03
July - August 2020
Vol. 1 | No.1
NEWS
YUGTO
SERYE NG TALINGID NA KABIHASNAN
MARAHUYO
YUGTO
GUNITA
PLUMA
CARITELA
KINAIYA
PAHAM
SILAKBO
05
FEATURE
PLUMA
SERYE NG TALINGID NA KABIHASNAN
MARAHUYO
Jose
Of
All
Trades
BRANDED
IN
berlin
By: Christine Cabagyo
rowned by a majestic four-horse chariot with the goddess of peace at
the reins. It was “the symbol of Prussian Berlin and later the symbol of a divided Berlin,” the Brandenburg Gate of Berlin will surely astonished you once you witness it in person. But above all the beauty and appeal of Berlin, it’s contribution to the life of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, is what will capture you the most. Who would have thought that Dr. Rizal was branded as a German spy when he stayed in Berlin in 1886? And that his stay in Berlin was called the darkest winter?
25-year-old Dr. Jose Rizal traveled by train to Berlin through Leipzig, Frankfurt, Bonn, and Dresden after his six months stay in Heidelberg. He arrived in the city on November 1, 1886 and stayed at the Central Hotel. The following day, he wrote a letter to his friend Pastor Karl Ullmer in Wilhelmsfield informing him of his arrival the day before. He told him that he intends to spend five or six months in Berlin and he’d be staying in his new residence Jaegerstrasse No. 71 on the third floor.
He also said that he likes Berlin better compared to Leipzig and Denver. Dr. Rizal was no ordinary tourist wandering aimlessly in cities he visited. With a Baedeker guidebook in hand and a pedometer in his pocket, he would walk to a city’s historic and cultural sites, sample the local fare ,and presumably ask locals about their customs. Perhaps the locals regarded him with amusement or awe because Rizal was fluent in several European languages.
It would have been no surprise if the local police suspected his inquisitiveness as “fishing for information,” as what had happened in what Viola described as “a rare incident that occurred in the life of our Rizal in Berlin.” Viola wrote that after deliberating on Rizal’s travail; the chief of police told him that he was being asked to present a passport due to his “visiting cities, towns and villages, even the smallest and insignificant, with more or less prolonged sojourns in all and each one of them, and establishing certain personal relations with some of their inhabitants.”
His stay in Berlin was never full of hearts and flowers despite the awe-striking beauty of the city. It was branded as the “dark winter.” While Dr. Rizal was putting the finishing touches to his first novel, he was struck by a financial problem in Berlin as Paciano could not send him his monthly allowance from Calamba.
His association with numerous German intellectuals and noted German ophthalmologists led to his membership in prestigious societies such as the Anthropological Society and Geographical Society of Berlin. During his leisure moments, he toured the country sides and observed the culture and life of the people.
All these he captured in his various sketches. After several months stay in the German capital, where he spent the Christmas holidays of 1886, Rizal in a letter that he sent from Berlin to his sister, Saturnina, and his brother-in-law Manuel Hidalgo, gave a full account of his activities in Germany. One writer also mentioned that “Rizal’s travel could be considered as a very significant and constructive aspect of his life because in the course of his travels, he acquired a broad knowledge and deep understanding of Germany and its people, its history, culture, literature, customs, and traditions which greatly influenced his two immortal novels.”
ARTWORK BY: ERICA CALDERON
♠
REASONS BEHIND RIZAL'S EXEMPLARY SKILLS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS
esides being the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal was also known as the First Filipino, Pride of the Malayan Race, and the Greatest Malayan among others. Many have considered him a genius, a master of all trades, a patriot, a model brother
and an ideal son. It is the common knowledge that Rizal was an exceptionally bright student. Here are the reasons why Rizal is exceptionally undeniable on his skills.
B
By: Harley Aquino
I. Private Tutors.
Knowing that education is one of the keys to his bright and rewarding future, Rizal considered it as a stepping stone and a reform for control. During his early days, he was trained at home and learned many skills after all. With his private tutors Celestino, Lucas, and Leon Monroy, they opened his mind by letting him learn Spanish and Latin that joined a big part of his dreams like a suture. Indeed, they let him took the height where he truly belongs.
II. Private School in Biñan.
After several years, he was then sent to a private school in Biñan, where he excels and becomes a top student. He seems to be well-aware of how essential shaping his character will lead him successfully in his near future. At the age of eleven, he faced the challenge of entering the enormous school Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. From that time, he attained excellent marks in Philosophy, Physics, Chemistry, and more advanced subjects. Moreover, his lifelong interests started to fire up since then. He became fond
of reading novels, practiced drawing, painting, and clay modeling. This process he continually took for teaching and learning helped him in his future earning.
III. Local Universities
As he eventually earned a land surveyor’s and assessor’s degree, he then took up Philosophy and Letters at the University of Sto. Tomas. But upon learning that his
​
mother went blind, he immediately opted tostudy Opthalmology. He traveled across Madrid and earned Licentiate in Medicine. He took up courses in literature and philosophy and started writing his famous novel Noli Me Tangere. With his overflowing intelligence and warmth, he inspired every one of us to the path of prosperity and gave our tomorrow sounding security.
VI. International Universities
University of Paris and Heidelberg helped him in the progressive discovery of his true self. He exploited the potentials of himself that brought him to a smooth drive to his greatness. The fact that he opened our eyes to drive away all our ignorance and became a backbone of the country's inner resilience,
indeed he's our great Jose Rizal, who has no better weapon than his intelligence and heart's brilliance.
His academic brilliance and a backbone of the country's inner resilience, His name's Jose Rizal, who has no better weapon than his intelligence.
Rizal is a hero that unveils reality And encompasses compassion for freedom and humanity with great education and knowledge. He wake us up to strive for change. He may not seem a hero who fought the hardest For using brute force and violence has never been his weapon. His pen and intellect were wielded instead.
C
NOLI
CHRONICLES
night of July 10, 2020 after one of the biggest companies that has been helping millions of people had been forced to close. Ever since the rumors about the closing of “1 Heart 1 Family Inc.” arose, people have been raising their concerns regarding this matter on and off media. Eventually, the time came, and the rumors had become the headline of the news.
risostomo updated his tweet. Crisostomo has a new post.” These were what the Crisostomers (the fandom name of Crisostomo) and other netizens received at Friday
C
By: Amani Llanes
From that moment, people have started rallying to voice out their queries and express their stands, but, unfortunately, the government stopped their gathering. Instead of addressing the concerns of the people, they prioritized the imposition of a new order that represses any form of criticisms or dissents about the rules and decisions of the government.
Due to these occurrences, the media have been bombarded with overwhelming tirades and arguments. Some people were in favor and some were against the actions of the government. According to many, those who still favor the events were simply choosing to keep their eyes and minds close.
“The government has been feeding their self-interests instead of focusing on and prioritizing the well-being of the people.“ This statement had been prominent ever since the government showed their incompetence and indifference.
This line was expressed by Crisostomo who has millions of followers and supporters. He has a talent for writing. His mind is simply amazing that he can write a story about real-time situations. However, he never revealed himself even once. His words are always awaited by millions of his supporters.
Despite the backlashes he receives every day, he never stopped writing for the people especially for those who can’t express themselves. He is aware of what is happening around him. He addresses those through writing. He always chooses to act learned.
INFOGRAPHICS BY: ERICA CALDERON
The best thing about him is he thinks. And believes that he doesn’t need to divulge who he is, not everything needs to be physically fought for. But one day, this mindset changed. He couldn’t take the weight off the boulders thrown by the government anymore. “I have been asking myself since then: Why am I writing? I write because I want to inform.
I write because I want to spread awareness of timely matters. I have been compared to a great national hero, but I am not sure If I stack up to him. He who awoke the spirit and opened the eyes of the people to distorted reality, injustices of the society, and oppressive rule of the government.
He, whose name is Jose Rizal, was reincarnated through me; they say. Honestly, it gives me chills to be compared to such an amazing hero, but I have to build my own identity. I am not who they think I am– a dirty scumbag fantasizing to be the next hero of this time; a scaredy-cat writing under the pseudonym of Crisostomo; or a story writer, a critic, a dissident, etc. who writes just to feed on the attention and popularity given to me.
Now, I will use my voice, my face, and everything about me to further amplify my words, which are your words as well. From this day forth, fear not Crisostomers and others who know me and read my works, for I, Cris Ibañez, will be fighting with you. We’ll be showing them what an angry cave person can do when all the fire that keeps his world bright is being extinguished at his watch.”
painting by: Romeo Enriquez, 1960.