The relevance of Dr. Rizal

Tomorrow, our nation will mark the 164th birthday of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

- THE VIEW FROM RIZAL DR. JUN YNARES

As in the past, discussions will center on the topic of whether or not Dr. Rizal is still relevant today, and, if yes, what can the youth of today learn from the example he left.

People started asking me those questions since I was governor of Rizal Province. It appears there is an expectation that the person at the helm of the province named after Dr. Rizal should know much about him.

I am not an expert on matters about the national hero, but I am a self-confessed fan. I have often told people that if I had actively pursued a career in medicine, I would have chosen to specialize in ophthalmology. The inspiration behind that decision was Dr. Rizal - the multi-talented Filipino who operated on his mother’s eyes and restored her sight.

Being a fan, I will always defend the timeless relevance of our national hero. When asked what I admire most about him, I would always name his three outstanding qualities not often mentioned in articles written about him.

These qualities are: first, being an ardent reader; second, despite his family’s stature in society, he worked with his hands; and third, he made it a habit to triumph over adversity.