[INTERPRETATION] Padre Faura Witness the Execution of Rizal by Danton Remoto

by TeacherDel - January 29, 2019

I stand on the roof

Of the Ateneo Municipal,

Shivering

On this December morning.

Months ago,

Pepe came to me

In the Observatory

I thought we would talk

About the stars

That do not collide

In the sky:

Instead, he asked me about purgatory.

(His cheeks still ruddy

From the sudden sun

After the bitter winters

In Europe.)

And on this day

With the year beginning to turn,

Salt stings my eyes.

I see Pepe,

A blur

Between the soldiers

With their Mausers raised

And the early morning's

Star:

Still shimmering

Even if millions of miles away,

The star itself

Is already dead.

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These are all personal interpretations. The reader may or may not agree with the following answers.

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

Uychoco, M. T. (2016). 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.

1. Who is Pepe? Explain.
   Pepe is the Philippine National Hero, Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonso Realonda or commonly known as Jose Rizal. During the Spanish era in the Philippines, children named Jose is given a nickname Pepe.

2. Why does Pepe ask the persona about purgatory?
   Rizal has been in battle against the Spaniards through his writings. Being consciously aware that his name is under fire, there is an immense knowing that his execution might be coming.
   When we speak about purgatory in Roman Catholic Doctrine, it is where the souls enter after death for cleansing and purifying of sins before transcending to heaven.
Rizal might have been thinking about his forthcoming death and is mentally preparing himself if he is about to go to purgatory. What is it like? or maybe, does it even exist.

3. The poem talks about the nature of the stars. Can you explain what he means, in terms of science.
There is the statement that says, "when we look at the stars, you're actually looking at the past." The light that we see from the stars is actually a light that travelled years- thousand of light years before it reaches Earth. So, the stars that we see today are actually dead in present, what we're seeing is how they shimmered thousand years ago.

4. This discussion of a star is also a metaphor. What is the metaphor for?
   The star is a metaphor of Jose Rizal. Like the star that's already died years ago, we can still see its light shimmering before us. Like Jose Rizal, he might be dead, but his legacy will forever remain in the hearts of the Filipinos.

5. What do you think the persona felt for Rizal? Give textual evidence.
   Sadness-- regrets (panghihinayang)

"Salt stings my eyes.

I see Pepe,"

Seeing Rizal in the midst of execution, the persona can't help but held tears in his eyes. Also, knowing that months ago, he knows that Rizal has been preparing for this.