Inspiration from the Past

Seven years ago, I joined a writing contest in a national newspaper because I was hooked on the topic - lessons learned from the Philippines national hero Jose Rizal. Growing up, he was a huge part of my life. I knew the stories about him when he was a child before I even started first grade in school. As classes opened in the Philippines last October 5, I hope and pray that the students would find the light too. 

 Rizal’s Story of the Moth and Me

         Jose Rizal was very much a part of my childhood as my grandparents belonged to a group called Watawat ng Lahi, which considers national hero Jose Rizal as a religious icon. For three years, I lived with them in a small quiet farming town in the province of Quezon. After dinner, my cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents would sit on the floor, around a kerosene lamp. With no electricity, our past time activities consisted of playing sungka, tamarind seeds and a lot of storytelling - mostly about Rizal whose portrait dominated one wall of my grandparents’ house.  It was during one of those nights that I became acquainted with Rizal’s favorite story - the curious young moth that tragically died when her wings got burned. I listened with enthusiasm as my aunt told us the story of a curious young moth who was warned by her mother not to go too close to the light because it was dangerous. However, the moth wanted to know why the light, so beautiful and charming, would be so dangerous. She wanted to know what it was like to be near the light so she started circling it, and soon enough, her wings caught fire and she died. It was tragic, but at a very young age, it gave me a different perspective about life and learning. It became a question of preference, a safe life in darkness or a life in light with all dangers associated with it? I chose Rizal’s choice. I chose light.

From then on, I started dreaming. I am the moth. I am poor and I am in dark but I will overcome this poverty. I will find light and I know just what to do. I was going to study and no level of poverty would stop me. It was my light and I was going to follow it. Through the years, it kept me going. When I was faced with a challenging situation, I make a mental picture of the moth circling the light and I felt it giving me strength. My resolve was tested in 1991 when Mt. Pinatubo erupted and buried in ash everything that we had. Walking to safety, I had nothing but a sack of books – the only things that I was able to save. The years that followed tested my limits as my family had to deal with hunger, debts, homelessness, uncertainties and all other problems that comes with living in abject poverty. I thought of the moth’s quest for light as I studied my books and notebooks in front of the kerosene lamp. This gave me strength and a reason to persevere. No matter what happens, I will find the light.

I never gave up and years later I reached my destination, my light, my college graduation. I graduated with honors from a top university in the Philippines. For a family that could barely complete three meals a day, it was an incomparable achievement. As the years passed, my siblings finished their education as well. From then on, our life changed for the better. During my old high school’s graduation ceremonies in March 2013, I was the guest speaker and I told them, “I am a living testament to how much education can change your life.”I hope they find their light too.

A few days ago, I saw my two young sons staring at the light coming from the reading lamp. I smiled. At the right time, I’ll introduce them to Rizal and share with them the story of the courageous moth.