Summary
Highlights
Why do Filipinos still struggle to answer 'Who is Jose Rizal?' despite mandatory college courses on his life? According to Dr. Jose Victor Torres, a history professor at De La Salle University, the issue lies in the traditional, memorization-based teaching of history. Students are forced to remember facts but often forget them after passing the course, or the information is outdated.
Dr. Torres suggests a more relatable way to teach Rizal's life: by showing how his era, which he calls the 'century of change,' shaped his character. This period saw various inventions that simplified life, accelerated work, and improved communication, which Rizal utilized, similar to how we adapt to technological changes today.
Dr. Torres highlights three key inventions Rizal benefited from: the fountain pen, cameras, and the money order system. Rizal likely used fountain pens, invented in the 1860s, rather than quill pens, to produce his extensive writings. He and his friends frequently used cameras, leaving behind many photographs. The establishment of the money order system in the 1860s simplified financial transactions, and improved postal and telegraph systems facilitated his communication with family and loved ones. His frequent letter writing left behind a rich legacy of advice for the nation.
Rizal's writings amount to many volumes, demonstrating his intellect. The video posits that if we were to compile all our emails, text messages, and social media comments, we too would leave a substantial legacy. Rizal left a legacy using the technology of his time, prompting the question: What legacy will we leave for the nation?