Part-1 Life and Works of Rizal

Rizal in the Eyes of the Filipinos

Who was Jose Rizal and why was he well-known among Filipinos?
Why are there so many monuments in his honor and why were many
streets named after him? To many Filipinos, their answers might be varied.
He was a martyr who died for Filipinos. Some sectors even call him the
“Tagalog Christ” or Kristong Tagalog.” Many Filipinos admire him as a
man of many talents- poet, doctor, anthropologist sculptor, surveyor,
farmer, novelist, essayist, historians consider him as the man who
inspired a nation. To some, sectors, he was revered as a saint or
messiah who would one day free the Philippines from oppression.

Rizal also had his share of detractors. Some writers depict him as an
agitator, a wanderlust, a man hungry for power, and an unpredictable
person. Some write to denigrate him and question his motives. There can
be no Emilio Aguinaldo without Andress Bonifacio. It was Bonifacio
who helped found the Katipunan, the organization that launched the 1896
Philippine Revolution and recruited Aguinaldo into its ranks. There will be
no Bonifacio without Rizal. it was Rizal’s achievements which helped
inspire the foundation of the Katipunan. Even his name is one of the
passwords of one of the ranks of the organization. Going further, there will
be no Rizal without the GOMBURZA priests. It was the unjust execution
of these Filipino secular priests. Father Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
and Jacinto Zamora that inspired Rizal to embark on his nationalist quest.
The trio was his inspiration for his second novel, El Filibusterismo.

The Humanity of Heroes

In the study of the life of heroes, it is important to put in mind that a

hero is a human being. Heroes are made. Heroes, like ordinary human
beings, are a product of their time. Heroes are the product of their
environment, which includes their society, surroundings, and the conditions
prevalent at that time. Heroes are made because they responded to the
call of the times and their response to this call had a decisive effect
on the lives of their countrymen.
 Heroes are ordinary human being who faced challenges with an
extraordinary response. In the end, their humanity will be unveiled through
scholarly study. In closely studying the humanity of heroes, their frailties
surface. There may be some writers who may wish to denigrate their
achievements by capitalizing on these frailties. They may even question
their motives by making malicious conclusions about their achievements.
These frailties should not distract a serious student in studying the life of a
hero. On the other hand, the students should be guided on the contribution
of heroes to the betterment of their country rather than on their
shortcomings. It is also important to consider how the hero’s achievements
outweighed his deficiencies in serving the nation.

The Criteria for Heroes

Who declares if anyone is a hero? How did Rizal become a hero?

There is no law or proclamation which directly made Rizal a hero
Rizal’s hero status was made by the acclamation of the Filipino people.
This becomes the object of public worship and accolades are heaped upon
him. This could be seen in singular tributes to his honor and it may even
be manifested physically through the erection of monuments and the
naming of streets and buildings after him. The test of a person’s heroism
becomes stronger if the person is acclaimed long after his death and by
people who are not of his generation. This means the appreciation of his
life and achievements spans beyond his life.

The National Historical Institute (NHI) presently the (National

Historical Commission of the Philippines), the country’s agency in charge of
historical matters, prescribes the passage of 50years before the person is
confirmed as a hero. It the person is still being admired after that period
and his ideas and ideals are still invoked and appreciated, the person has
passed the test of time and is considered a hero. The NHI also laid
down the definition of a hero. In 1956, its predecessor office, the National
Heroes Commission, released a criteria on the definition of a national hero.
It was approved by a committee healed by Director Carlos Quirino of the
National Library. According to their definition, a hero is defined as “an
admirable leader towering over his peers, who is serving a noble
cause, possessing exceptional talent, distinguished valor and/or hold
enterprise, exercising a determinative influence over the spiritual life
of his people in a particular remarkable event.” “The criteria also
mentioned that “the hero must, during extreme stress and difficulties,
project himself by his own fortitude, by his own sacrifices to be inspiration
of his countrymen in leading them to their rightful destiny. He must exhibit
self-denial and abandon his personal interests to place those of his
country before any other, and whose deeds and acts are proudly
emulated by a grateful people-that after his death, render him singular
tribute, honor him with public worship, and acknowledge his meritorious
services to mankind by spontaneous national recognition.” Moreover
criteria specified, “a hero must exercise a determinative influence over the
spiritual life of his people in an event of great significance.” It further says
that in order to qualify for the distinction of a national hero, “one must
project himself by his own fortitude, effort and sacrifices to be the
beacon light of his oppressed countrymen to their rightful destiny.

The historical committee of the National Heroes Commission came

out with characteristics of a person to be examined before he could be
considered a hero. These are the extent of the person’s sacrifices for the
welfare of the country.

1. Motives and methods employed in the attainment of the ideal

(e.g., welfare of the country). In the attainment of the ideal, did
the person concerned sacrifice purely and exclusively for the
welfare of the country or were there any selfish or ulterior motives
in the making of such sacrifices? Were the methods employed in
the attainment of the ideal morally valid?
2. The moral character of the person. Did he do anything immoral
to taint his personal character? If there was any immorality, did it
affect his work, society, or ideal?
3. The influence of the person to his age or epoch and the
succeeding eras.

Judging from these criteria, the considerations for heroism are very
stringent and would subject the person concerned to intense scrutiny. It is
aimed to confer the mantle of being considered a hero to those who are
truly deserving, as the word “hero” is overused and abused nowadays.

In 1993 the country was preparing for the commemoration of the

centennial of the declaration of Philippine Independence. On March 28,
1993, President Fidel V. Ramos issued executive order no. 75 creating
the National Heroes Committee whose aim is “to study, evaluate and
explicitly recommend Filipino national personages as national heroes in
due recognition to their sterling character and remarkable achievements for
the country.”

According to Dr. Corpuz, “Heroes are those who have a concept of

nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom.”
He explained that our own struggle for freedom was begun by Bonifacio
and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring revolution of
success. He also added that “Heroes are those who define and contribute
to a system of life and freedom and order for a nation. He also cited that
persons who make the country’s constitution and laws could be heroes, like
Apolinario Mabini, Carlo M. Recto. An important element in considering
heroism is the person’s nationalism.

Presently, the Philippines has set aside four days to honor its heroes,
Rizal Day is commemorated every December 30. The origin of his
commemoration came from the decree issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo
on December 20, 1898. It declared the 30 th day of December as a national
mourning day in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the Philippine
Revolution. Though Aguinaldo’s decree did not specifically declare Rizal
as a national hero, it was a tribute to his heroism.

In Daet, Camarines Norte, Filipino masons erected a simple

monument dedicated to Rizal on December 30, 1898. The monument
bears the words “A Jose Rizal,” “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,”
the titles of his two prominent novels and the word “Morga” which refers to
the book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas which Rizal annotated in 1890. The
monument is Daet antedated the Rizal Monument which was constructed
at the Luneta Park in Manila in 1911. The monument in Luneta was
constructed through public subscription by Filipinos. November 30. It
honors Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-
galang ng Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK ANB) which launched
the Philippine Revolution of 1896. The celebration of Bonifacio Day was
made possible by the issueance of Act No. 2946 by the Philippine
legislature on February 16, 1921.

The third day set for commemorating Filipino heroes is the National
Heroes Day, celebrated every last Sunday of August. The celebration of
this holiday became possible in accordance to Public Act No. 3827
passed by the Philippine legislature on October 28, 1931. National Heroes
Day honors all the heroes of the Philippines including those who are
unknown.

A fourth holiday was created by President Gloira Macapagal

Arroyo on December 25, 2004, when signed Preside into law the Republic
Act No. 9256, which created Ninoy Aquino Day. This holiday is
commemorated every August 21, the anniversary of the assassination of
then- Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was the leading symbol of the
anti-dictatorship struggle against then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

As for who should recognize heroes, this should be better left to the
people through their popular acclamation. The people are the final judge to
the heroes achievements and they would subscribe to the heroes ideals as
long as these are relevant and classic.