Face to face with Jose Rizal, what will you ask him?

Last Friday, we celebrated the death of our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Growing up, he was the hero I’ve known the best. Of course, there were Gregorio del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Jacinto and Andres Bonifacio, but Rizal was my star hero. I got Tatay’s soliloquy why he was proud to send me to the Ateneo, “dahil dito nag-aral si Jose Rizal.” Besides, very apparent was the solo statue of Rizal that dominated our town plaza in Borongan, Eastern Samar.

Rizal is everywhere. We have matches that bear Rizal’s name, universities, streets, parks and even the P1 coin. With research materials and publications that seek to discover more of Rizal, we came to learn that he had girlfriends, that he was close to his mother and his sisters, that he was kuripot, that he could have made Leonor Rivera Mrs. Jose Rizal, that he loved to draw and could have given Philip Badon a run for his money, that he was 5’2” and was a body builder, that he was a pacifist, a linguist, a traveler and a global Filipino.

There are a lot more interesting things to learn and discover about Rizal as there are multifarious myths that surround his life. One of the most preposterous is that he was the father of Adolf Hitler, the German dictator.

Ambeth Ocampo, the esteemed history lover, has written an interesting book on some little-known facts about Rizal called Rizal Without the Overcoat. Before all of these discoveries on the life of Rizal, we knew of him as the writer of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, books that eventually fomented the Filipino revolution against Spain. We also knew that he was born in Calamba, Laguna and he would ride the caruaje to school at the Ateneo.

Rizal remains relevant as he was in the 19th century. We asked some people what question would they ask Rizal if they would come face to face with him and what would they tell him. Read on.

Mike Defensor: Why didn’t you have a wife and children? Thank you for giving up your life for the country and for our future. The Filipino people and the Asian nations as well are proud of the legacy you left us fighting for freedom and the equality of all men. 

Iriga City Mayor Madel Alfelor Gazmen: If given the chance to be born again will you still be willing to give up your life or be killed again in Bagumbayan? What is your real message to all Filipinos? Is this the country you dreamt of when you gave up your life? Would you still be willing to die for it? Are we truly independent from foreign occupancy now?

Edward Blanco, executive assistant to Parañaque Mayor Jun Bernabe and Media Bureau head: I would ask him how do we reignite the flames of idealism and what would it take to awaken the people to the true concept of right and wrong.

Bemz Benedito, Ladlad chairperson: Dec. 30 is my birthday so I know he will give me the privilege of asking him these two questions: First, would Jesus discriminate against LGBT Filipinos? Second, are you in favor of same-sex marriage in the Philippines? I’m supposed to ask him if he is gay, but does it matter?! Rizal is a source of hope for Ladlad Party List and many LGBT Filipinos because through his literary works he opened the minds of the Filipino people to fight for their rights. Ladlad and LGBTs are striving for a society that has an open mind and an open heart. If he is alive now, I know that he will be with us, LGBTs, in fighting the tyranny of the CBCP. Kahanga-hanga si Rizal dahil sa laban niya ng lipunang patas sa batas at opurtunidad.

Dwight David Diestro, associate professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños: Did he retract and go back to the fold of the Catholic faith? I would tell him that the Filipinos haven’t learned from his writings, we remain divided and selfish.

Danton Remoto, TV5 head of research and Ladlad chairman emeritus:  If I come face to face with Rizal, I will thank him for his novels, poems and essays that helped shape the spirit of the nation.

Sen. Tito Sotto: I will ask him why he did not write in other languages other than Spanish considering his reported proficiency in English, German, Chinese, French, Filipino etc. 

Lara Togonon, consultant for United Nations Habitat: Would you support the RH Bill? What name would you have given yourself if you were not Jose Rizal?

Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo: How come our leaders today lack national pride and honor, requisites to inspire and motivate its people to achieve dignity and prosperity? Modern-day leaders should see Rizal in them. They should possess the moral values to rule and lead by example. Like Rizal, leaders should set aside personal gain over national pride. They should be willing to sacrifice for their people. We are still in search of a transformational Asian leader in the mold of another Lee Kuan Yew, Mohammed Mahathir, Deng Xiaoping and even Rizal.

Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares: Are you proud that our province bears your name? If not yet, what else must we do? If you were alive today, I would love to do my ophthalmology residency under you.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño: Given a choice, how would you have wanted yourself depicted — in an overcoat or in more casual clothes? How about in Ray Bans? What I’ll tell him: That we’ll be forever grateful for his sacrifice and that it was all worth it.

Mike Sicat: Are you proud of what our country has become?