Francis Gregory L.

Ku November 10, 2019

HISTO 11- DD

The Life of the Dead in the Memory of the Living: A Reflection UP Diliman’s

“The Man They Call Jose Rizal”

UP Diliman’s “The Man They Call Jose Rizal” managed to not only provide its
audience with an intriguing and appealing showcase of films and guest performers but also a
scholastic and pedagogic take on the influence of two different forms of art; “film” and
“literature”. These concepts were brought to life on the two feature films, “In His Image”, a
film biography of Eddie Del Mar and “Noli Me Tangere”, a film directed by Gerardo de
Leon. “In His Way” showed how amazing Del Mar was and his prominence as both an actor
for “Jose Rizal” and “Crisostomo Ibarra”. It also showed that these films were not just videos
on the big screen, but were messages meant to uplift and inspire.“Noli Me Tangere” showed
how Rizal created “Noli Me Tangere” as a means to combat the way Filipino culture was
perceived to be backward, anti-progressive, anti-intellectual, and not conducive to the ideals
of the “Age of Enlightenment”. He tried to show that Filipinos were more than what the
Spanish “claimed” them to be. With these two films in mind, there is no doubt that Eddie Del
Mar’s acting and the book “Noli Me Tangere” managed to both provide entertainment and
heighten the sense of nationalism within the Filipino.

Although both of these films had different content, they both reminded me of the true
essence of “art”. Be it in the form of literature or through film , UP Diliman’s showcase
reminded me that art doesn’t exist only to entertain but also to challenge one to think, to
provoke, even to disturb, in a constant search for the truth. This ideology is one that I also
observed to be present in the study of “history”. According to my history professor, Ma’am
Claveria, “ History is not just a mere presentation of facts, just because an important or
educated person states something, doesn’t mean it is right”. Just like how Noli Me Tangere
challenged the Spanish claims, we must always challenge and analyze historical claims. This
can also be seen in how Rizal’s annotations of the Morga’s "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas”
challenges the Spanish claims and represents his desire to showcase the viewpoint of an
Indio. These films made me further understand and appreciate history. Not only because I can
apply this ideology to my critical analysis of readings and of discussions but because it serves
as a paradigmatic example of how influential, inspirational and powerful art is. Even in
death, Jose Rizal’s work and Eddie Del Mar acting continue to inspire and stay in the hearts
of the Filipinos.