RIZAL: ANG PAMBANSANG BAYANI BAYANI OR THE NATIONAL HERO
A Research Study Presented to the Facuty o! "oe#e o! Accountancy$ Bus%ness$ Econo&%cs and Internat%ona Hos'%ta%ty Mana#e&ent Batan#as State (n%)ers%ty$ Batan#as "%ty
In 'art%a Fu*&ent O! the Re+u%re&ents o! SS ,-. L%!e and /or0s o! R%1a
Octo2er 3$ 4-,5
TABLE OF "ONTENTS
I6 II6
Introduct%on B%o#ra'hy o! R%1a
III6 II6
La7s a7s Ena Enact cted ed A2o A2out R%1a 1a
I86 I86
E)%den E)%dences ces that that su'' su''ort ort that that R%1a R%1a %s an an A&er% A&er%can can &ade &ade Hero
86
8I6
E)%den E)%dences ces that that su'' su''ort ort that that R%1a R%1a %s not an A&e A&er%c r%can an &ade Hero "oncus%on
INTRO9("TION
ALONAAN$ MARY OY M6 BAPA ;,-,
It can be said that our generation was born knowing that Rizal is our National Hero. But only a small part of this generation knows why and how he became the one. Some say that he is the hero made by America speci!cally "illiam H. #aft in one of his speeches. But is Rizal a real American made hero$ #hen what made him one$ How could we dignify that he is a %ilipino&made %ilipino&made hero he is our hero. Simply by seeking deep thoroughly our history. history. See things chronologically then we can e'plain how Rizal our National Hero is a %ilipino made hero.
ESPARAGOZA ESPARAGOZA ALE
In this research work entitled RI(A)* AN+ ,A-BANSAN+ BAANI /R #H0 NA#I/NA) H0R/ by the young students from section BA,A 1232 will know the discrepancy of the arguement between being an american made or !lipino made hero of our greatest genius 4r. 5ose ,. Rizal. /ne hundred and !fteen years after 5ose Rizal was e'ecuted by the Spanish colonial regime contro6ersy still rages as to whether he was a reformist or a re6olutionary. Rizal is immensely in7uential to generations of %ilipinos. How he is 6iewed can help de!ne the course of our history. "as Rizal an American&-ade or %ilipino&-ade hero$ /n the meek pages of the book authored by multi&awarded %ilipino Historian Ambeth /campo 8Rizal "ithout the /6ercoat9 roars out a 6ery intriguing insight about Rizal. Away from the usual kid who throws his remaining slipper into the ri6er after the !rst one was swept away by the currents nor e6en the kid who was being told by his mother about the tale of moth and the 7ame. Rizal is an icon and a martyr for independence and freedom not :ust of %ilipinos but of all the oppressed peoples in history who ha6e hungered struggled and fought for liberty dignity enlightenment and social and economic :ustice. He richly deser6es the highest berth in our pantheon of heroes. All other nationalist %ilipino heroes stand proud beside him. #here is no need to pit our heroes against each other for they stand e;ually on the hallowed ground of patriotism and nationalism.
References*
5ose Rizal #he +enius by (aideBartolome < /rosa=)a Solita >%acebook ,age?= and In;uirer News
BIOGRAPHY OF RIZAL
LANZON$ AINAH MIAGRA"E BAPA ;,-,
#he martyr&national martyr&national hero of the ,hilippines 5ose ,rotacio Rizal -ercado y Alonso Realonda known to be 8a child of good family9 was born on 5une 2@ 22 between ele6en oCclock and twel6e oCclock at night a few days before the full moon in Dalamba on the southwest shore of the pictures;ue )aguna de Bay some forty miles south of -ani -anila la.. 5ose 5ose Riza Rizall was was he seco second nd son son and and the the se6e se6ent nth h of ele6 ele6en en childr children= en= Satur Saturnin nina a ,aciano aciano Narcis Narcisa a /lympi /lympia a )u )ucia cia -aria -aria 5ose 5ose Doncepcion 5osefa #rinidad and Soledad. #he -ercado family was wealthy farmers who rented land from the 4ominican religious order. 4escendants of a Dhinese immigrant named 4omingo )am&co. Rizal were the son of %rancisco -ercado and #eodora #eodora Alonso. %rancisco -ercado who was born in Binan on -ay 22 22 and li6e li6ed d to be eigh eighty ty years years old old the the youn younge gest st in a famil family y of thir thirte teen en siblings* se6en men and si' women. He was a well educated farmer with studies in )atin and philosophy in Dolegio de San 5ose in -anila. #eodora #eodora Alonso mother of Rizal was second among the children of -rs. Brigada de Euintos. She was one of the most highly educated women in the ,hilippines at that time. She was born on No6ember @ 2FG and died on August 2 2@22 at the age of . At three days old Rizal was baptized in the Datholic Dhurch. H0 was baptized by %ather Ru!no Dollantes a batangueno priest. Rizal learned the common Datholic prayers at early age. At the age of three he lear learne ned d the the alph alphab abet et.. At !6e !6e year years s old old he was was able able to read ead alth althou ough gh not not 7uen 7uentl tly y the the Span Spanis ish h fami family ly bibl bible e wh whic ich h was was then then commonly called historia sagrada. Educat%on:
#he early education of Rizal was an important aspect of 5ose Rizal of his political thought. )ike many of the children 5ose recei6ed his early education at home. His mother #eodora #eodora was his !rst teacher. teacher. He had had pri6a pri6ate te tuto tutors rs but but it ;uic ;uickl kly y beca became me ob6i ob6iou ous s that that he was was ad6 ad6ance anced d beyo beyond nd his his teac teache hers rs.. Alth Althou ough gh he atte attend nded ed scho school ol in Dalamba young 5ose primarily educated himself in the family library and through con6ersation with his family and friends. %inally it was decided that he would attend the prestigious Ateneo -unicipal School
in the the wall walled ed Intr Intram amur uros os part part of -ani -anila la.. #hus #hus bega began n the the earl early y education o the future %ilipino %ilipino nationalist. By 2 Ateneo was a secondary school that oJered rigorous cour course ses s alm almost ost e;ui ;ui6al 6alent ent to coll ollege ege acad academ emiics. cs. Atene teneo o was cons consiider dered the the !nest nest sch school ool in the ,hil hilippi ippine nes. s. It was in this this en6ironment thet Rizal began the education that would solidify his political thoughts. "hile at Ateneo he won a special prize in poetry for 8A )a 5u6entud %ilipina9 and he culti6ated the intellectual direction which led to his nationalistic na tionalistic writings. #he Ateneo years were a coming& out out peri period od for for Riza Rizal. l. He not not only only beca became me the the leade leaderr of his his fell fellow ow students but he also took up fencing and gymnastics. "hile schooling in Ateneo he encountered problems. /ne of the earliest problems with RizalCs education was the lack of intellectual growth. After Ateneo he enrolled at the Kni6ersity of Santo #omas. #he transition from Ateneo to Kni6ersity of Santo #omas prompted Rizal to consider a 0uropean education. It was at the Kni6ersity of Santo #omas that Rizal continued to create his 6ision of ,hilippine nationalism. #his was the only uni6ersity in the the ,h ,hil ilip ippi pine nes s duri during ng the the 2@th cent centur ury y. It was was here here that that Riza Rizall impro6ed impro6ed on academic academic lessons he learned learned in Ateneo Ateneo and placed placed them at the boarder historical perspecti6e. In fact RizalCs thinking ;uickly became so sophisticated that his mother warned him for intellectual arrogance. 4uring his second year at the Kni6ersity of Santo #omas #omas he deci decide ded d to beco become me a doct doctor or.. He made made this this choi choice ce to defu defuse se and and minimize his growing political interests. Rizal was infatuated in the idea that knowledge and education were the keys to the future. So Rizal informed his brother that he would lea6e for -adrid to complete his medical education. %rom Barcelona Rizal went ;uickly to -adrid and continued his double course in philosophy and letters and in medicine at Kni6ersity Dentral de -adrid. In 2 he recei6ed the degree of licentiate in medicine and the following year on his F th birthday the degree in philosophy and letters and with the highest honors. %rom -adrid Rizal in 2 went to ,aris and continued continued his medical studies under an eye spec specia iali list st.. #he ne' ne't year ear Rizal zal went ent to +erm ermany any and and stud studiied ophthalmology. He was registered at 4r. "eckerCs clinic. He also had special training under 4r. /tto Becker.
Lo)e %!e:
#here were were at least nine women linked linked with Rizal= namely Segunda Latigbak )eonor Malenzuela Malenzuela )eonor Ri6era Donsuelo /rtiga /&Sei / &Sei San +ertrude Beckette Nelly Boustead Suzanne 5acoby and 5osephine Bracken. #hese women might ha6e been beguiled by his intelligence charm and wit. •
•
•
•
Segunda Latigbak and )eonor Malenzuela Segunda Latigbak was her puppy lo6e. Knfortunately his !rst lo6e was engaged to be married to a town mate& -anuel )uz. After After his admiration for a short girl in the person of Segunda then came )eonor Malenzuela a tall girl from ,agsan:an. Rizal sends her lo6e notes written in in6isible ink that could only be deciphered o6er the warmth of the lamp or candle. He 6isited her on the e6e of his departure to Spain and bade her last goodbye. )eonor Ri6era )eonor Ri6era his sweetheart for 22 years played the greatest in7uence in keeping him from falling in lo6e with other women during his tra6el. Knfortunately )eonorCs mother disappro6ed of her daughterCs relationship with Rizal who was then a known !libustero. She hid from )eonor all letters sent to her sweetheart. )eonor belie6ing that Rizal had already forgotten her is sadly consented her to marry the 0nglishman Henry Lipping her motherCs choice. Donsuelo /rtiga Donsuelo /rtiga y Rey the prettier of 4on ,ablo /rtigaCs daughters fell in lo6e with him. He dedicated to her A la Senorita D./. y R. which became one of his best poems. #he /rtigas residence in -adrid was fre;uented by Rizal and his compatriots. He probably fell in lo6e with her and Donsuelo apparently asked him for romantic 6erses. He suddenly backed out before the relationship turned into a serious romance because he wanted to remain loyal to )eonor Ri6era and he did not want to destroy hid friendship with 0duardo de )ete who was madly in lo6e with Donsuelo. Sei San / Sei San a 5apanese samuraiCs daughter taught Rizal the 5apanese art of painting known as su&mie. She also helped Rizal Rizal impro6e his knowledge of 5apanese language. If Rizal was a man without a patriotic mission he would ha6e married this lo6ely and intelligent woman and li6ed a stable and happy life with her
in 5apan because Spanish legation there oJered him a lucrati6e :ob. •
•
•
•
+ertrude Beckett "hile Rizal was in )ondon annotating the Sucesos de las Islas %ilipinas= he boarded in the house of the Beckett family within walking distance of the British -useum. +ertrude a blue&eyed and bu'om girl was the oldest of the three Beckett daughters. She fell in lo6e with Rizal. #ottie helped him in his painting and sculpture. But Rizal suddenly left )ondon for ,aris to a6oid +ertrude who was seriously in lo6e with him. Before lea6ing )ondon he was able to !nish the group car6ing of the Beckett sisters. He ga6e the group car6ing to +ertrude as a sign of their brief relationship. Nellie Boustead Rizal ha6ing lost )eonor Ri6era entertained the thought of courting other ladies. "hile a guest of the Boustead family at their residence in the resort city of Biarritz he had befriended the two pretty daughters of his host 0duardo Boustead. Rizal used to fence with the sisters at the studio of 5uan )una. Antonio )una 5uanCs brother and also a fre;uent 6isitor of the Bousteads courted Nellie but she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by %ilipinos in -adrid a drunken Antonio )una uttered unsa6ory remarks against Nellie Boustead. #his prompted Rizal to challenge )una into a duel. %ortunately )una apologized to Rizal thus a6erting tragedy for the compatriots. #heir lo6e aJair unfortunately did not end in marriage. It failed because Rizal refused to be con6erted to the ,rotestant faith as Nellie demanded and NellieCs mother did not like a physician without enough paying clientele to be a son&in&law. #he lo6ers howe6er parted as good friends when Rizal left 0urope. Suzanne 5acoby In 2@3 Rizal mo6ed to Brussels because of the high cost of li6ing in ,aris. In Brussels he li6ed in the boarding house of the two 5acoby sisters. In time they fell deeply in lo6e with each other. Suzanne cried when Rizal left Brussels and wrote him when he was in -adrid. 5osephine Bracken In the last days of %ebruary 2@ while still in 4apitan Rizal met an 2&year old petite Irish girl with bold blue eyes brown hair and a happy disposition. She was 5osephine Bracken the adopted daughter of +eorge #aufer from Hong Long who came to 4apitan to seek Rizal for eye treatment. Rizal was physically attracted to
her. His loneliness and boredom must ha6e taken the measure of him and what could be a better di6ersion that to fall in lo6e again. But the Rizal sisters suspected 5osephine as an agent of the friars and they considered her as a threat to RizalCs security. Rizal asked 5osephine to marry him but she was not yet ready to make a decision due to her responsibility to the blind #aufer. Since #auferCs blindness was untreatable he left for Hon Long on -arch 2@. 5osephine stayed with RizalCs family in -anila. Kpon her return to 4apitan Rizal tried to arrange with %ather Antonio /bach for their marriage. Howe6er the priest wanted a retraction as a precondition before marrying them. Rizal upon the ad6ice of his family and friends and with 5osephineCs consent took her as his wife e6en without the Dhurch blessings. 5osephine later ga6e birth prematurely to a stillborn baby a result of some incidence which might ha6e shocked or frightened her. Tra)es:
1 -ay 2F Rizal left ,hilippines for the !rst time Spain. He boarded the Sal6adora using a passport of 5ose -ercado which was procured for him by his uncle Antonio Ri6era father of )eonor Ri6era. He was accompanied to the ;uay where the Sal6adora was moored by his uncle Antonio Micente +ella and -ateo 06angelista. -ay 2F He got seasick on board the boat. -ay2F He con6ersed with the passengers of the ship= he was still feeling sea& sick. -ay 2F He played chess with the passengers on board. -ay 2F He saw mountains and Islands. @ -ay 2F Rizal arri6ed at Singapore. 23 -ay 2F He went around the town of Singapore and maid some obser6ations. 22 -ay 2F In Singapore at F p.m. Rizal boarded the boat 4:emnah to continue his trip to Spain. He found the boat clean and well kept. 2F -ay 2F He had a con6ersation with the passengers of the boat. 21 -ay 2F Rizal was seasick again. 2 -ay 2F /n his way to -arseilles Rizal had a terrible dream. He dreamed he was tra6eling with Neneng >Saturnina? and their path was blocked by
snakes. -ay 2 2F Rizal had another disheartening dream. He dreamed he returned to Dalamba and after meeting his parents who did not talk to him because of not ha6ing consulted them about his !rst trip abroad he returned tra6eling abroad with one hundred pesos he again borrowed. He was so sad and broken hearted. Soon he woke up and found himself inside his cabin. 2G -ay 2F Rizal arri6ed at ,unta de +ales. 2 -ay 2F At G*13 a.m. he left ,unta de +ales for Dolombo. In the afternoon Rizal arri6ed at Dolombo and in the e6ening the trip was resumed. F -ay 2F Rizal was nearing the African coas FG -ay 2F He landed at Aden at about *13 a.m. He made obser6ation at the time. F 5une 2F He arri6ed at the Suez Danal en route to -arseilles. 1 5une 2F He was ;uarantined on board the 4:emnah in the Suez Danal. 5une 2F It was the fourth day at Suez Danal and was still ;uarantined on board of the boat. G 5une 2F Rizal arri6ed at ,ort Said. In a letter to his parents He described his trip en route to Aden along the Suez Danal. 22 5une 2F Rizal disembarked and accompanied by a guide went around the Dity of Naples for one hour. #his was the !rst 0uropean ground he set foot on. 2F 5une 2F At ten oCclock in the e6ening the boat anchored at -arseilles. He sleptn board. 21 5une 2F 0arly on the morning he landed at -arseilles and boarded at the Noalles Hotel. )ater he around for obser6ation. 2 5une 2F His second in -arseilles. 2 5une 2F He left -arseilles for Barcelona in an e'press train.
No)es: NOLI ME TANGERE =Touch Me Not>
#he Spanish were furious with RizalCs no6el. #hey refused to allow it to be imported into -anila. As a result only small number of copies of Noli -e #angere entered the ,hilippines. #he friars whom Rizal criticized spoke disparagingly of the book and threatened e'communication to e6eryone who read it. #he go6ernment and military oOcials responded by beating anyone caught with the book.. #he ,ermanent Dommission on Densorship of the ,hilippines which read and e'amined 6ery carefully the so called #agalog No6el found the book libelous defamatory full of falsehood and calumny in which the author 5ose Rizal re6eals crass ignorance. 4espite of this strong ob:ection and condemnation Noli became the 6ery signi!cant book of the impact it had upon the de6eloping nationalist feeling. It was an important re7ection on the illustrado political mentality. #he Noli is rich enough to build modern nationalism. EL FILIB(STERISMO =The Re%#n o! Greed>
Before Rizal left 0urope he had to edit and publish 0l %ilibusterismo the last chapters of which he had !nished in Biarritz. ,aris being e'pensi6e was out of the ;uestion for the printing of his second no6el and so Rizal hurried back to Brussels and later to +hent in search of cheap printers. Rizal sailed from -arseilles on /ctober 2 2@2 by a ticket courtesy of Basa. "ith him were 33 copies of 0l %ilibusterismo. In his second no6el 0l %ilibusterismo published in 2@2 Rizal continued to argue for reform. Rizal argues that the young are aware of the need to take political action and pursue social :ustice. oung people Rizal maintained create a strong sense of reform. Last Fare7e:
Rizal wrote a farewell letter to his family. It contains his last message and words for them. He asked for forgi6eness for the pain he had caused them. He also stated his wish of how and where to be buried. He wished 8Bury me in the ground. ,lace a stone a cross o6er it. -y name the date of my birth and of my death. Nothing more. If
later you wish to surround my gra6e with a fence you can do it. No anni6ersaries. I prefer ,aang Bundok.9 It takes not only great knowledge but also great courage and e;uanimity of the mind and spirit to make a masterpiece or letter in the midst of physical and mental turmoil agitated by an impending prosecution. L%!e %n 9a'%tan:
In the early part of RizalCs e'ile he li6ed in the commandantCs residence. "ith the prize from the -anila )ottery and earnings from farming and merchant he bought land near the shore f #alisay near 4apitan. In this land he built three houses&all made of bamboo wood and nipa. #he !rst house was his home the second was for his pupil and the third was a barn where he kept his chickens. Rizal has many fruit trees like mangoes lanzones guyaabanos nangkas and etc. He has also rabbits cats chickens and other animals. He woke up at !6e o 6isit his plants and feed his animals. He is also the one who prepares their breakfast. At G*33 in the morning they eat breakfast. After breakfast he is treating the people who came to his home. Rizal was so busy the whole morning attending to his patients in town. At noon he returns home for his lunch and then F*33 to *33 in the afternoon he was a busy teacher. He is teaching the young boys of #alisay. And at night he spent it reading and writing. In RizalCs life in 4apitan he has a simple li6ing but during those days he was an architect engineer a botanist doctor and teacher.
E?%e and E?ecut%on:
Rizal was going to Duba as a military doctor but before he reaches his destination he was arrested by Spanish authorities :ailed in Barcelona and shipped back to %ort Santiago where he would spend his remaining months. F Sept 2@ Rizal left -anila for Spain. G Sept 2@ #hey went to Singapore. 13 Sep 2@ A telegraphic message was recei6ed by the captain of the ship ordering him to arrest Rizal ang con!ne him in the cabin of the ship. 1 /ct 2@ #hey arri6ed in Barcelona. /ct 2@ Rizal was transferred to -on:uich Dastle Barcelona. /ct 2@ P *33 pm
Rizal left Barcelona for -anila. 1 No6 2@ "ith a hea6y security Rizal immediately brought to %ort Santiago. F3 No6 2@ His preliminary in6estigation began. 22 4ec 2@ Dharges against him were arraignment. He pleaded not guilty. 2 4ec 2@ In his cell in %ort Santiago he wrote -anifesto which addressed to his countrymen. F 4ec 2@ He spent this merry with his family relati6es and friends. #he 2@ christmas was indeedRizalCs saddest. F 4ec 2@ RizalCs court of martial commenced. F@ 4ec 2@ P *33 am He went to prison chapel and spent there his some remaining hours. F@ 4ec 2@ P 23*13 pm #he retraction letter was presented to him but he re:ected it because it took long time to be submitted to him. F@ 4ec 2@ P 22 pm He wrote and signed the retraction letter. 13 4ec 2@ P 1*13 am He made a confession and recei6ed communion. 13 4ec 2@ P *33 am He ate his breakfast. 13 4ec 2@ P *13 am His marched to Bagumbayan began. Kpon the command 8%ireQ9 the guns of the s;uad 7ared. By his sheer eJort and remaining stress he twisted his body around facing the s;uad so he fell on the ground with his face towards the blue sky and his head towards the rising sun in the east. At that time you can only hear the 6oices of the Spaniards shouting 8)ong li6e SpainQ 4eath to traitorsQ9 At e'actly G*31 in the morning 4ec 13 2@ Rizal died.
References* http*www.:oserizal.ph http*www.biography.compeople:osD1A@&rizal&1@ http*asianhistory.about.comodpro!lesofasianleadersp:oserizalbio.ht m http*www.slideshare.net4eySibalan&outline&of&:ose&rizals&life #he )ife of Rizal* ,hilippine ,atriot
5ose Rizal* #he -an and the Hero >An Anthology of )egacy and Dontro6ersies? 5ose Rizal* )ife "orks and "ritings of a +enius "riter Scientist and National Hero
LA/S ENA"TE9 ABO(T RIZAL
#he Rizal )aw also known as RA 2F mandates the study of RizalCs life and works in all curricula of all pri6ate and public schools colleges and uni6ersities courses on the )ife "ork and "ritings of Rizal. #his Republic Act calls for an increased sense of nationalism from the %ilipinos during a time of a dwindling %ilipino identity. #he Republic Act was signed by the ,resident on 5une 2F 2@. If there is an e6idence that would pro6e Rizal as a %ilipino chosen hero is the R.A. 2F which is ammended by %ilipino senators and countrymen. It states that House B% No6 55@, Senate B% No6 .;
An Act to Include in the Durricula of All ,ublic and ,ri6ate Schools Dolleges and Kni6ersities courses on the )ife "orks and "ritings of 5/S0 RI(A) particularly his no6els N/)I -0 #AN+0R0 and 0) %I)IBKS#0RIS-/ Authorizing the ,rinting and 4istribution #hereof and for /ther ,urposes. "hereas today more than other period of our history there is a need for a re&dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes li6ed and died. "hereas it is meet that in honoring them particularly the national hero and patriot 5ose Rizal we remember with special
fondness and de6otion their li6es and works that ha6e shaped the national character= "hereas the life works and writings of 5ose Rizal particularly his no6els Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth especially during their formati6e and decisi6e years in school should be suJused. "hereas all educational institutions are under the super6ision of and sub:ect to regulation by the State and all schools are en:oined to de6elop moral character personal discipline ci6ic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship= Now therefore Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representati6es of the ,hilippines in Dongress assembled SE"6,
Dourses on the life works and writings of 5ose Rizal particularly his no6els Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo shall be included in the curricula of all schools colleges and uni6ersities public or pri6ate= ,ro6ided #hat in the collegiate courses the original or une'purgated editions of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo or their 0nglish translations shall be used as basic te'ts. #he Board of National 0ducation is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement and carry out the pro6isions of this Section including the writing and printing of appropriate primers
readers and te'tbooks. #he Board shall within si'ty >3? days from the eJecti6ity of this Act promulgate rules and regulations including those of a disciplinary nature to carry out and enforce the regulations of this Act. #he Board shall promulgate rules and regulations pro6iding for the e'emption of students for reason of religious belief stated in a sworn written statement from the re;uirement of the pro6ision contained in the second part of the !rst paragraph of this section= but not from taking the course pro6ided for in the !rst part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take eJect thirty >13? days after their publication in the /Ocial +azette. SE"64
It shall be obligatory on all schools colleges and uni6ersities to keep in their libraries an ade;uate number of copies of the original and e'purgated editions of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo as well as RizalCs other works and biography. #he said une'purgated editions of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo or their translations in 0nglish as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of appro6ed books for re;uired reading in all public or pri6ate schools colleges and uni6ersities. #he Board of National 0ducation shall determine the ade;uacy of the number of books depending upon the enrollment of the school college or uni6ersity. SE"6;
#he Board of National education shall cause the translation of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo as well as other writings of 5ose Rizal into 0nglish #agalog and the principal ,hilippine dialects= cause them to be printed in cheap popular editions= and cause them to be distributed free of charge to persons desiring to read them through the ,urok organizations and the Barrio Douncils throughout the country. SE"6.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing section nine hundred twenty&se6en of the Administrati6e Dode prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other persons engaged in any public school. SE"65
#he sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National #reasury to carry out the purposes of this Act. SE"6@
#his Act shall take eJect upon its appro6all #he R.A. 2F was passed to ensure that each and e6ery %ilipino children will know about the works and life of Rizal which pro6es that there are %ilipino countrymen that chose Rizal to be known by other %ilipinos. Noted by another %ilipino hero Rafael ,alma belie6ed that blood does not count in nationality. It roots from the desire to be one :ust like
4r. 5ose Rizal. He was criticized to be a Dhinese mi'ed. Being a %ilipino is in the desire and passion to become a %ilipino not by the blood by the waters and by the 7esh. #hese ideals from ,alma has drawn lots of %ilipino men to chose Rizal o6er Bonifacio. Euibuyen added that if it is not because of Rizals works the %ilipinos will not be awakened to stri6e for freedom. /ne of these %ilipinos is Andres Bonifacio a contender in being a national hero. Rizal has started a re6olution through reforms. He was the spark and the LLL and the rest of the %ilipinos were the machine. Based from these lines more %ilipinos rose to an idea of making Rizal as the national hero.
RE8OL(TIONARY GO8ERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
>4ecree of 4ecember F32@? In recognition of the aspirations of the %ilipino nation and in proclaiming its noble and patriotic sentiments I hereby decree. Article 2. In memory of the %ilipino patriots 4r. 5ose Rizal and the other 6ictims of the past Spanish domination I declare the 13th of 4ecember as a national day of mourning. Article F. /n account of this all national 7ags shall be hoisted at ha lf& mast from 2F*33 noon on 4ecember F@ as a sign of mourning.
Article 1. All oOces of the Re6olutionary +o6ernment shall be closed during the whole day of 4ecember 13.
+i6en in -alolos 4ecember F32@ >Signed? 0-I)I/ A+KINA)4/ #he truth it was +eneral Aguinaldo and not the second ,hilippines Dommission headed by Di6il +o6ernor #aft who !rst recognized 4r. 5ose Rizal as Tnational day of mourningT in memory of Rizal and other 6ictims of Spanish tyranny. %ull te't of these decree in two languages #agalog and Spanish appeared in the go6ernment organ 0l Heraldo dela Re6olution on 4ecember F2@.
It is interesting to recall that the !rst celebration of Rizal 4ay in the ,hilippines was held in -anila on 4ecember 132@ under the sponsorship of the Dlub %ilipino. #his was In pursuance of +eneral AguinaldoCs 4ecree of 4ecember F32@. /n the same date >4ecember 13 2@? the patriotic town of 4aet in Damarines Norte likewise celebrated Rizal 4ay the festi6ities being clima'ed by the un6eiling of the Rizal monument which was constructed at the e'pense of the townfolks. #his was the !rst monument e6er created in the ,hilippines&and still e'ists today.
References* http*www.:oserizal.phlw3F.html
E8I9EN"ES THAT S(PPORT THAT RIZAL IS AN AMERI"ANBASE9 HERO
AG(ILAR$ ELRIS CYEIL "6 BAPA;,-,
A&er%can Endorse&ent
#he Americans through the American +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft recommended to the ,hilippine Dommission which was sponsored by the KS to declare 5ose Rizal as a national hero for the %ilipinos. #he Americans recommended Rizal because of the fact that he was e'ecuted by the Spaniards and of his peaceful way to achie6e liberty. Knlike Andres Bonifacio whose desire to achie6e independence for his nati6e land re;uired armed approach. #he Americans deemed this approach to independence of Andres Bonifacio to be unacceptable and may inspire other %ilipinos to rebel against American rule. #his is why 5ose Rizal was chosen o6er him as the national hero. 5ose Rizal was declared as the greatest %ilipino hero during the American colonization after the Aguinaldo led armed forces were subdued during the ,hilippine&American war. "as Rizal an American sponsored hero$ RizalCs becoming the national hero was the result of American sponsorship. In 2@32 "illiam Howard #aft proposed Rizal as our National hero because* 2. Rizal was already dead by the time the Americans colonized the ,hilippines. F. He did not make any negati6e remarks or embarrassing anti& American ;uotations. 1. -artyrdom of 4r. 5ose Rizal was a symbol of Spanish oppression. . He urged reform from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience. #here is no ;uestion that Rizal had the ;ualities of greatness. History cannot deny his patriotism. He was a martyr to oppression obscurantism and bigotry. His dramatic death captured the imagination of the our people. He was therefore re6ered by his countrymen and deser6ed their admiration. But we must accept that fact that his formal designation as our national hero his ele6ation to his present eminence so far abo6e all our other heroes was abetted and encouraged by the Americans. It was +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission that the %ilipinos be gi6en a national hero.
8And now gentlemen you must ha6e a national hero.9 In these faithful words addressed by then Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft to the %ilipino members of the Di6il Dommission P ,ardo de #a6era )egarda and )azuriaga P lay the genesis of Rizal day. References* https*wikis.engrade.comrizalamericanmadehero +regorio %. (aide= 5/S0 RI(A)* )ife "orks < "ritings of a +enius "riter Scientist < National Hero 2@ ed. pp. FG2&F.
ALOG$ LIENOEL G6 BAPA;,-,
E)%dence That R%1a %s A&er%can Base Hero
#he reason for the enthusiastic American attitudebecomes clear in the following appraisal of Rizalby %orbes* 2. Rizal ne6er ad6ocated independence nor did head6ocate armed resistance to the go6ernment. Heurged reform from within by publicity by publiceducation and appeal to the public conscience. F. #he public image that the American desired fora %ilipino national hero was ;uite clear. #hey fa6ored a hero who would not run against the grainof American colonial policy. "e must take these acts of the Americans in furtherance of a Rizal cultin the light of their initial policies which re;uiredthe passage ofthe Sedition )aw prohibiting thedisplay of the %ilipino 7ag. #he heroes whoad6ocated independence were therefore ignored.%or to ha6e encouraged a mo6ement to re6ereBonifacio or -abini would not ha6e beenconsistent with American colonial policy. 1. Se6eral factors contributed to RizalCsacceptability to the Americans as the oOcial heroof the %ilipinos. In the !rst place he was safelydead by the time the American began theiraggression. No embarrassing anti&American;uotations could e6er be attributed to him. -oreo6er RizalCs dramatic martyrdom had alreadymade him the symbol of Spanish oppression. #ofocus attention on him would ser6e not only toconcentrate %ilipino hatred against the erstwhileoppressors it would also blunt their feelings ofanimosity toward the new con;uerors againstwhom there was still organized resistance at that time. His choice was a master stroke by theAmericans. #he honors bestowed on Rizal werenaturally appreciated by the %ilipinos who wereproud of him. At the same time the attention la6ished on Rizal relegated other heroes to the background&heroes whose re6olutionary e'ample and anti&American pronouncements might ha6e stiJened %ilipino resistance to the new con;uerors. #he Americans especially emphasized the fact thatRizal was a reformer not a separatist. He could #herefore not be in6oked on the ;uestion of,hilippine independence. He could not be a rallyingpoint in the resistance against the in6aders. . It must also be remembered that the %ilipinomembers of the ,hilippine Dommission wereconser6ati6e illustrados. #he Americans regardedRizal as belonging to this class. #his was therefore one more point in his fa6or. Rizalbelonged to the right social class & the class thatthey were culti6ating and building up for leadership. References* Donstantino Insight and %oresight
ANILAO$ AMAI"A S6
BAPA;,-,
In the ,hilippines there are many who 6iew Rizal as a second rate hero who has been dei!ed by the American go6ernment for the purpose of controlling %ilipino public opinion. #he most signi!cant e'pression of this 6iewpoint is in the writings of Renato Donstantino. He blames %ilipinos for succumbing to American rule and allowing 5ose Rizal to be manipulated into a national hero. In many respects Donstantino sees the American colonial system as the ful!lment of RizalCs nationalistic fer6or. "hat Donstantino suggests is that Rizal was much like the dictatorial %erdinand -arcos. #his is the stretching historical analogy beyond the bounds of the e6idence. "hat Donstantino misses is that %ilipinos are not 8little Rizals9 as he suggests but a people who selected a national hero a century ago and stuck with him because he e'pressed the essence of ,hilippine nationalism. RizalCs writings speeches public life and spectacular death are reminders of his nationalistic fer6or. RizalCs manifesto condemning the Re6olution 2@ has been used to soil his memory. At the time Rizal wrote this document he was in :ail and threatened with a court martial. Rizal supported re6olution but not the re6olution of Andres Bonifacio or the LatipunanCs 6ersion. RizalCs ideas won out and a slow but steady progression to total independence took place in the ne't half century. et the arguments about Rizal being an 8American&created hero9 persisted. #he best article on the problems of American dei!cation of Rizal appeared in the popular press. Ambeth /campoCs essay 8"as 5ose Rizal an American&Sponsored Hero9$ argues that RizalCs 8-anifesto to the %ilipino ,eople9 addressed the issue of KS in7uences. "hile early American go6ernors o6eremphasized RizalCs contributions to ,hilippine nationalism the historical result of this contro6ersy has been to denigrate the le6el of RizalCs nationalism and as a result his contribution to ,hilippine history. /campo places the issue in perspecti6e when he concludes that 8Rizal inspired the re6olution and for this alone his detractors should think of a new argument rather than riding on the pre6ailing anti&American sentiment to denigrate 5ose Rizal. Still others point to the American tendency to encourage RizalCs position as the foremost ,hilippine nationalist. /campo puts the contro6ersy to rest by pointing out th ob6ious= 5ose Rizal was the chief architect of the ,hilippine nationalism and independence long before the Americans arri6ed. He was recognized as the !rst -alay son. He was not the leader of the re6olutionary Latipunan. He did not belie6e that the 2@ re6olution could succeed because of lack of planning. He did not feel that all %ilipinos were ready for full citizenship. et despite
all these misgi6ings %ilipinos recognize Rizal as their foremost nati6e son. Although Rizal was uprooted by Spanish rule he realized that he needed to pursue his nationalistic goals. His family was a catalyst to this belief and his life was dedicated to a de!ned ,hilippine nationalism. #his enraged the Spanish who then harassed his family. After his mother was imprisoned his brother e'iled and his father charged with unfair land practices Rizal intensi!ed his demands for independence. No matter how Spain attempted to intimidate him Rizal remained !rst and foremost a ,hilippine nationalist.
ASILO$ MIRA CEISHA H6 BAPA ;,-, 9r6 ose R%1a as an A&er%can2ased Hero
"hat has been the base of the idea that Rizal was an American&based hero$ #he idea was that Rizal was against the re6olution and he became the national hero only because of the Americans who sponsored and encouraged his cult. Americans chose Rizal as the foremost national hero because he was non&6iolent and reformist unlike Bonifacio and Aguinaldo.
%actors that contributed for RizalCs acceptability to the Americans as an oOcial hero of the ,hilippines 2. Rizal was already dead by the time the Americans colonized the ,hilippines. F. He did not make any negati6e remarks or embarrassing anti& American ;uotations. 1. -artyrdom of 4r. 5ose Rizal was a symbol of Spanish oppression. . He urged reform from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience. . #he %ilipino members of the ,hilippine Dommission were conser6ati6e illustrados. #he Americans regarded Rizal as belonging to this class. #his was therefore one more point in his fa6or. Rizal belonged to the right social class U the class that they were culti6ating and building up for leadership. . #he attention la6ished on Rizal relegated other heroes to the background&heroes whose re6olutionary e'ample and anti&American
pronouncements might ha6e stiJened %ilipino resistance to the new con;uerors. References* https*dimasalanglaonglaan.wordpress.comwas&rizal&an&american& sponsored&hero Meneration "ithout Knderstanding by Renato Donstantino
BELEN$ CE8IN BRIAN T6 BAPA ;,-,
4r. %rank D. )aubach an American biographer of Rizal spoke of the heroCs courage in the following words* His consuming life purpose was the secret of his moral courage. ,hysical courage it is true was one of his inherited traits. But that high courage to die lo6ing murderers which he at last achie6ed & that cannot be inherited. It must be forged out in the !res of suJering and temptation. As we read through his life we can see how the moral sinew and !ber grew year by year as faced new perils and was forced to make fearful decisions. It re;uired courage to write his two great no6els telling nothing that no other man had 6entured to say before standing almost alone against the most powerful interests in his country and in Spain and knowing full well that despotism would strike back. He had reached another loftier plateau of heroism when he wrote those letters in Hong Long 8#o be opened after my death9 and sailed in to the 8trap9 in -anila without any illusions. #hen in his 4apitan e'ile when he was tempted to escape and said 8No9 not once but hundreds of times for four long years and when on the way to Duba ,edro Ro'as pleaded with him to step oJ the boat of Singapore upon British territory and sa6e his life what inner struggle it must ha6e caused him to answer o6er and o6er again 8No no noQ9 "hen the sentence of death and the fateful morning of his e'ecution brought the !nal test 4ecember 13 2@ he walked with perfect calm to the !ring line as through by his own choice the only heroic !gure in that sordid scene.
"ASTILLO$ NOIMI BAPA ;,-, /as R%1a an A&er%canMade heroD
/n the meek pages of the book authored by multi&awarded %ilipino Historian Ambeth /campo 8Rizal "ithout the /6ercoat9 roars out a 6ery intriguing insight about Rizal. Away from the usual kid who throws his remaining slipper into the ri6er after the !rst one was swept away by the currents nor e6en the kid who was being told by his mother about the tale of moth and the 7ame. Here I found the answers of the rumors in which Rizal is an American&made hero. It says that Rizal was a Reformist and he abhorred the re6olution against Spain. And when the Americans came into the ,hilippines they chose Rizal to be a hero because he is a reformist and Americans were against re6olution because they are frightened for one. But for me that doesnCt made Rizal an American&made hero e6en from the mo6ies of Rizal the LLL still admires him despite the fact that he doesnCt want re6olution. And the mere fact is that he doesnCt want re6olution not because he is afraid but because he is educated enough to know the conse;uences. He :ust doesnCt want to ha6e his %ilipinos suJered and who would want to go to war with :ust a plain knife while ha6ing their opponents a league of weapons to shoot them$ 4/0S #HIS -A40 HI- KN"/R#H #/ B0 #H0 NA#I/NA) H0R/$ No. 06en heroes ha6e their mistakes. Heroism doesnCt re;uire righteousness or though a hero is not perfect. A hero is also a person a person who commits mistakes a person who sometimes becomes confused A ,0RS/N 5KS# )IL0 /K AN4 -0. So what if the Americans chose him to be the National Hero$ 06en Andres Bonifacio would agree with this. #his doesnCt made him an American&-ade Hero. )ooking back
to the typical Rizal on the many books of history and ha6ing known his mistakes and frustrations on one made him more deser6ing ha6ing known that he is a human :ust like us. 4espite those facts why is he still being idolized and taught to class to be your inspiration$ Heroism is not measured by how many mistakes youC6e made how many girls youC6e chased or how hard your head is to get a re6olution or e6en what nationality choses you to be one but rather how you did your part being a %ilipino a fellowman and how big the impact is to change the whole and bring out a better one. His brashness of his peculiar ideologies that freed the %ilipinos from being frail and feeble. "ithout was without plates and without his o6ercoat 4r. 5ose Rizal beyond doubt awaken the rapidly disappearing protecti6e instinct that e6ery indi6idual has. He made what we are today. He authored our freedom. So tell me does he now deser6e to be a national hero$ Reference* https*www.facebook.compermalink.php$ idVFFGFFF2F
#o e'empt Rizal from historical criticism is an act of disser6ice to him. >Donstantino Insight and %oresight p.FF? RizalCs famous detractors are those who in fatuous 6eneration would make him out to be a uni6ersal hero whose teachings are 6alid for all time. "hen they try to e'tend RizalCs teachings to :ustify certain aspects of the status ;uo they are in eJect turning the hero into a defender of the establishment to lend support to their own reactionary ob:ecti6es. #hose who defend Rizal use RizalCs repudiation of the ,hilippine re6olution as an argument against those elements in our society who seek radical change. #hey belie6e that RizalCs abandonment of his people when they decided to rise can be used to dissuade others from making common cause with the masses today. #his is the same intention the Americans had in fa6oring Rizal as our national hero. AMERI"AN EN9ORSEMENT
•
#here is no ;uestion that Rizal had the ;ualities of greatness. History cannot deny his patriotism. He was a martyr to oppression obscurantism and bigotry. His dramatic death captured the imagination of the our people. He was therefore re6ered by his countrymen and deser6ed their admiration. But we must accept that fact that his formal designation as our national hero his ele6ation to his present eminence so far abo6e all our other heroes was abetted and encouraged by the Americans. It was +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission that the %ilipinos be gi6en a national hero. 8And now gentlemen you must ha6e a national hero.9 In these faithful words addressed by then Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft to the %ilipino members of the Di6il Dommission P ,ardo de #a6era )egarda and )azuriaga P lay the genesis of Rizal day. -yDomment #he genesis of Rizal 4ay was 4ecember 12 2@ when 0milio Aguinaldo declared a national day of mourning for Rizal. It was repeated e'actly a year later with commemorati6e broadsheets distributed in RizalCs honour. #aft became the ci6il +o6ernor of the ,hilippines on 5uly 2@32 by which time Rizal 4ay was already well established in fact if not in name. #heodore %riend in his book Between #wo 0mpires says that #aft with other American colonial oOcials and some conser6ati6e %ilipinos chose him >Rizal? as a model hero o6er other contestants P Aguinaldo too militant Bonifacio too radical -abini unregenerate. #his decision to sponsor Rizal was implemented with the passage of the following Acts of the ,hilippine Dommission* >2? Act No. 21G which organized the politico&military district of -orong and named it the pro6ince of Rizal in honor of the most illustrious %ilipino and the most illustrious #agalog the islands had e6er known >F? Act No.F1 which authorized a public subscription for the
erection of a monument in honor or Rizal at the )uneta and >1? Act No. 1 which set aside the anni6ersary of his death as a day of obser6ance. #his early e'ample of American aid is summarized by +o6ernor ". Dameron %orbes who wrote in his book #he ,hilippine Islands* It is eminently proper that Rizal should ha6e become the acknowledged national hero of the ,hilippine people. #he American administration has lent e6ery assistance to this recognition setting aside the anni6ersary of his death to be a day of obser6ance placing his picture on the postage stamp most commonly used in the islands and on the currency . And throughout the islands the public schools teach the young %ilipinos to re6ere his memory as the greatest of %ilipino patriots.
Reference* #he )ife of Rizal ,atriot
9E "ASTRO$ "LARENZE (STINE 6 BAPA ;,-,
a.
Rizal was declare a national hero during the ,hilippine Dommonwealth era. He was a reformist who died in the hands of the Spaniards during which time Spain in 0urope was already in shambles. Bonifacio was a re6olutionary who was killed by his fellow %ilipino re6olutionary. )ooking forward many %ilipinos today wanted reforms in the go6ernment laws and constitution but the re6olutionists make loud noises against it.
b.
es he is. Andres Bonifacio was 6oted by the %ilipinos at that time to be the national hero but the Americans declared
Rizal. It is said that it is a strategy for the Americans that they declared Rizal because he doesnt belie6e in engaging in bloody re6olutions in order to attain freedom. #herefore the Americans thought that Rizals ideals will become an e'ample to the %ilipinos so as they wouldnt re6olt against them. c.
es. Rizal was an American sponsored hero because Americans found in Rizals philosophy of education of the masses !rst before independence a !tting rationalization of Americas colonial policy= Americans also found Bonifacio a common man a dangerous precedent to use armed might in attaining independence= and for the Americans to promote Bonifacio was to defeat their purpose of discouraging the %ilipinos from taking up arms against them. Remember Bonifacio was a re6olutionist while Rizal was a reformist.
d.
,robable to be an American sponsored because Rizal ad6ocated that the ,hilippines in incapable of independence from Spain and thus :ust be part or be pro6ince of Spain. #hat principle can be manipulated as the same to the Knited States in handling the ,hilippines. #he one being a big nation and the smaller one can be subdued as they please. But the principle of Rizal may also not be an American sponsored since he ne6er hinted the transfer of the ,hilippines to the K.S.He may ha6e based his obser6ations from the diJerences of %ilipinos in location so thus hard to unite and because of separated islands %ilipinos tend to ally to any foreign force that may gi6e them bene!ts. 5ust look how the diJerent AmericanIndian tribes made themsel6es allied to diJerent 0uropean nations who were at war with each other killing each otherCs own red races. And they were not e6en separated by seas. So it is the same with the ,hilippines but with more ease. #here is a principle of war that a place scattered by great barriers as great mountains and seas can be easily con;uered but hard to manage or to unite. American sponsored or not Rizal among the heroes of that time deser6es to be chosen as the national !gure as his wisdom o6erwhelmed them all. #hat wisdom is to be diplomatic at all means to a greater power but resort to 6iolence e6en when out powered and be annihilated when :ustice is trampled. -ost important aspect of his life is also not of his being a patriotic or
nationalist but of an internationalist person a citizen of the world where no boundaries and racial discrimination e'ist. References* https*ph.answers.yahoo.com;uestioninde'$ ;idVF332F2G32@3@AAHgIb4
40+K-A +IS0))0 ANN 0. BA,A 1232 "hy 5ose Rizal Is the National Hero$ It has always been a heated argument on who deser6es to be called ,hilippineCs national hero 4r. 5ose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio$ "hy is 5ose Rizal the national hero$ It is interesting to note that 5ose RizalCs heroism was recognized !rst by the colonizing Americans and later on by +eneral 0milio Aguinaldo. Recommended by the KS +o6ernor #aft. #he Americans through the
American +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft recommended to the ,hilippine Dommission which was sponsored by the KS to declare 5ose Rizal as a national hero for the %ilipinos. #he Americans recommended Rizal because of the fact that he was e'ecuted by the Spaniards and of his peaceful way to achie6e liberty. Knlike Andres Bonifacio whose desire to achie6e independence for his nati6e land re;uired armed approach$ #he Americans deemed this approach to independence of Andres Bonifacio to be unacceptable and may inspire other %ilipinos to rebel against American rule. #his is why 5ose Rizal was chosen o6er him as the national hero. 5ose Rizal was declared as the greatest %ilipino hero during the American colonization after the Aguinaldo led armed forces were subdued during the ,hilippine&American war. 4ecember 13 as national day of mourning +eneral 0milio Aguinaldo was the !rst one to declare 4ecember 13 as a national day of mourning in honor of Rizal and others who ha6e died !ghting the Spanish tyranny. ,en as mightier than the sword #he ,hilippine re6olution led by Andres Bonifacio was fueled by the writings of 5ose Rizal the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo which made a more lasting impression. #his is one of the best arguments of those who belie6e that Rizal is rightfully the national hero. Rizal was truly an inspiration to many %ilipinos during the Spanish period. According to the historian Rafael ,alma Rizal was more deser6ing of the national hero title. Rizal was e6en thought to ha6e suggested that Antonio )una lead the re6olutionary forces since )una has studied military science which was a brilliant idea to lessen casualties against the powerhouse Spanish militia. Rizal belie6ed that only an army that was well prepared and had enough arms would ensure 6ictory . %ounder of )a )iga %ilipina 5ose Rizal founded the )a )iga %ilipina a ci6ic organization that led to the creation of the Latipunan headed by Andres Bonifacio. #his fact may already substantiate that RizalCs title deser6ed since without the )a )iga %ilipina Andres Bonifacio and his army would ha6e been non&e'istent. 06erything started with Rizal. ,hilippine Re6olution against Spain started what was known as the %irst Republic led by 0milio Aguinaldo. %or Rizal 6iolence or armed resistance only as a last resort and considered the restoration of the peopleCs dignity as a :usti!cation means of achie6ing national liberation and self&rule. /n the other hand %ilipinos are also grateful to Andres BonifacioCs legacy his ad6ocacy to an armed re6olution. "e credit both Rizal and Bonifacio to ha6e awakened the %ilipinoCs patriotic spirit.
Reference* http*www.:oserizal.com:ose&rizal&national&hero
ENC$ GREG G6 BAPA ;,-, AMERI"AN EN9ORSEMENT
#here is no ;uestion that Rizal had the ;ualities of greatness. History
cannot deny his patriotism. He was a martyr to oppression obscurantism and bigotry. His dramatic death captured the imagination of our people. He was therefore re6ered by his countrymen and deser6ed their admiration. But we must accept that fact that his formal designation as our national hero his ele6ation to his present eminence so far abo6e all our other heroes was abetted and encouraged by the Americans. It was +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission that the %ilipinos be gi6en a national hero. 8And now gentlemen you must ha6e a national hero.9 In these faithful words addressed by then Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft to the %ilipino members of the Di6il Dommission P ,ardo de #a6era )egarda and )azuriaga P lay the genesis of Rizal day. /as ose R%1a an A&er%can&ade heroD Accord%n# to an art%ce %n the Ph%%''%ne 9a%y In+u%rer$ ose R%1a 7as *rst des%#nated a nat%ona hero 2y the re)out%onary Pres%dent E&%%o A#u%nado o! the F%rst Ph%%''%ne Re'u2%c6
Rizal is a ma:or !gure in the %ilipino national consciousness. #he suggestion that Rizal was an American&made hero comes from claims that American +o6ernor +eneral "illiam Howard #aft had initially suggested the naming of a %ilipino national hero with Rizal as the preferred candidate due to his less radical and militant leanings relati6e to other possible candidates. "hile there is e6idence for these claims they do not alter the fact that Rizal had !rst been designated a national hero by independent %ilipino authorities. A&er%can S'onsored Hero
#ranscript of an American&sponsored Hero "as 5ose Rizal an American&sponsored Hero$ %AD# X Rizal was not the leader of the ,hilippine Re6olution of 2@. Rizal has become suspect due to a manifesto addressed to the %ilipino people stating his opposition to the 6ery re6olution which made us the !rst Asians to rebel against a "estern colonial power and establish Republic. %AD#S* 2. In compulsory Rizal courses all o6er the ,hilippines students are either gi6en the usual lectures that Rizal is the greatest %ilipino the greatest -alay who e6er li6ed. F. Rizal as our national hero should be reconsidered since he is in a sense a traitor to the re6olution and he became the national hero only because of the Americans who sponsored and encouraged the Rizal cult.
1. It is true that the Americans had o6eremphasized Rizal thus pushing other heroes like Andres Bonifacio Apolinario -abini and 0milio Aguinaldo to relati6e obscurity as second&class heroes. But one thing which is not brought up is the fact that Rizal was already seen as a hero e6en before his e'ecution on 13 4ecember 2@. 2. Rizal was asked ;uestions like T4id you ha6e any part in the re6olution$T or T4id you know Andres Bonifacio$T Rizal was implicated in the re6olution he denounced simply because the password of the LLL or Latipunan happened to be TRizalT and the head;uarters and meeting places of the Latipunan had a picture of Rizal. F. Spaniards thought 5ose Rizal was behind the re6olution. 1. Andres Bonifacio made Rizal the honorary president of the Latipunan and e6en attempted to rescue him from e'ile in 4apitan so he could lead or at least inspire the %ilipinos to re6olt. 2@ 0milio Aguinaldo declared 13 4ecember to be an annual Tday of national mourningT in honor of Rizal. Rizal states that he was Tthe soul of the Re6olution.T #he 0nd *? References* 5ose Rizal* A Biographical Sketch http*www.:oserizal.phbg32.html https*wikis.engrade.comrizalamericanmadehero newspaper.in;uier.com http*www.scribd.comdoc2F@GF@13III&"as&Rizal&an&American& Sponsored&Hero
G(PIT$ MARY ZAN9RALYN A6 BAPA;,-,
#o e'empt Rizal from historical criticism is an act of disser6ice to him. RizalCs famous detractors are those who in fatuous 6eneration would make him out to be a uni6ersal hero whose teachings are 6alid for all time. "hen they try to e'tend RizalCs teachings to :ustify certain aspects of the status ;uo they are in eJect turning the hero into a defender of the establishment to lend support to their own reactionary ob:ecti6es. #hose who defend Rizal use RizalCs repudiation of the ,hilippine re6olution as an argument against those elements in our society who seeks radical change. #hey belie6e that RizalCs abandonment of his people when they decided to rise can be used to dissuade others from making common cause with the masses today. #his is the same intention the Americans had in fa6ouring Rizal as our national hero. #here is no ;uestion that Rizal had the ;ualities of greatness. History cannot deny his patriotism. He was a martyr to oppression obscurantism and bigotry. His dramatic death captured the imagination of the people. He was therefore re6ered by his countrymen and deser6ed their admiration. But we must accept that fact that his formal designation as our national hero his ele6ation to his present eminence so far abo6e all our other heroes was abetted and encouraged by the Americans. It was +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission that the %ilipinos be gi6en a national hero. 8And now gentlemen you must ha6e a national hero.9 In these faithful words addressed by then Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft to the %ilipino members of the Di6il Dommission P ,ardo de #a6era )egarda and )azuriaga P lay the genesis of Rizal day. #he genesis of Rizal 4ay was 4ecember 12 2@ when 0milio Aguinaldo declared a national day of mourning for Rizal. It was repeated e'actly a year later with commemorati6e
broadsheets distributed in RizalCs honour. #aft became the ci6il +o6ernor of the ,hilippines on 5uly 2@32 by which time Rizal 4ay was already well established in fact if not in name. #heodore %riend in his book Between #wo 0mpires says that that #aft aft with with othe otherr Amer Americ ican an colo coloni nial al oOci oOcial als s and and some some conser6ati6e %ilipinos chose him >Rizal? as a model hero o6er other contestants P Aguinaldo too militant Bonifacio too radical -abi -abini ni unr unregen egener erat ate. e. #his #his deci decisi sion on to spon sponso sorr Riza Rizall was was impl implem emen ente ted d with with the the pass passage age of the the follo followi wing ng Ac Acts ts of the the ,hilippine Dommission* >2? Act No. 21G which organized the politico&military district of -orong and named it the pro6ince of Rizal in honour of the most illustrious %ilipino %ilipino and the most illustrious #agalog #agalog the islands had e6er known >F? Act No.F1 which authorized a public subscription for the erection of a monument in honor or Rizal at the )uneta and >1? Act No. 1 which set aside the anni6ersary of his death as a day of obser6ance. #his early e'ample of American aid is summarized by +o6e +o6errnor nor ". Dame Damerron %orbe orbes s wh who o wrot wrote e in his his book book #he #he ,hilippine Islands* It is eminently proper that Rizal should ha6e become the ackn acknow owle ledg dged ed nati nation onal al hero hero of the the ,h ,hil ilip ippi pine ne peop people le.. #he #he Amer Americ ican an admi admini nist stra rati tion on has has lent lent e6er e6ery y assis assista tanc nces es to this this recognition setting aside the anni6ersary of his death to be a day of obser6 obser6anc ance e placin placing g his picture picture on the postage postage stamp stamp most commonly used in the islands and on the currency. And throu througho ghout ut the the isla island nds s the the publ public ic scho school ols s teac teach h the the youn young g %ilipinos to re6ere his memory as the greatest of %ilipino patriots. #he reason for the enthusiastic American attitude becomes clear in the following appraisal of Rizal by %orbes* 2. Riza Rizall ne6 ne6er er ad6 ad6oc ocat ated ed ind indep epen ende denc nce e nor nor did did he he ad6o ad6oca cate te armed armed resis resistan tance ce to the go6er go6ernme nment. nt. He urged urged refor reform m from from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience. F. #he publ publiic imag image e that that the the Ame America rican n desi desirred for for a %ili ilipino pino national hero was ;uite clear. #hey fa6oured a hero who would not run against the grain of American colonial policy. "e must take these acts of the Americans in furtherance of a Rizal cult in
the light of their initial policies which re;uired the passage of the Sedi Sediti tion on )aw )aw proh prohib ibit itin ing g the the disp displa lay y of the the %ilip ilipin ino o 7ag. 7ag. #he #he heroes who ad6ocated independence were therefore ignored. %or to ha6e encouraged a mo6ement to re6ere Bonifacio or -abini would not ha6e been consistent with American colonial policy. policy. 1. Se6e Se6era rall fact factor ors s cont contri ribu bute ted d to Riza RizalC lCs s accep accepta tabi bili lity ty to to the the Americans as the oOcial hero of the %ilipinos. In the !rst place he was was safe safely ly dead dead by the the time time the the Amer Americ ican an bega began n thei theirr aggress aggression ion.. No embarr embarrass assing ing anti& anti&Am Ameri erican can ;uotat ;uotation ions s could could e6er be attributed to him. -oreo6er RizalCs dramatic martyrdom had alread already y made made him the symbol symbol of Spanish Spanish oppress oppression ion.. #o focu focus s atte attent ntio ion n on him him woul would d ser6 ser6e e not not only only to conc concen entr trat ate e %ilipin ilipino o hatre hatred d agains againstt the erstwh erstwhil ile e oppre oppressor ssors s it would would also also blunt blunt their their feelin feelings gs of animos animosity ity toward toward the new con;ue con;uero rors rs against which there was still organized resistance at that time. His choice was a master stroke by the Americans. #he honours bestowed on Rizal were naturally appreciated by the %ilipinos who were proud of him. At the same time the attention la6ished on Rizal relegated other heroes to the background&heroes whose re6olutionary e'ample and anti&American pronouncements might ha6e ha6e stiJen stiJened ed %ilipin ilipino o resis resistan tance ce to the new con;ue con;uero rors. rs. #he Amer Americ icans ans espe especi cial ally ly emph emphas asiz ized ed the the fact fact that that Riza Rizall was was a reformer not a separatist. He could therefore not be in6oked on the the ;ues ;uesti tion on of ,h ,hil ilip ippi pine ne inde indepe pend nden ence ce.. He coul could d not not be a rallying point in the resistance against the in6aders. . It mus mustt also also be be rem remembe mbered that that the the %il %ilip ipin ino o mem members bers of of the ,hilip ,hilippin pine e Dommi Dommissi ssion on were were conser conser6at 6ati6 i6e e illust illustrad rados. os. #he Americans regarded Rizal as belonging to this class. #his was therefore one more point in his fa6our. Rizal belonged to the righ rightt soci social al clas class s & the the clas class s that that they they were were cult culti6 i6at atin ing g and and building up for leadership. References* https*wikis.engrade.comrizalamericanmadehero
ILAGAN$ (STIN BAPA BAPA ;,-, ;, -,
R%1a as an A&er%can Based Hero
#here are some authors that re6eals Rizal as an American American based Hero. According According to Arcilla 4r. 4r. 5ose Rizal is the ,hilippines national hero because an American go6ernor ga6e him that recognition. ,resident ,resident #aft #aft did not choose Aguinaldo because he was too militaristic= militaristic= Rizal !tted the ideal of a national leader for the %ilipinos. %ilipinos. It seems that the president used his power to force the %ilipinos %ilipinos to chose Rizal as the national hero. #hat time the president is "illiam H. #aft an American national. Also Reynato Donstantino belie6es that Rizal has been used by those who are in power or those who sel!shly protect their own interests. Some say the colonial American go6ernment has bene!ted
from neutering Rizal and making him an opponent of re6olutions. Dostantino also noted that Rizals class position his upbringing and his foreign education where profound in7uences which constituted a limitation on his understanding of his countrymen. Rizal was an illustrado hero whose lifes mission corresponded in a general way to the wishes and aspirations of the people. He died for his people yet his reputation of the re6olution was an act against the people. #here seems to be a contradiction between two acts* there us actually none. In summary the American go6ernment merely used Rizal as a mimic to their true intentions decei6ing the %ilipinos to their chosen hero. In addition to this Donstantino asserted that the Americans chose Rizal to be the national hero since they want a hero who will not go against their colonial policies >?. %urthermore he argued the possibility of simply ha6ing a need for a 8super&bayani9 if only to feed our national pride*
8-aaaring ikatuwirang nangangailangan tayo bilang isang sambayanang nakaharap sa kahihiyan ng pangalawang kolonisasyon ng isang super&bayaning magpapalki sa ating pambansang karangalan kung kayaCt pumayag tayo sa pagpili sa bayaning katanggap&tanggap sa mga bagong kolonisador. Another assertion of Donstantino is again part of the orthodo' regarding Rizal P that he became a hero 8largely
through American sponsorship.9 Donstantino ;uoted the book Between #wo 0mpires by #heodore %riend in saying that* Sa kanyang aklat Between #wo 0mpires sinabi ni #heodore %riend na pinili nina #aft kasama ng ibang mga kolonyal na opisyal na Amerikano at ilang konserbatibong ,ilipino si Rizal bilang huwarang bayaning nakahihigit sa ibang kalahok P kay Aguinaldo na masyadong militante= kay Bonifacio na masydong radikal= at kay -abini na walang buhay.9
According to Euibien It was a parado' that Rizal was being used by the American colonial regime to further the ends of the empire and was being used by the %ilipinos to e'press their patriotism and to demonstrate against the colonial regime.9 As mentioned in the aforementioned ;uotation by #heodore %riend Rizal was chosen as a hero by #aft and other Americans o6er others such as Bonifacio and -abini since Rizal could easily be the 8huwarang bayani9 or the epitome of a hero P he is educated 6ery intelligent part of the middle class and most importantly percei6ed to be anti&re6olutionary. In imposing this image of Rizal to the %ilipino people the American colonizers are 8furthering the ends of the empire9 since they imposed this image of a hero who did not resist colonialism and did not take part of the re6olution thereby implying that this is how the %ilipino people should act since this is the epitome
and the perfect e'ample of how a citizen should be. #heodore %riend said that Americans chose Rizal o6er other %ilipino heroes because of his ;ualities and characteristics. #his is the decision to sponsor Rizal was implemented with the passage of the following Acts of the ,hilippine Dommission* >2? Act No. 21G which organized the politico&military district of -orong and named it the pro6ince of Rizal in honor of the most illustrious %ilipino and the most illustrious #agalog the islands had e6er known >F? Act No.F1 which authorized a public subscription for the erection of a monument in honor or Rizal at the )uneta and >1? Act No. 1 which set aside the anni6ersary of his death as a day of obser6ance. #his early e'ample of American aid is summarized by +o6ernor ". Dameron %orbes who wrote in his book #he ,hilippine Islands* It is eminently proper that Rizal should ha6e become the acknowledged national hero of the ,hilippine people. #he American administration has lent e6ery assistance to this recognition setting aside the anni6ersary of his death to be a day of obser6ance placing his picture on the postage stamp most commonly used in the islands and on the currency . And throughout the islands the public schools teach the young %ilipinos to re6ere his memory as the greatest of %ilipino patriots.
#he reason for the enthusiastic American attitude becomes clear in the following appraisal of Rizal by %orbes* 2. Rizal ne6er ad6ocated independence nor did he ad6ocate armed resistance to the go6ernment. He urged reform from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience. F. #he public image that the American desired for a %ilipino national hero was ;uite clear. #hey fa6ored a hero who would not run against the grain of American colonial policy. "e must take these acts of the Americans in furtherance of a Rizal cult in the light of their initial policies which re;uired the passage of the Sedition )aw prohibiting the display of the %ilipino 7ag. #he heroes who ad6ocated independence were therefore ignored. %or to ha6e encouraged a mo6ement to re6ere Bonifacio or -abini would not ha6e been consistent with American colonial policy. 1. Se6eral factors contributed to Rizals acceptability to the Americans as the oOcial hero of the %ilipinos. In the !rst place he was safely dead by the time the American began their aggression. No embarrassing anti&American ;uotations could e6er be attributed to him. -oreo6er Rizals dramatic martyrdom had already made him the symbol of Spanish oppression. #o focus attention on him would ser6e not only to concentrate %ilipino hatred against the erstwhile oppressors it would also blunt their feelings of animosity toward the new con;uerors against whom there was still organized resistance at
that time. His choice was a master stroke by the Americans. #he honors bestowed on Rizal were naturally appreciated by the %ilipinos who were proud of him. At the same time the attention la6ished on Rizal relegated other heroes to the background&heroes whose re6olutionary e'ample and anti&American pronouncements might ha6e stiJened %ilipino resistance to the new con;uerors. #he Americans especially emphasized the fact that Rizal was a reformer not a separatist. He could therefore not be in6oked on the ;uestion of ,hilippine independence. He could not be a rallying point in the resistance against the in6aders. . It must also be remembered that the %ilipino members of the ,hilippine Dommission were conser6ati6e illustrados. #he Americans regarded Rizal as belonging to this class. #his was therefore one more point in his fa6or. Rizal belonged to the right social class & the class that they were culti6ating and building up for leadership.
References* https*poisedfor7ight.wordpress.comF3212F13on&:ose&rizal& as&the&national&hero https*wikis.engrade.comrizalamericanmadehero 4octor 5ose Rizal and the "riting of His Story author* 4r. -aria Stella Maldez
E8I9EN"ES THAT S(PPORT THAT RIZAL IS NOT AN AMERI"AN BASE9 HERO
"A(SAPIN$ OHN /ILBERT R6 BAPA ;,-, R%1a 7as not a A&er%can &ade hero
Rizal wasnt an American&made hero but an American&sponsored hero. It was +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission that the %ilipinos be gi6en a national hero. It was the %ilipino people themsel6es who hailed 5ose Rizal as the national hero. #he rationale for naming Rizal as the %ilipinosC national hero by the American administration was articulated by KS +o6ernor +eneral ". Dameron %orbes in his book 8#he ,hilippine Islands9 also cited by Donstantino. %orbes wrote* 8It is eminently proper that Rizal should ha6e become the acknowledged national hero of the ,hilippine people. Rizal ne6er ad6ocated independence nor did he ad6ocate armed resistance to the go6ernment. He urged reform from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience.9 But in truth it was the %ilipinos and not the Americans who !rst chose Rizal as their national hero. It was re6olutionary ,resident 0milio Aguinaldo of the %irst ,hilippine Republic not #aft and the Second ,hilippine Dommission who !rst designated Rizal as a national hero. /ne hundred and !fteen years after 5ose Rizal was e'ecuted by the Spanish colonial regime contro6ersy still rages as to whether he was a reformist or a re6olutionary. Rizal is immensely in7uential to generations of %ilipinos. How he is 6iewed can help de!ne the course of our history.
Subse;uently the KS&sponsored commission passed Act No. 1 which set the anni6ersary of RizalCs death as a 8day of obser6ance.9 Donstantino cites #heodore %riend in his book 8Between #wo 0mpires9 as saying that #aft 8with other American colonial oOcials and some conser6ati6e %ilipinos chose him >Rizal? a model hero o6er other contestants Aguinaldo too militant Bonifacio too radical -abini unregenerate. References* http*www.nhcp.go6.phinde'.php http*newsinfo.in;uirer.net2F332rizal&0F3@amboy 0F3@@&or&home&made&hero
ENRI(EZ$ 9ANELLE BAPA ;,-,
/ne hundred and !fteen years after 5ose Rizal was e'ecuted by the Spanish colonial regime contro6ersy still rages as to whether he was a reformist or a re6olutionary. Rizal is immensely in7uential to generations of %ilipinos. How he is 6iewed can help de!ne the course of our history. In his Rizal 4ay )ecture on 4ec. 13 2@@ titled 8Meneration "ithout Knderstanding9 the historian Renato Donstantino noted it was American +o6ernor +eneral "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission the naming of a national hero for %ilipinos.Subse;uently the KS&sponsored commission passed Act No. 1 which set the anni6ersary of RizalCs death as a 8day of obser6ance.9 Donstantino cites #heodore %riend in his book 8Between #wo 0mpires9 as saying that #aft 8with other American colonial oOcials and some conser6ati6e %ilipinos chose him >Rizal? a model hero o6er other contestantsUAguinaldo too militant Bonifacio too radical -abini unregenerate.9 F%%'%nos chose h%&
#he rationale for naming Rizal as the %ilipinosC national hero by the American administration was articulated by KS +o6ernor +eneral ". Dameron %orbes in his book 8#he ,hilippine Islands9 also cited by Donstantino. %orbes wrote* 8It is eminently proper that Rizal should ha6e become the acknowledged national hero of the ,hilippine people. Rizal ne6er ad6ocated independence nor did he ad6ocate armed resistance to the go6ernment. He urged reform from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience.9 But in truth it was the %ilipinos and not the Americans who !rst chose Rizal as their national hero. It was re6olutionary ,resident 0milio Aguinaldo of the %irst ,hilippine RepublicUnot #aft and the Second ,hilippine DommissionUwho !rst designated Rizal as a national hero. F%rst &onu&ent
/n 4ec. F3 2@ while the %irst ,hilippine Republic was still in control of all of the ,hilippine archipelago e'cept KS&occupied -anila Aguinaldo promulgated a decree proclaiming 4ec. 13 as a 8national
day of mourning in memory of Rizal and other 6ictims of Spanish tyranny.9 "hile not only Rizal but 8other 6ictims of Spanish tyranny9 were to be honored the fact that it was on his death anni6ersary that the celebration was to be held showed that Rizal was the center of the celebration :ust two years after his death. #he !rst oOcial obser6ance of Rizal 4ay was held on 4ec. 13 2@ in -anila. Simultaneously in rites in 4aet Damarines Sur pro6ince the !rst Rizal monument was un6eiled. #he statue which still e'ists today was erected through the 6oluntary contributions of re6olutionary leaders and nationalistic townspeople. #hereafter practically all %ilipino towns would bloom with Rizal monuments and their main streets named after Rizal as a spontaneous e'pression of our peopleCs recognition and re6erence of Rizal as their primary national idol. He was at that point generally acknowledged as the inspiration if not instigator of national independence and unity. Independence was proclaimed by %ilipinos themsel6es in Lawit Da6ite pro6ince si' months earlier on 5une 2F 2@ ending three and a half centuries of Spanish rule. #he KS then still had to consolidate its occupation of the entire archipelago. Started as re!or&%st
#rue like most re6olutionaries in world history Rizal started out as a reformist. #ogether with +raciano )opez 5aena -arcelo H. del ,ilar Antonio )una and -ariano ,once he founded in 2@@ the newspaper )a Solidaridad which became in -adrid the %ilipinosC mouthpiece in demanding reforms in SpainCs go6ernance of the ,hilippines. #he 8propagandists9 at !rst ad6ocated the ele6ation of %ilipinos from the status of sub:ects to citizens of Spain with e;ual rights. #hey asked for representation of the ,hilippines in the Spanish Dortes or ,arliament. #his by itself was re6olutionary because when a sla6e demands to be e;ual to his master it is a re6olution. But it was still short of the demand for national independence. But in history reformists ultimately morph into re6olutionaries and separatists when their demands for reform :ustice and e;uality are re:ected. #hus in their 4eclaration of Independence the KS founding fathers stressed that before taking up arms they had peaceably petitioned for reforms. Parae %)es
Rizal was among the !rst of the ,ropagandists >as the Reformists were then called? to realize that Solidaridad was not getting anywhere in its media campaign for reforms. He took a lea6e from the newspaper to de6ote his time to writing a no6el >80l %ilibusterismo9? that would more
dramatically denounce the tyranny of the Spanish regime and thus arouse the fury and ignite the latent nationalism of the %ilipinos into the con7agration of re6olution. His !rst no6el 8Noli -e #angere9 which had caused a stir and made him the 8enemy9 of Spanish colonialists depicts the futility of seeking reforms through education as such eJorts would only be frustrated and sabotaged by the go6ernment and its crafty mentors the friars. In 80l %ilibusterismo9 the heroreformist Ibarra morphs into the terroristre6olutionaryseparatist Simoun. A tight parallel could be drawn between the real life of Rizal and the !ctional life of Ibarra& turned&Simoun. -abini an erudite lawyer and scholar correctly read the real message of RizalCs no6els. In his book 8#he ,hilippine Re6olution9 -abini a -anila correspondent of the -adrid&based Solidaridad and dubbed as the 8Brains of the Re6olution9 wrote* 8Y Rizal in particular ga6e two pieces of ad6ice Y the !rst he ser6ed notice on the Spaniards that if the Spanish go6ernment in order to please the friars remained deaf to the demands of the %ilipino people the latter would ha6e recourse in desperation to 6iolent means and seek independence as relief for their sorrows= and in the second he warned the %ilipinos that if they should take up their countryCs course moti6ated by personal hatred and ambition they would far from helping it only make it suJer all the more.9 -abini cited 0lias the radical peasant of RizalCs no6els who ad6ocated independence through re6olutionary 6iolence as the model rebel leader. Preach%n# re)out%on
In his prophetic essay 8#he ,hilippines a Dentury Hence9 Rizal more e'plicitly e'pressed his stand. He warned that 8if e;uitable laws and sincere and liberal reforms9 were denied by the Spanish go6ernment 8the ,hilippines one day will declare herself ine6itably and unmistakably independent Y after staining herself and the -other Dountry with her own blood.9 In a proclamation addressed to 8/ur 4ear -other Dountry Spain9 Rizal was e6en bolder. He thundered* 8"hen a people is gagged= when its dignity honor and all its liberties are trampled= when it no longer has any recourse against the tyranny of its oppressors= when its complaints petitions and groans are not attended to Y then YQ then YQ it has left no other remedy but to take down with delirious hand from the infernal altars the bloody and suicidal dagger of re6olutionQ9 9ecarat%on o! %nde'endence
Another ma:or re6olutionary who belie6ed Rizal was preaching re6olution was Bonifacio. He was one of those present at the founding
of the )a )iga %ilipina organized by Rizal on 5uly 1 2@F a week after his return from Hong Long in spite of the warning that he might be killed or imprisoned by the Spaniards. #he constitution of the )a )iga %ilipina was in actuality a separatist document a 6irtual declaration of independence. #he purposes of the )eague of %ilipinos were* 8#o unite the whole archipelago into one compact= -utual protection in e6ery case of trouble and need= 4efense against e6ery 6iolence and in:ustice= 4e6elopment of education agriculture and commerce= Study and implementation of reforms.9 #hese purposes would be carried out by a %ilipino Supreme Douncil pro6incial councils and popular councils. In eJect Rizal was proposing a separate go6ernment. In the indictment of treason against the Spanish regime the formation of the )iga was one of the charges against him. "ithin three days after the founding of the )iga Rizal was arrested and e'iled to 4apitan. #he authorities correctly apprehended that Rizal had transgressed the bounds of reformism stepping into the dangerous grounds of re6olution. Peace!u &eans 'o%ntess
Indeed his e'ile was the blow that con6inced the followers of Rizal that seeking reforms through peaceful means was pointless. /n the night of 5uly G 2@F Bonifacio and other members of the )iga formed the Latipunan society >Lataastaasang Lagalanggalangang Latipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan? with independence through armed re6olution as its main ob:ecti6e. Rizal was made honorary chair and his name was used as a password by members of the secret society. He was if not their actual leader their spiritual leader. %our years later with the Latipunan membership ha6ing grown by leaps and bounds no doubt due in part to the general belief that Rizal was behind the mo6ement Bonifacio sent 4r. ,io Malenzuela a member of the supreme council to 4apitan to get RizalCs 8appro6al9 for the start of the uprising. #he decision to consult Rizal was made collecti6ely during a secret concla6e in bancas of 3 Latipuneros on -ay 2@ in the then remote sitio of Kgong north of the ,asig Ri6er. ,resent were Bonifacio the LLL supremo and Aguinaldo who led the re6olution successfully for a time after the assassination of Bonifacio. So the seed #ro7s
Rizal and Malenzuela con6ersed conspiratorially in a shady nook away from RizalCs house on 5une F2 2@. According to an account by Arturo 0. Malenzuela 5r. based on the memoirs of his grandfather ,io Rizal was elated by the news of the LatipunanCs e'istence and murmured
8So the seed grows9 ecstatic that the seed of re6olution he had sown was sprouting. Historian #eodoro A. Agoncillo in his book 8History of the %ilipino ,eople9 noted that Rizal in his talk with Malenzuela ga6e no ob:ection to armed re6olution but only cautioned that if an insurrection was to be staged all eJorts should be e'erted to gather suOcient arms in order to ensure success and a6oid unnecessary casualties and suJerings of ci6ilians and insurrectionists. He also suggested that Antonio )una a reformist who had studied military science in Spain be recruited as a military leader of the re6olution. 8It is ob6ious9 obser6ed Agoncillo 8that Rizal was not against re6olution itself but was only against it in the absence of preparation and arms on the part of the rebels.9 Pre&ature aunch
Indeed Bonifacio and his council took pains to implement RizalCs ad6ice contacting )una and informing him of RizalCs wish. Knfortunately )una turned down the in6itation. He later :oined the re6olutionary army in the war against the Knited States. #wo months after MalenzuelaCs meeting with Rizal on Aug. 2@ the Latipunan was betrayed to #ondo parish priest %r. -ariano +il prompting the authorities to round up suspected members of the secret society. #his forced Bonifacio to prematurely launch the uprising on Aug. FF in ,ugadlawin through the unsheathing of bolos and the tearing of cedulas >residence certi!cate?. #his turn of e6ents cut short BonifacioCs eJorts to implement RizalCs ad6ice to make full preparations before launching a re6olution. He had as a matter of fact written se6eral rich %ilipinos to support the Latipunan although many refused him and e6en threatened to e'pose the plot. If it were not for the betrayal of the LLL by the wife of one of two ;uarreling members of the Latipunan to a priest who 6iolated the sanctity of the confessional the re6olution could ha6e been launched at a more propitious time. R%1as %ntent%on
#hose who claim that Rizal was against re6olution point out that he was on his way to Duba to work as a military doctor in the Duban re6olution when the Latipunan re6olution broke out. RizalCs detractors claim he was trying to 7ee from in6ol6ement in the re6olution. In his book 84r. ,io Malenzuela and the Latipunan9 Arturo Malenzuela 5r. narrates that during the con6ersation between his grandfather ,io and Rizal the latter had felt impelled to disclose that a year earlier in
5une 2@ he had written +o6ernor +eneral Ramon Blanco applying to ser6e as a doctor in the Duban re6olution. 8-y intention9 Rizal whispered to ,io 8Yis to study the war in a practical way to go through the Duban soldiery and !nd something to remedy the bad situation in our country. #hen after a time I would return to our nati6e land when necessity arises.9 In short he was preparing himself for the re6olution. Rizal recei6ed the permission of Blanco on 5uly 13 two weeks after Malenzuela had left. Austin Doates in his e'cellent biography of Rizal said he was at !rst reluctant to lea6e. But because of the prodding of his family Rizal departed 4apitan on the steamer 0spaZa on 5uly 1. He had no knowledge that the re6olution would break out in two weeks. /n arri6al in -anila still on e'ile he was kept under ship arrest in a Spanish cruiser on -anila Bay for a month until he sailed on the Isla de ,anay for Duba. #hus he had no news of the re6olution. /n Sept. F a day oJ ,ort Said he was arrested by the shipCs captain taken to Barcelona Spain where he was incarcerated and returned to -anila on 4ec. 1. uest%oned &an%!esto
-uch is made by the detractors of Rizal of his 8-anifesto9 to the %ilipino people dated 4ec. 2 2@ while he was already imprisoned at %ort Santiago. In the 8-anifesto9 Rizal denied responsibility for the re6olution claiming he had opposed it from the 6ery beginning because he had belie6ed in its 8impossibility.9 #his was a half&truth as we ha6e seen. MalenzuelaCs recollection showed that initially Rizal was opposed to the re6olution but when told that the mo6ement could no longer be stopped he ga6e ad6ice as to how it could ha6e better chances of success. He suggested that rich %ilipinos be tapped to !nance the purchase of more arms. Besides Rizal ne6er betrayed his knowledge of the plot to the authorities making him at the 6ery least an accomplice while his positi6e ad6ice to the re6olutionaries to gather more arms made him a co&conspirator. For de!ense attorney
#he 8-anifesto9 intended for the use of his defense attorney in his trial must also be 6iewed from the circumstance of its writing. Not only did he face a death sentence Rizal must ha6e also been thinking of trying to sa6e his family from further persecution. His belo6ed brother ,aciano had already been tortured almost to death in %ort Santiago by the authorities in a 6ain attempt to make him implicate Rizal. -ore important to him than his life was the safety and security of his family. #his made him return to the ,hilippines in 5uly 2@F despite his foreboding that he would lose his life in the process.
Any document signed under such circumstances must lack credibility or 6eracity. In fact the Spanish go6ernment ne6er released it not belie6ing in its truthfulness. Instead the go6ernment con6icted him of treason for ad6ocating independence and of sedition for inciting an armed re6olution. Haunt%n# 'oe&
RizalCs real feelings about the re6olution and its separatist aim can more truly be gleaned from his haunting poem 8-y )ast %arewell9 which was written by him :ust hours before his e'ecution and intended only for the eyes of his countrymen and not for his :udges. In that !nal epic poem he de6oted a paean of praise for the re6olutionaries. After gladly oering his life to his country in the rst stanza—“had it been a life more brilliant, more ne, more fullled, even so it is to you, I would have given it, willingly to you”—he wrote: thers are giving you their lives on elds of battle, !ighting "oyfully without hesitation or thought for the #onse$uence, %ow it ta&es 'lace is not im'ortant( #y'ress, laurel or lily, )caold or battleeld, in combat or cruel martyrdom, It is the same when what is as&ed of you is for your country And your home(
>#ranslation from Spanish by Austin Doates author of 8Rizal* %ilipino Nationalist and -artyr.9? Icon o! a
Rizal is an icon and a martyr for independence and freedom not :ust of %ilipinos but of all the oppressed peoples in history who ha6e hungered struggled and fought for liberty dignity enlightenment and social and economic :ustice. He richly deser6es the highest berth in our pantheon of heroes. All other nationalist %ilipino heroes stand proud beside him. #here is no need to pit our heroes against each other for they stand e;ually on the hallowed ground of patriotism and nationalism. *+he author is a veteran "ournalist, former editor of the hili''ine -ra'hic and of the defunct hili''ine .ews )ervice, which was closed by the /arcos dictatorshi', and a 'olitical detainee under martial law( %e is also s'o&es'erson of the /ovement for +ruth in %istory, with e0 mail address at mfalmario1yahoo(com(2
Reference*
http*newsinfo.in;uirer.net2F332rizal&eF3@amboy eF3@@&or&home&made&hero[i'zz1md3bMa
GAR"IA$ MARINELLA 96 BAPA ;,-,
8Rizal is the greatest product of the ,hilippines and his coming to the world was like the appearance of a rare comet whose rare brilliance appears only e6ery other century.9 U ,rofessor %erdinand Blumentritt= Rector of the Imperial Atheneum of )eitmeritz Incredibly strong words to depict the pride of the -alayan race the ,hilippine National hero P5ose Rizal. #oday marks the 2Fnd birth anni6ersary of the foremost inspiration of the ,hilippine nationalist and reformist mo6ement during the Spanish colonial period.
His death was considered a mark of a new chapter in the ,hilippine history. His works has inspired countless of %ilipinos in their !ght against sla6ery despotism and oppression from the Spaniards. 5ose Rizal U an admirable leader that used his words to kindle the 7aming thirst for freedom of the %ilipino people. A hero worth emulating and his legacy will continue to li6e in the heart of e6ery %ilipino who now en:oys their freedom. 5ose Rizal was a man of incredible intellectual power with amazing artistic talent as well. He e'celled at anything that he put his mind to & medicine poetry sketching architecture sociology... the list seems nearly endless. #hus Rizals martyrdom by the Spanish colonial authorities while he was still ;uite young was a huge loss to the ,hilippines and to the world at large. #oday the people of the ,hilippines honor him as their national hero. 0arly )ife* /n 5une 2@ 22 %rancisco Rizal -ercado and #eodora Alonzo y Euintos welcomed their se6enth child into the world at Dalamba )aguna. #hey named the boy 5ose ,rotasio Rizal -ercado y Alonso Realonda. #he -ercado family were wealthy farmers who rented land from the 4ominican religious order. 4escendants of a Dhinese immigrant named 4omingo )am&co they changed their name to -ercado >TmarketT? under the pressure of anti&Dhinese feeling amongst the Spa nish colonizers. %rom an early age 5ose Rizal -ercado showed a precocious intellect. He learned the alphabet from his mother at 1 and could read and write at age . 0ducation* 5ose Rizal -ercado attended the Ateneo -unicipal de -anila graduating at the age of 2 with highest honors. He took a post& graduate course there in land sur6eying. Rizal -ercado completed his sur6eyors training in 2GG and passed the licensing e'am in -ay 2G but could not recei6e a license to practice because he was only 2G years old. >He was granted a license in 22 when he reached the age of ma:ority.? In 2G the young man also enrolled in the Kni6ersity of Santo #omas as a medical student. He later ;uit the school alleging discrimination against %ilipino students by the 4ominican professors. Rizal +oes to -adrid*
In -ay of 2F 5ose Rizal got on a ship to Spain without informing his parents of his intentions. He enrolled at the Kni6ersidad Dentral de -adrid. In 5une of 2 he recei6ed his medical degree at the age of F1= the following year he also graduated from the ,hilosophy and )etters department. Inspired by his mothers ad6ancing blindness Rizal ne't went to the Kni6ersity of ,aris and then the Kni6ersity of Heidelberg to complete further study in the !eld of ophthalmology. At Heidelberg he studied under the famed professor /tto Becker. Rizal !nished his second doctorate at Heidelberg in 2G. Rizals )ife in 0urope* 5ose Rizal li6ed in 0urope for 23 years. 4uring that time he picked up a number of languages= in fact he could con6erse in more than 23 diJerent tongues. "hile in 0urope the young %ilipino impressed e6eryone who met him with his charm his intelligence and his mastery of an incredible range of diJerent !elds of study. Rizal e'celled at martial arts fencing sculpture painting teaching anthropology and :ournalism among other things. 4uring his 0uropean so:ourn he also began to write no6els. Rizal !nished his !rst book Noli -e #angere while li6ing in "ilhemsfeld with the Re6erend Larl Kllmer. No6els and /ther "orks* Rizal wrote Noli -e #angere in Spanish= it was published in 2G in Berlin. #he no6el is a scathing indictment of the Datholic Dhurch and Spanish colonial rule in the ,hilippines. #his book cemented 5ose Rizal on the Spanish colonial go6ernments list of troublemakers. "hen Rizal returned home for a 6isit he recei6ed a summons from the +o6ernor +eneral and had to defend himself from charges of disseminating sub6ersi6e ideas. Although the Spanish go6ernor accepted Rizals e'planations the Datholic Dhurch was less willing to forgi6e. In 2@2 Rizal published a se;uel titled 0l %ilibusterismo. ,rogram of Reforms* Both in his no6els and in newspaper editorials 5ose Rizal called for a number of reforms of the Spanish colonial system in the ,hilippines. He ad6ocated freedom of speech and assembly e;ual rights before the law for %ilipinos and %ilipino priests in place of the often&corrupt Spanish churchmen. In addition Rizal called for the ,hilippines to become a pro6ince within Spain with representation in the Spanish legislature >the Dortes +enerales?. Rizal ne6er called for independence for the ,hilippines. Nonetheless the colonial go6ernment considered him a dangerous radical and declared him an enemy of the state.
0'ile and Dourtship* In 2@F Rizal returned to the ,hilippines. He was almost immediately accused of being in6ol6ed in the brewing rebellion and was e'iled to 4apitan on the island of -indanao. Rizal would stay there for four years teaching school and encouraging agricultural reforms. 4uring that same period the people of the ,hilippines grew more eager to re6olt against the Spanish colonial presence. Inspired in part by Rizals organization )a )iga rebel leaders like Andres Bonifacio began to press for military action against the Spanish regime. In 4apitan Rizal met and fell in lo6e with 5osephine Bracken who brought her stepfather to him for a cataract operation. #he couple applied for a marriage license but were denied by the Dhurch >which had e'communicated Rizal?. #rial and 0'ecution* #he ,hilippine Re6olution broke out in 2@. Rizal denounced the 6iolence and recei6ed permission to tra6el to Duba in order to tend 6ictims of yellow fe6er in e'change for his freedom. Bonifacio and two associates sneaked aboard the ship to Duba before it left the ,hilippines trying to con6ince Rizal to escape with them but Rizal refused. He was arrested by the Spanish on the way taken to Barcelona and then e'tradited to -anila for trial. 5ose Rizal was tried by court martial charged with conspiracy sedition and rebellion. 4espite a lack of any e6idence of his complicity in the Re6olution Rizal was con6icted on all counts and gi6en the death sentence. He was allowed to marry 5osephine two hours before his e'ecution by !ring s;uad on 4ecember 13 2@. 5ose Rizal was :ust 1 years old. 5ose Rizals )egacy* 5ose Rizal is remembered today throughout the ,hilippines for his brilliance his courage his peaceful resistance to tyranny and his compassion. %ilipino school children study his !nal literary work a poem called -i Kltimo Adios >T-y )ast +oodbyeT? as well as his two famous no6els. Spurred on by Rizals martyrdom the ,hilippine Re6olution continued until 2@. "ith assistance from the Knited States the ,hilippine archipelago was able to defeat the Spanish army. #he ,hilippines declared its independence from Spain on 5une 2F 2@. It was the !rst democratic republic in Asia. http*asianhistory.about.comodpro!lesofasianleadersp:oserizalbio.ht m #ranscript of "hy did Rizal become the ,hilippine National hero$
/hy d%d R%1a 2eco&e the Ph%%''%ne Nat%ona heroD
%irst of all we should clarify the meaning if a hero to make it ;uite simple to understand how Rizal became a hero. A hero symbolizes goodness. 5ose Rizal became the National hero because he fought from freedom in a silent but powerful way. He e'pressed his lo6e for the ,hilippines through his no6els essays articles and poems rather than a force of aggression. He was a 6ery amazing person at his time. He was humble!ghting for reforms through his writings instead of through a re6olution. He used his intelligence talents and skills in a for more peaceful way. Rizal became a National Hero because he passed the criteria during the American period* 2. He must be %ilipino. F. He is already dead. 1. He displayed unconditional lo6e for his country. . He was a low temper. . He had died dramatically. 5ose Rizal became a national hero of the ,hilippines as a reformist who ad6ocated peacefully for liberty rather than 6iolent means. He was forerunner of +andhi and along with Sum at Sen and #agone the thought climate will change throughout Asia. His work and the work of others led to the attrition of colonialism. /ho Made R%1a Our Fore&ost Nat%ona HeroD
4r. 5ose Rizal -ercado y Alonso or simply 5ose Rizal >22&2@? is the greatest hero < martyr of our nation. #he day of his birth < the day of his e'ecution are !ttingly commemorated by all classes of our people throughout the length < breadth of this country < e6en by %ilipinos < their friends abroad. His name is a byword in e6ery %ilipino home while his picture adorns the postage stamp < paper money of widest circulation. As the biographer Rafael ,alma said T#he doctrines of Rizal are not for one epoch but for all epochs. #hey are as 6alid today as they were yesterday. #his signi!es the immortality of RizalCs life works and genuine character. And as our belo6ed countryCs National Hero 4r. 5ose Rizal will be remembered fore6er. Howe6er there are still some %ilipinos who entertain the belief that Rizal is a Tmade&to&orderT national hero >one that personi!es what we want to see in a person or in a hero for this matter? < that the maker or manufacturer in this case were the Americans particularly Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft. And lastly we repeat the ;uestion T"ho made Rizal the foremost hero of the ,hilippines$T
#he answer is* No single person or organization can be held responsible for making 4r. 5ose Rizal our national hero. Rizal himself his own people and the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero and martyr of his people. #his is because= 4r. 5ose Rizal didnCt become our National Hero by way of traditional election. #he fruits of his e'ceptional dedication and con6iction to his lifeCs purpose are seen in our e6eryday li6es. If he hadnCt and among other note&worthy heroes of our history fought for our well&deser6ed freedom maybe weCll still be in the hands of our un:ust captors. His 8e'cellent ;ualities and merits9 made him /ur %oremost National Hero. R%1as e#acy !or the 4,st century: Pro#ress%)e Educat%on$ Soc%a Entre'reneursh%'$ and "o&&un%ty 9e)eo'&ent6 Pro#ress%)e Educat%on
#he progressi6e school mo6ement deconstructed the taken&for& gratnted idea that the school is an encla6e where the student learns !rst and then later after graduation gets a :ob and hopefully becomes a producti6e member of the community. Against this notion it ad6ocated and practiced the principle that the school is an integral working and promoting the well&being of the community all at the same time. Rizals school in #alisay may be 6iewed as one such Teducational webT. Soc%a Entre'reneursh%'
Rizal formed 4apitans !rst farmers cooperati6e the Sociedad de Agriculturos 4apitanos >SA4? whee capital was to be pro6ided by Sociosindustriales >Industrial ,artners? and Socio Accionistas >Share Holders?. 5anuary 2 2@ the cooperati6e aimed to impro6epromote agricultural products obtain their pro!ts for them pro6ide capital for the purchase of these goods and help to the e'tent possible the har6esters and laborers by means of a store where articles of basic necessity are sold at moderate prices. "o&&un%ty 9e)eo'&ent
Rizal de6eloped 4apitans !rst park complete with street lamps and a garden7ower relief map o the whole island of -indanao. he built a one&doctor hospital and paid his own money for the medical supplies and instruments. ,eople of 4apitan are not charged of any consultation. A 0nglish man who came for consultation was charged 33 duros for the e'traction of his cataract. #he money was donated to 4apitan for the public lighting which they didnt ha6e. /hy ose R%1a %s the Ph%%''%ne Nat%ona Hero
#his coming 5une 2@ marks the ses;uiscentennial year of the birth of 4r. 5ose ,. Rizal. 06ents highlighting the 23th year of his birthday ha6e been going on earlier this year and there are more to come as part of the continuing celebration of the ,hilippine National HeroCs legacy to our social and political heritage. #he great part of 4r. RizalCs rele6ance to the li6es of %ilipinos is ironically the fact that the social problems that our hero had fought for in his lifetime are tragically still plaguing our homeland today. #he 6iolation of human rights the ini;uity between the ruling class and the ma:ority of the masses the medie6al practice of the Dhristian faith the corruption in the go6ernment and its bureaucracy and those controlling economic production are :ust as bad now if not worse more than 22 years after 4r. Rizal had sacri!ced his life for his country. "e owe it to oursel6es as %ilipinos to re6isit the writings of 4r. Rizal and try to gain an understanding of his ideals and hope for the ,hilippines. 4r. Rizal is a great gift of +od to us if we are to see it in a Dhristian perspecti6e. But 4r. Rizal may be like a precious gift left unopened in the closet of our lackadaisical minds. ,articipating in the e6ents being held this year is a good way to open our hearts and minds to the dreams of Rizal for a progressi6e and enlightened %ilipino nation. Reading and understanding his works will
be another way for us to reach the goal of a truly free and independent ,hilippines. -eanwhile here is a reprinted portion of an article on 4r. Rizal that will start us on our :ourney to know more about our National Hero. U /hy R%1a %s the Nat%ona Hero
In 5une 2@F Rizal left two sealed letters with a ,ortuguese friend 8to be opened and published after my death.9 In these letters Rizal e'plained to his family and his countrymen that he was returning to the ,hilippines to show by e'ample that %ilipinos knew how to die for principles. #his is the letter he wanted us to read a letter that will illustrate to anti&Rizal ad6ocates why Rizal is our national hero* #he step that I ha6e taken or am about to take is undoubtedly 6ery risky and it is unnecessary to say that I ha6e pondered on it a great deal. I know that e6eryone is opposed to it but I realize also that no one knows what goes on in my heart. I cannot li6e knowing that many are suJering un:ust persecution because of me= I cannot li6e seeing my brothers \hermanos] and their large families persecuted like criminals. I prefer to face death and gladly gi6e my life to free so many innocent persons from this un:ust persecution. I know that at present the future of my country gra6itates in part around me= that with my death many would re:oice and that conse;uently many are longing for my end. But what am I to do$ I ha6e duties of conscience abo6e all else= I ha6e moral obligations toward the families who suJer toward my aged parents whose sights pierce my heart= I know that I alone e6en my death can make them happy by returning them to their country and the tran;uility of their home. -y parents are all that I ha6e but my country has many sons still who can take it to ad6antage. -oreo6er I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duty and for our con6ictions. "hat matters death if one dies for what one lo6es for oneCs country and for those whom he lo6es$ If I know that I were the only pillar of ,hilippine politics and if I were con6inced that my country men were going to make use of my ser6ices perhaps I would hesitate to take this step but there are still others who can take my place who can take my place to ad6antage. %urthermore there are those who !nd me super7uous and in no need of my ser6ices thus they reduce me to inaction. I ha6e always lo6ed my poor country and I am sure that I shall lo6e her until my last moment. ,erhaps some people will be un:ust to me* well my future my life my :oys e6erything I ha6e sacri!ced for lo6e of
her. "hate6er my fate may be I shall die blessing my country and wishing her the dawn of her redemption. >/riginally published in #he ,hilippine 4aily In;uirer 2F12@? ^ /HAT IS A NATIONAL HEROD
/n our national heroCs 23 birth anni6ersary I am forced to rethink my answer to this ;uestion once more. In the not so distant past there has been a lot of ;uestion as to why 4r. 5ose Rizal is the countryCs national hero. Renato Donstantino argues that he is an American&sponsored hero= that Rizal symbolized non&6iolence and peaceful ad6ancement of reforms traits that the American occupiers wanted for %ilipinos to adopt and thus pre6ent further re6olts against their hegemony. /thers ha6e hailed Andres Bonifacio as the 8true9 national hero for organizing the !rst ,hilippine go6ernment and leading the !rst anti&colonial re6olution in Asia. #he Retraction Dontro6ersy has also placed doubts on RizalCs nationalism and his anti&clerical stance. #he ;uestions stem from the fact that our usual notion of a national hero is someone who is courageous strong able&bodied and leads a military force into war against a colonialimperial power U people such as +eorge "ashington Simon Boli6ar or Sun at Sen. Apparently machismo is still in the psyche most %ilipinos. #his notion has to change in our time when e6en the smallest deeds of self&sacri!ce can be considered heroism. In my opinion for one to be a hero one must sacri!ce himherself for the liberation its people or as an impetus of such liberation. Andres Bonifacio and 0milio Aguinaldo falls under this category both ha6ing courageously fought the Spaniards in the battle!eld. Howe6er Andres Bonifacio ne6er won any of his battles and usually goes oJ to sa6e himself once his forces are routed. He really sees it important that peopleCs leader remains ali6e at the end of the battle rather than sacri!ce life and limb. #he same way with 0milio Aguinaldo who instead of facing the Americans in the battle!eld has decided to elude them until his arrest in ,alanan and subse;uent pledge of allegiance to the Knited States. 4r. 5ose Rizal is perhaps the epitome of such self&sacri!ce though. He sacri!ces his lo6e life and a ;uiet life to gather knowledge around the world that would be helpful in the struggle for reforms in the country. He translates famous literary works into %ilipino for his countrymen to see >such as works by Hans Dhristian Andersen and Schiller? and labors to ensure a fair perspecti6e about his country abroad >such as annotating -orgaCs Sucesos de las Islas %ilipinas?. He uses his own fortune time and eJort to care for his countrymen as he did when he opened his clinic in Hong Long or in 4apitan. He enlightens his people about their status in society by writing the Noli and the %ili. His ultimate sacri!ce perhaps is when he refuses to be sa6ed by BonifacioCs re6olution and instead gi6es his own life at e'ecution so
that the re6olution can ha6e the ultimate inspiration. Both Bonifacio and Aguinaldo recognized his sacri!ces by re6ering him as the re6olutionCs inspiration. Aguinaldo was !rst to declare him national hero in 2@ e6en before the Americans 8sponsored9 it. RizalCs self&sacri!ce has been modeled throughout history by other heroes such as -anuel ). Euezon >who sacri!ced time money and eJort for the establishment of the Dommonwealth? 5ose ,. )aurel >who sacri!ced reputation to collaborate with the enemy and sa6e more %ilipinos from the 5apanese? Ninoy A;uino >who sacri!ced his life at assassination so that the ,eople ,ower Re6olution could push through? and 0fren ,eZa7orida >who sacri!ced time money and eJort to teach the street children of Da6ite?. In the end there is no doubt that Rizal is the !rst to en6ision himself and his country as a nation of %ilipinos and to uphold its liberty from the occupiers. At his 23th birth anni6ersary 4r. 5ose Rizal will remain as the heart of the ,hilippine re6olution and the ,hilippine national hero. A leader a hero and a %ilipino* Rizal who has in7uenced me .....
#he following post are words from my re7ection paper that I ha6e made for my Rizal sub:ect. I !nd the article so beautiful and pure that I decided to post it in this blog. I also posted this in tribute for the Rizal 4ay which is fast approaching on 4ecember 13th. 0n:oyQ A leader a hero and a %ilipino* Rizal who has in7uenced me In this life there are moments where we ponder into the horizon. #hinking of a life which we 6iew as acceptable for our own. #o li6e a life that is understood as Ta life worth li6ing.T In these instances a life of a leader is displayed with trials hardships and successes. #heir li6es arent that of people who li6es their life to the fullest. #hey are people who use their 6ery e'istence for the ser6ice of others. #hey are the guiding light that people look up to. #hey help us go through with our li6es and make it easier for us. #hey gi6e us the direction in a turbulent life when the tough gets tougher and when hope is seemingly depri6ed of us. #hese are leaders people who sacri!ces
themsel6es to continuously help others in achie6ing a common goal. #he leader that I admire the most is our national hero 4r. 5os_ Rizal. Born 4r. 5os_ ,rotasio Rizal -ercado y Alonso Realonda is a martyr of the ,hilippine Re6olution. He was the founder of the ci6ic organization T)a liga %ilipinaT which inspired the re6olution of the katipunan including heroes Andres Bonifacio and 0milio Aguinaldo. He may not be a warrior in the times of Spanish colonization but he showed his lo6e for our country in a non 6iolent approach. He protested against the Spanish crown in the pursuit of e;uality and peace. He inspired the people to li6e up to themsel6es and gi6e them a sense of self& respect thus gi6ing them hope for a brighter future. #hese attributes are enough for me to rate him as a leader and more importantly a hero. 4r. 5os_ Rizals remarkable characteristics or intelligences amazes me and inspires me to follow his footsteps in helping him attain his dream e6en in this century. )ike Rizal I wish to be an inspiration to others in helping people realize their dreams by continuously making people belie6e in themsel6es. Rizal is 6ery admirable with his linguistic skills this also inspired me to work more on my speech writing foreign language speaking and translating. Rizal is a well&known phycist and following his path he has also played an important role in my life in choosing the medical profession. Rizal to me is a person that I think is worth emulating for he has found its way not only into the hearts of all %ilipinos but especially to the entire world. His insights of life has in7uenced me greatly in terms of how I 6iew life. He is a person with tremendous dedication to his work. He is a treasure of the ,hilippine islands and most of his works are re6ered until this 6ery age. He is a clear representation of a true %ilipino. Similar to our day and age like Rizal most %ilipinos ha6e bloodlines of foreign heritage. 4r. 5os_ Rizal is a true representation of not only a leader but a hero. I am proud to ha6e 4r. 5os_ Rizal as a part of our great ,hilippine Heroes. As a person 5ose Rizal will remain as an e'ample of what a %ilipino is all about and that is being optimistic hospitable proud and most importantly +od&fearing. #ri6ia* Rizal day is marked on the 13th of 4ecember in tribute to the great %ilipino hero. Rizal 4ay and my birth date are both coinciding on the same date. References* http*www.clarkisit.com:ose&rizal&true&great&hero
https*prezi.commltalredsiwhy&did&rizal&become&the& philippine&national& hero http*pinoynewsmagazine.comF3223why&:ose&rizal&is&the& philippine&national&hero http*de!nitely!lipino.comblogF3223rizal&what&made&him& our&hero http*rush:oe.blogspot.comF3232Fleader&hero&and&!lipino& rizal&who&has.html GELENA$ (EN"ESS CATES$ M6 BAPA;,-,
8Rizal is the greatest product of the ,hilippines and his coming to the world was like the appearance of a rare comet whose rare brilliance appears only e6ery other century.9 U ,rofessor %erdinand Blumentritt= Rector of the Imperial Atheneum of )eitmeritz Incredibly strong words to depict the pride of the -alayan race the ,hilippine National hero P5ose Rizal. #oday marks the 2Fnd birth anni6ersary of the foremost inspiration of the ,hilippine nationalist and reformist mo6ement during the Spanish colonial period.
His death was considered a mark of a new chapter in the ,hilippine history. His works has inspired countless of %ilipinos in their !ght against sla6ery despotism and oppression from the Spaniards. 5ose Rizal U an admirable leader that used his words to kindle the 7aming thirst for freedom of the %ilipino people. A hero worth emulating and his legacy will continue to li6e in the heart of e6ery %ilipino who now en:oys their freedom. In 5une 2@F Rizal left two sealed letters with a ,ortuguese friend 8to be opened and published after my death.9 In these letters Rizal e'plained to his family and his countrymen that he was returning to the ,hilippines to show by e'ample that %ilipinos knew how to die for principles. #his is the letter he wanted us to read a letter that will illustrate to anti&Rizal ad6ocates why Rizal is our national hero*
#he step that I ha6e taken or am about to take is undoubtedly 6ery risky and it is unnecessary to say that I ha6e pondered on it a great deal. I know that e6eryone is opposed to it but I realize also that no one knows what goes on in my heart. I cannot li6e knowing that many are suJering un:ust persecution because of me= I cannot li6e seeing my brothers \hermanos] and their large families persecuted like criminals. I prefer to face death and gladly gi6e my life to free so many innocent persons from this un:ust persecution. I know that at present the future of my country gra6itates in part around me= that with my death many would re:oice and that conse;uently many are longing for my end. But what am I to do$ I ha6e duties of conscience abo6e all else= I ha6e moral obligations toward the families who suJer toward my aged parents whose sights pierce my heart= I know that I alone e6en my death can make them happy by returning them to their country and the tran;uility of their home. -y parents are all that I ha6e but my country has many sons still who can take it to ad6antage. -oreo6er I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duty and for our con6ictions. "hat matters death if one dies for what one lo6es for oneCs country and for those whom he lo6es$ If I know that I were the only pillar of ,hilippine politics and if I were con6inced that my country men were going to make use of my ser6ices perhaps I would hesitate to take this step but there are still others who can take my place who can take my place to ad6antage. %urthermore there are those who !nd me super7uous and in no need of my ser6ices thus they reduce me to inaction. I ha6e always lo6ed my poor country and I am sure that I shall lo6e her until my last moment. ,erhaps some people will be un:ust to me* well my future my life my :oys e6erything I ha6e sacri!ced for lo6e of her. "hate6er my fate may be I shall die blessing my country and wishing her the dawn of her redemption Transcr%'t o! /hy d%d R%1a 2eco&e the Ph%%''%ne Nat%ona heroD /hy d%d R%1a 2eco&e the Ph%%''%ne Nat%ona heroD
%irst of all we should clarify the meaning if a hero to make it ;uite simple to understand how Rizal became a hero. A hero symbolizes goodness. 5ose Rizal became the National hero because he fought from freedom in a silent but powerful way. He e'pressed his lo6e for the ,hilippines through his no6els essays articles and poems rather than a force of aggression. He was a 6ery amazing person at his time. He was humble!ghting for reforms through his writings instead of
through a re6olution. He used his intelligence talents and skills in a for more peaceful way. Rizal became a National Hero because he passed the criteria during the American period* 2. He must be %ilipino. F. He is already dead. 1. He displayed unconditional lo6e for his country. . He was a low temper. . He had died dramatically. 5ose Rizal became a national hero of the ,hilippines as a reformist who ad6ocated peacefully for liberty rather than 6iolent means. He was forerunner of +andhi and along with Sum at Sen and #agone the thought climate will change throughout Asia. His work and the work of others led to the attrition of colonialism. References* http*www.clarkisit.com:ose&rizal&true&great&hero http*pinoynewsmagazine.comF3223why&:ose&rizal&is&the& philippine&national&hero https*prezi.commltalredsiwhy&did&rizal&become&the& philippine&national&hero
HARINA$ BRYAN H6 BAPA ;,-,
#he new "ebsterCs International dictionary of the 0nglish language de!nes a hero as 8a prominent or central personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or e6ent. A hero is a person of distinguished 6alor or fortitude in suJering.9 He is also 8a man
honored after death by public outpouring of respect to glorify his e'ceptional ser6ice to mankind. Rizal is our national hero because he was a towering !gure in the propaganda campaign from 2F to 2@.His writings works and ideals contributed tremendously to formation of %ilipino national identity. #he doctrines of Rizal are not for one epoch but for all epochs. #hey are as 6alid as they were yesterday. ,erhaps it is high time to stop maligning his memory and making students belie6e that he was an American Panointed national hero. Indeed 5ose Rizal is our national hero because 8 of his complete self denial his complete abandonment of his personal interests in order to think only of his country and people. 4r. 5ose Rizal the greatest hero of the ,hilippines was many splendored genius. He was richly endowed by +od with super intellectual moral and physical ;ualities. #ruly he ranks with the worldCs geniuses. He was an anthropologist botanist businessmen cartographer dramatist economist farmer folklorist geographer grammarian historian horticulturist humorist le'icographer linguist musician no6elist painter physician poet philologist philosopher polemist psychologist satirist sculptor sportsman sociologist sur6eyor tra6eler and zoologist. -ore than all these he was a patriot hero and martyr. Knlike many geniuses he consecrated his +od&gi6en talents and e6en scari!ed his own life for the redemption and welfare of his people. Merily a man of his heroism and 6ersatility appears but once in the history of any nation. He was the man who single&handily awakened the ,hilippine people to national and political consciousness an e'traordinary achie6ement. Rizal is the most highly documented life in Asian of the nineteenth century perhaps of any Asian e6er. #he %ilipino people determined to merit a place in the family of free and democratic nations ha6e great need of a safe and sound philosophy to guide them in their progress to their allotted destiny. Rizal who incarnated in ser6iceable and positi6e life. He was steeped in history and he had a clear 6ision of the future of his country Rizal was neither separatist nor a re6olutionary but ad6ocated culture and education for the %ilipinos in order for them to win e;ual rights with Spaniards. Retana in writing the biography wanted to pro6e that Rizal was ne6er a separatist that he wanted the ,hilippines to be digni!ed under the regime of political autonomy he aspired for ci6il freedoms for the ,hilippines but balways as SpainCs colony for he saw independence as the rational culmination of a process of political
moral and cultural preparation that the %ilipinos had to recei6e under SpainCs tutelage. References* Rizal His )ife and "orks Book
ARLOS$ MARC AN9RIAN T6
BAPA ;,-, ose R%1a : A&er%can 2ased hero or notJ
5ose Rizal is an American based hero. Because in 2@32 the American +o6ernor +eneral "illiam Howard #aft suggested that the K.S. sponsored ,hilippine Dommission name Rizal a national hero for %ilipinos. 5ose Rizal was an ideal candidate fa6orable to the American occupiers since he was dead and non&6iolent a fa6orable ;uality which if emulated by %ilipinos would not threaten the American rule o r change the status ;uo of the occupiers of ,hilippine islands. Rizal did not ad6ocate freedom for ,hilippines either. Subse;uently the KS& sponsored commission passed Act No. 1 which set the anni6ersary of RizalCs death as a 8day of obser6ance.9 Renato Donstantino writes Rizal is a TKnited States&sponsored heroT who was promoted as the greatest %ilipino hero during the American colonial period of the ,hilippines P after Aguinaldo lost the ,hilippineP American "ar. #he Knited States promoted Rizal who represented peaceful political ad6ocacy >in fact repudiation of 6iolent means in general? instead of more radical !gures whose ideas could inspire resistance against American rule. Rizal was selected o6er Andr_s Bonifacio who was 6iewed Ttoo radicalT and Apolinario -abini who was considered Tunregenerate.T AMERI"AN EN9ORSEMENT
#here is no ;uestion that Rizal had the ;ualities of greatness. History cannot deny his patriotism. He was a martyr to oppression obscurantism and bigotry. His dramatic death captured the imagination of the people. He was therefore re6ered by his countrymen and deser6ed their admiration. But we must accept that fact that his formal designation as our national hero his ele6ation to his present eminence so far abo6e all our other heroes was abetted and encouraged by the Americans. It was +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft who in 2@32 suggested to the ,hilippine Dommission that the %ilipinos be gi6en a nationalhero. 8And now gentlemen you must ha6e a national hero.9 In these faithful words addressed by then Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft to the %ilipino members of the Di6il Dommission P ,ardo de #a6era )egarda and )azuriaga P lay the genesis of Rizal day.
AMERI"AN MOTI8ES
#he reason for the enthusiastic American attitude becomes clear in the following appraisal of Rizal by %orbes* ,6 Rizal ne6er ad6ocated independence nor did he ad6ocate armed resistance to the go6ernment. He urged reform from within by publicity by public education and appeal to the public conscience. 46 #he public image that the American desired for a %ilipino
national hero was ;uite clear. #hey fa6ored a hero who would not run against the grain of American colonial policy. "e must take these acts of the Americans in furtherance of a Rizal cult in the light of their initial policies which re;uired the passage of the Sedition )aw prohibiting the display of the %ilipino 7ag. #he heroes who ad6ocated independence were therefore ignored. %or to ha6e encouraged a mo6ement to re6ere Bonifacio or -abini would not ha6e been consistent with American colonial policy. ;6 Se6eral factors contributed to Rizals acceptability to the
Americans as the oOcial hero of the %ilipinos. In the !rst place he was safely dead by the time the American began their aggression. No embarrassing anti&American ;uotations could e6er be attributed to him. -oreo6er Rizals dramatic martyrdom had already made him the symbol of Spanish oppression. #o focus attention on him would ser6e not only to concentrate %ilipino hatred against the erstwhile oppressors it would also blunt their feelings of animosity toward the new con;uerors against whom there was still organized resistance at that time. His choice was a master stroke by the Americans. #he honors bestowed on Rizal were naturally appreciated by the %ilipinos who were proud of him. At the same time the attention la6ished on Rizal relegated other heroes to the background&heroes whose re6olutionary e'ample and anti&American pronouncements might ha6e stiJened %ilipino resistance to the new con;uerors. #he Americans especially emphasized the fact that Rizal was a reformer not a separatist. He could therefore not be in6oked on the ;uestion of ,hilippine independence. He could not be a
rallying
point
in
the
resistance
against
the
in6aders.
.6 It must also be remembered that the %ilipino members of the
,hilippine Dommission were conser6ati6e illustrados. #he Americans regarded Rizal as belonging to this class. #his was therefore one more point in his fa6or. Rizal belonged to the right social class & the class that they were culti6ating and building up for leadership. T7o &%nor the&es ha)e 2een 'ut !or7ard 2y R%1as &ade%nthe Ph%%''%nes cr%t%cs: ,6 RizalCs becoming the national hero was the result of American
sponsorship 46 RizalCs patriotic works including his two no6els re7ected his mestizo or ilustrado background and were taken precisely to protect the interests of the ilustrado class.
L("ERO$ APRIL OY"E A6 BAPA;,-,
"ho -ade Rizal /ur %oremost National Hero$ 4r. 5ose Rizal -ercado y Alonso or simply 5ose Rizal >22&2@? is the greatest hero < martyr of our nation. #he day of his birth < the day of his e'ecution are !ttingly commemorated by all classes of our people throughout the length < breadth of this country < e6en by %ilipinos < their friends abroad. His name is a byword in e6ery %ilipino home while his picture adorns the postage stamp < paper money of widest circulation. As the biographer Rafael ,alma said T#he doctrines of Rizal are not for one epoch but for all epochs. #hey are as 6alid today as they were yesterday. #his signi!es the immortality of RizalCs life works and genuine character. And as our belo6ed countryCs National Hero 4r. 5ose Rizal will be remembered fore6er. Howe6er there are still some %ilipinos who entertain the belief that Rizal is a Tmade&to&orderT national hero >one that personi!es what we want to see in a person or in a hero for this matter? < that the maker or manufacturer in this case were the Americans particularly Di6il +o6ernor "illiam Howard #aft. And lastly we repeat the ;uestion T"ho made Rizal the foremost hero of the ,hilippines$T #he answer is* No single person or organization can be held responsible for making 4r. 5ose Rizal our national hero. Rizal himself his own people
and the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero and martyr of his people. #his is because= 4r. 5ose Rizal didnCt become our National Hero by way of traditional election. #he fruits of his e'ceptional dedication and con6iction to his lifeCs purpose are seen in our e6eryday li6es. If he hadnCt and among other note&worthy heroes of our history fought for our well&deser6ed freedom maybe weCll still be in the hands of our un:ust captors. His 8e'cellent ;ualities and merits9 made him /ur %oremost National Hero. Rizals legacy for the F2st century* ,rogressi6e 0ducation Social 0ntrepreneurship and Dommunity 4e6elopment. ,rogressi6e 0ducation #he progressi6e school mo6ement deconstructed the taken&for& gratnted idea that the school is an encla6e where the student learns !rst and then later after graduation gets a :ob and hopefully becomes a producti6e member of the community. Against this notion it ad6ocated and practiced the principle that the school is an integral working and promoting the well&being of the community all at the same time. Rizals school in #alisay may be 6iewed as one such Teducational webT. Social 0ntrepreneurship Rizal formed 4apitans !rst farmers cooperati6e the Sociedad de Agriculturos 4apitanos >SA4? whee capital was to be pro6ided by Sociosindustriales >Industrial ,artners? and Socio Accionistas >Share Holders?. 5anuary 2 2@ the cooperati6e aimed to impro6epromote agricultural products obtain their pro!ts for them pro6ide capital for the purchase of these goods and help to the e'tent possible the har6esters and laborers by means of a store where articles of basic necessity are sold at moderate prices. Dommunity 4e6elopment Rizal de6eloped 4apitans !rst park complete with street lamps and a garden7ower relief map o the whole island of -indanao. he built a one&doctor hospital and paid his own money for the medical supplies and instruments. ,eople of 4apitan are not charged of any consultation. A 0nglish man who came for consultation was charged 33 duros for the e'traction of his cataract. #he money was donated to 4apitan for the public lighting which they didnt ha6e. Reference*
https*prezi.commltalredsiwhy&did&rizal&become&the& philippine&national&hero
MANGALI$ CATRINA ESMERAL9A S6 BAPA;,-,
9R6 OSE P6 RIZAL AS THE NATIONAL HERO FOR THE FILIPINOS
8A hero may be easy to spell but it is ne6er easy to become.9 A hero symbolizes goodness. Heroes are people who ha6e gained enormous identity among others. #hey are the models well respected nationalistic and ha6e contributed to society causing national unity resulting to something really big like freedom. )etCs talk about 4r. 5ose ,rotacio Rizal -ercado y Alonzo or simply Rizal as our national hero. Is he an American based hero$ or not$ "hat are the criteria used to make him the national hero for the %ilipinos$
-any people said that 8A pen is mightier than a sword.9 5ose Rizal became the National hero because he fought from freedom in a silent but powerful way. He e'pressed his lo6e for the ,hilippines through his no6els essays articles and poems rather than a force of aggression. He was a 6ery amazing person at his time. He was humble !ghting for reforms through his writings instead of through a re6olution. He used his intelligence talents and skills in a more peaceful way. 5ose Rizal can be an American based hero because he passed the AmericaCs criteria. In contrary he can also be a %ilipino based hero because of the criteriaCs set by the ,hilippine National Heroes Dommittee. #he AmericaCs criteria that make Rizal as the national hero are* 2. He must be %ilipino. F. He is already dead. 1. He displayed unconditional lo6e for his country. . He was a low temper. . He had died dramatically.
#he criteria set by the ,hilippine National Heroes Dommittee are* 2. Heroes are those who ha6e a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nationCs freedom. F. Heroes are those who de!ne and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation. 1. A hero is part of peopleCs e'pression. . A hero thinks of the future especially the future generation. . #he choice of a hero in6ol6es not only the recounting of an episode or e6ents in the history but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero.
"ith whate6er criteria weCre going to use Rizal stays a hero. No single person or organization can be held responsible for making 4r. 5ose Rizal our national hero. Rizal himself his own people and the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero and martyr of his people. #his is because= 4r. 5ose Rizal didnCt become our National Hero by way of traditional election. #he fruits of his e'ceptional dedication and con6iction to his lifeCs purpose are seen in our e6eryday li6es. If he hadnCt and among other note&worthy heroes of our history fought for our well&deser6ed freedom maybe weCll still be in the hands of our un:ust captors. His 8e'cellent ;ualities and merits9 made him /ur %oremost National Hero.
MEN9OZA$ ON CRIZTOFER "6 BAPA;,-,
#he great part of 4r. RizalCs rele6ance to the li6es of %ilipinos is ironically the fact that the social problems that our hero had fought for in his lifetime are tragically still plaguing our homeland today. 4r. 5ose Rizal is perhaps the epitome of such self&sacri!ce though. He sacri!ces his lo6e life and a ;uiet life to gather knowledge around the world that would be helpful in the struggle for reforms in the country. He translates famous literary works into %ilipino for his countrymen to see >such as works by Hans Dhristian Andersen and Schiller? and labors to ensure a fair perspecti6e about his country
abroad >such as annotating -orgaCs Sucesos de las Islas %ilipinas?. He uses his own fortune time and eJort to care for his countrymen as he did when he opened his clinic in Hong Long or in 4apitan. He enlightens his people about their status in society by writing the Noli and the %ili. His ultimate sacri!ce perhaps is when he refuses to be sa6ed by BonifacioCs re6olution and instead gi6es his own life at e'ecution so that the re6olution can ha6e the ultimate inspiration. Both Bonifacio and Aguinaldo recognized his sacri!ces by re6ering him as the re6olutionCs inspiration. Aguinaldo was !rst to declare him national hero in 2@ e6en before the Americans 8sponsored9 it. RizalCs self&sacri!ce has been modeled throughout history by other heroes such as -anuel ). Euezon >who sacri!ced time money and eJort for the establishment of the Dommonwealth? 5ose ,. )aurel >who sacri!ced reputation to collaborate with the enemy and sa6e more %ilipinos from the 5apanese? Ninoy A;uino >who sacri!ced his life at assassination so that the ,eople ,ower Re6olution could push through? and 0fren ,eZa7orida >who sacri!ced time money and eJort to teach the street children of Da6ite?. #he 6iolation of human rights the ini;uity between the ruling class and the ma:ority of the masses the medie6al practice of the Dhristian faith the corruption in the go6ernment and its bureaucracy and those controlling economic production are :ust as bad now if not worse more than 22 years after 4r. Rizal had sacri!ced his life for his country. "e owe it to oursel6es as %ilipinos to re6isit the writings of 4r. Rizal and try to gain an understanding of his ideals and hope for the ,hilippines. 4r. Rizal is a great gift of +od to us if we are to see it in a Dhristian perspecti6e. But 4r. Rizal may be like a precious gift left unopened in the closet of our lackadaisical minds. ,articipating in the e6ents being held this year is a good way to open our hearts and minds to the dreams of Rizal for a progressi6e and enlightened %ilipino nation. Reading and understanding his works will be another way for us to reach the goal of a truly free and independent ,hilippines. Rizal pro6ed that although he was not white he was of the brown race did not ha6e an a;uiline nose and his parents were not Spaniards P he e'celledQ He surpassed all students of Ateneo de -anila high school where he took the course Bachelier in Artes. He graduated summa cum laude. %rom his !rst year until he !nished his grades were all 7at one or 233 percent. A %ilipino Indio Rizal was not tall was not e'traordinary nor was he physically well built. But from the shoulder
up he was e'traordinary e6en until he studied at Kni6ersidad de Santo #omas. Before %ilipinos were always considered stupid lazy and lacked dignity. "ell 5ose Rizal pro6ed the opposite of all these ;ualities. He showed the !nest characteristics of the race and was called 8Kna ,erla del /mbre9 or ,earl of a -an. Rizal is a great Internationalist as well as a Nationalist. Being a nationalist does not mean Rizal is anti&foreigner or he wonCt go to other countries. #he more he tra6eled abroad the more he became profoundly a %ilipino by interrelating with other nations and cultures. "e should not become a closed nationalist so that we become a %ascistic nationalist. "e should be open to a larger world so that we become Dosmopolitan Internationalist e6en as we are nationalistic. #his is the life of 5ose Rizal. 5ose Rizal set the pattern of an e'traordinary leader. He possessed a great mental caliber that prodded him to enhance his education all o6er 0urope. #his combined with a high sense morality and unsel!shness he found the %ilipinos disunited 6oiceless and not e6er aware of their miseries. 0specially elo;uent in Spanish although familiar with +erman and %rench he wrote and spoke profusely e'horting the %ilipinos to !ght peacefully for :ustice. He was neither fair skinned nor mestizo like our actor politicians yet he had a great following among the foreign and local intellectuals as well as the down trodden. #he Lingdom of +od is like a merchant who searches for a precious pearl. "hen he found one of great 6alue he sells e6erything that he has to buy it >-atthew 21*&2?. In the same way a true leader will ha6e to sacri!ce much to bring +odCs Lingdom to us. According to +regorio #. (aide a proli!c historian he mentioned that as early as Rizal was years old he has bestowed his nationalism when he wrote a poem in #agalog `Sa Aking -ga Lababata in which he encouraged the %ilipino children to lo6e their nati6e language. `/newho doesnCt lo6e his nati6e tongue is worse than putrid !sh and a beast which is in #agalog`Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa Sariling "ika ay higit pa sa mabaho at malansang isda who can e6er forget those lines from his poem >#o -y %ellow Dhildren?
References* http*www.philstar.comeducation&and& homeF3232132F12dr.&:ose&rizal&symbol&ideal&leadership& today http*www.scribd.comdoc23FG3@GG"hy&Rizal&"as&-ade&/ur& National&Hero[scribd
MEN9OZA$ 8I8IEN LORRAINE S6 BAPA ;,-, /hy R%1a %s not an A&er%can2ased HeroD
A hero may be easy to spell but it is ne6er easy to become. Heroes are people who ha6e gained enormous identity among others. #hey are role models well& respected nationalistic andha6e contributed to society causing national unity resulting to something really big like freedom. Between the diJerent faces of heroes we know who stands out among the rest$ Is it Rizal or is Bonifacio of better identity$ "ould it be Aguinaldo or -abini$ If there is a need toplace someone as national hero then who should we pick between those huge names$ `It is always said in many cultures that the pen is mightier than the sword the blood of academic scholars are better than that blood of warriors wars are not won in the battle!eld itCs pure politics. )et me gi6e you the criteria in choosing a National Hero as set by the ,hilippine NationalHeroes Dommittee in 2@@1&2@@ which follows* 2. Heroes are those who ha6e a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nationCs freedom. F. Heroes are those who de!ne and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order fora nation. 1. A hero is part of the peopleCs e'pression. . A hero thinks of the future especially the future generations.. #he choice of a hero in6ol6es not only the recounting of an episode or e6ents in historybut of the entire process that made this particular person a hero."ith these criteria that was set 4r. 5ose ,. Rizal is more than ;uali!ed. #hese criteria ismuch e'empli!ed by 4r. 5ose Rizal than Andres Bonifacio.According to +regorio #. (aide a proli!c historian he mentioned that as early as Rizal was years old he has bestowed his nationalism when he wrote a poem in #agalog `Sa Aking-ga Lababata in which he encouraged the %ilipino children to lo6e their nati6e language. `/newho doesnCt lo6e his nati6e tongue is worse than putrid !sh and a beast which is in #agalog`Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa Sariling "ika ay higit pa sa mabaho at malansang isda who can e6er forget those lines from his poem >#o -y %ellow Dhildren?.His name can be found in almost all corners of the ,hilippines. Roads schools and e6en apro6ince are named after him. His image can be found in peso bills and coins. -onuments areerected in his name >foremost of this can be found in Rizal ,ark in -anila?. #hese aremanifestations of the countrys re6erence accorded to 5ose
Rizal as a national hero."hy is Rizal a national hero$ "hat are his contributions to ,hilippine history that makeshim preeminent among other %ilipino heroes$ Here are some of the reasons Rizal is a nationalhero of the ,hilippines.In late 2@th Dentury Rizal became the 6oice of a people long oppressed by centuries&oldSpanish rule. As an educated man he was e'posed to some of the abuses by Spanish friars andgo6ernment oOcials. As a founder and member of the )a )iga %ilipina he originally pushed forreforms of Spanish colonial rule. Reference* http*www.scribd.comdoc23FG3@GG"hy&Rizal&"as&-ade&/ur& National&Hero[scribd
PANIZA$ (LES AMIEL A6 BAPA ;,-,
E)%dences that R%1a %s not an A&er%can Based Hero
If there is an e6idence that would pro6e Rizal as a %ilipino chosen hero is the R.A. 2F which is ammended by %ilipino senators and countrymen. It states that House B% No6 55@, Senate B% No6 .;
An Act to Include in the Durricula of All ,ublic and ,ri6ate Schools Dolleges and Kni6ersities courses on the )ife "orks and "ritings of 5/S0 RI(A) particularly his no6els N/)I -0 #AN+0R0 and 0) %I)IBKS#0RIS-/ Authorizing the ,rinting and 4istribution #hereof and for /ther ,urposes. "hereas today more than other period of our history there is a need for a re&dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes li6ed and died. "hereas it is meet that in honoring them particularly the national hero and patriot 5ose Rizal we remember with special fondness and de6otion their li6es and works that ha6e shaped the national character= "hereas the life works and writings of 5ose Rizal particularly his no6els Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth especially during their formati6e and decisi6e years in school should be suJused. "hereas all educational institutions are under the super6ision
of and sub:ect to regulation by the State and all schools are en:oined to de6elop moral character personal discipline ci6ic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship= Now therefore Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representati6es of the ,hilippines in Dongress assembled SE"6,
Dourses on the life works and writings of 5ose Rizal particularly his no6els Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo shall be included in the curricula of all schools colleges and uni6ersities public or pri6ate= ,ro6ided #hat in the collegiate courses the original or une'purgated editions of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo or their 0nglish translations shall be used as basic te'ts. #he Board of National 0ducation is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement and carry out the pro6isions of this Section including the writing and printing of appropriate primers readers and te'tbooks. #he Board shall within si'ty >3? days from the eJecti6ity of this Act promulgate rules and regulations including those of a disciplinary nature to carry out and enforce the regulations of this Act. #he Board shall promulgate rules and regulations pro6iding for the e'emption of students for reason of religious belief stated in a sworn written statement from the re;uirement of the pro6ision contained in the second part of the !rst paragraph of this section= but not from taking the course pro6ided for in the !rst part of said paragraph. Said
rules and regulations shall take eJect thirty >13? days after their publication in the /Ocial +azette. SE"64
It shall be obligatory on all schools colleges and uni6ersities to keep in their libraries an ade;uate number of copies of the original and e'purgated editions of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo as well as RizalCs other works and biography. #he said une'purgated editions of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo or their translations in 0nglish as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of appro6ed books for re;uired reading in all public or pri6ate schools colleges and uni6ersities. #he Board of National 0ducation shall determine the ade;uacy of the number of books depending upon the enrollment of the school college or uni6ersity. SE"6;
#he Board of National education shall cause the translation of the Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo as well as other writings of 5ose Rizal into 0nglish #agalog and the principal ,hilippine dialects= cause them to be printed in cheap popular editions= and cause them to be distributed free of charge to persons desiring to read them through the ,urok organizations and the Barrio Douncils throughout the country. SE"6.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing section
nine hundred twenty&se6en of the Administrati6e Dode prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other persons engaged in any public school. SE"65
#he sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National #reasury to carry out the purposes of this Act. SE"6@
#his Act shall take eJect upon its appro6all #he R.A. 2F was passed to ensure that each and e6ery %ilipino children will know about the works and life of Rizal which pro6es that there are %ilipino countrymen that chose Rizal to be known by other %ilipinos. Noted by another %ilipino hero Rafael ,alma belie6ed that blood does not count in nationality. It roots from the desire to be one :ust like 4r. 5ose Rizal. He was criticized to be a Dhinese mi'ed. Being a %ilipino is in the desire and passion to become a %ilipino not by the blood by the waters and by the 7esh. #hese ideals from ,alma has drawn lots of %ilipino men to chose Rizal o6er Bonifacio. Euibuyen added that if it is not because of Rizals works the %ilipinos will not be awakened to stri6e for freedom. /ne of these %ilipinos is Andres Bonifacio a contender in being a national hero. Rizal has started a re6olution through reforms. He was the spark and the
LLL and the rest of the %ilipinos were the machine. Based from these lines more %ilipinos rose to an idea of making Rizal as the national hero. References* http*www.:oserizal.phlw3F.html 4octor 5ose Rizal and the "riting of His Story author* 4r. -aria Stella Maldez
RIEGO$ AMIL AR9EE P6 BAPA;,-,
%or o6er a century now the nation has ne6er failed to obser6e the anni6ersary of the martyrdom our great national hero 4r. 5ose ,. Rizal. #his year the ,resident will lead the simultaneous raising of ,hilippine 7ag at half&mast and wreath oJering at the monument of 5ose Rizal at the Rizal ,ark in -anila Dalamba )aguna and in 4apitan (amboanga del Norte on 4ecember 13 F323. #he theme of this yearCs commemoration is 8Rizal* Haligi ng Bayan9. Although fre;uently at the center of contro6ersies and criticism of the public the go6ernment must be gi6en credits for its eJorts in ensuring that the memory of Rizal stays in our hearts through the issuance of legislati6e acts decrees and other proclamations honoring him. #wo years after the e'ecution of Rizal in Bagumbayan +en. 0milio Aguinaldo issued on 4ec. F3 2@ a decree designating 4ec. 13 as the anni6ersary of 5ose RizalCs death and also as 8a national day of mourning9 for Rizal and other 6ictims of the Spanish go6ernment throughout its three centuries of oppressi6e rule. He made a directi6e that all national 7ags shall be hoisted at half&mast from 2F noon on 4ec. F@ and all oOces of the go6ernment shall be closed the whole day on 4ecember 13 as a sign of mourning. /n 4ecember 13 2@
%ilipinos celebrated Rizal 4ay for the !rst time and chose Dlub %ilipino in -anila to be the 6enue. #he Americans to win the sympathy of the %ilipinos and to con6ince them that they were pro&%ilipinos more than the Spaniards ga6e Rizal oOcial recognition. #his was to make them conform to the new go6ernment. Rizal ac;uired the oOcial title of title of ,hilippine National Hero in 2@32 under the countryCs !rst American ci6il go6ernor "illiam Howard #aft. /n the recommendation of #rinidad ,ardo de #a6era the #aft Dommission renamed the district of -orong into the ,ro6ince of Rizal through Act 21G on 5une 22 2@32. #his was one of the !rst oOcial steps taken by the #aft Dommission to honor Rizal. Since then 5ose Rizal came to be known as the National Hero. It was also during the American times that RizalCs death anni6ersary was made an oOcial holiday. /n %ebruary 2 2@3F the ,hilippine Dommission enacted Act. No. 1 which set 4ecember 13 of each year as Rizal 4ay and made it one of the ten oOcial holidays of the ,hilippines. As the nationalist spirit of the %ilipinos was at the highest point during that time they were able to con6ince the go6ernment to erect a monument for Rizal. #hus Act No. F1 was enacted on September F 2@32 granting the right to use public land upon the )uneta in the Dity of -anila upon which to erect a statue of 5ose Rizal. So important was the obser6ation of Rizal 4ay that ,resident Euirino appro6ed on 5une @ 2@ Republic Act No. FF@ which prohibits cock!ghting horse racing and :ai&alai e6ery 13th of 4ecember of each year in order to ha6e proper obser6ance of Rizal 4ay. #o gi6e ample time to prepare for the birth centenary of 5ose Rizal in 2@2 the Rizal National Dentennial Dommission was created by 0'ecuti6e /rder No. F issued by ,res. Ramon -agsaysay on August 23 2@ to undertake the construction of a National Dultural Shrine and other memorials to be dedicated to 5ose Rizal. 5RNDD became Rizal ,residential Dommittee on 2 5uly 2@F after ,resident 4iosdado -acapagal issued 0'ecuti6e /rder No. 2. 5ose RizalCs 6ast role in the attainment of the nationCs freedom led to the issuance of Republic Act 2F on 5une 2F 2@. Dommonly known as the Rizal Act it was sponsored by Senator Dlaro -. Recto. It re;uires the curricula of pri6ate and public schools colleges and uni6ersities courses to include the life works and writings of 5ose Rizal particularly his no6els Noli -e #angere and 0l %ilibusterismo in order to educate the students about the concept of nationalism. A few days before the celebration of the birth centenary of 5ose Rizal in 2@2 ,res. +arcia issued 0'ecuti6e /rder No. F@ on 5une F creating a decoration intended to perpetuate RizalCs memory to be
known as the Rizal ,ro ,atria Award. It was to be awarded by the ,resident of the ,hilippines to those who ha6e rendered outstanding work for the bene!t of their community. Among the recipients of this decoration in the past were N. M. -. +onzalez Ale:andro Roces 5uan Nakpil %elipe ,adilla 4e )eon and "ilfredo -a. +uerero. In -anila streets were named with reference to the national hero 5ose Rizal. In Sampaloc two streets are named after his pen names )aong )aan and 4imasalang. Blumentritt a main thoroughfare was named after 4r. %erdinand Blumentritt RizalCs friend while 4apitan street situated near the Kni6ersity of Santo #omas was named after a municipality in (amboanga del Norte where Rizal was deported in 2@F. /ther street names ha6e references to RizalCs no6els such as Sisa Basilio and Simoun. Rizal monuments are concrete memorials to his legacy. #he most prominent is the Rizal monument in -anila un6eiled on 4ecember 13 2@21 in line with the 2Gth Anni6ersary of the martyrdom of 5ose Rizal. Howe6er the Rizal monument in the town 4aet in Damarines Norte holds the distinction of the !rst e6er erected in honor of Rizal. In the 2@F3s Rizal 4ay was 6ery popular and a much awaited e6ent with the entire city going to )uneta to spot the parade of the Rizal 4ay a parade as glamorous as the carni6al parade of %ebruary. In his memorable Rizal 4ay address ,res. Euezon declared through Dommonwealth Act No. 2 the adoption of #agalog as the basis of the national language of the ,hilippines on 4ecember 13 2@1G. #he Rizal 4ay celebration of 4ecember 13 2@F re;uired the display of 5apanese 7ags in %ilipino homes. Attended by 5orge Margas Benigno A;uino Sr and 5ose ,. )aurel Sr. a Nippongo program on Rizal was held in 2@F during which the heroCs 8Kltimo Adios9 was recited in 5apanese. #his e6ent also witnessed the inauguration of Lalibapi. 5ust after the war in 2@ the country saw 7oral oJerings and a ci6ic parade in obser6ance of Rizal 4ay in 2@. ,resident Ro'as was :oined by high oOcials of the national go6ernment and representati6es of the Knited States Army and Na6y and foreign nations who oJered wreaths at the foot of RizalCs monument. /n 4ecember 13 2@3 all ,hilippine 7ags throughout the island were raised at half&mast in all public buildings and 6essels to commemorate the martyrdom of Rizal. #here was also 7oral oJering at the Rizal monument at )uneta and concert in the afternoon. A crowd estimated to be from 133&33 333 persons gathered at the )uneta on 4ecember 13 2@1 to attend the inauguration of Ramon -agsaysay as president of the Republic of the ,hilippines. #he Donstitution had made the Rizal 4ay e6ent e6en more memorable
ha6ing speci!ed the date of the day for the inauguration of ,resident of the Republic as stipulated in Sec. of Article MII of the 2@1 Donstitution. Howe6er this was mo6ed to 5une 13 by 6irtue of the 2@G Donstitution which is being obser6ed until now. 4ecember 13 2@@ was the centenary of the martyrdom of Rizal. Highlights included the tracing of the last walk of Rizal from his detention cell at %ort Santiago followed by the reenactment of the heroCs e'ecution and 7ag raising at )uneta ,ark -anila. A monument of Rizal was also inaugurated on 4ecember 2@@ along the A6enida de )as Islas %ilipinas in -adrid Spain. Rizal 4ay is a day of appreciating 5ose Rizal as a hero an icon and a perfect e'ample on how to be a %ilipino. #o ;uote the late Sen. Blas /ple 85ose Rizal remains the supreme hero of the ,hilippines because of the ;uality of his sacri!ce his absolute dedication to the interest of his people and his achie6ement in many !elds of endea6ors9. References* http*nhcp.go6.phhistorical&conte't&and&legal&basis&of&rizal&day& and&other&memorials&in&honor&of&:ose&rizal
8ILLAN(E8A$ OANNE A6 BAPA ;,-,
#he notion that 5ose Rizal was an American&created %ilipino hero is an insulting one. #o the %ilipinos who attended his funeral those who ha6e read his books and the many who ha6e 6iewed him as the father
of ,hilippine nationalism he remains the symbol of ,hilippine nationalism. According to my research the best article for this problem is the Ambeth /campoCs essay 8"as 5ose Rizal an American&Sponsored Hero$9 argues that RizalCs 8-anifesto to the %ilipino ,eople9 addresses the issue of K.S in7uences. "hile early American go6ernors o6eremphasized RizalCs contributions to ,hilippine nationalism the historical result of this contro6ersy has been to designate the le6el of RizalCs nationalism and as a result his contribution to ,hilippine history. /campo places the issue in perspecti6e when he concludes that 8Rizal inspired the re6olution and for this alone his detractors should think of a new argument rather than rising on the pre6ailing anti&American sentiment to denigrate 5ose Rizal. Still other points to the American tendency to encourage RizalCs position as the foremost ,hilippine nationalist. /campo puts the contro6ersy to rest by pointing out the ob6ious= 5ose Rizal was the chief architect of the ,hilippine nationalism and independence long before the American arri6ed. He was recognized as the !rst -alay son. He wasnCt leader of the re6olutionary Latipunan. He did not belie6e the 2@ re6olution could succeed because of lack of planning. He didnCt feel that all %ilipinos were ready for full citizenship. et despite of these misgi6ings %ilipinos recognized Rizal as there foremost nati6e son. Although Rizal was uprooted by Spanish rule he realized that he needed to pursue his nationalistic goals. His was family was a catalyst to this belief and his life was dedicated to a de!ned ,hilippine nationalism. No matter how Spain attempted to intimidate him Rizal remained !rst and foremost a ,hilippine nationalist. It is ob6ious then that the idea of naming the district of -orong after Rizal came from 4r. ,ardo de #a6era a %ilipino and not from 5udge #aft an American. It is interesting to know that two countrymen of -r. #aft P 5ustice +eorge A. -alcolm and 4r. %rank D. )aubach P who both resided in the ,hilippines for many years and who were 6ery familiar with the history and li6es of great %ilipinos & do not subscribed to the 6iew that 5ose Rizal is an American&-ade Hero. Re!erences: 3ose 4izal: 5ife, 6or&s, and 6ritings of a -enius, 6riter, )cientist, and .ational %ero 3( 4izal +he /an and the %ero: An Anthology of 5egacies and #ontroversies
"ON"L(SION
SINAPILO$ 8I" OHN PA(L 6 BAPA ;,-,
Rizal= Ang ,ambansang Bayani or #he National Hero. 5ust like the title of this Research work arguments claiming if Rizal is really the National Hero of our own or American sponsored hero has drawn confusion into minds and hearts of %ilipinos particularly the college students who are studying the )ife and "orks of Rizal. #he methods which the student of history employs for obtaining historical knowledge diJer in many respects from the methods of other sciences. It is because the facts of history the determination of which is the historianCs goal ha6e peculiarities and characteristics of their own representing as they do what men ha6e said and thought and done in the past. #hey can be percei6ed or understood only through their traces as re7ected in historical records or in the material remains of manCs culture and acti6ity. Historical information rarely comes to the historian through his own direct personal obser6ation. It is usually obtained through the testimony of the witnesses who ha6e knowledge of a historical fact either as eyewitnesses whose knowledge of the fact is direct and !rst hand or as secondary authorities whose knowledge was deri6ed indirectly from sources of 6arying degrees of trustworthiness and reliability. It is not often that the student of history en:oys the ad6antage of getting the facts of case from sources of the kinds e'empli!ed by the notarized declarations of the abo6e&mentioned persons. -ore often than that he has to deal with witnesses whose 6eracity is diOcult to 6erify. He does not ha6e the means or opportunities for 6eri!cation that are disposal of a :udge in a court of law. He cannot cross e'amine his witnesses he cannot put them on a witness stand and he cannot put them under oath to tell them the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. "hen both sides of the issues ha6e been presented it is the task of the cle6er mind to pass :udgment and consider what 6alues these
arguments ha6e as a ground to pro6e if Rizal is an American based hero or not. %inally a simple logical argument may be ad6anced. 5ose Rizal can be an American based hero because he passed the AmericaCs criteria. In contrary he can also be a %ilipino based hero because of the criteriaCs set by the ,hilippine National Heroes Dommittee. #he AmericaCs criteria that make Rizal as the national hero are* 2. He must be %ilipino. F. He is already dead. 1. He displayed unconditional lo6e for his country. . He was a low temper. . He had died dramatically. . He ser6es as symbol of Spanish oppression
#he criteria set by the ,hilippine National Heroes Dommittee are* 2. Heroes are those who ha6e a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nationCs freedom. F. Heroes are those who de!ne and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation. 1. A hero is part of peopleCs e'pression. . A hero thinks of the future especially the future generation. . #he choice of a hero in6ol6es not only the recounting of an episode or e6ents in the history but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero.
#here will always be a two face of a coin but it will be always be one. 5ust like Rizal there may be arguments about his status as a national hero but he will still be our ,A-BANSAN+ BAANI our
