Rizal has been at the forefront of many Historical and Literary Subjects taught to students throughout their education. Personally, many students and graduates I've encountered view learning his works and his life as useless and boring. Even my parents diss Rizal and claim that learning about him and his works has not significantly impacted their lives and won't impact mine, but I beg to differ. 

My first deep encounter with Rizal and his works happened in Junior High in 9th grade. I came into that class filled with prejudice and contempt for Rizal and why I have to learn, read, and understand something that has passed and will probably never have anything to do with my life. However, I believe I was one of the lucky ones because our teacher for that subject happened to be passionate about Rizal. She so easily explained to us what happened in Noli Me Tangere, discussed the intentions and contexts of that book, and, with much passion and understanding, passed on to us the light of appreciation for Rizal and his works.

If not for her, I don't think I would have been able to come into this class willing to learn about Rizal and his works and have no negative feelings towards the course. But again, the question still lingers: Why must I study Rizal as an Entrepreneurship student? Does this class hold any significance to entrepreneurship? Well, that depends entirely on your view. 

To me, this course holds a myriad of benefits for an aspiring entrepreneur. It could be to inspire people to live with integrity and mindfulness, to honor our roots and ancestors, to appreciate our own culture, to be aware of our rights, and to understand that anyone can abuse power. Learning of him and his works allows us to learn of our past as written and told by him and to have a deep appreciation for our nation's freedom because of the efforts and sacrifices he and many others made. 

Let's be honest: learning about business and the corporate world shows many inequalities in the fight for power and gain. It's essential to keep in mind that Rizal himself was a businessman. His message through his works and his life can be translated to us who want to venture into the world of business to live honestly and with compassion, especially to our fellow people, to not be clouded with greed of money, to equip others with the necessary information they need to survive in such a harsh world and to at all times fight for what is right and just. 

There are so many lessons to learn, and that is only with one of our national heroes; how much more of everyone else we aren't familiar with? Therefore, to me, the fact stands that learning of our heroes(or of Rizal, to be specific) is not useless and meaningless. It instead adds great value to our knowledge and lives and should be highly appreciated by us Filipinos, especially aspiring entrepreneurs.

What do we think of when we hear the word hero? Do we think of fictional characters like Superman or Spiderman? Or do we think of Philippine Heroes like Lapu-Lapu and Rizal? What counts as a hero? And who decides who becomes a hero? I could continue questioning others about heroes, but I'd like to ask myself who qualifies as heroes?

To answer, I think the true essence of being a hero is to help, with the only gain being the satisfaction of being able to do good. Therefore, heroes are anyone with humble humility, compassion, and kindness for others. They act without expecting anything in return and inadvertently leave a lasting impression on those they've helped. We often go about our days not realizing the invisible heroes we pass by the street because not all heroes are recognized by everyone, not all heroes wear capes and have superpowers, and not all heroes get the credit for doing their heroic deeds. But at the end of the day, it is not about what we gain from our acts but about doing.

Rizal, among many others, is one of the few recognized, not because they are more important than all of us, but because they have reached more people than us. However, that measure is not a basis of every hero's worth; luck, privilege, and environment play a part in that aspect. 

Take our school's security guards, for example. We pass by them daily; some even talk about them behind their backs, "maldita kaayo ang guard…" and some just don't pay them attention. However, at the core, these guards' job description is to guard, and we might underestimate that word. Still, we don't often internalize that it takes courage and love to be willing to do so for hundreds of people you do not know(who may even talk bad about you).

These invisible heroes we don't know of inspire me to do my best even when no one is watching, even in the little acts of service in the community. I can be a hero for my country by helping to the best of my ability; it doesn't have to be anything grand or make the headline for tomorrow's newspaper; I just have to help. That helping can come in the form of caring for everyone in class; it can be by being a shoulder to cry on for your friends, it can be by helping an elderly cross the street, by giving to people in need, or by taking part in dialogues for change as someone with the privilege as an Atenean.

Therefore, it is wrong for people to say that our national heroes were picked out, selected, and appointed for us because we don't make heroes; heroes make themselves. Anyone has the potential to be a hero; it is embedded in all of us and is a natural part of humans, but it is up to us whether or not to be one.

Would being similar to a national hero make me a better person? Would being vastly different make me a wrong person? The answer to both is no. Whatever similarities or differences you share with anyone, even a national hero, doesn't define who you are. But it is still fun to list them down and try to relate yourself to a famous figure.

As for Rizal and I, I realized we are both similar yet different. However, our differences aren't as significant as it may seem given that we share an identity as Filipinos.

For instance, we both travel a lot, but Rizal traveled for education and outside the country. In contrast, I travel a lot but only within the Philippines and for vacation pleasure only. He has a set agenda, while I don't plan to go to other places but to have fun. 

Another is that we both know more than one language, but Rizal knows more languages than just those from the Philippines, whereas I only know three languages, all from the Philippines. Additionally, We both have a lot of hobbies, but Rizal learned them through his family and adventures. In my case, my hobbies are influenced by my activities and interests that I could access through the internet.

Lastly, we're both palaban; the only difference is that I'm palaban but non-confrontational and secretive. On the other hand, Rizal is very loud and outspoken, not afraid to say what he wants, and not scared of what others might think or say about him. 

At the end of the day, whether or not Rizal and I are very similar or very different from each other doesn't matter because we are both people with our separate thoughts, identities, experiences, and backgrounds. The existence of one does not diminish the other. What's important is we both live out our truths, and in Rizal's case, he already has. The only thing I can do is to learn from him, his life, and his works to become a better version of myself.

They say that without education, there is no future. Education has become so embedded in our lives that it almost seems impossible to ever live in a world where it doesn't exist. Last week, our Rizal class discussed Rizal's educational background. With the discussion, I found that he and I share a few things in common.

When enrolling in Ateneo, I only thought a little about what the school environment would be like. The one thing I had in mind was that I wanted to get out of my hometown, and the only way I thought of that at that time was by studying at AdDU. In that aspect, I found a similarity between me and Rizal as he, too, left his hometown to learn in a different place. 

Amazed is an understatement as to how I felt after finishing my first year at AdDU SHS. I didn't expect the school to nurture me so that I excel in the classroom and outside it. It was not my initial goal to become a student leader in Ateneo. Instead, I just wanted to experience new things and start anew in an environment where nobody knew me, but who knew that that decision would lead me to become a better and more improved person.

Like Rizal, I too became engaged in a few organizations, some, where I am just a member and some, where I have a position of power. I think that's one thing that makes AdDU so different from my previous schools because here, you all have the equal opportunity to be part of such organizations and take part in causes that matter to you. 

And, of course, once you engage in organizations, it pops the little bubble you surround yourself in and strengthens your circle of influence and connections. Being involved opens your eyes to the world's inequalities because, through it, you get to meet people from all walks of life and see a more diverse view of the world. And it shows you that even though we are still students, we can do something to change.

Ateneo also encourages the development of good characteristics or, in their preferred terms, Ignatian Values. Walking the talk and doing as you are being taught is really being emphasized here. Even as a non-catholic, I really have found an appreciation for such teachings. Compared to my private Chinese Christian school education, I see a more systematic approach to incorporating moral and ethical values into academic learning here in Ateneo. 

All in all, my Ateneo education has taught me that our future selves would be a reflection of our formation in school, therefore that the foundation of our core values starts inside the campus, and by building our characters at such young, impressionable ages, the school equips us to be Sui Generis leaders for Mindanao, one that cares not only for it people but also its environment.

To the Young Women of Mindanao,

Gone are the days when we lived with blatant oppression! Where we had to dress in such heavy, restrictive clothing, where we were limited in our activities. Gone are the days when we were used for the comfort of men in broad daylight, where our fates were not changing as women. 

But with the ticking of time, has this disrespect finally come to an end? Ah, that's the problem. We like to believe it has, but we all know it hasn't. 

We now live in a world of subtle discrimination and suppression, where the violence we experience is quiet and minute. It creeps slowly around us so that we won’t notice. 

Now, we are forced to live our lives in wary. Wary because anytime, anywhere, such things could jump at us. Wary because no woman is ever truly safe in this world she loves so much. 

So really, our world isn't so different from their world before, it's just evolved to better serve its evil master. 

We have to live like this no longer. We need to fight against the monsters. It's been a couple hundred years since we were colonized– chained and stripped of our freedom. It's high time we claim it back and purge on the fight for womankind. 

So to my fellow young women, let us continue fighting the battle by empowering each other. Empower our women! Empower the children! Empower the youth for the hope they carry with them! Because no one else can understand our situation better than each other.

A fellow young woman of Mindanao, 

Rena.

Has she rainbows and the skies to offer

Has she rivers and the crystal waters

Her islands filled with awesome wonders

Oh how can one not adore her

With music and joyous laughters

With foods that make your mouth water

With Singers, dancers and boxers 

What can this mother not nurture

So love from her sons and daughters

Must she receive for her to prosper

For when they hate and turn and loathe her

Her radiant glory they will slaughter

Oh Philippines our beloved mother

Such beautiful magnificent treasure

I pray your children will continue to honor

All your glory and your wonder

For what is beauty without its admirer

Much like no people to a ruler

With none to fathom all her wonder

Such a waste and a disaster

So love her oh you sons and daughters

Love this land you call your mother

Don’t put to waste all her wonder

And at all times her you must honor

Similar to Rizal’s essay, The Philippines A Century Hence, I also personally believe that there would be 2 possibilities on where Mindanao would be a century from now. These 2 would be, either the continuous downfall of Mindanao or the incessant rising success of the island. 

For the former, I believe that it’s a possibility with many factors leading up to that point ranging from climate change effects to conflicts because of multiculturalism. Mindanao or the Philippines in general is at grave risk of experiencing the worst effects of climate change seeing as it’s located at a geographically disadvantageous area, this could result in the worsening of El Nino, constant flooding leading to the sinking and erosion of low land areas or whole islands in general (also consider that the Philippines is comprised of many islands), and the worsening of everyday temperatures. For societal conflict, this could also play a role seeing as historically, people from different backgrounds living around the same areas have been recorded to lead to disputes and conflicts, although it doesn’t automatically guarantee any negative event, it’s still a possibility.

Now for the latter, I believe that with the ongoing evolution of technology and innovation and with the openness of more people to contemporary ideas, it’s also not impossible for Mindanao to become a powerhouse force in the region. Unlike other areas like Luzon who have long been involved in embracing new technologies, I would say that Mindanao is only starting to do so. And that puts us at a great advantage because it means that there is still so much potential to be unlocked. Additionally, we are given the opportunity to learn from what went wrong with Luzon and similar areas, with that we can learn from their everyday problems like overpopulation, pollution and unsustainable conditions. We at least now know better and prepare to mitigate such situations, we are also able to try out new or improved approaches as solutions to such problems. For the openness of people, it doesn’t come as a surprise to us Mindanaoans the idea of a peaceful coexistence with other cultures or people from different backgrounds. Seeing as we have already done so for so many years with very few major conflicts arising. Additionally, with the widespread use of social media and formal introduction of new ideas and ideologies, we are now able to be more understanding and informed of various communities. But compared to the former possibility I mentioned, am leaning more towards this current one. One can only hope for the best in order to achieve the best, once we anticipate for the worst, it’s like we are manifesting for the worst. 

To conclude, I believe that there’ll be 2 possible outcomes of what Mindanao would be like in a hundred years time, however I highly am leaning towards the more positive outcome as I believe that taking a more optimistic approach to this possibility just allows us to manifest and actual work towards such positive outcomes.