Philippine Independence Day (observed on June 12) Zoom talk on the national hero, Dr. José Rizal
Date: June 11, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Watch a recording of the presentation>>
This presentation will center on the life and times of Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896), the national hero of the Philippines. He was a writer and polymath who advocated for political reforms under three centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Rizal’s writings, particularly his two novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not– Social Cancer) and El Filibusterismo (Reign of Greed) led to his arrest and eventual execution at the age of 35. Idos will touch on key events in Rizal’s life, including notable accomplishments, and how his education and travels informed his sharp insights. Rizal spoke courageously through the characters of his novels, which angered Spanish authorities while simultaneously empowering Filipino people to fight for their freedom. His commentaries and publications catalyzed the Philippine Independence movement, which started in 1896 following his execution. As a political dissident who wrote about progressive ideas of individual rights, Rizal inspired the Philippine revolutionaries who eventually fought for independence from Spain in 1898. This talk will examine how the values that he lived and died for continue to be relevant in the lives of present-day Filipinos and Filipino-Americans.
Speaker: Salvador S. Idos, MA
Salvador S. Idos has been in the field of education for more than half a century, serving in various capacities in the Philippines and United States, including university professor, high school teacher, school administrator, and lecturer. He started as a high school mathematics and economics teacher in the Philippines, and eventually became a school administrator and math professor at the University of the East. On scholarship, he earned his M.A. in Educational Management through the Institute for the Development of Educational Administrators (IDEA) at Xavier University. He went on to Japan to undertake a comparative review of Japanese educational institutions. Read his full biography >>
