MANILA, Philippines — The setting was the balcony of  Kapitan Moy’s venerable 19th century house in the heart of Marikina City; the occasion, an interview by Connie Enriquez and Mark Apolinario of GMA 7 about what Jose Rizal would be like if he were alive today.

There were three panelists, Prof. Jimmuel Naval of UP, Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer, Presidential Adviser on the  Peace Process, a very young professor from La Salle University and yours truly, descendant of Maria Rizal, the hero’s older sister.

There was a silent young man from GMA 7 who was sketching Jose Rizal on an i-pad (or some such contraption) while we were talking about the hero. Though frightfully speculative, it was admittedly a charming approach to Rizal.

First, Connie wanted to know what Rizal would wear and the consensus was no sando or camiseta, no floppies except for the beach, no shorts, or torn jeans, though not hopelessly conservative, casual elegance. In order words, according to the young professor – metrosexual.

We all agreed. If Rizal were alive today, he would be properly, neatly, and stylishly dressed. We asked to be shown the sketch of a contemporary Rizal – metrosexual indeed with that characteristic wave on his forehead. I said he had to have a watch (leather strap, added Prof. Naval) because he never wasted time, was always conscious of time.

Would he be in favor of the RH bill? We all chorused  a yes. What about capital punishment? Maybe not because Rizal was a stickler for human rights. Would he be against corruption? Definitely, we all said, that was what the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were all about, corruption of the Spanish colonial government at all levels.

Then Mark Apolinario asked if Rizal would have worked for the government. I said as a local government official, a mayor perhaps, who would have sincerely done his best to develop his town, like what he did in Dapitan where he designed and set up the water supply system, set up a school, a clinic, and helped farmers and fisher folk alike.

The other panelists felt he would have done great as Secretary of Education, or even as President.

Would Rizal open a website or a blog or Facebook and Twitter? We all answered in the positive as the hero would have wanted to use the latest technology to spread his ideas.

I believe he would have made hard copies for posterity of every thing  he would have written with IT. Prof. Naval was of the opinion Rizal would have written at least ten novels had he lived longer.

After the taped interview for GMA 7, we agreed  off the record  that if Rizal would suddenly come back to life today, he would be so appalled at the state of the Philippines because this is definitely not the nation he had envisioned. (gemma 601@yahoo.com)