Chaotic Miseries on Ateneo's Roof

An Analysis of a 21st Century Philippine Literature entitled

Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal

by Danton Remoto

“One only dies once, and if one does not die well, a good opportunity is lost and will not present itself again.” - Jose Rizal

BACKGROUND

Biographical / Authorial information:

Danton Remoto

Danton Remoto was born on 25th of March, 1963 in Florida Blanca, Pampanga. He was the son of Francisco Sr., a soldier, and Lilia Roleto, a Music teacher. Professor Danton Remoto has been teaching for more than 30 years. He has taught at universities in the United States, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

He is a novelist published by Penguin Random House, the world’s biggest publisher. His novel, Riverrun, has been chosen by bookriot.com as one of the “five most highly anticipated books by an Asian author in 2020.”

Education

He was educated at Ateneo de Manila University, Rutgers University (USA), University of Stirling (UK), and the University of the Philippines. He has been a scholar of the Ford Foundation-Asian Scholarship Foundation, the British Council, and the Fulbright Foundation. He was an ASEAN scholar at the AdMU where he obtained his AB Interdisciplinary Studies in 1983. With his Robert Southwell scholarship, Remoto obtained his MA English Lit., 1989; then, on a British Council fellowship, another MA in publishing studies, 1990, at the University of Stirling, Scotland.

Awards

For his writing, he has accumulated numerous literary and cultural awards. These include: 

• Association of Southeast Asian Nations prize for the essay (1979)

• Galian sa Arte at Tula award for poetry (1983)

• PLAC award for poetry (1986); the Palanca for the essay (1987)

• CCP literary award for poetry (three times)

• Stirling District Arts Council award for poetry (twice) and short story (1989 and 1990)

• Procyon Prize for poetry, (1993)

• Cultural Center awards for film and video for the screenplay of House of the Crescent Moon documentary and The Last Parian film

• Philippines Free Press Award for the essay (2004)

• National Commission on Culture and the Arts award for translation (poetry) (2006)

• Philippine Graphic Nick Joaquin Award for the Short Story (2007).

Works

• Poetry:  Skin, Voices, Faces (1991), Black Silk Pajamas / Poems in English and Filipino (1996), Pulotgata: The Love Poems (2004), Rain (2004), and Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal (2015)

• Essays: Seduction and Solitude (1996), X-Factor (1997), Gaydar (2002), Buhay Bading (2004), Rampa: Mga Sanaysay (2008), and A Teacher's Tales (2020)

• Books:  Ladlad (1994), Bright, Catholic and Gay (2011), Happy Na, Gay Pa (2015), and Riverrun (2015)

Ideologies and beliefs

“Some politicians can’t imagine themselves powerless,” he said. “As for me, how can I be powerless if I write books? Remember, the Philippines is the only country in the world whose national hero is a novelist and a poet. We’re the only country like that—a novelist and a poet shot for his books.”

Textual information:

According to Danton Remoto, the poem was republished in his new book last 2015.

Sociocultural information:

Filipino independence struggles that, after more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, exposed the weakness of Spanish administration but failed to evict Spaniards from the islands.

Danton Remoto wants to give appreciation to Dr. Jose Rizal’s sacrifices for the Philippines.

COPY OF THE LITERARY TEXT

Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal

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.

ANALYSIS

1. Literary Genre

Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal is a poem and is characterized as poetry in terms of literary genre. Besides, poetry describes a scene or tells a story in a concentrated, lyrical arrangement of words, poetry is all about expressing a person's thoughts and telling a narrative.

We can prove that by looking at its structure. In Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal, the whole Atenean priest Padre Faura expresses his feelings towards his former student Jose Rizal. Words are well-arranged and usually in short lines in poetry, like in Padre Faura Witnesses Rizal's Execution. Padre Faura Witnesses Rizal's Execution also contains a stanza, which is an amount of lines in poetry grouped together by their length, meter or rhyme. Poetry also like Padre Faura Witnesses Rizal's Execution has a proper way of reading, end stop allows the reader of the poetry to pause at each poetic line.

2. Process Questions / Analysis Guides

1. Who is Pepe? Explain.

Pepe is Jose Rizal, known as the Philippine National hero and Padre Faura’s favorite student because of his brilliance and kindness. He is the author of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, a weapon he uses as a way to fight against the Spaniards during the Spanish colonial rule. He is said to be Padre Faura’s favorite student but made the priest upset about how his favorite student had painted such a dark picture of the Philippines with his novels.

2. Why does Pepe ask the persona about purgatory?

Pepe asks the persona about purgatory because he knows that he will be leaving soon. According to the poem, they are always talking about the stars but on that day Rizal asks about purgatory, which is an indication of death.

3. The poem talks about the nature of stars. Can you explain what he means, in terms of science?

Stars are born to do their duty and function in the universe. It is to give heat and light to the planets and other heavenly bodies. And once it reaches the coldest temperature, it will stop living but it will continue to shine as if it is not dead.

4. This discussion of a star is also a metaphor. What is it a metaphor for? Explain.

The star refers to Jose Rizal. He, like a star, was born to fulfill his mission on Earth. Its purpose is to bring hope and light not only to Filipinos, but also to other nations who suffer in the same way that we do at the hands of the foreign conqueror. His light, like a star millions of miles away, will continue to shine, conquering our minds and souls through his literature.

5. Why was Rizal executed? How is this similar to the idea of a star? Relate this to Philippine history.

Rizal was executed because his writings were considered a form of rebellion against the Spanish government. It is similar to a star because his works will remain as part of Philippine History. His Literary works opened the minds of all Filipinos to fight and free themselves from the hands of the Spaniards. 

6. What do you think the persona felt for Rizal? Give textual evidence.

The persona felt sorrow in the part of the poem where it stated, "Salt stings my eyes. I see Pepe." And in the last part, "The star itself is already dead."

7. Do you feel the same way? Why or why not?

We also feel the same way, same as the persona, because knowing and seeing that your favorite student dies at the hands of the Spaniards hurt our feelings. And you will feel pain knowing that he dies for the sake of the freedom of our country.

8. What would you say was Rizal’s greatest contribution to Philippine society?

Rizal's published works, we believe, are his greatest contribution to our society. Both of Rizal's novels had a profound impact on Philippine society in terms of national identity, the Catholic faith and its influence on the Filipino's choice, and the government's issues of corruption, abuse of power, and discrimination, as well as, on a larger scale, issues related to the impact of colonization on people's lives and the cause for independence. 

9. If you were in Rizal’s place, would you have supported the Katipunan? Why or why not?

We would not support the Katipunan if we were in Rizal's shoes. We believe that supporting them is a form of suicide. If we paint a picture of Spaniards using a large weapon versus Filipinos having only a Bolo, it shows that we lack weapons to fight against them. The Spaniards have a large army that is well-trained, and we do not believe the Filipinos will be able to defeat them.

10. Who do you consider as our national hero? Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio?

Jose Rizal once said, "Pen is mightier than sword". And because of that we consider him as our National Hero. He used his writing skills to lead a movement, emphasizing clearly the immortality and villainy of Spaniards toward Filipinos. Every Filipino who reads his published works ignites their minds and spirits to start a revolution and unite as one to defeat the Spaniards because of his patriotism. Unlike Bonifacio, who chose a merciless bloody insurrection, Jose Rizal remained a silent fighter while still forcing the country to battle the Spaniards.

3. Contextual Analysis

Sociocultural Context:

In Danto Remoto's Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal, it is based on the society at the time, specifically the Propaganda and Revolutionary Period, when Dr. Jose Rizal made a move to achieve freedom. Researching the Philippines’ setting during that time, it was where the country was not yet independent and was under Spanish colonial rule. The author used the societal situation as a key to express gratitude to Dr. Jose Rizal, thus creating a sociocultural context.

Biographical Context:

Based on the biographical context, Danton Remoto, the author of "Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal" was born in Florida Blanca, Pampanga that was near San Fernando, Pampanga. In San Fernando, Pampanga there is an old train station that became a landmark for freedom both during the time of national hero Jose Rizal and during World War II. This location was also remembered for serving as a recruitment stop for Rizal. These landmarks became his inspiration in writing the poem "Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal". 

There's a history in his province that may be remembered as a part of his literary piece "Padre Faura Witnesses the Execution of Rizal". 

SUMMARY

Rizal was executed because his writings were considered a form of rebellion against the Spanish government. His literary works opened the minds of all Filipinos to fight and free themselves from the hands of the Spaniards.  The star in the poem refers to Jose Rizal. He, like a star, was born to fulfill his mission on Earth. Its purpose is to bring hope and light not only to Filipinos, but also to other nations who suffer in the same way that we do at the hands of the foreign conqueror. 

The poem is all about the perspective and feelings of Padre Faura regarding Rizal's Execution. He was shivering because he witnessed the execution on the roof of Ateneo Municipal. He then remembered something that happened between him and Pepe (Jose Rizal) in the Observatory, he thought that they would talk about the stars that do not collide in the sky but Pepe asked him about the purgatory instead. Vividly, Pepe knew or felt his impending death that's why he asked about the purgatory. After the bitter winters in Europe, Pepe's cheeks are still ruddy. This proves that he is not afraid and ready to die for our country.  Back to the present, Padre Faura was crying as he remembered those moments with Pepe. Lastly, he saw Pepe, blurred and in between the soldiers. He also conveyed that even if Rizal was executed, he was still shimmering even a million of miles away because he left a great mark for the country.

REFERENCES

Here is the list of sources where we have taken the information included here in our paper.

Book/s

Uychoco, M. T. A. (2019). 21st Century literature from the Philippines and the world. Rex Book Store: Sampaloc, Manila.

Online Sources

Remoto, D. R. (2020). Get to know Danton. Retrieved from https://dantonremoto.com/about/.

Goodreads (n.d.). Danton Remoto. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/524322.Danton_Remoto.

Wikipedia (n.d.). Danton Remoto. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danton_Remoto.

Remoto, D. R. (2020). A teacher’s tales. Retrieved from https://dantonremoto.com/2020/04/27/learning-english-learning-literature-learning-a-new-language/.

The Manila Times (2010). Danton Remoto. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/2010/01/24/weekly/the-sunday-times/danton-remoto/636497.

BrainyQuote (n.d.). Jose Rizal quotes. Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/jose_rizal_664760#:~:text=Jose%20Rizal%20Quotes&text=Please%20enable%20Javascript-,One%20only%20dies%20once%2C%20and%20if%20one%20does%20not%20die,will%20not%20present%20itself%20again.

Limos, M. A. (2020). This Padre Faura barometer detected the onslaught of super typhoon Rolly. Retrieved from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/padre-faura-barometer-a00293-20201103#:~:text=This%20Padre%20Faura%20Barometer%20Detected%20the%20Onslaught%20of%20Super%20Typhoon%20Rolly&text=In%201886%2C%20Jesuit%20priest%20Federico,approaching%20typhoons%20in%20the%20Philippines.

Orejas, T. (2013). Death march landmark in Pampanga saved. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/387421/death-march-landmark-in-pampanga-saved.