ANGARA URGES PINOYS TO FOLLOW RIZAL'S TEACHINGS ON EDUCATION, HUMAN DIGNITY

Senator Sonny Angara urged Filipinos to follow the teachings of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on education and human dignity as the country continues to struggle against poverty and ignorance.

More than 120 years since Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan, Angara lamented that unifying the country remains an uphill battle because many Filipinos still experience extreme poverty and suffer from lack of education.

"Paano nga naman magkakaisa ang bayan kung marami pa rin ang nahihirapan at nasasadlak sa kamangmangan at kasalatan? Nasa ibang panahon man tayo mula sa kapanahunan ni Rizal, kailangan pa rin natin mag-rebolusyon laban sa paniniil. Hindi ito paniniil ng dayuhan, ito'y paniniil mula sa sarili nating gawa," Angara said during the commemmoration of Rizal's 122nd death anniversary held in Naic, Cavite on Sunday.

Angara said that Filipinos of today should "give flesh" to the right to life and dignity, which Rizal and other national heroes fought for more than a century ago.

"Kung pinaglaban nina Rizal ang karapatan ng bawat tao na mabuhay nang matiwasay at marangal, kailangan natin buhayin--bigyan ng laman--ang mga karapatan na ito," the lawmaker said.

Angara recalled that throughout his life Rizal believed deeply in the importance of education, and its power to change things and provide solution.

Rizal always considered education as a cure to the socioeconomic problems during the colonial period. In El Filibusterismo--a sequel to his first novel, Noli Me Tangere--Rizal said: "We must win our freedom by deserving it, by improving the mind and enhancing the dignity of the individual."

According to Angara, Rizal's influence and impact are still felt to this day, 122 years after his death.

He noted, for instance, the continuing effort to provide Filipinos free and quality education.

"Higit sa isang daang taon pagkatapos naging bayani si Rizal sa Bagumbayan, masasabi natin na gumagalaw na ang ating gobyerno para makapag-aral ang lahat ng Pilipino," Angara pointed out.

"Noong nakaraang taon, naisabatas ang Free College Law na magsisigurado na mula kindergarten hanggang kolehiyo, may pagkakataong mag-aral ang bawat batang Pilipino--anak man ng mahirap o mayaman," he added.

In upholding human dignity, Angara said it is important to ensure that Filipino families are not pushed deeper into poverty due to sickness.

"Nitong nakaraang session, naipasa na ang panukala hinggil sa Universal Healthcare na nagsasaad na dapat maging libre ang check up, lab test at ilang medisina para sa lahat ng Pilipino," Angara said.