I have just finished reading the English translation
of Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo,
which was translated by Leon Ma. Guerrero. I have read the El Fili before of course, it being a required reading during fourth
year high school in the Philippines. The text I had then was in Tagalog, which made it difficult reading
for me, sad to say.
My thanks go to my father who got me Guerrero’s
translation, although he did it a bit begrudgingly. He had initially insisted
that I get a Filipino translation of it. I remember telling him that it
mattered not the language in which it was written, as long as the spirit of the
writer is communicated intact. Truth after all, is still truth, even though it
comes from the mouth of the devil himself.
Prior to my coming back to the Philippines in
June last year, I also read El Fili’s predecessor,
Noli Me Tangere, which was also
translated into English by Guerrero. After having read both, I now am fully
convinced of their relevance to all Filipinos and understand and agree with the
intent of our educators to make it essential reading.
Perhaps it was because of the impatience of
youth. Perhaps it was my own lack of proficiency in the grammar of my native
tongue. Perhaps it was the lack of years of exposure and experience living in
Filipino society. But is it only now that I truly appreciate Rizal’s work.
The reading was still difficult, but not
because of the language. No, the difficulty lay in the theme.
I have heard it said that many consider Rizal
to be a visionary or prophet, due to the uncanny way in which he captured the
spirit of our times. The themes he tackled are the themes we still face today
as a society: ignorance, greed, apathy, resignation, abuse of power,
indiscretion, lack of morals, and lack of true spirituality.
But then again, I should not be surprised.
After all, the Bible, which was written way before Rizal’s work speaks of the
same themes.
I believe that prophecy is not really anything
supernatural. Most of the time, it is merely an extrapolation based on a
truthful assessment of our present conditions.
We know the consequences of evil. It is just
that we wilfully choose to suppress that knowledge, afraid of the price
required to correct our ways. In so doing, we blind ourselves to the future.
More importantly, we blind ourselves to our impending doom.
Again I have heard it said that the present condition
of Filipino society is exactly what we deserve. After all, we only reap what we
have sown. One cannot expect to harvest sugar if one planted rice. Similarly,
one cannot hope to harvest the benefits of a just society tomorrow if one sows
indifference and discord today.
God, who is truth, cannot be mocked says the
Apostle Paul.
Rizal might be a prophet, but he was not the
first. Rather, Rizal was the first Filipino to tear the blindfolds across his
own eyes to see truth for what it is.
Some of our academicians and historians have
said that Rizal’s writings were instrumental in kindling the Philippine
revolution against Spain, and that that revolution was “aborted” due to our
experience in history. I humbly beg to disagree.
The revolution Rizal was talking about has
yet to fully manifest itself in our society. For it is the same revolution that
the Messiah Himself foretold. It is the same revolution that all of humanity
must undergo in order to regain what was meant as our birthright.
When that spark is kindled in our hearts by
Him who shed His own blood for us, then even the most jaded society shall be
consumed by the fires of His revolution: the revolution of the spirit.
I pray that God’s revolution would ignite in
the hearts in each and every one of my countrymen.
Soli
Deo Gloria.
“The hand of the LORD was upon
me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of
a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw
a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He
asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O
Sovereign LORD, you alone know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to
these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is
what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and
you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon
you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to
life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'" So I prophesied as I was commanded.
And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones
came together, bone to bone.” - (Ezekiel 37:1-7 NIV)