Canivel, Angelica A.

BSMA 301

A. Is the teaching of Rizal’s life and works course realistic given the dangers and sensitives of

literature as a means of communication in learning of nationalism, patriotism, and volunteerism?

Teaching of Rizal’s Life and Works course realistic given the dangers and sensitivities of

literature it means the communication in learning of nationalism, patriotism, and volunteerism.

Definitely Yes, to begin with I would like to talk about the dangers and sensitivities of Rizal's

literary works. Yes, it has touchy issues around the church and its priests. That’s why the church

is against the Rizal law because they don't want the reputation of the church to get dirty in their

followers' eyes. But I think we are old enough to know the truth and believe our conclusion

approximately this subject or topic. In learning nationalism, patriotism and volunteerism we'd

like to understand the reality and what really happened irrespective of the sensitivities of Rizal's

literatures. although his works reveals about the incorrect doings of the church, it plays a giant

role in our history. It gives us thoughts on how individuals lived, presently they are dealt with

and how they battled the Spaniards. Likewise, his written works discusses his life, his

conclusions, his thoughts, his lovers and above all else it discusses how he cherishes our nation.

So, learning the entirety of this will help our patriotism, nationalism and volunteerism in this

nation.

Nationalism is being proud and loyal to one's country that leads to attain the freedom and

political independence of it. In his writings novels he promotes our culture and the language we

have. He emphasized the importance of the Tagalog language and its impact upon the
Philippines. He centered the individual rights and freedom, specifically for the Filipino people.

And Rizal tried to highlight the Filipino culture from researching and writing his own version of

national history to composing and creating a lexicon of all known dialects in the country such as

Tagalog and Cebuano. He loves our country and he willingness to sacrifice for it. Philippine

nationalism had always been evident.

Patriotism on the other hand is the devotion and love for a country such as dedicating and

readiness to sacrifice your life for a nation. Dr. Jose Rizal is an example of a Patriot because He

shows love for our country and he desire unity for his country without any violent actions or any

revolution Acting against people who make themselves superior to Filipinos by writing novels,

yet using their skills and virtues. Dr. Jose Rizal shows willingness to sacrifice of it by their value

and beliefs, and he uses his novels to open the minds of the Filipinos on his time about how cruel

the Spaniards to us and in this generation by teaching the Rizal's novels and works it will give an

inspiration and power to all the Filipinos to love and support our country. So, let us be humble

and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Because being patriot is important in every

person, so that we can say that our country is our identity, and we should respect our identity in

this whole world.

Lastly, volunteerism promote reason that Rizal has a numerous sacrifice to our country

and fellow Filipino people that until now we are adopting, accepting and studying. His two

novels which is the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo made so much attention. Rizal really

wanted to have freedom in the Philippines from Spain, so that the Filipinos did not have to be

controlled by another country. He did not care about himself. He cared more about helping his

country.
 Volunteerism is dependent on the person if one really wants to help others without an

expectation of a reward or in return, you’re already a volunteer, and a hero. That’s the essence of

being a volunteer. Just like Jose Rizal he volunteered without hesitations and he is willing to take

risks and gave himself just for the sake of his own country and fellow Filipino people.

B. How important are literary criticisms in the study of Rizal’s Life and Work?

It is very important because literary criticism can see the whole aspect of literary work or

the literary criticisms work from some point of views, it is an critic used in seeing the literary

work and it’s not only matter of how to read and understanding the work but how can we

interpret the text within the work. Criticism can be used to analyze and see things beyond the

text, how the work relates to daily life, social community and the relationship within the

community. Of course, critic as basic word of criticism totally different with the review/survey

or report about literary work. Critics is not just only discussion about good or bad about literary

work, not only talk about the weakness but also about the strengths of literary work. That is the

reason why the literary criticism is important in the study of Rizal's Life and Works. Also,

Literary criticism can improve our capability in reading comprehension for us to know the

broader about literary work or piece of writing. By applying literary criticism in reading Rizal's

works, So that we will recognize what Rizal was thinking while writing his poems and novels.

C. If given a chance to deconstruct one of the Rizal’s written work (both well-known and

obscure) what would it be and what is relation to the analysis and understanding of nation-

building?
 If I am given a chance to deconstruct one of Rizal's written works, maybe it would be

"Kundiman". I would change the part where he says that "Magbabalik man din at muling iiral,

ang ngalang tagalog sa sandaigdig" or in English "and once more round the world with growing

praise, shall sound the name of the tagalog race". Because he used the word Tagalog, he can use

the word Filipinos to involve not only the Tagalogs, But all the Filipino Citizen. He uses the

Tagalog word in Kundiman which it can be discriminate the Bisaya’s. Being united as one is a

form of nation-building if we involved the Bisaya’s not only Tagalogs.