REPUBLIC ACT NO.

229
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 229 - AN ACT TO PROHIBIT
COCKFIGHTING, HORSE RACING AND JAI-ALAI ON THE
THIRTIETH DAY OF DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR AND
TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE
PROPER CELEBRATION OF RIZAL DAY IN EVERY
MUNICIPALITY AND CHARTERED CITY, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. The existing laws and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, cockfighting, horse racing and
jai-alai are hereby prohibited on the thirtieth day of December of each year, the date of the martyrdom of
our great hero, Jose Rizal.

Section 2. It shall be the official duty of the mayor of each municipality and chartered city to create a
committee to take charge of the proper observance of Rizal Day Celebration of each year, in which he shall
be the chairman, which shall be empowered to seek the assistance and cooperation of any department,
bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government, and the local civic and educational institutions.
Among the ceremonies on Rizal Day shall be the raising of the Philippine flag at half mast in all vessels and
public buildings.

Section 3. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act or permit or allow the violation thereof,
shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding two hundred pesos or by imprisonment not exceeding six months,
or both, at the discretion of the court. In case he is the mayor of a municipality or a chartered city he shall
suffer an additional punishment of suspension from his office for a period of one month. In case of
partnerships, corporations or associations, the criminal liability shall devolve upon the president, director, or
any other official responsible for the violation thereof.

Section 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 9, 1948

THE GATES TO HEROISM: DEFINING A FILIPINO HERO
by Diana A. Galang

It is common for Filipinos to look for someone to idolize saints, politicians, artists,
models, etc., somebody they will glorify and imitate. Since the time of the declaration of
Philippine independence, 109 years ago, many were acknowledged as Filipino heroes,
more so today, that every individual who become so popular or the main character in
any particular event is given the title hero. The essence of the word hero is past
declining, today one need not to die or do such gallant act to be given the noble title or
that some just won a boxing match. Time has really evolved and so does our standard in
defining a Filipino hero. Will our forefathers who gave their lives for freedom feel
insulted for this? Are these the Filipinos well look up to for guidance through the times,
arent our children losing the true meaning of heroism by our doings? All these things
we should ask ourselves before giving the title hero to anyone.

But what does being a hero mean? Dr. Esteban de Ocampo, a known historian, stated in
his book about Rizal that a hero means a prominent or central personage taking an
admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a person of distinguished valor or
enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; and a man honored after death by public
worship because of exceptional service to mankind. The true heroes of Philippine
history deserve to be called so for they didnt have any idea that one day they will be
measured up, they just acted upon their principles. The concept of honoring heroes
came only to the Philippines in 1900, when the Philippine Commission (Pardo de
Tavera, Legarda, Luzurriaga (Filipino members) and headed by William Howard Taft)
approved Act No. 137 combining the districts of Morong and Manila to be named as
Province of Rizal, in honor of the most illustrious Filipino. Actually, this Act was
disputed by many but the basis of the Commission was so strong that it has surpassed
the publics questions.

Since then, heroes were celebrated here and there, citing their names in every
politicians speeches, declaring holidays, naming streets, constructing monuments, etc.
in their honor. Until one day, realizing that so many names were acknowledged as
heroes, need to evaluate the situation was proposed. During Marcos presidency, he
tasked the National Heroes Commission to come up with the criteria for national hero.
On March 28, 1993, thru the Presidents Executive Order No. 75, the National Heroes
Committee was created, commissioned to study, evaluate and recommend historical
figures to be declared as national heroes. The Committee composed of worthy members,
with a series of discussions came up with the new criteria.

The criteria is composed of 10 standards: First is the extent of a persons sacrifices

for the welfare of the country. Second, the motive and methods employed in the
attainment of the ideal (was his ideal purely for the welfare of the country and without
any taint of self-interested motives, most of all the method of attainment should be
morally valid). The third is the moral character of the person concerned (the person
should not have any immorality issue that affected his ideal). The fourth is the influence
of the person concerned on his age and or the succeeding age. Fifth is that heroes are
those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nations
freedom (they must have desired the countrys freedom in any situation especially when
theres a threat of invasion in any form). Sixth is that heroes are those who define and
contribute to a system of life of freedom and order for a nation (one who helps in the
orderliness and betterment of the country). Seventh is, heroes are those who contribute
to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. Eight, a hero is part of the peoples
expression (the citizen must have recognized and acknowledged the person as a hero).
Ninth, a hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations, his concern for the
future generations must be seen in his decisions and ideals). Lastly, the choice of a hero
involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the entire
process that made this particular person a hero.

Filipinos expectations of public figures are different now than it was more than a
hundred years ago, maybe because of the realization that no one is perfect. This is the
reason why today so many were acknowledged as heroes and many were voted in
important governing positions with flaws and questionable characters. Lucky are those
who aspire one day to be called a hero that the criteria was already set to pattern their
decisions with. I hope that the criteria for national heroes will not only be checked
against the historical figures but also with the politicians to whom we will entrust the
power to govern our country.

Memorandum Order No. 247

MALACANANG
MANILA

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 247

DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS AND THE

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO FULLY IMPLEMENT
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 ENTITLED "AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF
ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, COURSES
ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS
NOVELS, NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 1425 approved on June 12, 1956, directs all schools, colleges and
universities, public and private, to include in their curricula, courses on the life, works and
writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo which "are
a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially
during their formative and decisive years in school should be suffused;"

WHEREAS, according to Dr. Rizal, "the school is the book in which is written the future of the
nation;"

WHEREAS, in 1996, the Filipino people will commemorate the centennial of Rizals martyrdom
and, two years thereafter, the centennial of the Declaration of Philippine Independence; and

WHEREAS, as we prepare to celebrate these watershed events in our history, it is necessary to

rekindle in the heart of every Filipino, especially the youth, the same patriotic fervor that once
galvanized our forebears to outstanding achievements so we can move forward together toward a
greater destiny as we enter the 21st century.

NOW, THEREFORE, I FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by

virtue of the powers vested in me by law, hereby direct the Secretary of Education, Culture and
Sports and the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education to take steps to immediately
and fully implement the letter, intent and spirit of Republic Act No. 1425 and to impose, should
it be necessary, appropriate disciplinary action against the governing body and/or head of any
public or private school, college or university found not complying with said law and the rules,
regulations, orders and instructions issued pursuant thereto.

Within thirty (30) days from issuance hereof, the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and
the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education are hereby directed to jointly submit to
the President of the Philippines a report on the steps they have taken to implement this
Memorandum Order, and one (1) year thereafter, another report on the extent of compliance by
both public and private schools in all levels with the provisions of R.A. No. 1425.

This Memorandum Order takes effect immediately after its issuance.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 26th day of December in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen
Hundred and Ninety-Four.

(SGD.) FIDEL V. RAMOS

Presiden