"Not only is Rizal the most prominent man of his own people but the greatest man the Malayan race has produced." - Ferdinand Blumentritt, 1897.
On December 31, 1896 in the grounds of Luneta Manila, Spanish authorities shot a man. A man who was about to change the course of Philippine history, a man we know today as Jose Rizal. Tomorrow we are once again commemorating the death anniversary of this great man.
What was Jose Rizal’s greatest legacy? Why was he chosen to become our national hero ? For most people they believe that Jose Rizal was rightly chosen to become a national hero because he influenced most of our revolutionary leaders through his writings and example although other people believe that he should only be declared a hero not “The national hero.” Most people believed that Rizal’s greatest legacy is his love for his country as embodied in his writings and the actions that he took.
Yet, today, one might present the argument that Jose Rizal's greatest legacy was in becoming the first of a vast and great multitude of OFWs ~ Overseas Filipino Workers!
Before you scoff at the idea, consider the end of his life. By 1896, the rebellion fomented by the Katipunan, a militant secret society, had become a full blown revolution, proving to be a nationwide uprising and leading to the proclamation of the first democratic republic in Asia. To dissociate himself, Rizal volunteered and was given leave by the Spanish Governor General Ramon Blanco to serve in Cuba to minister to victims of yellow fever. Blanco later was to present his sash and sword to the Rizal family as an apology.
Before he left Dapitan, he issued a manifesto disavowing the revolution and declaring that the Education of Filipinos and their achievement of a national identity were prerequisites to freedom. Rizal was arrested en route, imprisoned in Barcelona, and sent back to Manila to stand trial.
Jose Rizal one of the great OFWs!
In Spain, France Germany and the rest of Europe, the United States, Japan and Hongkong Rizal was an ophthalmologist, sculptor, painter, educator, farmer, historian, inventor, playwright and journalist. Do we not have many Pinoy OFWs who are following in his footsteps in the same occupations and in the same countries?
OCWs (now caled OFWs) are widely depicted as "national heroes," a message that Cory Aquino institutionalized in a 1988 speech to Hong Kong OCWs: "Kayo po ang mga bagong bayani" ("You are the new heroes").
"Our Overseas Contract Workers (now caled OFWs) are the new heroes of the Philippines" --Fidel V. Ramos.
On Earth Day, May 2001, Ramos launched into his own history about how he came to the United States as "one of the first overseas contract workers" (OFWs)
On 12 December 2005, Meeting with the Filipino community in Malaysia at the Saloma Theater and Restaurant here Sunday evening, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said OFWs are "heroes of the new millennium" whose dollar remittances have helped stabilize the Philippine economy.
Not withstanding President Ramos' statement, it is even more obvious that Dr. Jose Rizal was 'one of the first OFWs' long before President Ramos.
It is the goal of OFWs.Net ~~ The OFWs Network ~~ To help our Pinoy and Pinay Heros! That is what this website is dedicated to do!
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