The First Emo: Biography of Rizal as a Romantic Rizal has been given many labels. He has been called a Philippine Nationalist and Martyr by British biographer Austin Coates, The Great Malayan by historical writer Carlos Quirino and even Kristong Pilipino by the Rizalist Religious groups, now appropriated as title of the new book by mountaineer 2 manila contemporary and historian Nilo Ocampo. Diplomat and writer Leon Ma Guerrero poses a bolder claim in naming Rizal The First Filipino. Why was he first? During the Spanish regime, the creoles or Spaniards-born living in the Philippines were the ones called Filipinos, and not the brown man. Rizal, with his fellow reformists or indies bravos, insisted that the indios must have the same rights as a Spanish citizen. As one of the first indios who insisted that we are also Filipinos, for Guerrero therefore, he was The First Filipino."However, none of the names we called him stuck as much as babaero. He gained a reputation of a womanizer, a "Papa Pepe" perhaps, but even that I believe is an exaggeration. As a young student in Manila, Rizal was more or less faithful to his engagement with Leonor Rivera. But unfortunately, Rivera ended up marrying an Englishman. It was then that he decided to consider the gorgeous British-Filipina in France Nelly Boustead (rebound huh?). This didn't last either. His last love, his dulce extranjera, was no other than Josephine Bracken. Other women linked to Rizal may be considered in today's terms as MUs (mutual understanding) and flings, consequences of his travelling. As Rizal enthusiast and member of his 1961 Centennial Commission, Vicente del Carmen, wrote: Rizal's relationship with women embodied a wholesome philosophy of life. He was a lover of beautiful women but no one could say that he took liberties. His friendships were joyous and worthwhile experiences without any trace of deception. ..it is pleasing to note that there was never any sources of scandals, heartbreaks and disappointments." Then, I dared to call Rizal The First Emo. This statement is one of my most benza jokes during my lectures, on a subject many perceive as boring. I discussed this with the people from Rock Ed Philippines, Aiza Seguerra and Gloc-9, among others, and researchers from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) during a consultation about the Rock Rizal Album in April 2011. One of them, Mona Lisa Quizon, agrees in an article for Philippines Free Press that came out on the week of Rizal's 150th birthday: Many of the youth today are crazy about emo, a fad that started in the 80s. According to them, ewo is a person who is emotional or way pagea senti, meaning sentimental in many ways and loves to wear black. Being a passionate and sensitive person .. Rizal uld have rlay 6I have always said that the number one evidence of this was his signature one sided hair. There were also his emotionally-charged writings. For example, this is what he wrote when he left Ateneo: Paalam, magandang panabong di ko malilimot. Sa karimlan ng aking bubay, ikaw ang sandaling bukang-liwayway na bindi na wading babati. Paalam, maliligayang oras ng aking naglabong kamusminsan." manila contemporary On the other hand, this is what he wrote in his diary when he left his Japanese flame Seiko Osui (O Sei San): Walang sinnmang babae ang nagmahal sa akin tulad wo. Hindi magmamaliw sa aking alcala ang jyong larawan. Ang pangalan wo ay mananatili sa aking labi sa bawat buntung-bininga. ...Sayonara, sayonara!Like the prevailing romanticism of that period in Europe, as scholars Ante Radaic and Nilo Ocampo point out, his writings, including his essays and novels, were focused on strong emotions rather documenting reality. However, it is more important to note that, other than having an interesting but trivial fascination about his love story, his passion was for the people and those principles that he lived by. He was focused and tireless, despite homesickness and frustrations, which all paid off as it ignited the fire of nationalism in his community