
Dr. Jose Rizal’s words, known for his writing, scholarly work, multilingual skills, and revered status in the Philippines, struck a chord with me. When I heard those words spoken in Tagalog, one of our native dialects, it moved me to tears. It wasn’t only because the Philippines was now included as part of the Civilization franchise, with Rizal as a playable leader, but also because our nation and its 117 million residents, along with countless others living abroad, have often been overlooked in video games.