Rizal Talks Back: When History Meets AI with Xiao Chua and The VoiceMaster

 

Can you imagine talking to Jose Rizal today? Like… having an actual convo with the national hero himself? Well, thanks to an epic collab between historian Xiao Chua and voice artist-slash-AI innovator Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales, this isn't just a wild idea anymore—it’s real.

Welcome to "Kasaysayan, Kaysaya: Rizal & AI", where the past meets the future, and where one of the greatest minds in Philippine history now literally has a voice—thanks to AI.

---

Why History Still Matters (Maybe More Than Ever)

Pocholo grew up in Mariveles, Bataan, a place with deep historical roots. His family? Full of revolutionaries and community leaders. He was raised on stories of courage, resistance, and love for the country. That’s why for him, history isn’t just about names and dates. It’s about identity.

“You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you came from.”

And honestly? That hits hard—especially in a time when misinformation is everywhere, and attention spans are shorter than ever.

Prof. Xiao Chua

---

AI Rizal: History Comes Alive (Literally)

So what happens when you take a national hero, feed all his writings, beliefs, and documented history into an AI system… and then give him a voice?

BOOM. You get “Conversations with Rizal”, an AI-powered Rizal you can talk to. Ask him questions about politics, women’s rights, religion—he’ll answer in Spanish, English, or Tagalog, in a voice designed to sound how Rizal might have sounded.

During the livestream, Xiao and Pocholo actually talked to Rizal. One question hit hard:

“What do you think about today’s youth not voting wisely?”

Rizal's AI voice responded with a chilling truth:

“The youth who does not vote for justice and love of country is not hope, but a threat to the future.”

Goosebumps? Same here.

Pocholo Gonzales

---

Using AI the Right Way (Not Just for Clout)

We all know AI is a powerful tool. But here’s the thing—it’s just that: a tool. Pocholo’s not using it for deepfakes or fake news. He’s using it to educate, inspire, and bring people closer to the stories that shaped our nation.

And he’s walking the talk. He literally recorded 50 hours of his voice—from straight narration to character voices like “Lolo Tasyo,” “Mr. Bangungot,” even comedy skits—just so AI could learn how real Filipinos talk, with emotions and nuance.

That’s next-level dedication.

---

Introducing “JR” – Rizal for the Gen Zs

Pocholo also shared his newest idea: JR. Not Jose Rizal—just JR. A reimagined, modern-day Rizal who still stands by the same values, but talks in a way today’s youth can understand.

Because let’s face it—Gen Zs won’t read Noli Me Tangere, but they’ll watch a TikTok from JR.

---

Final Takeaway: Be Your Own Rizal

Before ending the show, Pocholo dropped this gem:

“Rizal didn’t have Google, TikTok, or ChatGPT. He didn’t even have freedom. But he made things happen. So what’s stopping you?”

We don't need to wait for heroes. We can be the heroes.

---

TL;DR? Here’s the Juice:

✅ History is still relevant.
✅ AI can make it come alive—if we use it right.
✅ You can talk to Rizal now at askrizal.com.
✅ Pocholo Gonzales is making AI human, and making heroes relatable.
✅ The future is in our hands—and our voices.

---

So the next time you scroll mindlessly through your feed, maybe pause. Maybe ask Rizal what he thinks. Maybe… be a little more like him.

History isn’t boring. It’s actually kaysaya. 💙

Let’s bring the past to the present—and use it to shape a better future.