If Christianity had not dragged Jose Rizal down and get him executed for promoting the power of science and reason, the Philippines today would be the most developed and the most advanced country in Asia today. Especially in the race to achieve the higher standard of thought as a free people and the higher standard of independence as a free nation.
Indeed, because of the tragic fate of great thinkers like our Jose, Rizal, the freedom of thought and the power of reason have never played seminal roles within our system of education. It is, in this way, we Filipinos in this 21st century are only more destructive and more at home with political and social decadence.
As disciples, followers and admirers of Jose Rizal, we Filipinos could have been more creative and familiar with the power of science and its devotion to the truth under the beauty of human intelligence.
Of course there is this cock and bull, theological hogwash invented by the shallow-minded Jesuit friars claiming in effect that before he was put to death, Rizal retracted. A fascinating fairy tale not worth elaborating for matured and intelligent readers on this page. Poch Suzara