Who said Jose Rizal is dead?

It certainly wouldn't seem that Dr. Jose Rizal was dead if one went to the Jose Rizal University (JRU) in Mandaluyong City on Friday, where around 10,000 students dressed up "Spanish era-style" costumes to relive the life of the national hero. Josephine Culala, JRU elementary principal and chairman of the 150 Rizal Committee, said they encouraged their students from elementary to college to wear vintage clothes on Friday, when they scheduled activities to honor the Philippine hero. Among the activities that were lined up on Friday was the gathering of 150 individuals from the JRU community who were Rizal's namesakes or simply had the name of "Jose." The individuals were given t-shirts with Rizal's face on them. Aside from this, 150 pupils from the elementary department recited "Sa Aking Mga Kababata," a poem which was written by Rizal when he was only eight years old. On the other hand, students from the high school and college departments performed a version of the musical "Sino ka ba Jose Rizal (Who are you Jose Rizal)." "This is our contribution sa bansa dun sa ginagawang pagdiriwang (to the country for all the birthday celebrations being held for Rizal)," Culala told GMA News Online in an interview on Friday.

After the main program in the morning, the students and their families were treated to a performance of select scenes from Rizal's life, a selection of the national hero's favorite food, and a ride on horse-drawn carriages. Lectures and a quiz bee about Rizal and his literary works were also conducted while a banquet with municipal officials was scheduled in the evening. And although they had been preparing for the celebration since March, Culala admitted that as a school named after the national hero, there was some pressure to prepare an exceptional tribute. "We needed to do something," she said. Mercedita Fajardo, head of the JRU history and social sciences department, said that it was fulfilling to pull off the celebration even though the planning and execution stages were tiring.

JRU students reenact Rizal's execution in Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park) in 1896. Kim Tan

"Ito na ang pagkakataon na ipakita sa bayan yung pagpupugay ng mga Rizalians sa ating pambansang bayani (This is a chance to show the country how Rizalians honor our national hero)," she told GMA News Online in a separate interview on Friday. Jamila Martinez, a third year student at JRU, also told GMA News Online that she and her schoolmates enjoyed getting to know more about Rizal. "Yung mga taong di pa nakakaalam sa life niya before nakita po nila ngayon (At least people who didn't know anything about his life now know more about him)," she said. Miss International 1964 Gemma Cruz-Araneta, a descendant of Rizal, said she appreciated the effort made by JRU.

Students line up for a free ride on horse-drawn carriages rented by JRU for Friday's celebration of Jose Rizal's 150th birthday. Kim Tan

"Nung pumasok palang ako sa pinto ng inyong eskwela, buhay na buhay dito ang diwa ni Jose Rizal (When I entered your school, I immediately felt that it was as if Jose Rizal were alive)," she told JRU students during a talk on Friday morning. Araneta is the great-granddaughter of Maria, one of Rizal's older sisters. Also present during the talk was Dr. Jose Arguelles, grandson of Rizal's youngest sister Soledad. On Sunday, JRU will lead a motorcade of 150 vehicles around Mandaluyong City in honor of Rizal's 150th birthday. Rizal was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba Laguna. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896 after he was found guilty of rebellion, sedition, and forming an illegal association. - VVP, GMA News