As Rizal might have looked/ Morality in days of yore

 The following brief essays were written decades ago by my late mother Severina Luna-Orosa. The first essay on her impressions of Rizal, is being reprinted on the occasion of Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. The second, unknowingly, is her reply to today’s prevalent teenage pregnancies, sex orgies, theft, robbery and rape and the almost daily murders committed by partners riding in tandem on motorcycles.

A word about the author. She graduated valedictorian in the UP College of Medicine, class of 1914. She and her husband Dr. Sixto Y. Orosa — he was salutatorian in the same class — were the pioneer Christian doctors among the Muslims from 1916 to 1926. Both Premio Zobel awardees, they were avid Rizalistas, with Severina organizing the Kababaihang Rizalista, the female counterpart of the Knights of Rizal.

Rizal’s picture

Looking at Rizal’s picture, Lombroso, a world-famous sociologist, stated: “Initiators of great revolutions, scientific or political, who induce human progress are either geniuses or saints, and have a marvelously harmonious expression.”

Retana, author of Rizal’s first complete biography, agrees with Lombroso’s analysis in this manner:

“Rizal’s forehead reveals intelligence; his eyes are those of a thinker, his jaws mean strength of character, and the sweet totality gives an idea of a reflective man, a suffering poet and a truly superior being, sympathetic and understanding.”

Rizal’s most ardent love was love of country. He loved his country virtuously, disinterestedly, with profound religiosity to the extent that he died for her.

A Rizalist has called the killing of Rizal a hysterical, incomprehensible error.

Morality of yore

Our parents, grandparents and great grandparents had a very high sense of morality and integrity. For them, the greatest crime and sin a woman could commit was disloyalty to her husband. A woman, married or single, who had a paramour was ostracized by society.

In the days of the barter system, men left their merchandise at a given place, without guards or police, yet no theft would take place, the penalty for theft being death.

In the days of our parents and grandparents, morality and religion were taught with great emphasis at home and in school. Religion was a very important subject; one who failed in religion could not advance to the next grade no matter what grades one obtained in other subjects. Our parents and great grandparents embraced religion with almost fanatical zeal. At that time, the only religion known was Catholicism.

There were family prayers in the morning and the Angelus in the afternoon after which the children kissed the right hand of their elders. They also did so before their departure from home and after their arrival from school, saying “mano po”, mano meaning hand,po meaning sir or madam. Disobedience, insolence, arrogance were punished with a good beating.

With this background, it is easy to see why in the days of yore, equal morality for men and women was standard. The women spent most of their time at home looking after it and the children. During parties, which were seldom held, women stayed in one part of the house; the men, in another. There was no “co-education” so to speak. Most dances were square or group dancing; the favorite ballroom dancing was the waltz. The men danced one-half or one foot away from their partners.

A woman known to have been disgraced generally no longer married, not being accepted by society. A woman who was disloyal to her husband was also frowned upon by society and as a rule, there was no reconciliation possible between her and her husband.

A married man known to have a paramour was looked upon with disdain, and his extramarital exploits would cause a deep, painful and permanent wound in his wife’s heart.

Life then was simple, the pace was not nerve-wracking; there was no artificiality. Men and women dressed simply and modestly if elegantly. Social amenities were strictly observed. The most unwelcome person was the boastful, boisterous type; the most hated, the liar, the dishonest.

In those days, kidnapping, robbery, theft, rape and other crimes were practically unheard of. A report that a woman was kissed by a man who was not her husband was instantly regarded scandalous. When a man courted a woman, it was generally with the intent of marrying her if she accepted him.

When a man visited the woman he courted, he was often in the sala, yards away from her, with other people present.

The teaching of good manners was a must. Voices in conversation or discussion were low and well-modulated. Respect for elders was strictly observed; respect between equals prevailed.

Love or friendship had no bearing on money or one’s standing in society.

After reading the above, do you think the good old days will come back?

Please send invitations, announcements, print photos to my home address, not to The STAR. — RLO