DAPITAN CITY (PIA) – It’s fairly easy to imagine heroes as distant saint-like figures in history, someone so above the average citizen who selflessly dedicated their life to the country, that it’s easy to forget that there was most likely another side to them – a more relatable side that wouldn’t have been extraordinary enough to be mentioned in the biographies and history books that immortalize them for centuries to come.
Take Rizal Park and Shrine for example. Today, tourists and locals enjoy it for its rich historical and cultural value. The Museum displaying copies of Rizal’s work, buildings and landscape preserved through the ages – it’s easy to forget that before it became a nationally renowned tourist attraction, it served as none other than Rizal’s home itself.
The place where he took his patients, gardens he used to walk, sights he enjoyed throughout the day before retreating to his home to relax and savor moments of peace after a long day – it’s strangely domestic, almost foreign, to imagine the life Rizal lived basked in the ordinary and mundane.
So, where else would be more fitting to celebrate the national hero’s 163rd birthday than in the place he once called home?
Gathered in front of the Museo ni Rizal, Dapitan City set up a not-so small celebration for Dr. Jose Rizal together with the Shrine and LGU employees, Las Damas de Rizal, Knights of Rizal as well as national government employees (NGAs) together with the city’s youth and children sector.
During his speech, City Mayor Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos highlighted the merrier set up for this year’s celebration complete with balloons and a birthday cake.
He shared that for the longest time, there has been little to no difference between the commemoration of Rizal’s birth and his death anniversary, but emphasized that it ends this year.
“We owe it to Rizal to celebrate his birthday as it should be,” Mayor Jalosjos said.
After the formalities, the city, together with the different organizations and NGAs offered flowers, and the children gathered around the cake to sing the national hero a happy birthday.
Keeping with the festivities, children and teenagers both participated in mga larong pambata like the classic party games ‘pabitin’ and ‘palayok.’
The city also held an Arnis Tournament in honor of Rizal’s mastery and prowess in the martial art.
All these efforts were made in pursuit of keeping the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal alive. As Dapitan continues to march forward, it is imperative to remember that history was made in these very streets, and the life of the man whose words ignited the patriotism that liberated the country should be celebrated.
As a promise, Dapitan will no longer hold solemn commemorations of Rizal’s birth. Instead, much like how we celebrate the birthdays of our friends and loved ones, the national hero’s birth anniversary will be a celebration of the life he lived, the contributions he made, and the paths he paved – leaving sadness and solemnity for when we mourn his death once more. (EDT/PJF/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)
