OPINION – Young Voices Speak: Rizal and the Youth of Today

By Judy Anne Casamayor, AB Mass Communications

Have you ever wondered why Rizal’s words are still applicable up until now? Is he some kind of a time traveller to know what the future brings? Or is he a prophet, just like what most Rizal patriots are saying? Or a fortune teller who somehow predicts what will happen in the future, Or maybe it’s because of our system, and ourselves that have remained unchanged since Rizal’s time?

We are all aware that Rizal is an advocate of proper education, it is proven in one of his writings, the “La Instruccion” wherein he reiterated that Filipinos are in need of proper education, and this education will be the solution to the problems of our country, and this education will open the mind of the youth that they are the fair hope of our motherland. Rizal wrote this essay way back in the 19th century.  Can you imagine how applicable it is up to now?

The youth will only be the fair hope of the motherland if we will give them the proper education that they deserve, and the education that they need. According to our National Hero, education will be the solution to the problems of our country. If education is the solution, then how come it is one of our country’s problem?

During the time Rizal wrote the Instruccion, we are under the power of the Spaniards, so it is somehow understandle that they weren’t treating us fairly. Our youth during that time do not have that much  opportunity to learn. But now, now that are country is already free from colonization, now that we are enjoying the democracy and freedom,what will be our excuse in not giving the proper education for our youth?

They say, today’s youth is different from the youth of the past. Is that the reason why they are not giving these youth the proper education? Is this the reason why they are just letting the youth of today to do what they want to do? Is that enough reason to neglect what our National Hero had said? If we think that today’s youth is way more different than the youth in the past, maybe we should think and mold our youth in a way that they could contribute more and help create a better future for the country. Maybe the reason why the youth of today is different is because we have our own shortcomings — shortcomings that will not result to progress.

Our youth will never be the fair hope of our motherland if we will not teach them, if we will not mold them. Let’s treat our youth, the way Jose Rizal was treated, he had his first lesson in their home and it is given by his mother. We should keep in mind, that without us it is not possible for the youth to be the fair hope of the motherland, and without education we will all be nothing.

Let’s see to it that the first lesson that the youth is going to learn will be learned at home. Let the family, the parents be their first mentor, before the world and our society teaches them.

By Judy Anne Casamayor, AB Mass Communications