Reading the text of Resil B. Mojares “Brains of the Nation”
gives me both inspiration and desperation to know the history of our country
Philippines. Many of the brains of the
revolution in the Philippines started from the academic community of the
country like Pedro Paterno, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, and Isabelo de los Reyes.
Their knowledge in philosophy and
politics shape the present political setup of the Philippines. Although a lot
of controversies and untold dilemma in the middle of their presence in the
political arena in the Philippines but as a whole their academic opinions help
shape the modern knowledge of the country Philippines. During the time of Pedro Paterno knowledge in
terms of governance is already an urgent need to assist the legislative
startups of the country Philippines.
Famous Intellects of the land like Apolinario Mabini and Jose Rizal
contributed greatly to the overall intellectual revolution of the
Philippines. Consequently, Pedro Paterno
finished his Philosophy and Theology degree at Universidad de Salamanca and
then transferred to Universidad Central de Madrid. In this context Pedro Paterno acquired almost
all his intellectual ideologies and teachings from the view of the academic
experts in Madrid.
Furthermore, Pedro
Paterno finished his doctorate in civil law in 1880 in Universidad Central de
Madrid. During this time, the Chinese “mestizos”
are also dominating in the wealthy place of Santa Cruz of Manila where colonial
commerce is famous from the rich and intellectual Chinese migrants. Goldsmiths and Silversmiths are the tools of
the rich Chinese to allure the Spanish mestisa like Nuestra Senora Del
Pillar. I don’t know but ladies with enthusiasm
of getting men like the Chinese mestizos in Santa Cruz already exist. But in
spite of the wealth of the Filipinos in Santa Cruz these few good men still
acknowledge and remember the poor farmers in the provinces that by revolutionizing
governance it will equate the economic stability of the Republic. Paterno’s belief in the law of social
evolution gives him the courage and the idea to synthesize and value the
authentic political reasons that are deemed applicable to the society of
Philippines at that time. As such
Paterno joined the “Filipino Intellectuals” in the 1880’s in projecting
Filipinas and its “better classes”. Later the Intellectual Filipino Society in
Spain which later Jose Rizal proposed the publishing of the book La Solidaridad
(1889-1895). In pursuant of publishing
the many copies of the La Solidaridad, the start of the Filipino intellect
undermine the friars and its conspiracies.
Rizal, the Luna Brothers, Graciano Lopez Jaena and other intellectual Madrid
residents are in support of the La Solidaridad.
Other prominent characters like Francisco Pi y Margall, Rafael Ma.
Labra, and Miguel Morayta are an inspiration of Pedro Paterno. I can
just imagine how they will meet and study in the first ever public library in
the Philippines the “Museo-Biblioteca de Filinas”. Every opinion of these intellectual men is
all worth pondering in our modern day public governance and administration.
On
the contrary, the nativist idea of the many revolutionist at that time like the
supreme head of the revolution General Emilio Aguinaldo encourages the many
intellects from Santa Cruz who has the chance to study in Spain that they will
integrate and collaborate their knowledge acquired from Madrid. General Aguinaldo said, “You who,
with your superior education, should be guides to us blind ones who put most
obstacles in the way and are the worst enemies of the insurrection”. At this point of my reading I come to realize
how our political leaders must know how much responsibility they should
recognize in matters of national intellect and governance. The calling of General Emilio Aguinaldo still
echoes to the calling of Senator Bam Aquino of his calling to the Filipino
Scientist around the world to help our country in terms of uplifting research
and education that will encourage and augment the economic stability of each Filipino
family. Gone are those days that the
Filipino intellects can still write and participate to the publication of the “La
Solidaridad”. Our new challenge today is
how to help our country in terms of the knowledge acquired in other
countries.
As such, Senator Bam Aquino
encourages Filipino Scientist around the world to contribute their knowledge
and human resources to uplift our economy.
Personally I am a little saddened with the notion that the intellectual heroes
before like Pedro Paterno, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, and Isabelo de los Reyes
are so keen in integrating their knowledge to the public governance of the
Philippines. But today “you can dance a
little (giling-giling) then you can have the public office? I am not undermining anyone but come to think
of it that even to apply in SM shopping mall for a sales representative you
need to be a college or university graduate.
But to be senators and public officials “OF THE LAND” you do not need
any education? Does it mean that SM shopping mall sales representatives are
more educated and logical in terms of decision making than our present
senators?
Glad we still have Senator Bam Aquino who still carry the
light and calling of our well respected leaders of the past like General Emilio
Aguinaldo and Pedro Paterno, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, and Isabelo de los Reyes. During the peace treaty of “Biac-na-Bato” the
intellectual inputs of opinions from these men like Pedro Paterno, Trinidad
Pardo de Tavera, and Isabelo de los Reyes sustained our political negotiation as a
country until the American War. Our
Republic’s ideology is composed of many backgrounds from the Spanish and
American education. We try to regret that
intellectual deja vu but those educations shape our republic as a more
organized society. What we can do today
is not to regret of the past but how can we utilize those compiled intellect to
help our nation. Even Jose Rizal and
other intellectuals of our country like Pedro Paterno, Trinidad Pardo de
Tavera, and Isabelo de los Reyes achieved their academic degrees in
Madrid.
Jose Rizal finished his
education in Germany. It doesn’t matter
where we get our education but how we use it for our countrymen. Undeniably, the balik scientist program of
Senator Bam Aquino from his website article (PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK: http://www.bamaquino.com/sen-bam-supports-local-scientists-fights-funding-independent-ph-rise-research/)
is relevant for improving our status both national and international economic performance. If we can still remember the struggle of
Paterno during the time of Jose Rizal and his writing “Mi Ultimo Adios” the inspiration
of Rizal to Paterno made the Americans judged him as the caricature of the
Machiavellian “politico” more an irritant than a threat. But to analyze vividly the political ideology
of Paterno during the time of the Americans his academic ideology is more of a
Madrid inspired politician than what Emilio is naming as the “nativist ideas”. Indeed, we can conclude that even our
knowledge is inspired by many ideologies and theorem around the world of
academics but still we can serve our country with our speckled theorem of academic
expertise.
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