Guess What Readers?
A Diva can exist in Academia. Don't mind my shallow definition of Diva, who is all about aura and attitude. Mind you, this Diva is smart as heck. After all, she did give a talk on Filipino National Hero, Jose Rizal. Before we get to her talk, let's discuss her Diva acts.
During her talk, the murmurings of the crowd got on her nerves, and she told them to be quiet. Only a drop of a pin could be heard. The 2nd time she told the crowd to be quiet, she told them to get out. Of course they stayed. During QandA a female student asked for clarification and she replied, "Hija (Daughter) that was the whole point!" ( implying that the female student didn't pay attention or was stupid ). Grabe, naman!
Maybe appearing like a Diva comes with the territory of being smart, passionate, and frustrated? Her lecture raised a question: "What does Jose Rizal mean to us ( and Filipino writers ) today?" Rizal's novels explored the socio-political realities of his times and painted a broad canvas of Philippines in transition from Medieval Spain and American colonialism. Literature to him was a discourse of power.
Rizal's novels, such as "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," unmasked the hypocracy of the so-called Western liberators ( with ulterior motives other than "democracy" and freedom ). His realist approach wasn't just following the fashion of the times nor was it stemming out of a vacuum. His work, which could be best understood through the theory of mimeosis?, also established the "Rizalian tradition" of: going abroad, returning to the homeland, and doing good acts for the people, wherein EDUCATION as his legacy ( such as cultural literacy ) can play a pivotal role in liberty, fraternity, and the pursuit of happiness ( quality of life ).
She concluded that Jose Rizal's broad appeal and general background in interdisciplinary studies made him an inspiring Renaissance man and role model, who couldn't be pinned down or limited. The timelessness of his literary works can still reach out and touch various generations on an emotional, imaginative, intellectual, et. al. levels. He's a National Hero because he sacrificed his life in service of others, so they may live better lives.
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