“I can practically FEEL Rizal’s ghost” by Elise Marie Mendoza

weggie:

People told me that going to UP will make me renounce Rizal as my National hero, in favor of Andres Bonifacio..and while I think that Bonifacio was a great man, I can’t imagine ever thinking less of Jose Rizal. He was so accomplished..a writer, doctor, artist, teacher, sportsman, oh and let’s not forget..psychic. 

In his novel, Noli Me Tangere, he described a cancer to which the entire Filipino nation was blindly succumbing to. On the surface, this may be interpreted as the colonialism and pain inflicted by the Spaniards. But really, this applies to the Filipinos’ mentality throughout the story -the separation between the poor and the rich, the lack of education, the apathy of the youth, the tension between a corrupt government and an unwilling governed. This story, and the sickness it speaks of, could not be more applicable to present times! Or rather, it WAS applicable..was :)

I know this is an odd time to be optimistic and amazed, but I can’t help it. Not too long ago, I was honestly doubting the future of our country. Everyday, I became more aware of the degradation of morals, the growing materialism, the daunting truth about corruption and the seriousness of the lies and self-serving hidden agendas that have begun to run our society. I was doubting even the facets of the government I was most sure of, and constantly shaking my head at the irrational ways in which citizens decided to take matters into their own hands. I mean, I’m not an imperialist, but I always silently disapproved of blind activism :/ Like many people, I guess I was waiting for something to come and prove me wrong. Another People Power, perhaps -a valid one, not one similar to the 3rd or 4th or nth. 

Enter, Ondoy, and chapter 14: Tasio. For those who have read Noli, you’ll remember the philosopher’s seemingly nonsensical conversation wherein he expresses his desire for a huge storm (unos) which will kill everyone and clean everything “I am happy because I nourish a hope, the storm! I am waiting for better things. Some thunderbolts that kill people and burn houses.”

When we took this up in school, the unos referred to the revolution that was sure to come. It symbolized radical actions that would sacrifice some, but ultimately cut straight to the core of the cancer. Now, I can’t help but relate this chapter to the calamity. Of course, we’re all horrified by the immediate effects of the storm..there are so many heartbreaking stories and pictures and experiences..reminiscent of when Tasio looked up at the bell tower, saw the brothers Basilio and Crispin, and suddenly didn’t want his storm anymore. But at the same time, we’ve all got this enormous amount of growing HOPE. 

After the mess has finally been cleared, we’ll see that we haven’t come out of this tragedy bruised and beaten -we’re bound to rise from the situation in full glory, beaming with the most unadulterated sense of pride, the kind that hasn’t been felt in decades. We’ll realize that we’ve purified ourselves, that we’ve learned to compromise our selfishness, disregard the social barriers that have created so solid a division between our peoples, put aside our personal agendas, forget regret blame and hatred to make room for brotherhood and bayanihan spirit. There were no distinctions between rich and poor -the storm did not spare your BMWs and Benzes, did it? There was no time to figure out which sector of the government to point fingers at -only time to communicate and figure out how to help each other. The unimaginable has happened, the deepest enigmas eating up our society, have been purged!

People’s mentalities have totally changed. People who were apathetic, are out at relief centers, bagging supplies. People who were antagonistic about the government, are seeing new sides of the officials. And cynics like me? We’re on our laptops, beaming with pride, trying to help everyone else see that everything -EVERYTHING, can and WILL BE alright..more than alright! This is a turning point in our history, simply because we’ve made it into one :)