Graziela  Ayn  Louise  V.

 Delfin             PI  MCDE-­1  

A  Book  Review  on  Rizal  in  Barong  Tagalog  

  What  makes  a  hero?  Many  of  the  heroes  shown  in  books  and  movies  

today   often   possess   a   superhuman   ability   –   immense   strength,  

psychokinesis,   telepathy,   shapeshifting,   time   travel,   etc.   Thus,   this  

perception   implies   that   heroes   transcend   humanity   and   its   fallibility.    

Similarly,  Filipinos  often  place  their  national  hero,  Jose  Rizal,  on  a  pedestal,  

creating  a  barrier  between  him  and  ordinary  citizens.  To  remedy  this,  Noel  

G.   Villaroman’s   Rizal   in   Barong   Tagalog   attempts   to   address   the  

generational   and   linguistic   divide   that   has   made   Rizal   such   a   mythical  

creature.   It   establishes   a   sense   of   connection   and   familiarity   between  

Filipinos  and  their  hero  by  showing  the  various  aspects  of  his  individuality.  

Chapter  1:  Old  and  New  

A   typical   mental   image   of   the   Philippine   national   hero   includes   him  

donning  a  coat  and  tie  –  an  americana.  Contrary  to  this,  Rizal  has  actually  

worn  a  Barong  Tagalog  several  times  as  he  also  recognized  its  uniqueness  

which  he  wanted  show  to  the  rest  of  the  world.  While  he  was  also  abroad,  he  

had   learned   many   languages,   with   Spanish   –   not   Tagalog   –   as   his   best  

language.  He  still  wrote  many  works  using  the  latter,  although  his  version  is  

quite   different   from   its   usage   today.   Furthermore,   Rizal   possessed   high  

levels   of   empathy,   which   explains   his   good   grasp   of   human   nature   as  

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Graziela  Ayn  Louise  V.  Delfin             PI  MCDE-­1  

evidence   by   his   novels’   characters.   However,   as   previously   mentioned,  

heroes  are  often  elevated  to  “divine  status,”  but  in  reality,  were  only  humans  

who  occasionally  made  mistakes.  One  manifestation  of  Rizal’s  failings  was  

the  controversy  with  him  availing  of  sexual  services  from  prostitutes.  Rizal  

also  remained  to  be  a  character  of  enigma  with  his  establishment  of  Rd.  L.  

M.,  as  its  true  set  of  purposes  remained  questionable  and  unclear.  

The  beginning  of  the  novel  simply  depicts  Rizal  as  any  other  human  

being   –   one   that   had   imperfections   and   sometimes,   fell   into   temptation.  

However,  his  failings  do  not  undermine  his  heroism,  but  actually  provide  a  

more  realistic  and  complete  picture  of  Rizal.  The  image  of  Rizal  wearing  a  

Barong   Tagalog   is   particularly   significant   because   this   allows   the   present  

and  future  generations  to  connect  and  relate  to  him.    

Chapter  2:  Of  Love  and  Love  Letters  

Throughout   Rizal’s   lifetime,   he   has   gotten   into   several   romantic  

relationships   with   women   of   various   nationalities   and   backgrounds   –  

Segunda   Katigbak,   Leonor   Rivera,   Consuelo   Ortiga   y   Perez,   O-­Sei   San,  

Gertrude   Beckette,   Nelly   Boustead,   Suzanne   Jacoby   and   Josephine  

Bracken.  Most  of  these  women  fell  head  over  heels  in  love  with  Rizal,  while  

the   latter   actually   showed   varying   levels   of   commitment   and   dedication.  

Other   factors   that   Rizal   considered   in   his   romantic   conquests   were   his  

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friends  and  family.  In  the  event  that  he  and  his  friends  were  wooing  the  same  

girl,  Rizal  had  the  restraint  and  humility  to  give  way  (regardless  of  whoever  

the   girl   truly   loved).   His   family’s   acceptance   was   also   valued   by   Rizal,  

especially  in  the  case  of  Josephine  Bracken,  as  he  tried  his  best  to  create  a  

bond  between  the  two.    

Rizal’s  love  life  indeed  reflected  his  charm  and  pleasant  personality,  

making  women  from  all  over  the  globe  swoon  and  profess  their  love  for  him.  

It  also  showed  his  values,  especially  when  his  other  relationships  (i.e.  friends  

and  family)  came  into  the  picture.  Also,  in  the  study  of  his  past  relationships,  

the  exchanged  love  letters  were  crucial  in  establishing  a  foundation  for  the  

romantic  claims  of  women  had  with  Rizal.        

Chapter  3:  Travels  and  Impressions  

  As  Rizal  traveled  all  over  the  world,  he  was  very  much  observant  of  the  

different  cultures  and  architecture  that  he  encountered.    However,  his  travels  

abroad   also   had   several   parallelisms   with   the   life   of   Overseas   Filipino  

Workers  (OFWs)  and  Filipino  migrants.  Upon  arriving  in  a  foreign  land,  there  

was  a  sense  of  apprehension  (rooted  in  unfamiliarity  and  fear  of  trickery)  and  

frugality.  It  was  through  bayanihan  that  Rizal  survived,  through  the  help  of  

his   compatriots,   which   can   be   likened   to   how   Filipinos   have   a   natural  

tendency  to  help  their  fellow  countrymen  and  women.    

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Graziela  Ayn  Louise  V.  Delfin             PI  MCDE-­1  

  Rizal’s   travels,   although   helped   in   broadening   his   horizons,   also   put  

him  in  tight  situations  –  financially,  socially  and  emotionally.  However,  he  did  

not   let   his   meager   budget   stop   him   from   celebrating   religious   feast   days,  

especially   Christmas.   He   also   met   different   kinds   of   personalities   as   he  

ventured  abroad,  upon  which  his  sharp  observations  were  used  as  a  good  

judge  of  character.  His  isolation  and  longing  for  his  family  and  country  also  

showed  his  vulnerability  to  loneliness,  further  proof  of  him  being  “human.”    

Chapter  4:  A  Family  and  a  Horse  

  Despite   being   apart   from   his   family,   Rizal   never   failed   to   fulfill   his  

familial  duties  to  his  parents,  siblings,  37  nephews  and  nieces,  in-­laws  and  

even  Blumentritt,  his  close  friend  and  father  figure.  He  always  ensured  that  

he   maintained   correspondence   with   all   of   them,   be   it   about   local   chismis,  

teasing,  funny  anecdotes,  pieces  of  advice,  words  of  wisdom,  or  favors.    

  A  noteworthy  point  brought  up  by  the  author  was  the  traditional  point  

of   view   adopted   by   historians   when   studying   heroes,   which   preserve   the  

perfection  of  their  image,  while  brushing  off  vices  and  mistakes.  As  exhibited  

by  Rizal  in  his  exchanges  with  his  family  and  friends,  he  was  like  any  other  

Filipino   abroad,   who   craved   news   from   his   land,   including   gossip.   It   once  

again  solidifies  the  writer’s  argument  that  Rizal  was  simply  human,  especially  

if   seen   from   a   fresh,   unorthodox   perspective.   More   than   his   humanity,   his  

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Graziela  Ayn  Louise  V.  Delfin             PI  MCDE-­1  

relationships  show  that  he  was  firm  believer  of  the  potentials  of  the  Filipino  

youth.  In  his  letter  to  Alfredo  Porfirio,  his  11-­year  old  nephew,  he  stressed  

the  importance  of  education,  which  entails  internal  and  external  struggles,  

but  emphasized  that  both  one’s  intelligence  and  one’s  heart  were  necessary  

to  survive  this  life-­long  battle.      

Chapter  5:  Touch  Me  Not  

Despite   Rizal’s   very   Catholic   upbringing,   his   religious   philosophy  

began  to  evolve  while  he  was  exposed  to  liberal  ideas  in  Europe.  Although  

he  claimed  that  he  still  believed  in  the  fundamental  principles  of  their  religion,  

he  believed  that  God  was  discoverable  through  one’s  own  reason,  and  not  

only  by  divine  revelation.  His  divergence  from  religious  practices  caused  the  

heartache  of  his  mother,  which  led  to  Rizal’s  own  personal  dilemma:  his  love  

for  his  mother  but  his  own  discovery  of  religious  truths.  Rizal  also  believed  

that  no  one  religion  can  have  exclusive  claim  to  the  truth,  as  this  will  just  lead  

to  inter-­religious  rifts  and  eventually,  religious  discrimination.  Rizal’s  novels  

actually  tackled  this  religious  exclusivity  and  hypocrisy,  which  were  met  with  

strong   backlash   from   various   religious   denominations.   Despite   Rizal’s  

statement,  “Religion,  whatever  they  might  be,  should  not  make  men  enemies  

of  one  another  but  rather  brothers  and  real  brothers,”  he  was  still  faced  with  

criticism  and  even  death  threats.    

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Some  believed,  however,  that  Rizal  retracted  all  of  his  ill  statements  

against  the  Church  before  his  execution.  However,  this  puts  into  question  the  

credibility  of  such  statement,  as  Rizal,  all  his  life,  has  been  an  advocate  of  

religious  equality  and  tolerance  and  not  the  superiority  of  just  one  religion.  

After   all,   everyone   is   just   merely   looking   at   the   original   statue   of   truth   at  

different  vantage  points.  

Chapter  6:  The  Dapitan  Episode  

  Rizal’s   deportation   to   Dapitan,   while   supposedly   serving   as   a  

punishment,  was  actually  one  of  the  most  peaceful  and  prosperous  episodes  

in  his  life.  Here  he  was  able  to  explore  and  tap  into  several  facets  of  his  own  

persona  –  a  farmer,  a  businessman,  a  teacher,  a  physician,  a  civic  leader,  

etc.   He   strived   to   improve   not   just   himself,   but   his   surroundings   and  

community  as  well.  He  was  able  to  inspire  the  next  generation  of  farms  and  

local  officials,  through  his  holistic  education.  His  medical  practice  was  also  

very  much  alive,  although  his  mother,  Doña  Teodora,  was  his  most  stubborn  

patient.   Being   in   a   small,   far-­flung   town,   Rizal   and   Josephine   also   had   a  

supernatural   encounter,   but   later   on,   Rizal   gave   a   rational   and   scientific  

explanation  of  mangkukulams  and  manggagaways.  Though  mostly  filled  with  

joy,   Rizal   experienced   tragedy   as   well   with   the   death   of   his   son   and   the  

attacks  of  Father  Obach  that  affected  his  school.    

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  Rizal’s   stay   in   Dapitan   had   predominantly   shown   his   entrepreneurial  

side,  as  opposed  to  his  previously  political  and  literary  inclination.  He  was  

finally   able   to   live   a   regular   life,   putting   his   own   interests   (in   the   form   of  

potential   income)   ahead   of   his   other   advocacies.   However,   Rizal’s   natural  

curiosity  and  love  for  learning  still  surfaced  as  he  was  constantly  trying  out  

different  ideas  to  improve  the  town  and  even  helped  in  collecting  flora  and  

fauna  and  discovering  new  species.    

Chapter  7:  Consummatum  Est!  

  Rizal’s  prediction  of  what  would  happen  to  those  who  fought  against  

the  religious  orders  actually  reached  its  fruition  years  later,  which  was  debate  

of  coincidence  or  “esto  resulta  profético.”  The  latter  part  of  Rizal’s  journey  

showed  a  series  of  suffering  being  inflicted  upon  the  national  hero,  from  his  

arrest  up  to  the  many  instances  of  humiliation  he  was  subjected  to  by  the  

Spaniards,  up  until  his  actual  execution.  Ironically,  Rizal,  who  was  accused  

of  being  a  heretic,  proved  that  at  the  very  core,  he  was  a  truly  religious  man.  

As  he  said,  “Always  let  God’s  will  be  done!  …  I  am  happy  and  ready.”  Despite  

the   injustices   and   maltreatment   he   was   subjected   to,   he   still   prayed   just  

moments   before   his   death   and   faced   his   persecutors   as   he   was   shot,  

whether  or  not  done  purposely.  At  the  end  of  the  day,  he  offered  his  life  for  

the  country,  which  makes  him  the  hero  we  all  should  emulate.    

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