RIZAL AT 150: IN VISIT TO HK PRISON, HE SAW OPPRESSION by Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso       Human Rights activists say that incarceration in Philippine jails, no matter how brief, is in itself a death sentence, with convicts—the impoverished ones, that is—forced to live in misery and squalor. Recent statistics of the Bureau of continue reading : Rizal at 150: In visit to HK prison, he saw oppression

HEARTBREAK MARKED RIZAL’S LOVE LIFE by Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso         Whenever conversations center on national hero Jose Rizal’s manliness, loose tongues wag about his bevy of local and international girlfriends. Undoubtedly, Rizal was never a boor who would kiss-and-tell on his amorous affairs, now called “casual dating.” Rarely do we find these continue reading : Heartbreak marked Rizal’s love life

GREATEST LOVE OF RIZAL, THE ROMANTIC, DOMINATED HIS PASSION FOR WOMEN by Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso         A revived interest in Jose Rizal among teenage Filipinos can be credited to his ubiquitous image in T-shirts and advertisements that either sell merchandise or wishfully endorse his imagined presidency. With the lackluster performance of our continue reading : Greatest love of Rizal, the romantic, dominated his passion for women

ENCHANTED RIZAL FALLS FOR PARIS AT FIRST SIGHT by Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso         National hero Jose Rizal was eager to leave his tedious studies in Madrid for the sophisticated charms of Paris in 1883: “I’m already getting so bored of Madrid that if I succeed to graduate this year, I’ll go to continue reading : Enchanted Rizal falls for Paris at first sight

CURIOUS RIZAL WAS FASCINATED BY THE PARANORMAL by Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso         Jose Rizal’s intellectual prowess continues to be an interesting topic of discussion for Filipinos, both young and old alike. For a man gifted with indubitable polymath abilities, Rizal has been transformed into a hero of mythic proportions whom parents hold continue reading : Curious Rizal was fascinated by the paranormal

THE RIZAL RETRACTION AND OTHER CASESby Peter Jaynul V. Uckung       The flow of history is as inexorable as the tidal flow of an angry ocean. But ever so often in our collective recollection, it is remembered that sometimes the skilful use of forgery can redirect the flow of history itself.       In the Philippines continue reading : The Rizal Retraction and other cases

RIZAL COMPOSED REBELLIOUS SONGS?by Ferdinan S. Gregorio       Filipinos are naturally inclined to music. In the pre-Spanish times, our ancestors loved to sing and play instruments during worship and festivities. Many of the ethnic groups today still have such practices. In the Philippine mainstream music, during the 1990’s, musicians categorized as “alternative” such as Yano, continue reading : Rizal Composed Rebellious Songs?

THE PROBLEMS AFTER RIZALby Peter Jaynul V. Uckung       The real problem with Jose Rizal is that he was gone too soon. He never had the chance to see the social cancer he so aptly described in his two novels, the Noli me tangere and El Filibusterismo mutate into something more virulent, oppressive, controlling way of continue reading : The Problems after Rizal

FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY by Ma. Cielito Reyno       Jose Rizal is said to have first expressed his sense of nation, and of the Philippines as a nation separate from Spain, as a young student in Manila.  Proof of this, it is said, can be found in two of his writings.  In his poem “To continue reading : For Love of Country

HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND LEGAL BASIS OF RIZAL DAY AND OTHER MEMORIALS IN HONOR OF JOSE RIZAL By: Quennie Ann J. Palafox      For over a century now, the nation has never failed to observe the anniversary of the martyrdom our great national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This year, the President will lead the continue reading : Historical Context and Legal Basis of Rizal Day and Other Memorials in honor of Jose Rizal

RIZAL’S TIMELESS CHALLENGE – TO SERVE THE NATION by   Ma. Cielito Reyno       In these times of unprecedented exodus abroad of youth searching for jobs or the fulfillment of their dreams; of public servants going back on their oath of honest service, in exchange for the returns of Mammon; of activists who continue continue reading : Rizal’s timeless challenge – To Serve the Nation

WHY RIZAL WILL NOT WIN AS PRESIDENT IN 2010 By: Quennie Ann Palafox         Rizal is alive every 30th of December, the day he was shot at Bagumbayan Field. The celebration of Rizal Day is based on the decree issued by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on Dec. 20, 1898 declaring Dec. 30 as the anniversary of continue reading : Why Rizal will not win as President in 2010