A Haunting Message From Filipino Hero Jose Rizal, Via Sen Kiko Pangilinan!

4 years ago, exactly on 30 Dec 2017, our National Hero Jose Rizalhaunted, so to speak, Sen Kiko Pangilinan, and Farmer Senator Kiko broadcasted the following seeds of thoughts for all to watch grow and harvest the fruits therefrom, both in English and Tagalog (long titles with big-sized texts mine):
(Rizal & rice image[1] from FutureRice.com;
texts in English and Tagalog from “Sen. Kiko Pangilinan Remembers Rizal As A Farmer[2],” kikopangilinan.com)

“I Choose To Remember Jose Rizal As A Farmer Who Reminds Us That We Need To Measure Development By How Abundant Are The Farmers’ Own Dining Tables” – Kiko Pangilinan, 30 Dec 2017

Today, we remember our national hero, a writer, a doctor, and a martyr. Today, I choose to remember Jose Rizal as a farmer who soiled his hands and feet to learn the basics of agriculture, studying how to make the land he bought near Dapitan productive.

During his exile on the land in the coastal barangay of Talisay, he planted rice and corn and vegetables, and raised chickens. He also founded a cooperative that helped other farmers use efficient farming techniques (like use of fertilizer, crop rotation, and use of farm machines), and market their produce. ing together, can help uplift agricultural workers from ignorance and poverty.

Ka Pepe left the haunting message that genuine independence cannot exist when Filipino farmers are still disrespected and poor. We need to measure development by how abundant their own dining tables are.#

“Inaaalala Natin Si Jose Rizal Bilang Isang Magsasakang Nagpababatid Na Dapat Nating Sukatin Ang Pag-Unlad Sa Kung Gaano Kasagana Ang Hapag-Kainan Mismo Ng Mga Magsasakang Pilipino” – Kiko Pangilinan, 30 Dis 2017

Ngayong araw na ito, inaaalala natin ang ating pambansang bayani, isang manunulat, isang doktor, at isang martir. Ngayong araw na ito, pinili kong maalala si Jose Rizal bilang magsasakang nagbungkal ng lupa para pag-aralan ang agrikultura at paano pa mas maging masagana ang ani ng lupang binili niya sa may Dapitan.

Noong kanyang exile sa lupain sa baybaying barangay ng Talisay, nagtanim siya ng palay, mais, at gulay, at nag-alaga ng mga manok. Nagtatag din siya ng kooperatibang tumulong sa iba pang magsasaka para gumamit ng mga mabisang paraan sa pagsasaka (tulad ng paggamit ng pataba, crop rotation, at paggamit ng mga makinarya), at para ibenta ang kanilang mga naani.

Alam niya na ang agham at technolohiya, kasama ng bayanihan, ay makakatulong para maiahon ang manggagawang agrikultural mula sa kamangmangan at kahirapan.

Nag-iwan si Ka Pepe ng nakakabahalang mensahe: walang tunay na kasarinlan kung ang mga Pilipinong magbubukid ay nananatiling minamaliit at mahirap. Dapat nating sukatin ang pag-unlad sa kung gaano kasagana ang kanilang sariling mga hapag-kainan.#

An agriculturist, a blogger of 21 years, and very wide reader, I am pleasantly surprised with the thoughts of Senator Kiko on Jose Rizal’s thoughts regarding the growers of crops and animals for food. If our farmers themselves can only afford limited fare on their families’ own dining tables, how can we Filipinos say, “Yes, the Philippines is a developed country!?”@517


[1]http://futurerice.blogspot.com/2015/08/commemorating-heroism-through-rice.html

[2]https://kikopangilinan.com/sen-kiko-pangilinan-remembers-rizal-farmer/?cn-reloaded=1

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