School Works

The movie about Jose Rizal that was re – enacted by Cesar Montano features the life events that happened to Rizal and also features clippings from his two works namely: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo and was re – enacted by Joel Torre and also feature how he was executed to death and how the Katipuneros seek revenge for him. I appreciate how it was filmed because it features how the Spanish Government treated the Filipinos in a way that they are degrading them. With that, Rizal was inspired to write those works to reveal the foolishness of the Spanish Government.

The two novels he made show the entire country or the whole Filipino community during that time. Noli Me Tangere, his first work that revealed the foolishness of the Spanish Government, shows the poor condition of the Filipinos and the government of friars, that they use the Catholic religion to practice wealth and power. Discrimination, torture, violence, unequal rights, high taxes, corruption, instability of the colonial government, etc. was noted by Dr. Jose Rizal. The book was prohibited when the officials discovered it. It is because the novel attacks the church and the government. For that, Rizal was excommunicated. Through that work, many Filipinos were enlightened and inspired; for the first time, his work served as the best way to live the national sentiment. Many organizations and strikes happened and conducted, like the Katipunan which was led by Andres Bonifacio.

El Filibusterismo, his second book, once again, had shaken the Spaniards because the book affected greatly towards them. Unlike in his first book, Simon Ibarra here now fights for the Filipino. Soon after his tactics, he was shot by the Spanish Officials and was then committed suicide. In both of his books, Crisostomo Ibarra and Simon Ibarra were both characterize by Jose Rizal as he is.

Through his works and writings, Jose Rizal was able to touch the Filipino heart and made him a hero. No one except him had a great impact against the Spaniards and the Filipinos.

It is also in this film where Rizal was introduced to Luis Taviel, a Spanish Officer which was played by Jaime Fabregas, who has been appointed to defend him at his trial. At first, Luis Taviel mistrusts Rizal and views him as a dangerous revolutionary who seeks revenge because of his works that shaken the Spanish Government. Most of the scenes in the movie takes place in Rizal’s prison cell and involves Luis Taviel confronting him about his life. There are flashbacks about Rizal’s life but some of them are flashbacks to his novels. Learning everything about Rizal, Luis Taviel learns to respect him and decided to do his best job in defending him.

During the prosecution, Luis Taviel tried defending him but failed to do so because of the Spaniards believe that Rizal is a Filibuster and will seek revenge against them through the Katipuneros. The execution for Rizal was set on December 30, 1896. Taviel told Rizal that he is ashamed to be a Spaniard because of what had happened in the prosecution.

The night before his death, Rizal was confronted by his own character Simoun from his novel El Filibusterismo. Simoun urges Rizal to rewrite him so that his mission can be for a higher purpose. And so in his final work, Rizal pens “Mi Ultimo Adios” knowing full well that his death will light the torch of the Filipino Revolution.

December 30, 1896, the day of his death, shows how Rizal was executed to death and how justice did not prevail over him because the Spaniards believe that Rizal was, through his works; fight them by revealing all of their foolishness over Filipinos and how they dominate the Filipinos. It was when, after he died, the “Katipuneros” fight for him by seeking revenge over the Spaniards and the Spanish Government.

Both this film and his works are recommended to students who would like to know more about Rizal and how he has fought for justice and how in the end, did not seek for revenge against to those who degrade the Filipinos. Though almost all of the scenes in the movie are not to be seen because of sensitive themes like torturing and killing, it is still highly recommended to us students who likes to know more about Rizal. Regarding both of his works which features the foolishness of the Spanish Government, it is also recommended for students to read them because, although they have not watch the film, the students can still visualize how the Spaniards treated and dominated the Filipinos.