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A Close Encounter of the 21st Century ‘Rizal’ at the Bumpy Road of Buhisan
Authors: Rainlee N. Bentazal 1 , John Eric B. Rubi2 , Chenny Mendoza2 , Reynaldo B. Inocian1 , Romualdo B. Generalao3
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This study described the life of a 21st century ‘Rizal’ at the bumpy road of Buhisan. It
answered these objectives to extrapolate common themes on the tricycle driver’s life in relation to Rizal,
determine his strengths and weaknesses as a modern day hero, and ascertain his enduring legacies to his
country. A qualitative method of narrative inquiry, interviews, and natural observation were used, with the
primary informant who personified Jose Rizal’s heroic attributes. To observe ethics, the key informant’s
name was held confidential, who is named fictitiously as ‘Dodong.’ A 27 year old ‘Dodong’ worked very
hard daily, rain or shine, drove his tricycle to fulfill his family’s needs. As a key informant, he was selected
based on the following criteria: a typical married family man, a religious individual, and driving more than
ten years in the village. As a tricycle driver dubbed as ‘Dodong’ personified some attributes of a 21st century
‘Rizal’ at the bumpy road of Buhisan. The narratives of ‘Dodong’ embodied a modern heroic character of
being loving to the family and the country, charming in a social environment, competing a challenging
limited advantage, resisting a hostile weather condition, enduring the times of adversity, and taking
advantage of one’s weaknesses illumined a trademark of a hero’s legacy. The 21st century Rizal
encountered his ‘bumpy road’ symbolic to the challenges of his heroism.