Here, a statue of Rizal in a scholarly pose is outlined against the sky at dusk in Intramuros, Manila. Contributed photo / JILSON SECKLER TIU
Like national hero Jose Rizal, today鈥檚 millennials should use their time and talents to show their love for the Philippines, the Liberal Party (LP) urged on Saturday.
鈥淲e urge today鈥檚 millennials to be like Rizal, to work for a better Philippines, free of poverty and fear, and where justice and solidarity reign,鈥� the political party said in a statement to commemorate Rizal鈥檚 121st death anniversary.
LP said Rizal, whom they described as a 鈥渕illennial of his time,鈥� believed that everyone has inherent, inalienable rights.
鈥淗e was 25 when he published 鈥楴oli Me Tangere,鈥� a novel that described the ills for the cancerous colonial Philippine society toward the end of the 19th century. He was 30 when he published 鈥楨l Filibusterismo,鈥� the follow-up to his first novel that prescribed societal cures,鈥� the LP wrote.
Even up to the time he was executed at 35, the LP said Rizal 鈥渋nspired Filipinos to believe that they were capable of ruling themselves.鈥�
In the morning of Dec. 30, 1896, Rizal was executed at Bagumbayan, now Luneta or Rizal Park, after he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association, despite lack of evidence. /jpv
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