oblefias, Zyralyn
2013-65487
STS X2
The National Hero- this is what most of us know about Jose Rizal. But beyond being a influential writer of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Mi Ultimo Adios, and a medical doctor, he was also a great contributor in the field of science. We discovered that during his stay in Dapitan, he was able to be prolific, expand his knowledge and contribute to the community by collecting several specimens. Moreover, he was able to educate and influence his students who were involved in the discovery of multiple faunas and floras in Mindanao. It shows that being exiled in Dapitan was not an excuse to continue living and changing the nation. Personally, knowing this just added my respect to our National Hero and inspire us students that there is no limitation and excuses in learning and achieving greater things in life.
Ira D.A. Dimayuga
2011-45426
STS X2
I have learned from this article that Rizal was a naturalist. He is not only the national hero of the Philippines but also contributed greatly in the field of Science. In high school, we did not tackle on what Rizal did in Dapitan. We just discussed that he was exiled in Dapitan and was executed in Bagumbayan afterwards. Reading this article, I discovered that he spent his productive years learning, discovering, teaching and sharing his knowledge to the people there. He also sent information in Europe about their (Rizal and company) new discoveries.
I know for a fact that Rizal is beyond excellent in everything he did. Being a doctor, scientist and a national hero, everyone looks up to him. However, being an exile, he showed being a normal person. He showed being lonely and sad being alone and missed being with the society. But was thankful that he had the chance to appreciate the nature and species in Dapitan.
It is true that there is more to Rizal than being a national hero. He was a man craving for more knowledge and discoveries and a person created to make changes in the society.
JUANSON, ERIKA BEATRICE C.
2012-78620
STS X2
I have learned from this article that Rizal was a naturalist. He is not only the national hero of the Philippines but also contributed greatly in the field of Science. In high school, we did not tackle about on what Rizal did in Dapitan during his stay there. We just discussed that he was exiled in Dapitan and was executed in Bagumbayan afterwards. Reading this article, I discovered that he spent his years productively, learning, discovering, teaching and sharing his knowledge to the people there. He also sent information about their (Rizal and students) new discoveries in Europe duribg his exile.
I know for a fact that Rizal was beyond excellent in everything he did. Being a doctor, scientist and national hero, everyone looks up to him. However, being an exile, he showed beong a normal man. He felt and showed being lonely and sad being alone. He also said that he missed the society and interaction with people. But he was thankful that he had the chance to appreciate nature.
It is true that there is more to Rizal than being a national hero. He was a man craving for more knowledge and discoveries. He was a person created to make changes in the society.
JUANSON, ERIKA BEATRICE C.
2012-78620
STS X2
Rizal was known to be a great author and a doctor. This is indeed what was taught of us back in grade school. Yet, he isn’t just a doctor for he didn’t only focus in medicine. He is a scientist as well. This is the side of Rizal which was not so emphasized.
He has all the time in Dapitan, and perhaps not only time but also good intentions of course. Since there was no water system, he created a water supply scheme. There was no school, and so he built a school and taught the children. There was no hospital and he built a hospital and cured the sick. Moreover, he also did systematic and scientific farming and brought in farm apparatuses from abroad for our local farmers. And as aforementioned, he also gathered specimens of plants and animals, and sent them to his colleagues in Europe in exchange of books and journals.
Such contributions mentioned were outweighed by his literary works; nevertheless these are worth to be acknowledged. He deserves to be recognized as a scientist.
I admire how knowledgeable he is. And just to think that he was exiled and was far, he still found ways on how to reach out to people and not only that, but he was also able to continuously feed his mind with all these discoveries and knowledge.
On the question regarding whether Rizal deserves to be our National Hero, I believe that he deserves the title. He deserves it because of his character, his wisdom and his love for his countrymen. He awakened and provoked the Filipinos to fight for their rights. Nonetheless, sometimes there are questions which make me question his worth. In another light, Bonifacio may also deserve such recognition. I mean, Bonifacio wanted the Philippines to be an independent nation, while Rizal wanted the Philippines to be a fair colony of Spain. And I just can’t help but consider Bonifacio’s leadership on the revolution.
Quiella A. Landicho
STS X2
Rizal was known to be a great author and a doctor. This is indeed what was taught of us back in grade school. Yet, he isn’t just a doctor for he didn’t only focus in medicine. He is a scientist as well. This is the side of Rizal which was not so emphasized.
He has all the time in Dapitan, and perhaps not only time but also good intentions of course. Since there was no water system, he created a water supply scheme. There was no school, and so he built a school and taught the children. There was no hospital and he built a hospital and cured the sick. Moreover, he also did systematic and scientific farming and brought in farm apparatuses from abroad for our local farmers. And as aforementioned, he also gathered specimens of plants and animals, and sent them to his colleagues in Europe in exchange of books and journals.
Such contributions mentioned were outweighed by his literary works; nevertheless these are worth to be acknowledged. He deserves to be recognized as a scientist.
I admire how knowledgeable he is. And just to think that he was exiled and was far, he still found ways on how to reach out to people and not only that, but he was also able to continuously feed his mind with all these discoveries and knowledge.
On the question regarding whether Rizal deserves to be our National Hero, I believe that he deserves the title. He deserves it because of his character, his wisdom and his love for his countrymen. He awakened and provoked the Filipinos to fight for their rights. Nonetheless, sometimes there are questions which make me question his worth. In another light, Bonifacio may also deserve such recognition. I mean, Bonifacio wanted the Philippines to be an independent nation, while Rizal wanted the Philippines to be a fair colony of Spain. And I just can’t help but consider Bonifacio’s leadership on the revolution.
Rizal’s intelligence, curiosity, and perseverance led him to what and where he is now. Even thought he was exiled in Dapitan, he was able to do things he does not usually do and was able to make something out of it. From his exile in Dapitan, we can clearly see him being a naturalist. His love for his environment was shown from his discoveries and collections. He took advantage of this exile to further improve himself rather than sulking. From his poems, letters, other writings and his love for the country, we can truly consider him a national hero. But this may be a different story if not for the Americans. Since the Americans thought that the country needs a national hero and probably their thinking that the national hero must not be as revolutionary as Andres Bonifacio, Rizal was then regarded as the national hero. From there on, we can clearly see that until now we are being dependent to America rather than being truly independent and working to improve our own. We can also trace the characteristics of modern Filipino being “Americanized”.
Timpoc, Froiland S.
STS X2
Most of the people, including me, have known Jose Rizal as the Philippine national hero, as a great writer and doctor, and this article made me realize that there’s more to Rizal than those great things mentioned already. Jose Rizal was a great scientist-a naturalist, who have made great contributions in the scientific field, especially in biology, through his discoveries in his exile in Dapitan. What made me even more amazed by Rizal was that he was able to share his knowledge to other people, especially to the young ones, by creating a school in Dapitan. Now I’m starting to think, “How does it feel to be one of Rizal’s students?” I hope I could also read articles or find something about Rizal’s students so that I could learn more on how Rizal discovered things as well as his own ways of teaching.
Abelinde, Samantha M.
2012-41479
STS X2