Ferrer, Ciara Louise T. C&S: 2,3 MWF 9:30-10:30 GE-LWR Rm.

JW340 MC 10-28-19

5 Ambeth Ocampo Articles about Rizal

1. Article Title: “The only way to know Rizal is to read Rizal”

This article talks about how Rizal was associated with Germany who has a high regard of its
people, culture and language. In addition, it also talks about how all of his unread writings are
already readily available in books and that they are still continually reprinted up until today.
The author was also able to create an observation by receiving daily requests from different
students who are not taught and knowledgeable enough about Rizal. He was able to indulge
the writings of Rizal in a way, through reading and bringing an insight to know more of Rizal.
Hence, the article concludes that the only way to know Rizal is to read Rizal in the most
preferred original language available.
2. Article Title: “Rizal at Christmas”
This article elaborates the point of view of the author’s curiosity about what Christmas is like
for Rizal in Dapitan. It was also able to describe Rizal that even though he was an exile, he
still wasn’t totally cut off by his family. Furthermore, the article also talked about Rizal’s last
happy Christmas when he was waiting for the reply to his application to leave his place of
exile to serve as a Spanish doctor in Cuba. Moreover, this article depicts the situation and
experience of Rizal’s way of communication through writing and sending letters in multiple
languages. Rizal’s letters to his family just reminded us that he is made of flesh and blood
and that his humanity recognizes our own capacity of greatness.
3. Article Title: “Things you won’t ever know about Rizal”
This article talks about the things that we haven’t known about Rizal. It described how Rizal
distracted himself from depression and self-pity. The article also showcased the time of Rizal’s
execution wherein he stuffed letters in his body in hopes that there is something more to be
known about the national hero. On the other hand, the author went to the National Archives
for the first time, scanned the catalogue and asked documents on Rizal where it led him to
several references on Rizal’s biography. The article then states that one will never truly know
Rizal and will never know what papers he hid; thus, he will continue to fascinate Filipinos in
the next hundred years.
4. Article Title: “Jose Rizal or Jose Rizal Mercado?”
This article provides history and definition of Rizal’s surname. The term ‘Rizal’, sometimes
spelled with an “s” by the National Hero’s sisters, came from the Spanish word “ricial”, which
refers to new growth in the after-crop of corn, or cattle feed that was cut green. While
‘Mercado’, the surname imposed is a Spanish word for “market.” In addition, the author also
stated that some schools use Rizal and Mercado interchangeably. Furthermore, the article
talks about the relics left of Rizal.
5. Article Title: Rizal from cradle to grave
This article talks about Rizal’s status of national hero and how it went beyond into history and
business. And also because of his face and name, it sold more than a thousand textbooks.
The author also described that many brands and establishments were dedicated to Rizal
considering he and other national heroes gave life to our country. Thus, Rizal’s birth of the
nation formed him the national hero we revere today.
The article I like the most:
The article I like the most is “The only way to know Rizal is to read Rizal” because