The Rotary Balita no. 620 (May 12, 1948)

"Rizal envisioned a brotherhood of notions in an era of love and intelligence.' He thought that this, 'the aspiration of all thinkers,' should be the goal of all nations. If he were alive today, he would perhaps be a Rotarian...." The above excerpt from an article published in the May 1st issue of Philippine Trends Magazine provides an interesting thought for Rotarians to content themselves with in their moments of dejection. It is strange that such an idea had not been brought to the surface sooner. Philippine Trends indeed deserves our congratulations, not so much for pointing out such a possibility but more for singling out the Rotary Club from among many others as the most probable organization to win the famed national hero's membership, were he alive today. The idea could be developed further. Had he not been executed at the Luneta, Rizal could have lived to be 85 this year. Alive and a Rotarian, what then would he be doing now? Would his principles on internationalism affect the nature of this organization, probably change its course towards "a world-wide system of education by means of which national prejudices might be made to break down and give way to that sympathy and understanding among nations which alone can forge all races into a single human machine mass-producing for the common good: peace, plenty, freedom?" The probability is very strong. Rizal was a slave to his principles. He died for them. He would sacrifice just as much for Rotary as he did for his country.... were he alive, and a Rotarian, today.