In the aftermath of the last May 2016 elections, the 2014-2016 Supreme Council of the Knights of Rizal considered and unanimously approved this letter drafted by Sir Edwin D Bael, KGOR, and signed by Supreme Commander Sir Jeremias "Jerry" Singson, KGCR.
Dear Sir Rodrigo Roa Duterte, KCR:
Congratulations, Sir!
The effect of your candidacy in kindling and rousing our people’s hopes reminds us of Dr. Rizal’s essay entitled "Laughter and Tears" (1884), where he alluded to a general approach in the general situation he found himself in. He said: “It was a world which granted privileges to some and imposed prohibitions on others... Endowed with strength and eager to learn, one had to drag himself in a narrow prison cell when he could see an open field, a vast horizon in the distance; when he could feel the beatings of a heart; and when he believed himself entitled to enjoy the beauty of a dream.”
The common Filipino people have so far lived in the narrow prison cell of daily survival where they have been compelled to seek connections so as to gain privileges and circumvent prohibitions; and they have remained desperate for morsels of hope. In this May 2016 elections, you offered them an alternative leadership that could make a difference; that could allow the Filipino eco-polity to break through the daily “narrow prison cell” allowing them views of “open fields” and “vast horizons” of possibilities. Thus the great majority of the Filipino people has spoken through the ballot and decided to follow the “beatings of their hearts” and to pursue “the beauty of their dreams”!
We have you, Mr. President-elect. And we are so proud of your being a Knight of Rizal! And so we abide by the advice of Dr. Rizal in his Letter to the Members of the La Solidaridad (1889), that: “The individual should give way to the welfare of the society. (because) xxxxx the decisions of the majority, after sufficient discussion, are sacred and unquestionable.”
Now that the national choice has been made clear, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Rizal believes that this is the right moment to remind our people to heed Dr. Rizal’s exhortation in his Speech at the Café Habanero, Madrid (1891) that we should: “…maintain firmly union and solidarity among us; let the good of the mother country be our only cause; and … prove to everyone and … make it clear, that if the Filipino wills, he can.”
Inspired by your hard won victory, which but signals the start of more hard work, for and with our people in the next six years, we wish to share with you a stirring encouragement given by Dr. Rizal in his poem entitled “Cervantes en Argamasilla de Alba”. In this poem, Miguel de Cervantes is challenged out of despondency and moved to action by an angel which encounter is supposed to have stimulated Cervantes to write the classic “Don Quixote”. The pertinent stanza is quoted in its Spanish text, followed by a free English translation where Miguel is replaced with Rody, viz:
“Ve pues, Miguel, y que tu clara mente,
“Go then, [Rody], and with your clear mind,
We, the Knights of Rizal commit ourselves to help you cause positive changes in the mindsets of our crowds, with clear thinking along Rizalian ideals in the midst of chaos, and use all available tools including web in the clouds, sending forth love and clarity to dispel inconsequence, letting surge and flow moral and material affluence.
Dear Sir Rodrigo Roa Duterte, KCR:
Congratulations, Sir!
As a non-partisan public corporation under Republic Act. No. 646, the Knights of Rizal watched with keen interest your lofty run for the Presidency of our Republic. And we were so impressed with our people’s response to your offer as a viable choice of leader.
The effect of your candidacy in kindling and rousing our people’s hopes reminds us of Dr. Rizal’s essay entitled "Laughter and Tears" (1884), where he alluded to a general approach in the general situation he found himself in. He said: “It was a world which granted privileges to some and imposed prohibitions on others... Endowed with strength and eager to learn, one had to drag himself in a narrow prison cell when he could see an open field, a vast horizon in the distance; when he could feel the beatings of a heart; and when he believed himself entitled to enjoy the beauty of a dream.”
The common Filipino people have so far lived in the narrow prison cell of daily survival where they have been compelled to seek connections so as to gain privileges and circumvent prohibitions; and they have remained desperate for morsels of hope. In this May 2016 elections, you offered them an alternative leadership that could make a difference; that could allow the Filipino eco-polity to break through the daily “narrow prison cell” allowing them views of “open fields” and “vast horizons” of possibilities. Thus the great majority of the Filipino people has spoken through the ballot and decided to follow the “beatings of their hearts” and to pursue “the beauty of their dreams”!
We have you, Mr. President-elect. And we are so proud of your being a Knight of Rizal! And so we abide by the advice of Dr. Rizal in his Letter to the Members of the La Solidaridad (1889), that: “The individual should give way to the welfare of the society. (because) xxxxx the decisions of the majority, after sufficient discussion, are sacred and unquestionable.”
Now that the national choice has been made clear, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Rizal believes that this is the right moment to remind our people to heed Dr. Rizal’s exhortation in his Speech at the Café Habanero, Madrid (1891) that we should: “…maintain firmly union and solidarity among us; let the good of the mother country be our only cause; and … prove to everyone and … make it clear, that if the Filipino wills, he can.”
Inspired by your hard won victory, which but signals the start of more hard work, for and with our people in the next six years, we wish to share with you a stirring encouragement given by Dr. Rizal in his poem entitled “Cervantes en Argamasilla de Alba”. In this poem, Miguel de Cervantes is challenged out of despondency and moved to action by an angel which encounter is supposed to have stimulated Cervantes to write the classic “Don Quixote”. The pertinent stanza is quoted in its Spanish text, followed by a free English translation where Miguel is replaced with Rody, viz:
“Ve pues, Miguel, y que tu clara mente,
foco de luz, que alumbrara tu suelo,
redima a esa multitud demente,
rasgando el hosco encapotado velo.
Y, cual nube prenada, rayo ardiente
airoso lanza en tu encumbrado vuelo
que derribe al dios de la locura
brotar haciendo celestial ventura.”
“Go then, [Rody], and with your clear mind,
light bulb which shall illumine your land,
redeem that demented multitude,
shredding the dark sinister shroud.
And as charged cloud, lance gracefully
blazing lightning in your flight so lofty,
to bring down the god of insanity
making sprout celestial prosperity.”
We, the Knights of Rizal commit ourselves to help you cause positive changes in the mindsets of our crowds, with clear thinking along Rizalian ideals in the midst of chaos, and use all available tools including web in the clouds, sending forth love and clarity to dispel inconsequence, letting surge and flow moral and material affluence.
Mr. President, the Knights of Rizal stand with you in making a difference for the greatest good for the greatest number of our people!
Congratulations, once more, and Mabuhay po kayo!
Very sincerely yours,
Non omnis moriar:
Non omnis moriar:
(SGD)
