BACOLOD CITY — From Brazil, Nene Rojas of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters texted me that with Nene Trebol of Confed, tagging along with President Arroyo, they are signing a program of exchange of technology for Philsurin and the Brazilian counterpart on ethanol and other things related to sugar.

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And from China Toti Ramos who went there with Bob Cuenca and Lito Jison, all of Confed, texted me also that they passed through the first base in the negotiation for fertilizer purchase.

Toti sees their hurdling the second base, then the third base, and a home run for the sugar industry. They are coming home Thursday.

We will hear from Toti tomorrow.

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Before Congress adjourned, the Lower House approved unanimously a bill transferring Rizal Day from December 30 when he died to June 19, his birth date.

The prospect of its approval by the Senate is also bright and also the President’s signing it for approval. By next year, Rizal Day will now be June 19.

HB 5408 is authored by Rep. Raul Gonzales, Jr. of Iloilo City. It amended the Administrative Code of 1987 transferring Rizal Day to June 19. This time it is now a law.

Bella divx December 30 was first declared in a decree signed by then President Emilio Aguinaldo on Dec. 20, 1898, according to National Historical Institute Chairman Ambeth Ocampo. And it has been carried on until today.

The main argument in transferring it is Rizal’s heroism was not due to his death but on his lifetime work as a nationalist to liberate the country from repressive rule of Spain.

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The main role of Rizal was in his writings that fired the Filipinos to rise against Spain.

His two novels, “El Filibusterismo” and “Noli Me Tangere” rank among the great novels of other countries that also stirred their countrymen to rise against oppression.

Jean Jacques Rosseau wrote “The Social Contract” and “Emile” that led the French people to rise against the reign of Louis XVI that toppled him.

Leo Tolstoy wrote “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” that led the Russians to realize the repression of the czars.

It is obvious in his theme and presentation that Rizal patterned his novels and writings on the way Rosseau and Tolstoy developed the ideas in their novels.

Rizal was in Europe when the nationalistic spirit dominated the continent and the thinking of the French, Russians and other people there.

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Rizal’s “Ultimo Adios (Last Farewell),” written in his cell the night before his execution at the Luneta is the best poem I ever read on nationalism. The original Spanish text is the best that while young, I memorized it. I forgot it now except the first stanzas.

It is very powerful to stir a feeling. The ideas were noble and the words very proper.

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I recall having read that, sometime in the 1920s, a big debate was in the U.S. Congress to grant or not to grant independence to the Filipinos.

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Those against argued we were savages and not yet civilized.

One Congressman, whose name I cannot recall, arguing in favor of independence, read Rizal’s “Ultimo Adios” and translated it for the Americans. Then he narrated the important episodes of “El Filibusterismo” and “Noli Me Tangere.”

After reading Rizal’s “Ultimo Adios,” he asked, “Is this the work of a savage?” Then he sat down and nobody clapped because they were touched by Rizal’s work. And his patriotism.

That led to the enactment of the law, later called the Tydings-McDuffe and earlier the Hare-Hawes-Cutting law.

It granted the Philippines independence after a ten-year transition period. We got it on July 4,1946, a bit late because of World War II.

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Rizal will forever stand as our greatest national hero.

I am happy and proud to have been born also on June 19.

We had a simple celebration last Friday at the L’Fisher Hotel with my family and the Sunshine Boys.

After the Sunshine Boys left, Mayor Bing came. And while we were talking, I learned later Congressman Monico Puentevella also came which I understand, he also wanted to greet me but did not come in on seeing Bing was there.

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I thank them just the same. Newks, sorry. But I know you wanted to greet me too. Politics is politics. Let it stay that way. But personal relationships must stay as they are.

Politics comes and goes. Friends remain. Both Bing and Newks are my friends, politics or no politics

I know my poet friend Nordy Diploma will complain again that I quote him. He said last Friday, “Even with a thousand friends there’s none to spare. But one enemy and you find him everywhere.

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