‘Rizal in Saga,’ Nick Joaquin in his element

The purchase by the GSIS of Juan Luna’s "Parisian Life" has sparked a lively debate: Whether or not the money should have been used to nourish the body or the soul. The issue, however, is more than about dollars and cents. Just as valuable as timeless works of art, if not more so, are the lessons of history and the inspiration from the lives of Filipinos who struggled to win our independence. Sadly, we seem to have forgotten these lessons when they are most urgently needed.

Commissioned by the National Centennial Commission in 1996, Rizal in Saga by Nick Joaquin illuminates these lessons. Joaquin’s narrative style is compelling: there is no stilted chronological rote like other history textbooks. Instead, the reader is drawn into the life of Rizal – his experiences and his probable thoughts. One is able to discern the humanity of this "deified" hero, and to reconnect with the country’s historic struggle.

Connecting With The Past

Through Joaquin’s pen, the Philippines of the 1800s – the society and culture, politics and religion, and everyday life – becomes real rather than legend. I find myself almost able to taste the suman on the Mercados’ dinner table, to picture Intramuros before its destruction, and to smell the sea air during Rizal’s passage to Europe.

I am also able to empathize with the fear and injustice felt by many Filipinos at that time, particularly the Mercados. They lost their house and land holdings. Doña Teodora was humiliated with her arrest. In this novel, the struggles seem so real that it spurs us to think about what we are doing with this country which was born from pain and loss, and how much things may have changed or remained the same.

Undoubtedly, many things have changed. Life may not be as "slow" as the 1800s because of technology: wire transfers obviate the need to wait for snail mail as Rizal had done; travel is faster but we miss out on the more scenic route that Rizal took going to and from Spain.

But while the Philippines has won its freedom from foreign overseers, it is now struggling to be free from poverty, illiteracy, corruption, greed and fear. Ironically, these are some of the very problems that plagued the Philippines in the 1800s. The country seems to belie what Rizal was supposed to have believed, that "Filipinos were...awakening at last to the sun, to civilization, to progress."

But all does not seem lost for there are still positive Filipino values which could be the foundation in reviving the nation. The importance given to family is seen in the life of the Mercados. Rizal’s parents strive to provide a home and education for their children, and to set an example of hard work and faith. The children are equally devoted, especially Paciano who gave up the fight for independence in order to help his parents, and urged Rizal to study abroad to realize his potentials.

The Humanity Of Heroes

Joaquin deconstructs Rizal, showing the readers his talents and eccentricities, his loves, his struggles; in short, what made Rizal into the man that he was and hero that he is. He was not a superman born with extraordinary powers. As talented as he was, Rizal’s skills were still honed by mentors (he had to improve writing in prose and in Spanish before finishing Noli Me Tangere). Eventually, Rizal triumphed over his own insecurities (like his small physique), the injustices suffered by his family, and the discrimination at the hands of foreigners in his own land. Rizal learned from the lessons of his life, and he made the critical choices to excel even when he was homesick and almost penniless in Spain.

One of the parts of the novel with which I most identified was the story of Rizal as a foreign student. Being a student abroad is both exciting and daunting. Everything is new and stimulating; but at the same time, one is away from one’s family and the familiar. One is confronted not only by a new culture, but also by the divisiveness of some Filipino communities (although sometimes there is help from other Filipinos who do not expect you to repay utang na loob). Nevertheless, as may have happened with Rizal, one’s nationalism is awakened. I do not consider myself ultra-nationalistic, but I found that I didn’t want anyone belittling Filipinos or the Philippines.

In sum, there are three important lessons from the life of Rizal for me. The first is that heroism means having the courage to live. Rizal’s tenacity and diligence allowed him to overcome challenges and any misgivings others may have of him.

The second lesson is that we have choices even if life has dealt us a lousy hand. Joaquin says that "the peculiarity of our history is that a born anti-hero – the small, weak, timid Rizal – chose to play hero... That he made it as hero is the glory of our history." When we wonder about the bad things that happen to us, we just need to turn to Rizal who gave meaning to these struggles by giving them literary form. Once we have made our choices we will have grace and courage when most needed.

In this time when people search for fortune beyond the country’s borders, one realizes that one never truly leaves the homeland. It is in our hearts and it is part of our identity. That is the third lesson from Rizal’s life.

Rizal has achieved mythic proportions. While well-meaning, myth-making obscures the fact that though Rizal was exceptional, he had his own foibles and charms much like the rest of us. Myths cheat us out of a much-needed inspiration. For who can aspire to be a demigod? And who wants to? By making Rizal more reachable, Joaquin’s novel gives hope that we too can make a difference as we fulfill our responsibilities to our family and our country. Let the lessons from the lives of our heroes become masterpieces etched in our hearts, rather than on mere canvas.