If Rizal Had A Blog

If Jose Rizal had a blog, what would've happened?

I remember a 1998 Jose Rizal film where Rizal (played by Cesar Montano) was told by a Spanish lawyer (Jaime Fabregas) about the friars' displeasure with Rizal's writings.

Rizal's response: "Eh di, magsulat sila." (Let them write.)

Back in the late 1800s, they probably found it difficult to write and publish a novel that would supplant the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo. So the powers that be did the easiest thing. Unfortunately, that created a new set of problems.

Out here on the web, it's so easy to publish one's thoughts and stories. So when someone actually did and started criticizing and parodying (or ridiculing/defaming depending on whom you ask) the powers that be, they did what Rizal asked the friars to do.

And it's been quite an interesting online exchange, not just in various comment areas, but moreso in separate blogs.

The alleged splogger or victim of the alleged mob reveals a wry sense of humor in his remaining web sites. He also hints at some hidden search engine ranking rivalry, and even warns others of just being used like pawns. Makes for more-interesting-than-the-Da-Vinci-Code reading.

Unlike Rizal, however, he contemplates taking some web sites completely offline. Oh well. Most things don't really last, do they?

(If Rizal had a blog and the friars put up blogs, we'd have tons of interesting material to read.)

[ First posted on 02/15/2006 by Manuel Viloria ]