Touch Me Not: How Rizal’s Life Reflects Today 

Written by Reyn Luise Villegas
Layout by Levinjon Spencer Yulo
Posted on December 30, 2020 | 3:00 PM

Exactly 124 years ago, the life of a Filipino with unwavering love for the country had fallen on the hands of the Spaniards. With merely pen and paper, he did not only threaten the colonizers with how much Filipinos could offer to the motherland. An extinct volcano to the eyes of the Spaniards, the revolution that began from the day of his death was simply an active volcano in disguise. In the fight for Filipino independence, “Ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo,” was certain to be the ultimate heroic deed he had ever done.

Born on June 19, 1861, Dr. Jose Rizal is one highly respected figure in Philippine history. A multifaceted intellectual, Rizal traveled around Asia, America, and Europe in pursuit of knowledge and education. At a young age, he manifested a strong desire to learn about the world around him. Growing up, Rizal believed that education was the answer to the problems faced by the country during the Spanish colonization. To him, freedom from the colonizers would be achieved if progressive education was made available to Filipinos. With the guidance of his mother and first teacher, Teodora Alonso, he was able to recognize not only the value of education but also the value of life. Through her simple lessons of great meaning, he lived life as meaningful as he could—even if it meant dedicating his life to the country.

Best known for being a political activist through writing, his most famous work is his novel titled Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not) which exposed the corruption and brutality of the Spaniards that caused injustices among his countrymen. Given the controversial quality of the novel, his work, along with El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), was banned by the Spanish authorities and the Catholic Church because it was considered seditious and blasphemous. Although Rizal never acted aggressively upon the abuse of the Spanish rule, he stood trial on December 6, 1896 for rebellion, sedition, and alleged association with the Katipunan. He continued to plead his innocence. However, he was convicted for the charges and was sentenced to death. On the night before his execution, Rizal wrote his last poem, Mi Ultimo Adiós (My Last Farewell). During his last hours, the patriotism of the national hero was evident as he had written, “Even then I’d give it to you, for your sake alone.”

On December 30, 1896 at 7 in the morning, Rizal, who was 35 years old then, was shot in the back by a firing squad. “Consummatum est!” (It is finished!) were his last words. After the hero’s death, the Philippine Revolution led by Andres Bonifacio of Katipunan continued until 1898. It is then that the country declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

Rizal’s belief on education stands true until today. With the alarming incidents that occur in the present time, the Filipinos continue educating themselves to fight for the victims of the unjust system. Though the country may not be under colonization of a foreign country, it is oppressed by its own people in positions of power. One cannot say that true independence is in the hands of the Filipinos. Numerous accounts of social ills that Rizal fought against before remain apparent. As people voice their sentiments regarding various issues, the current regime can only silence them and never listen. This just shows that the people of power have always feared the people for the masses.

How Rizal and his love for the country scared the Spanish tyranny is similar to what the Filipinos can do to make the country home to the true Filipinos. History may be a key to justify social change, but to bring social change to life, a Filipino must be their own Rizal. “There can be no tyrants where there are no slaves.”