LITTLE BAD BOY

(BINATANG RIZAL SA EUROPA)

A Reaction Paper

Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Philippines national hero is an icon we been studying since my year in
kindergarten. In my primary and secondary years Dr. Rizals life is a topic we keep on
discussing and studying. Now that I am in my collegiate year, Rizals Life and Works is a subject
that is part of the curriculum to be studied. Honestly, I dont see the logic of scrutinizing Dr.
Rizals life but after watching this documentary from I-witness GMA 7, I realized the reason why
to do so. His life is a good example for us fellow Filipinos. Examining what he did and his vision
for the Philippines. He went to Paris, France at the age of 28 years old, a doctor, a political
activist, a good writer, and most especially as a tourist. Why so special? Because he went there
to observe political aspects. His nationalism is so on fire that while his there his vision for the
Philippines is so high, high like the Eiffel Tower.
It is true what the video said that we dont really know Rizal, instead we just know him
as a national hero. What we dont know is that Dr. Rizal is a normal person too. A person who
enjoy plays like Moulin Rouge near Hotel de Paris, Rizals first home in Paris. He also falls in
love and be part of a love triangle. This exposes Rizal as a normal person just like us. But what
is really admirable about Rizal is that his passion for our country doesnt burn low. His life in
Paris, even though his a doctor, is not grandeur. He lives in an affordable hotel and often walks
to work or other places. This embodied the ordinary Filipino people. He balanced his effort to
study the political systems in Paris and then work and train as an Ophthalmologist under a great
one with a little bit of a social life and fun moments.
I am amazed how Dr. Jose Rizal do all these things away from his home grounds without
forgetting his prime mission on visiting Paris. The most important reason is Rizals nationalism
and the eagerness to learn more about new philosophies concerning human rights.
Moreover, these things about Dr. Rizal makes me proud as a Filipino because a person
who can just study abroad because of his elite bloodline still pushes himself to equip himself
with the best weapons against the colonialism. His nationalism is overflowing, a selfless act to
sacrifice even his own self for our liberty.
Yet, Jean Paul Verstracten is an encouragement and also a slapped in the face for the
Filipinos. His effort to educate the people about our national hero. His efforts encourage us to
also take time to know Rizal and his sacrifices for our country but a slapped in the face because
why it takes a foreign man to know these things. Why not us, why not us his fellow countrymen,
the people he sacrificed his life for