REACTION

PAPER
(Jose Rizal,
1998)
Submitted by: Roxas, Jennilyn I.
BSA-2A

Submitted to: Sir Leomicio Corpuz

 REACTION PAPER
(Jose Rizal, 1998)

Jose Rizal movie casted

by Cesar Montano on 1998
opened our eyes and our heart
to the Spaniards Tyranny for 3
centuries. It introduces us to the
life of subjugation of the Filipino
people under the rule of the
Spanish friars. From the
execution of three Filipino
priests in 1872 for alleged
subversion to the harsh and
unequal treatment of Filipino
students in the schools, this film
is a stinging indictment of
Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. We see scenes both from Rizal's actual life but also
from his imagination.

One of the strengths of Jose Rizal is the incorporation of the characters of Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the life of Rizal and of the Filipinos in general. This only shows
that the two books are reflections of the lives of the Filipinos during the Spanish regime. But
the thought and noble ideas of the book do not only live in the past but also in the present
manifesting the universality and immortality of Rizal’s ideas. The beautiful transition of Rizal’s
time and the setting of the two novels is really impressive.

One must have really read the books to better appreciate the movie Jose Rizal. While
watching the film, I cannot help but relate Rizal to Crisostomo/Simoun, Leonor to Maria
Clara. Rizal and Crisostomo both came from a well-off family. Both of them studied in
Europe. Both have dedicated their life to free their people from oppression. And then
there’s a scene where Leonor was walking down the aisle and Maria Clara singing in the
nunnery.

It covers his life from his childhood to his execution at the hands of the Spanish forces
occupying the Philippines in the late 19th century. We are also thrown into the world of
Rizal's novels. So we get a glimpse of how he viewed Filipino society under the Spanish heal.
There are graphic depictions of violence and even torture. The opening few scenes depict
some episodes from Rizal's novels. In one a Catholic priest raped a Filipina that’s why we
had mixed blood. In the other scene a Catholic priest beats a child for alleged stealing.
Strong stuff, and it made wonder how the Catholic Church could possibly retain any power
in the country, if this is what the national hero thought about it.
The Powerful Spaniards ruled our small country, came here and claim as if it’s there
own. They are ruthless, cruel and all the devilish words suits to them. They came here in the
Philippines, ruled our lands and used us as their slave. Our ancestors have been struggling
that problem for almost 3 centuries and I felt bad for myself. We were so pitiful, asking for
freedom and thirsty for liberty, hungry for our own country. Was that they called a
colonization?
This world is cruel. Money, power can control people. I’m confused at the same time,
there are tons of questions in my mind that is looking for answers. What if Rizal didn’t stand in
behalf of Filipinos? Are we still in the hands of those evil tyranny? What if, what if? Those
questions still bugging me. What if Rizal didn’t die? Would it still be the same?
Even though that I’m confusing myself, there’s one thing important right now, the
freedom that we had. The freedom to talk, to write and fly that no can dictate you except
yourself. I truly admired Jose Rizal for his bravery not for strength but for the confidence he
had to write all those devilish acts of Spaniards and spread it to the world. I never admired
any of the Heroes aside from Heneral Luna, but truly he is amazing. How could he handle all
those struggles in his life?

Despite all of that, we continued to live our life, thanks to our ancestors fighting for our
freedom. Bloods stained, people wailing, I can feel their sympathy. As a youth, I am
challenge that I could do better. Our Heroes died for us not for nothing but for something.
Youth is our future.