Friday, July 1, 2011

Child Labor in CALABARZON area


Group Picture

June 8, 2011 at Splash Mountain Resort, Los Banos, Laguna a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) signing for intensified sustained and unified implementation of Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) has been held. Speakers were Eduardo R. Nicolas III (Regional Governor in Region IV from Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry),  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Vice Chairperson from the Regional Tripartite Peace Council Emmanuel Martinez, Regional Director Philippine national Police 4A Police Superintendent Attorney Gil C. Meneses and Philippine Information Agency Regional Director Norito Cabotaje.

From the Factsheet under Working Children in CALABARZON are the following statistics to show that in 2009, the number of working children in the region reached 135 thousand. The figure is lower compared to 140 thousand in 2008. The trend is the number of working children is generally increasing. The number of working children in the region is 6.1 percent of the total for the country in 2009. This is a proof that with advocacy and joined forces from the government agency and Private sector, Illegal hiring or minors if not totally eliminated but decreasing.

Number of Working Children 5-17 Years Old by Age Group (In Thousands)

Age Group                   2008                2009
Total                            140                  135
5-9                               2                      1
10-14                           31                    28
150-17                         108                  106

Philippine Chambers of Commerce Regional Governor Ed Nicolas III, Grace Bondad- Nicolas, Philippine Information Agency Norie Sumilang and PNP Chief Head in CALABARZON

 
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Director Norito Cabotaje quoted the following from famous people like  Charles Darwin “Pagbabago ng buhay, ang nagtatagumpay na naghahangad na mabago ang buhay ay hindi ang malalakas, hindi rin ang matatalino kundi ang mga responsible.”

“Kaisipan ni Dr. Jose Rizal:  Ang buhay natin ay sandali lamang, aanhin natin ang ating buhay kung di natin gagawin sa isang dakilang layunin o gawain.”

Atty. Gil C. Meneses said that In order to minimized the Child Labor in the region, there must be a Political Will to the government officials and as the child rights advocate. He said that that Womens


Another speaker from DSWD quoted the following:

“Tulong tulong at sama sama at maiayos ang protocol and guidelines for no overlapping, no competition but nag aaugment at nagtutulong tulong to achieve the advocacy.
We need to take care of the future, future ang mga bata, if pangalan ng bata ay today ay sya ang ating future at ihanda ang ating mga future generation.”
The objective of the event is to strengthen the bond between the government sector and private sector in establishing the fight to eliminate child labor. 16 years old Rafael from Cavite, a former child laborer talks about his experienced. He thanked DOLE for the new life and hope together with San Miguel Corporation. He was a “Nangengete” or nagkakarga ng batya ng isda sa piyer in exchanged of money or a kilo of fishes to sell or to eat. He is encouraging agencies to help the children to finish school for better future.

Mr. Eduardo Nicolas from Toyota Motor Philippines in Sta. Rosa laguna and the Regional Governor under Reion IV from Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that “ Di maiiwasan ang child labor sa CALABARZON upang maghanapbuhay sa halip na nag aaral. One out of six is a child laborer. Stop Child Labor dapat now na!.”

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Poem that was hidden and no title.



“Ipinahanap sa akin at pinapaintindi,
kung ano ang nasa sa isipan ng isang bayani sa kanyang huling gabi.
Sa gabi na punong puno ng pasakit at pangungulila sa mga minamahal.

Matapos ang 150 na taon ng kanyang kapanganakan,naintindihan at namutawi muli sa isipan at bukang bibig ang kanyang ngalan dahil sa pagsasakripisyo para sa inang bayan.

Sa 95 na milyon kong kababayan, maliit na porsyento ang aking nasasaksihan. Na may kakayahang gumawa ng tama na may sakripisyong dala at busilak na kalooban.

Gamit ang talas ng pananalita at panunulat, nagbuwis ng buhay sa murang idad. May kakayahan pa sa aking nasasaksihan sa araw araw, ngunit karamihan ay takot na maiba at mangibabaw.

Sa sunod sunod na krimen, ganid ang nangingibabaw. Puno at dulo man ay kasakiman, narito pa rin ang isang Maria na nagtatanong. Asan ka na Crisostomo, sa ngayon ang bayan ay nangangailanagan.

Sa gabi ng iyong pangungulila, oras na lang ang binibilang tungo sa hukay.
Ang mga kababayan ay walang magawa, sa ngayon ay ano ang nasasaisipan mo. Ang sulat o tula bang ito ay pasaring? Pinapadama mo ang iyong nasasaloobin. Sa iyong pagdarasal ay isa nang katibayan, naniniwala ka sa poong lumikha sa atin.

Ni pangingimi o poot ay wala, sa isang tula na iyong tinago pa. Nalimutan na rin ang pamagat, sa pagmamadaling maisulat ang nadarama. Matapos ang 150 na taon na iyong kapanganakan, heto kami at nangungulila sa isang lider na may puso para sa bayan."





Tagalog Version of
"Mi Ultimo Adios"
(My last farewell)

PAHIMAKAS ni Dr. Jose Rizal

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam, Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan, kaluwalhatiang sa ami'y pumanaw.
Masayang sa iyo'y aking idudulot ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot; maging maringal man at labis alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay aking ding handog. Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba'y ang buhay na kipkip, walang agam-agam, maluag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahapis.  Saan man mautas ay dikailangan
cipres o laurel, lirio ma'y patungan pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan. Ako'y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas
na sa silinganan ay namamanaag yaong maligayang araw na sisikat
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.
Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan na maitina sa iyong liway-way,
dugo ko'y isabong at siyang ikinang ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw
Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip ng kasalukuyang bata pang maliit,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsan masilip sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.
Natuyo ang luhang sa mata'y nunukal, taas na ang noo't walang kapootan,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan.
Sa kabuhayang ko ang laging gunita
maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa
hingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.

Pag hingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.  Ikaw'y guminhawa laking kagandahang
akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal, hiniga'y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang
bangkay ko'y masilong sa iyong Kalangitan;

Kung sa libingan ko'y tumubong mamalas sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak
sa mga labi mo'y mangyayaring itapat, sa kaluluwa ko hatik ay igawad.
At sa aking noo nawa'y iparamdam, sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan,
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay.
Bayaang ang buwan sa aki'y ititig ang iwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik,
liwayway bayaang sa aki'y ihatid magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis.
Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong sa krus ko'y dumapo kahit isang ibon doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon
at dalitin niya payapang panahon.  Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw
ula'y pasingawin noong kainitan, magbalik sa langit ng boong dalisay
kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.
Bayaang sino man sa katotang giliw tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagka himbing.
Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,mangagatiis hirap na walang kapantay;
mga ina naming walang kapalaran na inihihibik ay kapighatian.
Ang mga bao't pinapangulila, ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
dalanginin namang kanilang makita ang kalayaan mong, ikagiginhawa.
At kung an madilim na gabing mapanglaw ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga't tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.
Ang kanyang hiwagay huwag gambalain; kaipala'y maringig doon ang taginting,
tunog ng gitara't salterio'y mag saliw, ako, Bayan yao't kita'y aawitin.
Kung ang libingan ko'y limat na ng lahat at wala ng kurus at batang mabakas,
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag, lupa'y asarolin at kauyang ikalat.
At mga buto ko ay bago matunaw maowi sa wala at kusang maparam,
alabok ng iyong latag ay bayaang siya ang babalang doo'y makipisan.
Kung magka gayon na'y aalintanahin na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin
pagka't himpapawid at ang panganorin mga lansangan mo'y aking lilibutin.

Matining na tunog ako sa dingig mo, ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
ang ugong at awit, pag hibik sa iyo, pag asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.
Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap, Katagalugang ko pinakaliliyag,
dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas; diya'y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.

Ako'y patutungo sa walang busabos, walang umiinis at berdugong hayop; pananalig doo'y di nakasasalot,
si Bathala lamang dooy haring lubos; Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid
kapilas ng aking kaluluwa't dibdib mga kaibigan bata pang maliit
sa aking tahanan di na masisilip; Pag pasasalamat at napahinga rin
paalam estranherang kasuyo ko't aliw, paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling.


"Mi Ultimo Adiós" (My Final Farewell), written by the national hero of the Philippines, Dr José Rizal, in Fort Santiago on the eve of his execution by the Spanish on December 30, 1896


(English Translation)

Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress'd
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!,
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best,
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.

On the field of battle, 'mid the frenzy of fight,
Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed;
The place matters not-cypress or laurel or lily white,
Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's plight,
T is ever the same, to serve our home and country's need.

I die just when I see the dawn break,
Through the gloom of night, to herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,
Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake
To dye with its crimson the waking ray.

My dreams, when life first opened to me,
My dreams, when the hopes of youth beat high,
Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem of the Orient sea
From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free;
No blush on thy brow, no tear in thine eye.

Dream of my life, my living and burning desire,
All hail ! cries the soul that is now to take flight;
All hail ! And sweet it is for thee to expire ;
To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire;
And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night.

If over my grave some day thou seest grow,
In the grassy sod, a humble flower,
Draw it to thy lips and kiss my soul so,
While I may feel on my brow in the cold tomb below
The touch of thy tenderness, thy breath's warm power.

Let the moon beam over me soft and serene,
Let the dawn shed over me its radiant flashes,
Let the wind with sad lament over me keen ;
And if on my cross a bird should be seen,
Let it trill there its hymn of peace to my ashes.
Let the sun draw the vapors up to the sky,
And heavenward in purity bear my tardy protest
Let some kind soul o 'er my untimely fate sigh,
And in the still evening a prayer be lifted on high
From thee, 0 my country, that in God I may rest.

Pray for all those that hapless have died,
For all who have suffered the unmeasur'd pain;
For our mothers that bitterly their woes have cried,
For widows and orphans, for captives by torture tried
And then for thyself that redemption thou mayst gain.

And when the dark night wraps the graveyard around
With only the dead in their vigil to see
Break not my repose or the mystery profound
And perchance thou mayst hear a sad hymn resound
'T is I, O my country, raising a song unto thee.

And even my grave is remembered no more
Unmark'd by never a cross nor a stone
Let the plow sweep through it, the spade turn it o'er
That my ashes may carpet earthly floor,
Before into nothingness at last they are blown.

Then will oblivion bring to me no care
As over thy vales and plains I sweep;
Throbbing and cleansed in thy space and air
With color and light, with song and lament I fare,
Ever repeating the faith that I keep.

My Fatherland ador'd, that sadness to my sorrow lends
Beloved Filipinas, hear now my last good-by!
I give thee all: parents and kindred and friends
For I go where no slave before the oppressor bends,
Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on high!

Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,
Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed !
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day !
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;
Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!



(Original Poem in Spanish)

Adios, Patria adorada, region del sol querida,
Perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestro perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante más fresca, más florida,
Tambien por tí la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio
Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel ó lirio,
Cadalso ó campo abierto, combate ó cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar.

Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el día trás lóbrego capuz;
Si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
Salud te grita el alma que pronto va á partir!
Salud! ah que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un dia
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fría
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja á la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave;
Deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave
Deja que el ave entone su cantico de paz.

Deja que el sol ardiendo las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras con mi clamor en pos,
Deja que un sér amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mi alguien ore
Ora tambien, Oh Patria, por mi descanso á Dios!

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestras pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por tí que veas tu redencion final.

Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí,
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio
Tal vez acordes oigas de citara ó salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto á ti.

Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas antes que vuelvan á la nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan á formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido,
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré,
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oido,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fé.

Mi Patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adios.
Ahi te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fé no mata, donde el que reyna es Dios.

Adios, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adios, dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria,
Adios, queridos séres morir es descansar.

Rizal on Backwardness and the Way Forward

Governor ER Ejercito and some provincial officials- June 19, 2011 Calamba city

I am not a history major or even a well verse middle-aged citizen about the Philippine National Hero. I am just aware and have lots of invitations from different distinguished people in my world from well meaning film showing to covering a political expose. I am bragging about what not everyone can do or can go. In this experienced and overwhelming journey I am having so far, awareness is what I could only share to my countrymen. Richness and favors are not in my side but fortune of having guts and supports from my family or just really the fighting spirit, nothing at all. Truly one is fortunate by being taught by her parents that one can do all, as long as you believed or that if others can, why can’t you.

With so many people I met and blocked from my life and cyber world in this digital social media we have right now, one can concluded that experienced is the best teacher of all. People taught one to be stronger, dubious and fighter.  That 90% of the acquaintances doesn’t practiced gratitude and that education is a must for one to get respected. The higher your education is, the higher will be your points.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal 150th Birth Anniversary is an eye opener. Learned that even then, Time management was a must. For only 35 years old, he was an accomplished man, a leader, poet, novelist, writer, doctor, activist and linguist. Traveled more than 20 countries and have 13 lovers in his lifetime. His life was not only meaningful but also admired by everyone today. A lot of questions in this 21st century and looks like there will be no answer but only conclusion with different meanings from different analyst.

I love to attend events. Each is unique with different people, new acquaintances, knowledge, oh yes including foods and I am looking forward to it every event, sumptuous food by the way and photo op to include in my collection. Each event is different with amazing theme. So when I got an invite from Mr. Gabby Lopez of Development Academy of the Philippines to honor Dr. Jose P. Rizal as the Bayaning Environmental Planner, I made a point to attend. Met the descendants, professors, politicians and students.

One speaker is the new chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Maria Serena I. Diokno. A historian I supposed and a good speaker. Here is her complete speech that I admire the most from all speech I heard of. Her analysis with Rizal novels and works were amazing. She translated the 19th century genius mind to 21st century hypocrisy. Sharing direct to the point observation of mine is one of my advocacy by the way. Whatever goodness one can do, there will always be criticisms and mostly by Filipinos.

Jules Mariano, Wyatt Belmonte, Senator BongBong Marcos, me and Jaypee David


Noemi Dado and me


Senator Ferdinand "BongBong" Marcos and me- Fort Santiago, June 19, 2011


Dean Jorge Bocobo (ANCs "The Explainer) Wyatt Belmonte, Noemi lardizabal Dado( Blogwatch), Grace Bondad- Nicolas, Leslie Bocobo, Jaypee David, Jules Mariano and Noel De Guia



Chairman of NHCP- Maria Serena I. Diokno

 
Rizal on Backwardness and the Way Forward*
Maria Serena I. Diokno


(Read at the Development Academy of the Philippines on the occasion of Jose Rizal’s 150th birth
anniversary, Pasig City, 17 June 2011.)

Development management was unheard of in the 19th century, which is why
I hesitate to apply it to Rizal’s thinking, let alone speak of Rizal’s legacy in this very modern field of management. Yet, I suppose, given Rizal’s expansive and
insightful views on progress in his time, your message is that development
managers, planners and workers in the 21st century can benefit from his wisdom.

Reading Rizal, I would go further and say that in some ways, he was the precursor or pioneer, if you will, of this field. I say this because a number of today’s development management buzzwords—planning, best outcome, sustainability, transparency, effectiveness, consultative leadership, partnership, gender sensitivity—are not all that original; some come to mind when listening to Rizal speak of the need for reform and progress in 19th century Philippines.

Rizal’s advantage was that he wrote elegantly, thereby avoiding the triteness that
buzzwords often acquire, and with fervor matched only by the fineness of his
intellect. I do not of course suggest that what Rizal meant in his time necessarily
prevails today, lest I fall into the pitfalls of historical anachronism. But in a
perilously uncanny way, some of Rizal’s words regarding development and his
reform agenda resonate to this day.

RH Bill supporters and JPR Descendants Atty. Ramoncita Reyes, Tato Faustmann, Amelia Yulo, Mia Faustmann, Panjee Gonzales mom Tweetums Gonzales (Panjee is very vocal for her support) and another descendant


Structural causes of backwardness

Let us start with Rizal’s analysis of the causes of our underdevelopment or,
to use a 19th century term, backwardness. The first, often cited by Spanish
colonialists, was the laziness of the Filipino. But “instead of holding it to be the
cause of the backwardness and the trouble,” said Rizal, “we regard it as the effect of the trouble and the backwardness, by fostering the development of a lamentable predisposition,”1 a tendency that, Rizal conceded, was attributable to our lethargy inducing climate. More important, he pointed out, were the true causes of our backwardness, ranging from wars of conquest to the encomienda system, official corruption, religion, and so on.2

What struck me as Rizal explained each of these causes was his keen
appreciation of the underlying causal nature of the lack of progress. Here Rizal
recognized both the material conditions and structures that blocked progress and
the psychology of underdevelopment. With regard to the first, listen, for example,
to Rizal’s elaboration of the colonial structure of politics and justice or, more aptly, injustice, as the cause of backwardness and indolence.
‘Why work?’ asked many natives. The curate says that the rich man
will not go to heaven. The rich man on earth is liable to all kinds of
trouble, to be appointed a cabeza de barangay, to be deported if an
uprising occurs, to be forced banker of the military chief of the town,
who to reward him for favors received seizes his laborers and his
stock, in order to force him to beg for mercy, and thus easily pays up.
Why be rich? So that all the officers of justice may have a lynx eye
on your actions, so that at the least slip enemies may be raised up
against you, you may be indicted, a whole complicated and
labyrinthine story may be concocted against you …? The native,
whom they pretend to regard as an imbecile, is not so much so that
he does not understand that it is ridiculous to work himself to death
to become worse off …. he prefers to live miserable and indolent,
rather than play the part of the wretched beast of burden.3

It fascinates me how Rizal transformed laziness, a negative trait by
convention, into a micro-weapon of the oppressed, a deliberate alternative to the
state of being a beast of burden. The inclination toward indolence, as Rizal
explained, was thus no mere reaction to the climate and neither an innate attribute of the Filipino, but rather the product of colonial conditions and structures.

Descendants of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Psychology of underdevelopment

Equally important to Rizal was the psychology of wretchedness that these
structures nurtured and reinforced. Notice how deftly Rizal turned the divide
between colonizer and colonized inside out when he said:
The pernicious example of the dominators in surrounding
themselves with servants and despising manual or corporal labor as
a thing unbecoming the nobility and chivalrous pride of the heroes of
so many centuries; those lordly airs, which the natives have
translated into tila ka castila, and the desire of the dominated to be
the equal of the dominators, if not essentially, at least in their
manners: all these had naturally to produce aversion to activity and
fear or hatred of work.

In addition to the psyche of the oppressed-oppressor transformation, Rizal
highlighted the role of religion in the psychology of underdevelopment.
It is well, undoubtedly, to trust greatly in God; but it is better to do
what one can and not trouble the Creator every moment, even when
these appeals redound to the benefit of His ministers. We have
noticed that the countries which believe most in miracles are the
laziest, just as spoiled children are the most ill-mannered. Whether
they believe in miracles to palliate their laziness or they are lazy
because they believe in miracles, we cannot say; but the fact is the
Filipinos were much less lazy before the word miracle was
introduced into their language.



Education and the lack of national sentiment


Above all, Rizal pointed to education as the cause of the country’s
backwardness, describing it as “brutalizing, depressive and antihuman (the word
‘inhuman’ is not sufficiently explanatory …).”6 While he lauded the efforts of some
priests who had established schools and colleges, like Fr. Miguel de Benavides
(who founded UST), Rizal observed that such efforts were few and were rendered ineffectual. Books, for example, were chosen “by those very priests who boldly proclaim that it is an evil for the natives to know Castilian, that the native should
not be separated from his carabao, that he should not have any further aspirations, and so on.”Added Rizal:
“You can’t know more than this or that old man!” “Don’t aspire
to be greater than the curate!” “You belong to an inferior race!” “You
haven’t any energy!” This is what they tell the child, and as they
repeat it so often, it has perforce become engraved on his mind and
thence moulds and pervades all his actions. The child or youth who
tries to be anything else is blamed with vanity and presumption; the
curate ridicules him with cruel sarcasm, his relatives look upon him
with fear, strangers regard him with great compassion. No forward
movement! Get back in the ranks and keep in line!8

Yet even as he decried the conditions under Spain, Rizal also recognized
the weakness of the Filipino: the absence of a sense of nation. This “lack of
national sentiment,” wrote Rizal,
brings another evil, moreover, which is the absence of all opposition
to measures prejudicial to the people and the absence of any
initiative in whatever may redound to its good. A man in the
Philippines is only an individual, he is not a member of a nation. He
is forbidden and denied the right of association, and is therefore
weak and sluggish.9

As a result, Rizal concluded, “if a prejudicial measure is ordered, no one
protests; all goes well apparently until later the evils are felt….”10 In my view, the
lack of a sense of nationhood posed the greatest hurdle to development, and
remains—albeit in different forms—an unfinished project more than a century later.


Consultative approach to development


Given the causes of our lack of development, let us turn to the manner in
which Rizal proposed that development be undertaken. First, Rizal said,
government must be consultative. While lauding the efforts of the Spanish Minister of Colonies to develop agriculture in the Philippines in 1889, for instance, Rizal proposed “that the farmer be consulted also, the one in direct contact with the land, who makes the land productive with his capital and labor and puts into practice the measures that science and experience suggest.”11 To improve
agriculture, Rizal advised, “[i]t is necessary to aid those who practice it.” And then
in a pointed reference to government bureaucrats, Rizal said:
Those who from their comfortable chairs think otherwise and see the
inefficacy of the royal decrees throw the blame for its backwardness
to the indolence of the Indio. They do not know with what obstacles
he has to contend …”
Moreover, Rizal argued, projects had to be implemented effectively, beyond
the rhetoric of official instructions.
And not only must he [the Filipino] not be forgotten but neither
must his hands be tied, disabling them for work, as it happens,
unfortunately. It is not enough to issue royal decrees and timely
measures; they must be enforced and enforced expediently.13

Rizal had the opportunity to put his thoughts into practice while in exile; he
helped organize the Association of Dapitan Farmers. The by-laws of the
Association in 1895 indicate Rizal’s understanding of the need to raise the quality
of the produce, improve access to markets, and provide farmers and farm laborers with facilities to purchase their needs at reasonable cost. Organized as a premodern cooperative, the Association consisted of industrial partners who handled marketing, loading and storage of farm products, and shareholders who
contributed at least P50.14

Ayala Alabang Resident  and JPR Descendant  Atty. Ramoncita Reyes who rallied with us for the passage of RH Bill at Ayala, Alabang.


Role of women


Just as Rizal’s venture into a farmer’s cooperative reverberates to this day,
so does his salute to the women of Malolos, whose valor in demanding education
impressed him no end. Wrote Rizal:
Now that you have responded to our vehement clamor for
public welfare; now that you have shown a good example to your
fellow young women who, like you, desire to have their eyes opened
and to be lifted from their prostration, our hope is roused, now we are
confident of victory. The Filipino woman no longer bows her head
and bends her knees; her hope in the future is revived; gone is the
mother who helps to keep her daughter in the dark, who educates
her in self-contempt and moral annihilation. It is no longer the highest
wisdom to bow the head to every unjust order, the highest goodness
to smile at an insult, to seek solace in humble tear. You have found
out that God’s command is different from that of the priest, that piety
does not consist in prolonged kneeling, long prayers, large rosaries,
soiled scapulars, but in good conduct, clean conscience and right
thinking. You have discovered that it is not goodness to be too
obedient to every desire and request of those who pose as little
gods, but to obey what is reasonable and just, because blind
obedience is the origin of crooked orders and in this case both
parties sin.

Rizal viewed the role of Filipino women as essential to the freedom and
progress of our country. In his words: “The mother who teaches nothing else but
how to kneel and kiss the hand should not expect any other kind of children but
stupid ones or oppressed slaves.”16 Today no development project can take flight
without a clearly articulated gender component.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chair Serena Diokno is supporting the RH Bill- June 19, 2011- Calamba City


Infrastructure development


Rizal, too, had something to say about local infrastructure projects. When
the Spanish newspaper in Manila, La Voz de España, urged municipal
governments to ask for infrastructure development, Rizal asked, rhetorically, how
public works are carried out in the first place. And his response: “At the expense of the unhappy people, all gratis, with many vexations, and many beatings, and then of what use are they?”17 Rizal went on to cite example after example of
infrastructure projects that turned out to be a farce (sounds familiar?), such as two school buildings in Calamba built at the expense of the town and the
gobernadorcillo, which ended up as barracks and the courthouse; or the hospital in Los Baños, constructed by workers from other towns, forced to work and at way below the daily wage. Charity bazaars had to be held to cover the cost of the
hospital, which eventually descended to a state of ruin.18 Development managers
have lots to learn from the examples Rizal cited: how to plan projects that are
actually needed, for whom, the manner of executing the project all the way to its
eventual use.


In the end Rizal had a singular message to the Filipinos of his time and to
us today, that if we desire freedom and progress, we must strive for it even at
great cost to ourselves. Listen to Rizal:
Filipinos do not seem to know that triumph is the child of struggle,
that joy is the flower of many sufferings and privations, and that
redemption presupposes martyrdom and sacrifice. They believe that
with regretting, folding their arms, and letting things go on as they
are, they have fulfilled their duty. Others, it is true, pretend to do
something more and give pessimistic or discouraging advice: They
advise that nothing be done. There are some, however, who begin to
see clear and do all that they can.19


So, development planners and managers of the Philippines in the 21st
century, you have three choices: to bask in remorse and leave things just as they are; to appear to act by serving as the adviser of gloom; or to understand the situation and then act as best, as wisely, as you can. The last was Rizal’s way forward. Which is yours?

June 17, 2011- Amelia Reyes Yulo (Great Grand Child of JPR under Narcisa) with mary Therese de silva, grace Bondad- Nicolas and Noel de- Guia