‘Be inspired by Rizal,’ VP Duterte urges youth

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) — Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday expressed hope that the Filipino youth will uphold national hero Jose Rizal’s values in protecting the country and the people.

Duterte, a guest speaker for Knights of Rizal and the National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute’s 60th anniversary, said she hopes the youth would “be inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal’s patriotism and courage.”

“Despite being exiled in Dapitan, our national hero refused to be defeated,” she said.

“He made sure that his four-year stay in exile was productive and worthwhile – he was not only a visionary or a writer of stirring stories that inspired people to revolt, but he was also a brilliant systems thinker,” the vice president added.

Duterte, who is concurrently Education secretary, highlighted Rizal’s passion for education and urged the youth to become the government’s partner in promoting education.

The ceremony, attended by some members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, students and teachers, members of the Knights of Rizal, National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute delegates, and members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, featured the life of Rizal in Dapitan where he was exiled.

“In Dapitan, even in isolation, Rizal would continue to liberate the Filipinos,” Duterte also said.

Rizal’s most famous works include Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, whose stories revolved around the theme of revolution, showing Spanish colonizers abusing their power and the Filipino people.