NO DOUBT, when Rizal is capable of joining masonic clubs, he was already knowledgeable about the meaning of “dura lex sed lex” (it is harsh but it’s the law). Nevertheless, he assumed that anyone who wants to confuse listeners needs to speak in a language that is difficult to comprehend.
To put it easily in question, why did he not write his novel in Ilokano, Tagalog or any local dialect to steer more patriotism during his time? Artistically and with expertise of the various languages, he instead inscribed the title “Noli Me Tangere” in Latin, translated to “touch me not” and “El Filibusterismo” in Spanish, which means “the filibuster” or “the reign of greed.” Conclusively, not all leaders are alike so that writers can have that complete freedom to choose their kind of readers. So to answer it in short, Rizal wrote it for the Spanish people.
But the word “filibuster” may sound interesting as it points to any person who plunders resources relentlessly. Because, again came this inquiry; are there any filibusters in the plain of the education department? If yes, who could have been the Padre Damaso and Simoun plus how many of them? How many in the department would be willingly recognized as “Francisca Federica Ibarra and Mario Claro Sora” instead of the original “Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara”?
Will the “Noli Me Tangere” change to “Noli Me Docire” (Teach Me Not)? Yet what would be more provocative is an author writing the novel, “Juxta Pravus Maximus Magister” (the corrupt head teacher) or “Juxta Pravus Principalis” (the corrupt principal). Surely, the corrupt Padre Damaso is no longer that priest, but a doctor and the rich Simoun isn’t wealthy but a comic farmer.
Slowly departing from writing about Rizal is the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) which had its epicenter at Wuhan, China. But then again why wouldn’t the World Health Organization (WHO) named it as Wuhan Virus because traditionally all known viruses were named after the place where it originated? Look at the Guinea worm (West Africa), West Nile virus (Uganda), Ebola virus (Zaire) and Marburg virus (Germany). There are even regional name for diseases like European Black Plague or Middle East Corona Virus. That Covid-19 is difficult to pronounce or put in mind. Perhaps the answer is just like that of Rizal and the goal of preventing discrimination and nosophobia (fear for diseases), WHO doesn’t like to spread more inequality or injustice.
But if someone would like to ask if there are any diseases exclusively originated in the Philippines, the reply is “many.” Not to be pronounced as “mani,” there are those that were derived from exotic plants and animals. Specifically examples are the “onion skinned virus” and the “crab mentality virus.” Now if you want to make these viruses more dangerous you need to breed it with the “ningas cogon virus.” To spread it at the pandemic level, wait until it has metamorphosed into “mañana habit virus.”
All viruses I’m sure however, originated in the schools and have their own antidotes from any dedicated teacher. That’s how the supreme creator of all is taking care of the Philippines.
To be continued...