As I contemplated on Dr. Jose Rizal on the 164th birth anniversary of our national hero last June 19, the more I was convinced that enlightenment is crucial in attaining prosperity for our country.

In today’s world where misinformation spreads rapidly and where apathy often drowns out civic engagement, Filipino sought to emulate Rizal whose life shined with three key elements: power of education, love of country with action, and courage to stand for what is right.

He believed that acquiring knowledge is the cornerstone of empowerment. Rizal was a polymath who did not merely acquire educational degrees. He sought wisdom. In this present age of quick answers and short attention spans, we can learn from Rizal who valued extensive learning and cultivated a lifelong search for more knowledge and truth.

Whether by formal education or self-study, we can be inspired by Rizal in mustering the discipline to think critically and independently, especially in confronting the complex issues at present — prevalent corruption, widespread poverty, glaring inequality, even climate change.

Rizal’s love of country was phenomenal, yet his nationalism was not blind loyalty. It was informed devotion. He loved our country enough to criticize its flaws and to challenge both abuse and complacency of Filipinos.

His critique of Filipinos was profoundly expressed in his four-part essay, The Philippines a Century Hence, first published in La Solidaridad on Sept. 30, 1889 to Feb. 1, 1890, in which he portrayed Filipinos as “broken” during the centuries of Spain’s domination of the Philippines.

“They gradually lost their ancient traditions, their recollections – they forgot their writings, their songs, their poetry, their laws, in order to learn by heart other doctrines, which they did not understand, other ethics, other tastes, different from those inspired in their race by their climate and their way of thinking,” Rizal wrote. “Then there was a falling-off, they were lowered in their own eyes, they became ashamed of what was distinctively their own, in order to admire and praise what was foreign and incomprehensible: their spirit was broken and they acquiesced.”

But although broken, the people’s spirit was not shattered altogether. In fact, the “lethargic spirit woke to life” when the people realized their misfortune amid all the abuses and mistakes of the colonizers, Rizal said.

“The spirit of the people was not thereby cowed, and even though it had been awakened in only a few hearts, its flame nevertheless was surely and consumingly propagated, thanks to abuses and the stupid endeavors of certain classes to stifle noble and generous sentiments. Thus, when a flame catches a garment, fear and confusion propagate it more and more, and each shake, each blow, is a blast from the bellows to fan it into life.”

The awakening of Filipinos can, therefore, be sparked by just a few. These enlightened few must be agents of change to influence and lead others to transform and uplift the nation to a higher level in moving forward.

Thus, an enlightened citizenry is crucial to nation-building and in attaining prosperity for all Filipinos. Such enlightenment is best when matched with courage, the courage to do the right thing. Rizal faced martyrdom at age 35 when he dared to speak out against oppression.

Rizal’s courage was not reckless; it was rooted in deep conviction. Today’s generation of Filipinos ought to also muster courage to confront what is wrong in Philippine society, to reject disinformation and call out fake news, to resist a prevailing culture of fear and silence in many communities.

The lessons that can be gleaned from the life of Rizal can inspire Filipinos to complement our love of country with decisive action. Our patriotism ought to go beyond flag-waving and social media posts. Patriotism should mean voting wisely, engaging in community work, speaking out against injustices, rejecting fraud and corruption when faced in our daily lives, even obeying traffic rules.

We can honor the legacy of our national hero through our civic responsibility, moral courage, and never-ending pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. In honoring Rizal who certainly is a timeless model for Filipinos, let us not only contemplate on what he did for us — but what we must do for our country in pursuit of prosperity for all Filipinos. ([email protected])