Tourism ***** Jose Rizal Standing At Dapitan Poem by Rommel Mark Dominguez Marchan

tribute poem to the
Philippine national hero
Dr. Jose P. Rizal as exiled here
in Dapitan by the Spanish colonizers
before he was firing- squad- to -death
in Luneta, Manila 1898

Long before I heard
this historic place
even before I took up
civic and culture elementary
grade school subject

I visit here not for
educational tour
riding bus for hire
by a whole institutions
pressured by mentors
against consent by some parents
who never value about history

I am here to see
the ruins of Spanish era
the national hero's way of life
art of living
his bamboo shelter, clinic
mini- children school
kitchenette
and believe me
there is no single nail attaching
and connecting the shack
maybe Chinese hardware
at that time wasn't accessible yet

It is a self-intriguing tour
educating oneself
while matching Rizal's height
with mine
ranging 5' to 5' 3''
thru his life size statue
a rain or shine relic hero