White hair chronicles LXIV - Jose Rizal@150

The younger kids now know who Jose Rizal is but it stops at that. My generation is replete with stories of Rizal's genius and love for country. We remember the tale of Rizal throwing his remaining slipper to the water after losing the other half in the currents. There are also the tales of the moth and the lamplight, how he made champorado from left-over rice, how he operated on his mother's eyes, how he excelled in fencing, the arts, and in writing, and how he dramatically faced the muskets when he was executed.

Many stories maybe are apocryphal. That's the stuff that makes heroes, anyway. But notwithstanding Veneration Without Understanding, Rizal is our hero. And in this age, we need heroes that transcend time, politics, and personal desires. The fact that the Americans sponsored Rizal's ascendance to the exalted throne of National Hero does does not diminish his achievements and heroism. Nor it does not make him undeserving to be called such.

Rizal's being born from society's upper class does not preclude him from being the national hero. His martyrdom alone continues to inspire. Such ability to inspire has no class prerequisite.

So to remind my family, especially my two sons, aged 14 and 8, of who Rizal is, we trooped to the Luneta last Sunday. My young sons personal heroes range from Rafael Nadal to John Lennon to Ozzy Osbourne. We were surprised that despite the inclement weather, throngs of student were also there. I told my sons, that when Rizal turns 200, a bigger celebration will be organized. Perhaps they will also be at Luneta with their grandchildren and they should tell them that here lies a man whose heroism is truly profound. He did what he did despite the grim consequences, not for revenge or personal ambition, but because it was the right thing.

Father's Day

Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her father in raising six children, thought of having an official Father's Day observance to honor all fathers. Like Mother's Day, from which it was derived from, Father's Day has been observed with crass commercialism. Dodd had no problem with the commercialization of the holiday and in fact endorsed several promotions to increase the amount of gifts, unlike Mother's Day creator Anna Jarvis, who actively opposed all commercialization of Mother's Day.

Jose Rizal, whose birthday (June 19) always falls near Father's Day, was not thought of to be a father himself. Despite his legendary romantic conquests, his nearest jab at fatherhood went pfft when Josephine Bracken had a stillbirth. If Jose Rizal were alive today, he I'm sure he would say that Father's Day is the day of priests (araw ng mga pari), mindful of the father-priests then. I really think that the Padre Salvi character is named as a play on the words Padre Salvaje. And Padre Damaso means [Damn + aso (or dog)], is a damn dog, or damn bitch.

Back to Father's Day, I think Mother's Day is celebrated on the wrong date. Technically, Mother's Day comes 9 months after Father's Day. Kidding aside, almost a century after the 1st celebration of Father's Day, it (Mother's Day too) drives business as dads are given gifts ranging from apparel to zen books. But what I like most about this day is I get control of the TV remote. For a single day, 1/365th of the year, I get control. The kids are relegated to the PC and the bedroom TV. The wife volunteers to cook lunch and dinner of my choice. I get a semblance of lordship over the house, at least as much as the wife allows me to. I savor the fleeting experience as the day nears its end for tomorrow I relinquish everything back.