DIPOLOG CITY — As the morning sunlight gently breaks across Dapitan Bay, a group of Boy Scouts quietly stands before the Rizal Shrine. Around them are centuries-old trees, stone pathways, and a replica of the house where Dr. Jose Rizal once lived while in exile.
For the scouts, the shrine is more than just a historical site—it is a familiar place, one that has shaped their understanding of service and sacrifice for the nation.
For most Filipinos, Rizal is first encountered in classroom discussions, introduced to them as early as six years old through textbooks, portraits, and memorized passages of his writings. He is honored as a national hero whose words helped awaken a nation.
But growing up learning about Rizal is different from growing up with Rizal.
In Dapitan, his presence is intertwined in the city’s daily life. From Rizal Park and the Rizal Shrine to streets named after his works, and even the local state university—Jose Rizal Memorial State University—the hero’s legacy is impossible to miss. Every corner of the city tells a quiet story of a man who once walked the same streets, breathed the same air, and watched the same sunsets during his years of exile.
This deep connection is most evident every December 30, the anniversary of Rizal’s execution. On this day, Dapitanons gather at his former home, now preserved as the Rizal Shrine, to remember him not merely as the larger-than-life hero immortalized in history books, but as a fellow Dapitanon—an educator, a community doctor, and a servant of the people.
During the city’s 129th commemoration of Rizal’s martyrdom, national government agencies offered floral tributes and messages of remembrance. Among those in attendance were members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines from Dapitan City, quietly taking in the ceremony and the heritage that has shaped their city and their values.
For the young scouts, Rizal’s story is not distant history—it is a lived influence.
“Rizal is known for his strong sense of community service,” said Lei Aisiah Yongco, one of the local Boy Scouts. “As scouts, service to the community is also at the heart of what we do.”
Growing up surrounded by reminders of Rizal’s life and works, Yongco said, has inspired them to reflect on how they, too, can serve.
“Being constantly reminded of Rizal’s legacy pushes us to emulate the same quality of service he gave,” he added. “In our own small ways, we hope to give back to the community.”
Rizal’s years in Dapitan were among his most productive—not because he sought recognition, but because he lived among the people he served. He taught students, treated the sick, and worked quietly to serve the community. These acts of service, often overshadowed by his martyrdom, resonate deeply with the youth who now walk on the same foottrails the hero once trod on.
As the year draws to a close and a new one begins, Rizal’s patriotism continues to lay a foundation for the youth—the kabataan in whom he placed his faith. In Dapitan, that faith lives in the hearts of young people who see public service not as an obligation, but as a calling shaped by history, place, and culture.
As the scouts leave the shrine grounds and return to their routines, the memory of Rizal lingers on, not as a hero of a distant past, but as a living reminder that love of country begins with service to one’s community. (PIA)