michaelgeralddealino

"In the meantime, while the Filipino people may not have sufficient energy to proclaim, with head high and chest bared, their rights to social life, and to guarantee it with their sacrifice, with their own blood; while we see our own countrymen in private life feeling shame within themselves, to hear roaring the voice of conscience which rebels and protests, and in public life keep silent, to make a chorus with him who abuses to mock the abused; while we see them enclosed in their own selfishness, praising the most iniquitous deeds with forced smiles, begging with their eyes for a portion of the booty, why give them freedom? With Spain and without Spain they would always be the same, and perhaps, perhaps worse! Why independence if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And they would be, without doubt, because he loves tyranny who submits to it. Senor Simoun, while our people may not be prepared, while they may go to battle beguiled or forced, without a clear understanding of what they have to do, the wisest attempts will fail and it is better that they fail, because why commit the wife to the husband if he does not sufficiently love her, if he is not ready to die for her?"

When I see Filipinos not stepping up to their responsibilities; when I meet people taking their studies for granted; when I see some of our leaders pandering for votes and gullible people actually adulating them for it; when people engage in mindless barbarism; when I encounter people who do not have any regard for their surroundings, the environment, and their fellow Filipinos, I often think of Rizal's prescient words.