"Remembering Rizal" (Narrative)

“Oh really, we’re going to watch a play?” “What?! Three hundred pesos? Ohh…I don’t have any money left to pay for.” “What’s the title?” “Batang Rizal? Oohhh…sounds boring.” These are my reactions when our adviser announced about a play we need to watch. I am a person who likes to watch plays a lot. The lights, the actors, their voices, choreographs and acts amaze me. This play that we watched two months ago is not really appealing to me, when I first heard about it. It sounds boring so I often ignored it. But after watching the play, I regret saying those things because I’m wrong. It was not boring at all. I was impressed. This play, it was awesome!

Two months ago, in the month of January, exactly on the eighteenth of January of the year twenty-thirteen, we watched a play entitled “Batang Rizal” at the Assumpta theatre. The venue was a bit far from school so we rented Palos’ jeepney as well as Lasconia’s. On our way to the theatre, I, with my girl classmates, was so noisy. We were singing and laughing and talking nonstop. I didn’t want to go out of the jeep but I have to because we already reached the theatre. Before we go inside, we waited outside for so many hours. I was so pissed because it was hot then and I am so sleepy that time. My classmates were just playing with the leaves of the trees around us. Placing it on Andeng’s hair and opening the bean-like thing that I think the fruit of the tree. At last, our long wait was over. We got inside the theatre. I was surprised. It was so big and cold inside. And unfortunately, I didn’t bring any jacket. There are many pictures of nuns post on the wall that caught my attention. Their comfort room was also big and clean. No vandals on their walls or disgusting smell at all. The seats were fantastically arranged. When we put our eyes on the stage, I heard murmurs beside me talking about the props. I was also nervous because I have a seatmate on my left that I don’t know. After some reminders, the play began.

It all started in Rizal elementary school having its Buwan ng Wika celebration practice. Their teacher look confused on how could she arranged their formation for their dance number. There is also their mayor practicing his speech. I was so intimidate by him because he keeps speaking English even it’s a month of Filipino Language. I also laughed at the students because they were so naughty and noisy. They are fighting and most of them were bullying Pepito. Pepito was also a naughty boy and the root of all the craziness. He accidentally broke Rizal’s statue that their mayor gave. He should build another statue or else their school will be lost. And with this his journey starts. He found a book and went to an unknown place. Looks like he went to the ancient time when we were conquered by Spaniards. People’s outfits really looked old with the ladies’ saya and the men’s barong. He met a child, which surprisingly was Dr. Jose Rizal, our National hero. He was indeed young but he’s mind was so matured. They became friends. The more I watch Rizal’s childhood, the more I salute him. He was actually a good person. I was impressed by his braveness. I didn't expect that Rizal involved in a fight. He was lucky to have a good mother so when the guards caught her mother for a crime I knew she didn't do, I cried. Because like Rizal, it is also hard for me to lose my mother especially when you’re mother is like his. I also saw others crying and wiping away their tears. I smiled. They absolutely carried away by the story of Rizal. Pepito took Pepe (Rizal’s nickname) to his time because of Rizal’s eagerness to go on his world. He also saved Pepito when he was bullied by his classmates. He didn't understand why people don’t believe that his name was really Jose Rizal. So he showed that it’s real. He impressed the teacher and other students by his talent and brilliant mind. He also impressed me. Although it was hard because the students are hard headed, he managed to make them believe that he was truly Jose Rizal and was only traveled through time to go on their world and find friends. I was more impressed by Rizal when he found out that he was going to die early. Yes, he cried but after that he realized that he was going to die for his country, which he’s going to be a hero. A hero that is love by everyone. He really loves his country. In the end, they all became friends and joined-in to build a new statue with one aim, for them to not lose their precious school. They made a new statue. A statue that is even more beautiful than the previous one. And their Buwan Ng Wika celebration ends successfully.

I know, not everyone enjoyed the play. I saw others sleeping and just talking with their seatmates. But when you focus on the play, it’s not boring at all. It was funny and taught good morals. I think, day eighteen of the month January of the year twenty-thirteen is a memorable day that taught me this lesson: Love your own.