Why is Rizal the FIRST FILIPINO?
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Excerpts from the Epilogue of THE FIRST FILIPINO By Leon Ma. Guerrero
“As long as the Filipino people have not enough spirit to proclaim, brow held high, and breast bared, their right to a free society, and to maintain it with their sacrifices, with their very blood; as long as we see our country men privately ashamed , hearing the cries of their revolted, and protesting in conscience but silent in public, or joining the oppressor in mocking the oppressed; as long as we see them wrapping themselves up in their selfishness and praising the most iniquitous acts with forced smiles, begging with their eyes for a share of the booty, why give them freedom?” – El Filibusterismo
Rizal was the first Filipino. Before him were the natives of Suluan who rowed out to Magellan’s camp on “The Enchanted Island” of Humunu.
They happily gave Magellan coconuts, oranges, bananas, rice, a jar of palm wine, a fish and a cock, in exchange for mirrors, bells and red caps—a buffoon’s very apparel.
There was Humabon, the kinglet of Sulu, a short, fat tattooed man, who began by requiring Magellan to pay tribute (which not four days before a junk from Siam had done for the privilege of buying gold and slaves) and ended up by agreeing to give the Spanish sole trading rights, scared out his wits by a man dressed head to foot by an armor, lured by the assurance that if he was baptized he would never again be haunted by demons.
But there was Lapu-lapu, kinglet of Mactan, as bold and handsome and supple as the fish for which he was named, who thought himself, “as good man” as Humabon and would not pay tribute to the “Christian king.”
There was also Suleyman, one of the two rajahs of Manila, required to surrender to Legazpi’s emissary, de Goiti, he replied that his men were far from being tattooed savages.
But the strategy of the conquest and the long Spanish dominion has been proved:
Humabon has set Magellan on Lapu-Lapu;
Bisayans from Panay would help Legazpi take Maynilad;
Lakandula stood by while the chieftains of Hagonoy and Macabebe died fighting in Bangkusay channel;
Bisayans would fight Tagalogs;
Tagalos, Bikolanos, Pampangos, Ilokanos; one tribe against another, under Spanish command, for Spanish profit.
The Muslims of the Southern Islands would raid the Christian settlements up to the mouth of Manila Bay itself;
Bisayans under Spanish captains would march to Lake Lanao and Pampangos garrison Zamboanga;
the Muslims would fight for the Dutch against Christians fighting for the Spanish;
Lakandula fought for Salcedo against the Chinese;
his son Magat Salamat, plotted with the Japanese;
and Diego Silang offered his allegiance to the British.
His widow’s Tinggian lancers were beaten by the Piddig archers.
Cebuanos put down Tamblot’s rebellion in Bohol and Bankaws in Leyte;
Lutaos surprised and defeated Sumuroy in Samar.
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March 16th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
bilabg estudyante, dapat malaman na ntn ung mga katiwalian nangyayari sa bansa ntn.
sa paraang ito. malaki ang posibilidad na mamulat na tyu sa kstotohanan upang tYu nRn mismo ang mgsimula tumulong sa pagpapaunlad at pg angat ng lumulobog ntn bansa.
,masasbe kong malaking tulong itong brownraise.
April 6th, 2009 at 07:00 AM
the BROWN RAISE MOVEMENT is a great way to open our eyes and our hearts and accept ourselves as FILIPINOS. in our school AGUSAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, a few students were selected to witness and be a part of this movement. Most of my friends were a part of it. after the activity, a few of them talked to me. some said, “narealize jud nako na dili dapat ko mauwa sa ako clor, maski itom ko, ug maski ila ko gina ulit. karon kabalao nako na pilipino jud ko” in his statement, he mentioned he was teased by a few of his classmates. why do we insult and tease this people? just because of their skin color? when we insult them, practicaly we are insulting ourselves. OUR OWN RAISE. I, myself have a skin color of kayumanggi. some call me “agta” “pagoda”. but i dont mind them. i certainly realized, having this skin color indicates that i am an ASIAN, a part of the Asian Century, and most importantly, i am a FILIPINO. i may be put down by some people because of my skin color, i know that itS always the character not the appearance that will determine how far i will go. just like the saying ” ITS NOT THE APTITUDE, BUT THE ATTITUDE THAT DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE”
May 7th, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Rizal is really the first filipino. because siya ang unang nag-mahal sa bansang pilipinas. siya pa ay nag sakripisyo sa buhay nya. nung bata pa siya. nag-aaral ng mabuti. ganyan sana ag lahat ng tao. pati na ang kabataan.:O Go! Go! philippines.!!!:D
July 27th, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Si Dr. Rizal ang unang Pilipino kasi siya mismo ang unang tao mula sa Pilipinas na nagsaliksik para sa kanyang bayan. Siya ang unang Pilipino na nagpakita na ang lahing Pilipino ay marangal, matalino at may ibubuga. Siya ang nagbuko ng mga katiwalian ng mga mananakop. Sa madaling sabi, siya ang kauna-unahang Pilipino na nagpakita ng isang magiting at mala-Kristiyanong paraan ng pag-ibig sa bansang Pilipinas. ^_^
August 5th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Masasabi ko na si Rizal talaga ang pinaka unang Pilipino,ayon sa artikulong ito, dahil siya ang nagbuklod sa mga tagpi-tagping Pilipino noon. Si Rizal ang nagsikap na isulat at imulat ang mga mata ng mga Pilipino sa katiwalian sa pamamahala ng mga Kastila sa ating bansa.
November 2nd, 2009 at 01:12 PM
This is our gateway to raise our country once again. With our common goal, our country will rise and be part of the hall of Asian nations.
March 24th, 2010 at 01:32 AM
Madali maging isang PILIPINO, ngunit mahirap magpakaPILIPINO.. Madaling isulat ang nationalidad na PILIPINO sa mga artikulo, resume, aplikasyon at iba… Ngunit karamihan sa ating mga Pilipino hindi alam paano Maging isang PILIPINO…. Maraming Dugo ang dumanak upang makamit natin ang sariling kalayaan ng bansa… ngunit ngayon?? oo MALAYA na tayo….. ngunit hindi natin pinapahalagahan ito… na para bang walang Rizal na nagbuwis ang sariling buhay para sa ating lahat…. mas pinili pa natin na maging isang Alipin sa ibang bansa…
March 24th, 2010 at 01:38 AM
KAYA KARAPATDAPAT LANG NA SI RIZAL HIRANGIN NA PILIPINO DAHIL SA MATINDING PAGMAMAHAL NIyA SA BAYAN NATING SINILANGAN… KAHIT KAPALIT……… ay buhay nya..