This document analyzes the life and works of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, and discusses how he might address current issues in Philippine society if he were alive today. It describes the corruption and poverty plaguing the Philippines. It argues that Rizal would fight these problems through non-violent means like writing and educating the youth. The document stresses that Rizal left a legacy of patriotism and sacrifice that should inspire Filipinos, especially the youth, to work for the welfare of their country through ethical and dedicated service.

1. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
IN
JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS
OF A
GENIUS, WRITER, SCIENTIST AND
NATIONAL HERO
(SOCIAL SCIENCE 14)
Submitted by:
Sheilla Mae Batoon
Geraldine Beran
Emelyn Joy Blanza
Rowena Andres
JeinyCacay
EmieBagaoisan
Kat leenBusilan
Sheena Grace Bareng
(Students)
Submitted to:
Mr. Rudolf T. Vecaldo

2. (Professor)
More than five decades ago, the Philippines became one of the greatest
economically powered countries. The archipelago boasted one of the largest
economies in Asia but today, w hile it remains an important part of the w orld, it’s safe to
say that those glory days are long over. What most outsiders think of the Philippines
nowadays are its failings: political instability, economic struggle, crime and poverty rate,
and corruption to name some. When political leaders lie, cheat and steal; when public
offices become a common public curse especially in terms of graft and corruption; and
when public funds go to private pockets, those are the time corruption takes its place.
Going back in Rizal’s time, when our country was under the control and power of
the bigoted and unjust Spaniards, there are problems in the society that caused the
Filipino sufferings. These are the bondage and slavery among Indios, Force Labor (Polo
Y Servicio), force military service, corrupt Spanish officials, denied right and privileges of
Filipinos, inequality before the law, frailocracy, racial discrimination and many more. But
through Dr. Jose Rizal, and other heroes like Andres Bonifacio and Marcelo H. Del Pilar,
the way was paved for us to achieve our freedom. Did you ever try to think, what if Dr.
Rizal is still alive today? And if he is here, what might be his actions and platforms to
help again in the improvement and development of our country to its best? Do you
think the Philippines would ever be in a situation like these if he is still alive?
Corruption and poverty are the greatest threat to Philippine democracy and in
the society as well. These two had become “a humanitarian crisis and scandals”. The
Philippines for a long time is still perceive as one of the most corrupt countries in the
world getting a score of 34 on the scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being very clean according
to the latest Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International. The worsening
corruption has eaten up the rights of the Filipino citizen to good governance, freedom,
decent and more importantly his or her dignity. I t is a serious obstacle to the social and
economic development of our country. And who are the losers, we the Filipino people.
We are made to pay for overpriced goods or services or we are made to deal with low-quality
or sub-standards goods or services. Despite the seriousness of the problem,
people in the government seem to show no sense of urgency or mastery of the steps
necessary to fight it. And worst, many government officials who are the cause of
poverty and master of corruption never seem to be punished for they are known. They
are free to leave the country, set confined to their state-of-art hospitals; they resign, get
offered early retirement or even get them reassigned.Well in fact, it is our right to
demand real change, action and improvement.

3. Poverty, on the other hand, refers to the condition in which the basic needs of
human being are not meet and people lack the necessary food, clothing and shelter
to survive. They are not able to fully participate in the society in which they belong.
Based on Republic Act 8425 otherwise known as the Social Reform and Poverty
Alleviation Act, dated December 11, 1997 the poor refers to indiv iduals or families
whose income fall below the poverty threshold or the main income or expenditure
required for a family or indiv idual to meet the basic food and non-food needs. They are
the one who cannot afford and sustain manner to provide the basic needs of food,
health, education, housing and other amenities of life. In the Philippines, the main
causes of poverty are: the low to moderate economic growth for the past 40 years, low
growth of poverty reduction, weakness in employment generation and the quality of
jobs generated, low educational attainments, failure to fully develop the agriculture
sector, high inflation during crisis periods, high levels of population growth, high and
persistent levels of inequality in (income and asset) which dampen the positive impacts
of the economic expansion and recurrent shocks and exposure to risk such as
economic crisis, natural and man-made disasters, and environmental poverty.
Now, if Dr. Jose Rizal is still alive and he will witness these problems in our country,
what would be his steps, actions, and platforms in order to solve or reduce these? As
we all know Dr. Rizal is a social thinker, a social scientist, a speaker, a critic; to sum up,
he’s a many-splendored genius. I f he is still alive today he would still helpin solv ing our
problems be it political, economic or social aspect. He would be the same Rizal in the
Spanish Regime who used his knowledge to fight for what is right, just and due for the
Filipino people. He’d be the first one to write articles in newspaper or in the worldwide
web, such us in YouTube and Google,against the corrupt government officials who
cause the Filipino people to become poorer and poorer. He would be still an
ophthalmologist who renders free service and an educator who leads and controls last.
He will still be a person whose approach is democratic and humane to open the minds
of the people, especially the youth, for them to see the reality happening in the society.
Furthermore, we also know that Rizal is a person who does not want to fight with
the use of weapons. Thus, he wanted to fight through the power of his wisdom and pen
in which he can be able to write about the problems that our country is facing
nowadays with their possible solutions. He will also encourage those people who always
join the rally to stop it and tell themit’s nev er a good mov e. For Rizal, the youth are the
hope of our fatherland. And what can the youth do in order to reduce or lessen poverty
and corruption? A good example is during election, voters should vote the right person
not because of their sweet promises and popular names.
Lastly, he will probably help in alleviating crimes, like the pork barrel issue, in our
country through his leadership. Rizal will surely awaken their minds and hearts and open
their eyes to see the light of enlightenment. And what w ould be the nation’s part? They

4. must be the first one to act in alleviating corruption which causes poverty among
Filipinos. They should integrate anti-corruption actions. Their priorities should include
better rules on budgeting and financing the money of the people, make public
spending transparent, make public offices or bodies more accountable and accessible
to all and the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI). They should
also pursue economic reforms and recommend strategies or ways to accelerate
poverty reduction for a sustained and inclusive growth.
Dr. Jose Rizal was born in the time where the Spaniards controlled and ruled our
country. For him to be somebody else, for him to be our national hero and the martyr of
the Filipino people it took him a great effort and sacrifice to take. He was not here in
our time because his talent and ability became a great sacrifice to redeem our
oppressed ancestors. Without him, we will not surely enjoy the freedom we have now.
There is a time for each of us; not the time we choose it to be but to what God had
planned for all of us. Rizal may not meanto live for this time but he had his own place
and time just like we do now. What is important is that he left us a good example of a
patriotic and nationalistic person who sacrificed himself and who possess the fortitude
of suffering for the welfare of our country.
We should therefore thank him for the values, principles, philosophies, virtues
and teachings he had passed and left for us. We believe that we - the Filipino youth, will
make a difference in today’s generation. We strongly believ e that w e are the hope of
the future and we will not break it. As w hat Father Florentino murmurs in Rizal’s nov el El
Filibusterismo as Simoun peacefully die with a clear conscience, he said and he quote
“Where are the youth w ho w ill consecrate their golden hours, their illusions and their
enthusiasm to the welfare of their native land? Where are the youth who will generously
pour-out their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime and so much
abomination? Pure and spotless must the victim be that the sacrifice maybe
acceptable? Where are the youth who will embody in you the vigor of life that has left
our veins, the purity of ideas that has been contaminated in our brains, the fire of
enthusiasm quenched in our hearts! We await you, O Youth! Come for we await you!”
Now is our time to answer it with pride as we are the Filipino youth who are ready
to fulfill our duties and roles as citizen of the Philippines because this is our time which
God has planned. Dr. Rizal made us realize that we should be responsible to all our
actions and make sure that these actions will benefit not only ourselves but also our
fellowmen. As future teachers, who will render service to the children and to our
country, we should not just do the good ones but rather the right ones all the time.
Lastly, we should have purity of thoughts, love for our country and fellowmen and
perseverance in any circumstances with faith and hope. The country should be part of
our priorities and serv ing one’s country is our innate duty. With this, w e w ill influence

5. others to be pure, decent, patriotic, and trusted people who have dignity and integrity
in the name of our Fatherland.
References:
 Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist and
National Hero by Gregorio F. Zaide and Sonia M. Zaide
 http://www.nscb.gov.ph/poverty.asp
 http://www.adb.org/publications/poverty-philippines-causes-constrains-and-
opportunities
 http://www.globalnation.inquirer.net/58823/philippines-remains-one-of-the-
most-corrupt-countries
 http://socyberty.com/educational/teaching-by-example-jose-rizals-philosophy-
of-education/#ixzz2HtzWe23B