By: Ruben D. Escudero, Jr.

Ma. Cristina, Dapitan City 

Philippines

Not even the caress of the gentlest breeze could blow its flare out. Amidst darkness and infinite emptiness, it beaconed from far off graciously illuminating the sullen-perilous seas as the boat forged to brave the nefariously rough and devouring waves. Nights after nights, it did not only bathe light as the boat adrift on the sea of silence and shadows, but that solitary lamp also dangled a flicker of hope. Someone historically relevant aboard on that boat leapt to greet the light it cast. From afar, it’s where its strange beauty may be most admired as it danced mystically weaving magic throughout the poetic night under the star-laden sky tinged with an indigo hue. But somewhere in the light it burned, it also irradiated a different ray of light that sprang from the past to illuminate the present path and the spark it enkindled will still shine bright to enlighten the path of tomorrow like the sunlight that passes through the prism of mist after the morning rain.

Waves of nostalgia billowed over me as I submerged myself down memory lane into a nostalgically remembered past,and up to now, I still laud with passion the drama that was unfolding before my very eye. Lost in reverie, my eyes rolled in wonder as I marveled at the vision I saw and my imaginations had just wandered and drifted somewhere. Quite oddly, those were the scenes that flashed randomly in my mind as the theatrical-operatic reenactment of the arrival of our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal in Dapitan had just begun its opening repertoire and the actors then began to personify excellently the characters they portrayed, against the backdrop of the canvas sky that gradually turned orange and crimson when the sunkissed the ocean and dramatically nestled its full grandeur.

Deeply engrossed with what I depicted in my mind a while back, I tried to rethink and feel what was it probably like to sail away to weather storms and tempests with a heart embosomed with melancholic vibes. I presumed, that was exactly what Dr. Rizal felt during those times while sitting on a boat bound for Dapitan, cocooned under his coat, facing the bare and boundless ocean vexed by the sound of the crashing waves. I was about to resume toying my mind and romancing my fictional ingenuity when suddenly, as I glanced sideways, the world seemed like fading behind the shadows of the night. “Oh, black out,” I murmured. There was a total blackout in the adjacent areas except for the spot where the play was being held. Later, I’ve learned, that was just part of the production.

Watching the show heaped on me an eerie sense of déjà vu as if it transported me personally back to the  days and age when Dapitan was still a timid town that settled delicately behind the lush vale of the shadows right at the heart of a secluded paradise. The play had blown my spirit back to a particular date and time of the historical epoch when our National Hero set his foot, for the first time ever, on Dapitan shores on the night of July 17, 1892 and lived in town as a political exile for four fruitful years.  

This was what the theatrical-operatic reenactment all about. Revisitamos Dapitan 1892 which alludes to relive the historic-monumental glory of golden times was an umbrella program that encompasses and enfolds germane activities to highlight the commemoration of the 130th anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan and in honor of the fiesta celebration. The staging of the said reenactment that was a prequel to other related activities truly accentuated the celebration. And that commendably cultural production was a fruit of the most prolifically collaborative efforts of the City Government of Dapitan co-hosted by the Provincial Government of Zamboangadel Norte and in partnership with the Department of Education Dapitan City Division, and Jose Rizal Memorial State University.  

One of the scenes from the reenactment that moved me the most, being, I am a native Dapitanon myself was that historic first walk of our National Hero from Punto del Desembarco de Rizal en Dapitan heading to Casa Real. What made that particular historical scene extra dramatic and theatrical was that it depicted what was an old Dapitan, particularly that street, truly looked   like since in the production, street lights were turned off and that the owners of the houses along that road were also asked to turn their lights off. It then appeared that the only light that illuminated the way traversed by Dr. Rizal and his company on the eve of his arrival sprang from the ancient-Spanish inspired kerosene lamp carried and hovered by one of his companions. This was the reason why the roads linking thePunto del Desembarco de Rizal en Dapitan  and the City Plaza were temporarily closed that night to pave way for the said reenactment held on July 17, 2022. The said event was made extra special since both the guests and spectators wore the late 1890’s Filipino attire that truly complemented the setting of the reenactment.

Part of the production also showed how our National Hero was warmly and gracefully welcomed by Captain Ricardo Carnicero, the Comandante Politico Militar at that time when the former arrived at the Casa Real. History tells us that the Spanish Commander knew from someone somewhere that Dr. Rizal was not just an ordinary exile, thus, he placed him under his keen watch. But due to our hero’s innate charisma, the two ended upbeing good friends as Rizal remained grateful to the kind treatment he received from the Spanish Commander.

Complementing the grandiosely remarkable production was the orchestration of our National Hero’s song compositions dubbed as Paseo de Martyr performed and harmonized by Rondallang Ilayanhon.

The production also celebrated and in a way, paid homage to Dr. Rizal’s naturally artistic and creative ingenuity by showcasing the local artists’ obras on canvasses.

I could feel the immortal seed of heroes that I bear within me since time immemorial, blossomed and flourished. I could sense, it springs out new sprouts of hope, fortitude, and patriotism. It dawned on me that this seed sown in me that encapsulates these sheer nationalistic values has strangely bloomed in me again and I have realized that, as a trustee of the academic and cultural heritage of the nation, I hold the responsibility to sow and cultivate the same seed as well to the younger generations so it also grows and bears flowers and fruits in them. I could also feel my passion for history has just been reignited, and I guess, it shall continue to burn bright eternally.

I reveled the moment that I happened to take a closer glimpse how vibrant the remnants of our past are and as a pure Dapitanon, I do love to weave those remnants to create a fabric that will make up a historical tapestry of our past.

Back then, it was only from the narratives of the historical compendiums I came to learn Pepe’s exile in my very own hometown. But now, with the beauty of these technological wonders we enjoy, I could hear these facts revalidated and articulated by the historians themselves through the various social media platforms. And I guess, the people behind the production of bringing to life the reenactment of Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan deserve more than commendations for making such a big impact in this day and age. Along with the commendation of paying homage to our past was a hope that the said reenactment would send a message to all that our history is relevant and that it should not be blurred behind the veil of shadowy technological frontiers and maneuverings. It reminds us all that the reservoir of our history is vast and boundless and every fact that accumulated and sprang therein is relevant.

Waves’ crashing sound in harmony with the consistent chirps and buzz of crickets and cicadas lurking somewhere seemed like a sweet symphonic refrain to my ears. I felt a mixture of warm and cold breeze that gently touched my skin as its oceanic yet citrusy smell wafted my spirit as I watched with so  much glee the dancing-sunken sun while I was sitting alone under the Bitaog tree one windy afternoon along Sunset Boulevard. The afternoon sky was a constant beauty to behold since it kissed the sea in an endless display of harmony and I will always imagine it as a canvas tinged with tangerine and golden hues. It was the very same spot where I was yesterday when I watched from afar the reenactment. I didn’t wear Barongyesterday. I confess, I came to watch the show after my regular and non-negotiable volleyball games that we won luckily.

I didn’t realize how long I had been sitting down there solitarily but just as a I was about to grab my volleyball and decided to head back home, since it was already getting darker, I saw two, no, three boats in the far off. Suddenly, the thought that I contemplated bizarrely yesterday came rushing back to me:

For sure, even if the lamp flared out along the voyage, our National Hero and the ones who accompanied him could still be able to reach Dapitan shores safely. No, it was not the light that took them to Dapitan. It was the boat’s compass that guided them which right direction should they sail on. But in life, it is not the compass that guides us as we sail and navigate through the rough seas of life. It is the light that will illumine our voyage so we could reach our destination where we