Jose Rizal was a writer, doctor, scientist, traveler, and thinker. More importantly, he was a person who believed that knowledge could change the future of the Philippines. From a young age, he was curious about how society worked. He questioned unfair systems, read widely, and studied the behavior of people under colonial rule. Which can be seen in his works in Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Rizal's Morga, and The Philippines a Century Hence. In one of his work, we highlight The Philippines a Century Hence in this vision board activity. Rizal was also a visionary. He envisioned what the Philippines would be like in the next hundred years under Spanish rule. He prophesied that Filipinos' awakening nationalism and awareness of the oppression is inevitable despite their suffering. It will either lead to revolution and the educated Filipinos will guide the nation, or Spain provides fair treatment and Filipino representation under Spanish rule. He predicted the Philippines becoming independent might make other countries eventually colonize us. There is no perfect vision of what the future holds for the Philippines but one thing is for sure; history will always show how the desire for freedom will be inevitable for Filipinos.

Rizal’s approach to learning is important for students today. He did not rely on shallow information or rumors; he searched for truth by gathering details, comparing sources, and understanding context. His letters, essays, and novels showed a deep commitment to honesty, accuracy, and fairness. These values are essential for developing critical thinkers who can separate facts from misinformation. When students learn about how Rizal studied and wrote, they also learn how to handle information responsibly in their own lives.

Looking back in Rizal's time, there are existing challenges and social issues that can be compared to our current time. The many challenges and social issues he faced are still present, manifesting today in different forms such as misinformation, corruption, political polarization, and neocolonialism (Manila Bulletin, 2024). Rizal was driven by his vision of a better Philippines where education, justice, and peace prevail. His emphasis on these values in his works serves as a timeless reminder and a guidance to us in confronting modern issues with critical thinking, unity, and love for our country. As long as we continue to ignite our collective awareness and work toward our goals in envisioning a better, future Philippines, Rizal's life and works continue to be our guiding light (Biraogo, 2024). 

Hence, Vision Boards aid in the development of skills that enhance critical thinking, creativity, and evaluation. They equip individuals in navigating and discerning facts, improve awareness, reshape mindsets, set meaningful goals, and aid in the creation of better strategies to address contemporary issues more effectively.

Creating a vision board helps us connect Rizal’s life, values, and aspirations to our own personal goals. Just as Rizal used his talents, education, and courage to serve the nation, we reflect on how we can shape our own future with purpose. This activity allows us to visualize the kind of person we want to become, inspired by Rizal’s discipline, love for learning, patriotism, and commitment to self-improvement.

Objectives of the Vision Board Activity

1. To reflect on Rizal’s values and identify which ones we want to apply in our own lives.

2. To visualize our long-term and short-term goals in a creative, organized way.

3. To encourage self-awareness, helping us understand our strengths, passions, and aspirations.

4. To connect personal growth with national significance, showing how individual success can also contribute to the community—similar to Rizal’s mindset.

5. To inspire action, reminding us to stay focused and motivated in our everyday decisions.

How It Answers Our HMW Question: 

"How might we train teachers and update learning materials so that we equip students with the critical thinking skills to challenge misinformation?"

Vision boards help support the HMW question through guiding future educators in effectively designing learning materials that promote critical thinking and creativity. Not only does it help envision certain aspirations, but it identifies and highlights needs and gaps essential for developing an effective teaching material. An effective teaching material may be useful in encouraging students to apply their insights and newly learned skills to modern issues such as misinformation. These identified needs may include accessible fact-checking tools or media literacy workshops. Lastly, vision boards foster teacher engagement where participating in the creation of their own learning materials help make them active contributors in strengthening their students' skills and overall learning development.