Chapter 1: Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a

national Hero
Why Nations Have Heroes
o can be mythical or legendary
o best ones-helped form the country like:
*Pan Ku China
*Danggun Wagaeon Korea
o responsible for inspiring to fight for
freedom:
*Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine
US
* Francois- Marie Aroulet de Voltaire
France
o involved in struggles
*George Washington
*Mohandas Gadhi India
*Ho Chi Minh Vietnam
o admiration of country
o source of inspiration and public worship
o national icons
o placed the welfare of their country
above their own
o work for general good
o manifested strong conviction w/c aimed
to save his country from severe
challenges, even at risk of losing his life
o never self-seeking or seeks reward for
his heroism
o preferred humility and anonymity
HUMANITY OF HEROES
every hero is a human being
heroes are made and no one was born
as a hero
every human being is a product his time,
environment; society,surroundings and
conditions happening at his time.
made bec. responded to call of times
ans response had a decisive effect on
the lives of their countrymen.
not born as saints
putting super human and supernatural
attributes mysticism, unreal
humanity- revealed throug scholarly
study.
frailties might surface

heros achievement outweighed his

defiencies in his serving the nation
THE CRITERIA FOR A HERO
no law or official proclamation
which direstly made Rizal into a
hero
made by acclamation of the
Filipino people
erection of monuments and
naming of streets and buildings
after him
test of a persons heroism
becomes stronger if the person is
acclaimed long after death
o The National Historical Institute ( now
the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines) countrys agency in
charge of historical matters.
prescribes the passage of 50 yrs before
a person is finally confirmed as a hero.
THE DEFINITION OF A HERO
o National Historical Institute laid down
the definition of hero.
o 1965- predecessor office- National
heroes Commission released a criteria
on the definition of a national hero.
o approved by a committee headed by
Director Carlos Quirino of National
Library
o acc. to definition, a hero was :
an admirable leader towering his peers,
who serves a noble cause, possessing
exceptional talent, distinguished valor
and/or hold enterprise, exercising a
determinative influence over the spiritual
life life of his people in a particular
remarkable event.
o the hero must, during extreme stress
and difficulties, project himself by his
own fortitude, by his own sacrifices to be
the inspiration of his countrymen in
leading them to their rightful destiny. he
must exhibit self-denial and abandon his
personal interests to place his country
before any other and whose deeds and
acts are proudly emulated by a grateful

people who,after his death,render him

singular tributes,honor him with public
worship and acknowledge his
memorious services to mankind by
spontaneous national recognition."
"a hero must exercise a determinative
influence over the spiritual life of his
people in an event of great significance.
one must project himself by his own
fortitude ,effort,and sacrifices to be the
beacon light of his own oppressed
countrymen to their rightful destiny.
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE of the
National Heroes Commission ... char. of
a person to be examined to be a hero:
1. extent of the persons sacrifices
for the welfare of the country
2. motive and methods employed in
the attainment of the ideal (ex.
welfare of the country). In the
attainment of that ideal, did the
person concerned sacrificed
purely and exclusively for the
welfare of the country or was
there any selfish or ulterior
motive in the making such
sacrifices? Were the methods
employed in the attainment of the
ideal morally valid?
3. moral character; did he do any
immoral to taint his personal
char?If there was any immorality
did it affect his work, his society
or the ideal?
4. influence of the person to his age
epoch and the succeeding eras.
more definition added in 1993preparing to then commemoration of the
cetennial declaring the Philippine
Independence in 1998.
MARCH 28,1993- Fidel V. Ramos
issued Executive Order No. 75
creating National Heroes Committee to
study,evaluate and explicitly recommend
Filipino national personages as national
heroes in due recognition to their

sterling character and remarkable

achievements for the county.
JUNE 3, 1993- Round table discussion
for the criteria for national heroes.
attended by historians:
- Onofre D. Corpuz
- Carmen Guerrero- Nakpil
- Dr. Samuel K. Tan
- Dr. Marcelino Foronda
- Dr. Alfredo Lagmay
- Dr. Bernardita R. Churchill
- Serafin D. Quiason
- Professors * Ambeth R. Ocampo and
Minerva Gonzales
Body adapted the definition of
hero by Dr. Corpuz
Heroes are those who have a
concept of nation and
thereafter aspire and struggle
for the nations freedom.
he explained that struggle for
freedom was begun by
Andres Bonifacio; finished by
Emilio Aguinaldodeclared
the Philippine Revolution a
success.
revo. no end,only the
beginning
Heroes are those who define
and contribute to a system of
life and freedom and order for
a nation.Freedom w/o order
will only lead to anarchy.
other candidates: Apolinario
Mabini and Claro M. Recto
important element :
NATIONALISM,national
identity,identify self w/
nation,willing to sacrifice for
its benefit...
examples: Rizal,
Bonifacio,Graciano Lopez
Jaena and Marcelo H. del
Pilar
heroes are those who
contribute to the quality of life
and destiny of a nation.

 NOV. 15, 1995

another meeting of the
National Heroes Committee a
hero thinks of the future
,especially the future
generations.
choice involves not only the
recounting of an episode or
events in history but of the
entire process that made this
person a hero.
Dr. Serafin def. a hero is
an event-making man who
helps creare the fork in the
historicaltime hat he faces.
Heroes in a democracy
should be great figures in the
pantheon of thought,the men
of ideas, and social vision of
scientific and artistic power.
imitates the practice of
canonization of saints
Philippines set aside 4 days to
honor heroes, 3 for
Jose Rizal- Dec. 30
for mourning in honor
of Rizal and the other
victims of the Philippine
Revo.tribute for his
heroism-did not declare
Rizal as hero-commemoration comes
from the decree issued
by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo on DEC
20,1998.

Andres Bonifacio
NOV 30 one of
founders of
Kataastaasan
kagalang-galangan na
Katipunan nang mga
Anak ng Bayan
(K.K.K.A.N.B.)
launched Philippine
revo in 1896
he was born on that
day NOV 30,1863
Possible bec of Act No.
2946 by the Philippine
Legislature on
FEBRUARY 16,1921.
RD
3 day National Heroes Day last
Sunday of AUGUSTPublic Act No.
3827-Philippine Legistrature on OCT.
28,1931. honors all heroes even who
are unknown or unheralded.
4th day by President Gloria
Macapagal- Arroyo pn DEC 25,2004law Republic act 9656 Ninoy Aquino
DayAUG 21- anniv. of his
assassination- Benigno Aquino, Jr
leading symbol of the anti-dictatorship
struggle against President Ferdinand E.
Marcos.