'Financial' Independence Day: Lessons from National Heroes

MANILA, Philippines — Constantly thinking about establishing financial stability for the family and looking for ways to even slowly but surely achieve it? You are not alone.

It is ingrained in the mind of many people, especially breadwinners, who are always relied upon to solve the family’s financial woes. The struggle, so to say, is very real, and the fight towards financial stability is riddled with problems and challenges.

As the nation looks forward to the celebration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12, perhaps it is wise to also take a look at how our national heroes were able to achieve their goal of freeing the country from foreign rule during the darkest hours of Philippine history and draw inspiration from them. After all, June 12, 1898 would not have come if our national heroes did not risk their lives and limbs and, for many, faced death straight in the face for the freedom and liberties modern-day Filipinos are enjoying today.

There is much we can learn from our national heroes beyond what they have done for our country. Besides their bravery and love for the country, their personal beliefs and practices remain relevant today—and are worthy of emulation, especially for those of us working towards personal goals and financial security.

 Dr. Jose Rizal, our National Hero, is easily among the most revered and respected. His writings — particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo — are considered to have inspired the Philippine Revolution that was waged against Spanish colonizers for the country’s independence. He is known as a polymath, someone with a wide range of knowledge. Besides being a writer, he was also an ophthalmologist by profession and had skills in painting. 

But aside from his talents and contributions to the Philippine Revolution, Rizal is known for being money-conscious. Historians noted that Rizal kept a very detailed record of his daily expenses — listing down money he spent, down to the last centavo. A letter he sent to his sisters even revealed that he once did not take a bath for months while studying abroad because “a bath is expensive.” In his travels in Europe, records showed that he went out of his way to