Zarina Luz R.

Bartolay

BSA 1-6

REFLECTIVE ESSAY ON THE MOVIE “BAYANING 3RD WORLD”

I have been asked many questions. Questions about the whats, hows, and whys
in my life. But I wonder, how does it feel if your questions are unanswered? Well, I had
already experienced that. The feeling of being ignored by those people around you. But
what if those questions can only be answered if that person is still living? Well, it could
have made our life easier. No more hardships, struggles and obstacles.

In his case, I just learned him through books just like everyone else. With this, we
may have thought that we knew him, his life, his books, and his story. But in reality, do
we really know him? Retraction. Marriage. Are these true? Ever since a retraction
document was discovered, we are filled with curiosity. Just like in this movie, we all want
to know the truth. Yet will this truth preserve the history or change the history?

On the other hand, I’ve realized so many things while watching this movie that it
made me wonder, can I also do something for our country? “Why should I not combat
religion, when it is the source of all our suffering?” In the past it is so easy to identify
who or what is the root cause of all our suffering. But now, a lot of variables are coming
into this equation. Whom should we combat? The government? Or ourselves? How about
both? The problem that all I could think of right now is us. Those who work in the
government and those who live with no position yet still has a lot of question. Discipline
and Ignorance is our problem. We lack discipline and we are ignorant. All this time we
are blaming it to somebody else when we are the problem. How about we become as
brave as Rizal? “I know you’ve suffered greatly yet I don’t regret anything. If I had to
begin anew… I’d do the same thing… because that is my duty.” Let’s do our duty as
Filipinos. Let’s do our duty as the citizens of this country.

Time may have erased all traces but not memories. We must not forget that what
he did is for the benefit of this country. As we look back on that retraction controversy,
this line from the movie still pops up in my mind. Can anything change now in my short
life if I wrote that document? Well, it can be a yes and a no. Yes, as a part of his life will
be added in history. But a no, since it would not invalidate his works anyway. He will still
be the author of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Mi Ultimo Adios and many more. And
as there is Philippines, he will be a national hero and remain an icon.