Enlightened

It is easy to imagine how it is to live it up. In the dawn of the Internet, where everyone has a fair share of cyberspace, one can just flaunt his awesome life style as someone who is rich and famous. One can indiscreetly and self-effacingly project the image that we want and share our fab lives to anyone who is willing to waste their time on such frivolities.

In Miguel Syjuco’s Illustrado, he exposed the life style and psyche of the high society in the Philippines. On how they are oddly detached from their motherland but be able to influence or control a number its’ facets. It was difficult for me to sympathize with the hero in the novel, Miguel. It is because I think he is someone who is impossible for me to friends with. He is the typical Illustrado, he is from a rich, influential, political family. He is an heir who jet set all over the world and to study abroad. He is someone who had it easy due to lack of financial constraints. He has unlimited resources and the world, it seems, is like his playground.

But I can relate with him as well. He is someone who doesn’t lose hope for his country. Despite the insurmountable challenges, he is still optimistic that a brighter future will smile upon his countrymen. The only problem is that he doesn’t have a clear idea how he can help to make a change. His body is willing but his will is weak. And I think that is what the author was trying to show us. We can’t just expose the decay that is consuming us, we also have to take action and face it head on. We can’t just criticize our weaknesses, but we really have to improve the core or our morality.

My all time favorite Illustrado of all time is Dr. Jose Rizal. I think he is lucky to have the kind of family that he had. I think that Miguel failed to be the consummate ‘Enlightened One’ because unlike Rizal, his family doesn’t have a strong bond and a clear vision that should have supported him in his quest. The family of Rizal helped him realize and accomplish his mission in life, although it constantly put them in grave danger and gave them sufferings and heartaches.

I know that anyone will pale in comparison to the heroism and bravery of Jose Rizal. He is still the best Illustrado there is. A nation, and its’ people had never been that same after his death. The book of Miguel Syjuco, reminds us that if we are not willing to make real sacrifices, we might die the way Miguel did, who is full of hope, unfulfilled promises and good intentions but fell in the abyss of obscurity and darkness.