RIZAL WITHOUT THE OVERCOAT
Ambeth R. Ocampo
I have wanted to read "Rizal Without the Overcoat" by Ambeth Ocampo
since the beginning of the year, and as Rizal Day was looming nearer I
thought, what better day to read the book than on the anniversary of
Rizal's death, which was today? I almost didn't get to read it though,
for when I went to National Bookstore in SM Manila yesterday I couldn't
find a copy and the store's computer listed it as out of stock. Then as I
believe fate would have it, when I returned to the store a couple of
hours later to get the pen I had engraved, I saw the book displayed at
one of the cashiers and promptly got it.
The main reason I wanted
to read the book [the minor one being to read it as part of the Flips
Flipping Pages 2009 Diversity Challenge] was because I wanted to give
Rizal another chance. Give Rizal another chance at what, you may ask.
Rizal
was my childhood hero. I think this was because of the books my parents
gave me and which became my favorite books in childhood, illustrated
biographies of the young Jose Rizal geared towards the young reader.
"Rizal His Childhood" by Gregorio F. Zaide,
[the only?] one of my young Rizal books that survived the years
Reading
Ambeth Ocampo's book I was surprised to learn that he finished high
school and college without reading Rizal's novels "Noli Me Tangere" and
"El Filibusterismo", for not only did I read them when they were
assigned in Filipino class during high school, I enjoyed them. However,
when I went to university [the same university which was apparently
Rizal's favorite] and took the required Rizal class, I became
disillusioned with him, for then I thought him a privileged but spoiled
man who didn't care much about the revolution against the Spanish
colonizing his country. Now, after reading "Rizal Without the Overcoat",
I'm beginning to understand that it was not that Rizal didn't support
the revolution, he just didn't think it was the right time for it then.
"Rizal
Without the Overcoat" treats its readers to vignettes of Rizal's life.
Who would have thought that Rizal ate tuyo for breakfast? I was also
happy to learn that Rizal was a bookworm like I am, who would rather
starve than not be able to buy books. The book also shows Rizal as a
son, a brother, a scholar, an artist, a teacher, and the hero that he
is, but I think most importantly, as a human being. Ambeth Ocampo makes
me want to [re]discover more, not only about Rizal but our other heroes
as well, apart from the dry facts presented in school textbooks.
In
the end, the book makes one think of the relevance of Rizal today.
Unfortunately, many people think of Rizal Day as a mere non-working
holiday, without pausing to reflect on the reason why this date was set
aside to honor Jose Rizal.
"... my future, my life, my joys,
everything, I have sacrificed for love of her. Whatever my fate may be, I
shall die blessing my country and wishing her the dawn of her
redemption."
Is there anyone alive now who is be able to say the same?
Rating:
No Filipino can graduate from school without having read, or at least
pretend to read, the novels of the country's national hero, the Noli me
tangere & the El Filibusterismo. As such, the study of the life of
Jose Rizal & his works have become a burden & a joyless chore.
For anyone to enjoy Ambeth Ocampo's book "Makamisa", one first needs to
have a sincere appreciation of Rizal and his legacy.
