I don't want to die like Pepe 12/2/08

I don't want to die like Pepe

by: Maria Reylan M. Garcia

It appears that Filipinos are indeed Rizalians. Jose Rizal Protacio Mercado Y Alonso Realonda was immortalized in a number of shrines and monuments in his honor, as if in almost every Town Park or municipal plaza, the image of the renowned polyglot and revolutionary novelist stands tall in reverence and honor. His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo has long been integrated in the curriculum of secondary education, much more is his more detailed biography in the tertiary level. Rizal might probably be the most quoted and featured Filipino, ranging from a student council candidate's grand rally speech to a political analyst's comprehensive strategies intended for the much awaited national progress.

Pepe, as he was fondly called, made a great deal of change to the Filipinos of his time. He was the spark that lit the flaming fire of more than three centuries of abuse and discrimination. His major patriotic contribution of dying for his beliefs and principles had set the innate flame of the Filipino revolutionists; through his quill and ink we attained a freer Philippines. He died for our country. A lot had set him as an example of a hero, of a true nationalistic Filipino.

These days, our country is again oppressed and under a heinous regime, the regime of poverty, economic instability, political turmoil and immorality. The opposition claims the administration is pushing for charter change, with the evident consecutive triumphs in both the upper and lower legislative houses. The administration struggles to maintain its integrity amidst all scandals of fertilizer funds and misleading prayers, seeking for retribution to collate once again the public trust. I am not sure what would Pepe do if he was still with us. But a number of Filipinos sought for inspiration in the charming hero's impulses and conviction.

Rizal might have been the role model of the thousands of rallying idealists marching along wide avenues with their striking cries written in large placards. But they end up going home drenched or spend the rest of the weekend behind bars after a friction with the authorities. Rizal might have been the paradigm of change advocates who stirred up heated fights and promulgated their fervor in mass media. But they were found ambushed, paralyzed or simply six feet below the ground. These people, they were like Rizal in their own rights. They deemed for change and they're willing to sacrifice almost everything to regain what little Pepe once dreamed of.

I admire those people, so selfless and brave. But, I don't want to follow their example. I don't want to die for the Philippines. I don't want to be this century's Rizal. I don't want to because I love my country, and wasting all my time being idealistic and rooting for drastic change will cancel out everything I've been preparing for. I am a sophomore nursing student, and if I die or end up living in cognito with death threats, I'll be denying the Philippines a great deal of service through either my actual practice of nursing the sick Filipinos or through the flooding remittances. Getting injured, threatened or ridiculed for the country's sake, in my opinion will be only left in the most tangible of things, because after you have died or lost your right leg, it won't be a sure win that everything will be better. But serving your worth as to your profession or aptitude will start in itself a revolution of change, tiny droplets converging into a tsunami of nationalism.

You know you are doctor then, treat the sick. Thus, you saved several others from the enemies called diseases and illnesses. You know you are a construction worker then, construct the best structures. Thus, you secured safety to several others who will occupy the building. You know you are student, study well and graduate. Thus, you opened opportunities for yourself and someday bring to reality the dream of a boy called Pepe. You know you are unemployed or underemployed then, get up from your lazy seat and find the right job. Thus, you redeemed yourself and your family from the grips of poverty. You know you are a government official, stay honest. Thus, you eradicate corruption in your own self and feed your families with hard earn necessities. In today's time, we do not need to suffer to gain drastic change; we do not need to die for our country to be free. We just need to live and give worth to our own capacities and use these as our weapons to combat the real enemies of our country.

I admire Rizal for his remarkable contributions.

But I don't want to die for my country like he did.

After all, he said I was one of the hopes of our fatherland.

I'll do him proud.