Exactly 127 years ago today, Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad at Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta Park, after facing a Spanish military trial.

Arrested on 6 July 1892 in Barcelona, Spain, on charges of involvement in organizing La Liga Filipina — a secret society against Spanish colonial rule, Rizal was immediately deported and exiled to Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte on 17 July 1892.

During his time in far-off Dapitan from 1892 to 1896, Rizal was like a jack-of-all-trades, doing a bit of everything. He was hanging with the Jesuits, helping out with medicine, getting into science, and keeping his creative juices flowing. He was also learning new languages, running a boys' school, and getting involved in community projects. On top of all that, he even came up with a wooden contraption for making bricks and dabbled in farming and business.

On 3 November 1896, Rizal was escorted to Fort Santiago, a place he knew all too well, having been held there in 1892 before his exile to Dapitan. When the 35-year-old calm and collected Rizal was executed, it was like a punch in the gut for the whole country.

Rizal's death didn't silence his message. If anything, it ignited a fire in the hearts of fellow Filipinos. His sacrifice became a call to action for change and freedom. He transformed from a writer and a doctor to an icon of hope and strength for the nation.

It wasn't the end of a life — it was the spark that fueled a revolution back then. Definitely not the communist armed revolution that espouses violence with wanton disregard for human life and property. Rizal's spirit lives on in every Filipino who carries the torch for freedom and justice — a powerful legacy.

Thinking about Rizal's virtues is like finding a treasure map to guide us through the craziness of today's world. His love for learning and wisdom is like a trusty old compass, showing us the way through the endless sea of information and opinions. Like Rizal, we should keep our minds sharp and consistently seek to understand the world around us.

And then there's his courage and determination, like a superhero's cape, inspiring us to stand up for what's right and to fight against injustice. By emulating his fearlessness, we can all be heroes in our own way, standing up for our beliefs and making a difference.