As the nation marks today the 129th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, it is worth returning to the ideas he left behind — not as relics of the past, but as guideposts for the future.

It is important to ponder anew Rizal’s insights as our country faces the coming new year because, as he wrote in his four-part essay The Philippines a Century Hence, “in order to read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its past.”

First published in La Solidaridad on Sept. 30, 1889, the essay offers a searing diagnosis of a people weakened by centuries of colonial domination. It portrays Filipinos as “broken” after centuries of Spain’s rule over our country.

“They gradually lost their ancient traditions, their recollections — they forgot their writings, their songs, their poetry, their laws,” Rizal wrote, forced instead to absorb “other doctrines which they did not understand.” In the process, Filipinos learned to admire what was foreign and dismiss what was their own. Their spirit, Rizal said, was broken — and they acquiesced.

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

Yet Rizal was no defeatist. He believed that while the Filipino spirit had been bent, it had not been destroyed. Beneath the surface, a dormant fire waited to be lit. That awakening, he argued, came precisely because of oppression.

“The spirit of the people was not thereby cowed,” Rizal wrote. Even if stirred 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.” Like a flame catching cloth, every effort to smother it only made it burn stronger.

Rizal’s insight remains relevant. Prosperity for all Filipinos will not come from empty rhetoric or superficial reforms. It will come only from a strong, organized, united, and enlightened citizenry willing to confront systemic corruption, resist grinding poverty, and demand excellence in governance.

These enlightened Filipinos must reach out to fellow Filipinos, helping them rise above the social and economic burdens that have endured since Rizal’s time. These enlightened few must become agents of change, capable of influencing, organizing, and leading the people toward national transformation.

Among all sectors of society, it is the Filipino youth who hold the greatest potential to carry this task forward. Rizal believed this deeply. In “A la Juventud Filipina,” he called them “bella esperanza de la patria” — the fair hope of the fatherland.

In El Filibusterismo, he challenged them directly: “Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours, their illusions, and their enthusiasm to the welfare of their native land?”

The answer to Rizal’s question will determine the country’s future. The youth can shape the nation’s quality of life. They can help build an honest and effective government. They can choose leaders who are God-fearing, competent, and compassionate, leaders committed to inclusive growth, job creation, social justice, and determined to lift the country out of poverty and chronic inequality.

History affirms this power. The struggle against Spanish rule was led by young men like Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Gregorio del Pilar, and Apolinario Mabini. Macario Sakay and Miguel Malvar resisted American occupation. Young Filipinos fought Japanese invaders during World War II. Decades later, the youth of the 1970s and 1980s — my own generation — risked life and future to resist the abuses of martial law.

Youth empowerment is essential for every generation. Our fathers, and those before them, acted in their youth to harness the resources and technology of their time to become empowered and make a difference in the life of the nation.

In pursuit of youth empowerment, the Order of the Knights of Rizal –- of which I served as Supreme Commander in 2006 — is tasked with developing the youth in character building, citizenship training, democratic leadership, patriotism, universal brotherhood, and dedicated service to God, country, and people. It also is tasked with spreading the ideals and teachings of Rizal and exhorting young Filipinos to emulate the example set by our national hero.

The youth remain the largest sector of Philippine society — unburdened by vested interests, with time on their side, and talent to develop and grow. When enlightened, mobilized, and inspired, they become the single most powerful force for national renewal.

As Rizal said, the youth is the hope of the fatherland. With an enlightened and empowered Filipino youth, we can look forward to bright prospects in 2026 and beyond. Happy New Year to all! ([email protected])