Q: Why Rizal? From Arlene Buaron, with regard to "Reason Reigns honors Dr. Jose Rizal. Its front cover features the Philippine national hero's sculpture entitled The Power of Science over Death. A young beau ideal in the book is named Ricial, the origin of the surname Rizal. Comprising 62 pages of nonstop suspenseful action, Chapter 13 is titled after the meaning of Ricial: The Green of Young Growth." 


Ilyn Ross: I  admire Dr. Jose Rizal, a man of great virtues. The title and plot summary of Reason Reigns evince that it is  about reason, independent thinkers, individual rights, and technology.

Besides the requisite title and author’s name, its front cover features only one object, a Dr. Jose Rizal sculpture, for two reasons: 

1. Its title, The Power of Science over Death, is perfectly apt for the novel. 

2. The sculpture represents the values depicted in the book. Excerpts from Chapter 8:  

The tower and the Balian lab were located at the top of a hill. At the foot of the hill was an expanse of a sweet-smelling rose garden. From the rose garden by the western road, a rising ramp of steps led to the Balian home. Big trees and gardens surrounded the residence and the tower.  The gardens were laden with fruit trees, shrubs, orchids, and various other plants having flowers of unusual shapes and vivid colors. Sculptures enabling the contemplator to experience a reverence for existence abounded. The three-dimensional figures showed man’s goodness and efficacy. They gave one joy, rest, and fuel to pursue heroic goals. The works of art evinced that nothing was outside the province of reason. They proclaimed the power of science over death.  

Jay and Lea gazed at the visual delight in awe.  

Phil thought proudly, “This is my country.” His eyes moved to the sculptures by the foot of the ramp at the edge of the rose garden. Life-size marble statues of a man and a woman were side by side, barely touching, with bodies stretched taut, hands reaching for the firmament, heads tilted upwards in ecstasy, feet on tiptoe, ingeniously balanced on a smooth marble platform. As always, the pair of sculptures electrified Phil. Lea was drawn to the reverence on his face, his pose an exalted salute to man’s intellectual and creative power. She fell in love.  

Dr. Jose Rizal passionately valued individual rights and knowledge, at a time when independent thinkers would surely die. He valued these and his country more than his life. Such passion and mettle are glorified in Reason Reigns. Rizal is the embodiment of the novel’s beau ideals.  

Patrick Henry: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"  

Other research findings:  

From Noli Me Tangere: “It’s not criminals who provoke great hatred, it’s honest men.”  

When the Philippine Organic Act of 1902 was before the US Congress, the Democrats argued that the Filipinos were too barbaric to govern themselves. Their party platform stated, “The Filipinos cannot be citizens without endangering our civilization.”  

Republican Congressman Henry Cooper of Wisconsin argued that a society that could produce a man of Rizal’s abilities was certainly capable of self-government. He read Rizal’s “My Last Farewell” on the House floor, capping it by the peroration, “Under what clime or what skies has tyranny claimed a nobler victim?”

The bill passed.  

Had Dr. Jose Rizal lived in a free society, he could have been a Thomas Edison, a Thomas Jefferson, a Henry Ford, or a Bill Gates. Because he died so young in defense of liberty and reason, whereas I live in freedom, I honor him in Reason Reigns. As a first-time novelist, I needed to think and work immensely hard, wanting my act to be worthy of his greatness.  

Chapter 9 is titled 99 Percent in honor of Thomas Edison. He defined genius as “1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.” I also honor others in Reason Reigns. Many characters are named after family members and beloved friends.

Others: