TASK PERFORMANCE

DE JESUS, Giscel B.

BSHRM 701

A. Is the teaching of Rizal’s Life and Works course realistic given

the dangers and sensitivities of literature as a means of

communication in learning nationalism, patriotism, and

volunteerism?

The teaching of Jose Rizal’s life, works, and writings is mandated by

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Republic Act 1425, otherwise known as the Rizal Law. Senator Jose &.

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Laurel, the person who sponsored the said law, said that since Rizal was the
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founder of Philippine nationalism and has contributed much to the current
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standing of this nation, it is only right that the youth as well as all the

people in the country know about and learn to imbibe the great ideals for
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which he died.
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Nationalism involves the desire to attain freedom and political

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independence, especially by a country under foreign lower, while patriotism

denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one’s nation. Jose Rizal’s life, works,
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and writings especially his novels essentially, if not perfectly, radiate these
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traits or one thing, the subject helps us to understand our country better.

He can learn much from the way Rizal faced various challenges in life. Is a
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controversial figure in his time, he encountered serious dilemmas and

predicaments but responded decently and high mindedly.

Through the crucial decisions he made in his life, we can sense his

priorities and convictions which manifest how noble, selfless, and great the

national hero was. For example, his many resolutions exemplified the

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 aphorism that in this life there are things more important than personal

feeling and happiness.

B. How important are literary criticism in the study of Rizal’s Life

and Works?

The academic subject on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal was not

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mandated by law for nothing. Far from being I’m practical, the course

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interesting offers many benefits that some contemporary academicians

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declare that the subject, especially when taught properly, is more beneficial
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than many subjects in various curricula. Jose Rizal course, as a history

subject, is full of historical information from which one could base his
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decisions in life.
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In various ways, the subject, for instance, teaches that being educated is a
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vital ingredient for a person or country to be really free and successful. The
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past helps us understand who we are. We comprehensively define ourselves

not only in terms of where we are going, but also where we come from. Our
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heredity, past behaviors, and old habits as a nation are all significant clues

and determinants to our present situation. Interestingly, the life of a very

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important national historical figure like Jose Rizal contributes much to

shedding light on our collective experience and identity as Filipino.

Rizal also tried his hand at painting and sculpture. His most famous

sculptural work was "The Triumph of Science over Death", a clay sculpture

of a naked young woman with overflowing hair, standing on a skull while

bearing a torch held high. The woman symbolized the ignorance of

humankind during the Dark Ages, while the torch she bore symbolized the
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 enlightenment science brings over the whole world. He sent the sculpture

as a gift to his dear friend Ferdinand Blumentritt, together with another one

named "The Triumph of Death over Life". The woman is shown trampling

the skull, a symbol of death, to signify the victory the humankind achieved

by conquering the bane of death through their scientific advancements.

Critical Thinking refers to discerning, evaluative, and analytical thinking. A

philosophy major, Jose Rizal unsurprisingly demonstrated his critical

thinking skills in his argumentative essays, satires, novels, speeches, and

written debates. In deciding what to believe or do, Rizal also !roved his

being a reasonably reflective thinker, never succumbing to the irrational

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whims and baseless opinions of anyone. In fact, he indiscriminately

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evaluated and criticized even the doctrines of the dominant religion of his

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time. A course on Rizal’s life, works, and writings therefore is also a lesson
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in critical thinking..
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C. If given a chance to deconstruct one of Rizal’s written works

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(both well-known and obscure), what would it be and what is its

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relation to the analysis and understanding of nation-building?

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The role of the intellectual in nation-building, focusing specifically on some

of the issues that today confront us as a nation. It almost sounds like an

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invitation to bare the ivory-tower arrogance of which academics like us have

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often been accused. The highly charged word in the title, of course, is

“intellectual.” Indeed, who among us will dare claim this appellation? We

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may be writers, opinion-makers, pundits, political analysts, or academics

whose views on a broad range of questions are routinely sought by the mass

media. But, that would not entitle us to the title, even in its more recent

incarnation as “public intellectual.”.

I cringe when I’m sometimes introduced as a “public intellectual.” I have

encountered many forms of conceit in my life, but I have yet to meet

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 anybody who carries a calling card with the profession: “public intellectual.”

The concept “intellectual” is highly abused enough as it is; one can only

imagine what complex work it is expected to do when paired with the

equally contested term “public.” Assuming we can agree on what it means,

do academics like us have a duty to play the role of public intellectual in

nation-building? If so, what expectations accompany the performance of this

role? If the concept were meant just to refer to someone who relies on her

intellect more than on her instincts and emotions, it might suffice to use the

word “thinker.” A “thinker” would be someone who spends her time

creating, examining, or sorting out ideas, rather than fabricating things. But

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this generic word would cast such a huge net that it would surely fail to

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distinguish the kind of work we tacitly expect of intellectuals.
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The public intellectual typically establishes a presence in the modern mass
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media – something that is not so difficult to do now because of the Internet.

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Unlike the quiet academic who spends a lifetime to get published in

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refereed journals, the public intellectual would be more keen to acquire a

foothold in the public consciousness.

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