SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

A.Y. 2018-2019
Score:

WHAT MAKES A HERO

Submitted by:

ID No. 219584 CACHERO, RUTH D.

BSCE 1
09954795716

[email protected]

12:00 – 1:30 TTH

Submitted to:

SIR EMMANUEL J. BACUD, CSE, LPT, BA-MA Pol Sci

[email protected]
I. Task / Questions

1. Research the criteria of the National Heroes Committee in declaring someone a

HERO

2. Enumerate and provide a profile of the suggested national heroes in the Philippines.

3. Explain the reason of the DECS in the late 1990’s on its refusal to declare a SINGLE
NATIONAL HERO.

4. As a college student, create at least 8 criteria (your original criteria) in determining a

hero. Then, using the criteria, evaluate the following icons:

a. Fe Del Mundo

b. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

c. Ferdinand Marcos

d. Jaime Sin

e. Jessica Soho

f. Claro M. Recto

g. Miriam Defensor Santiago

h. Jesse Robredo

i. Macli-ing Dulag

j. Jose Maria Sison

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II. Discussion

The National Historical.Commission stated that only two had been declared as heroes,
Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. While the Philippines has many heroes, the others have
not been proclaimed by the National Historical Commission yet.

DETERMINING A HERO

a. Fe Del Mundo

Fe Del Mundo, (1911-2011) was a pediatrician from UP, Master of Science in

Bacteriology from Boston University School of Medicine and a two-year research fellowship
at Harvard Medical School’s Children Hospital in 1941.

She sold her house, got a bank loan and founded the Fe Del Mundo Medical Center in
1957, a 100-bed hospital in Quezon City. The hospital is still around.

Her legacy is that her general concern for the health of children goes from generation to
generation. Hopefully, her vigor, stamina and spirit lives in her family.

Evaluation

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 I believe that Dr. Fe Del Mundo was a great and leading doctor-specialist. She was a
dedicated doctor for humanitarian reasons when she joined the International Red Cross. She
volunteered to care for children-internees then detained at the University of Santo Tomas
Internment Camp. And towards the good health of children appeared to be her major
concern, and is considered as a leader in her profession, she still lacks some of the great
qualities of a hero.

b. Benigno Simeon Aquino, Jr. (1932-1983)

Ninoy was born into a military and political family. His grandfather served under the
Revolutionary Army. His father, Servillano, served as Vice-President in the government of
Jose Laurel.

In 1954, working as emissary of President Ramon Magsaysay, he secured Luis Taruc’s

unconditional surrender. At age 22, he was elected mayor of Concepcion. Tarlac, and became
the youngest City Mayor of the whole country. At age 27, he became the nation’s youngest
vice-governor. At 29, he became the governor of Tarlac.

At age 34, he became the youngest-ever elected senator and the Philippines Free Press
named him Outstanding Senator. He appeared to be the biggest political threat to
Ferdinand Marcos.

In 1972, when Martial Law was declared, he was arrested on made-up charges. In 1979,
his death sentence was commuted and was allowed to go to the U.S. for operation. He
decided to return to the Philippines. On August 21, 1983, he was shot in the head.

In 1985, Corazon Aquino ran for president against Marcos but she had lost. She believed
that she was the rightful winner and she called for Civil Disobedience in protest. The
“People Power Revolution” began. It resulted in Marcos being ousted and Corazon Aquino
named as the first female president on February 25, 1986.

Evaluation

Personally, I call him a hero. He has dedicated himself to his country. Committed to
expose the wrongs which the strongman Marcos was doing, and knowing and having
undergone many self-sacrifice as a prisoner and exposing his life and the well-being of her

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family to danger, he showed his love for his country with passion, he took all the risks. He
said, “It is sweet to die for the Filipino.” He thought not for himself but for the present and
the generations to come.”

C. Ferdinand E. Marcos (1917-1989)

Ferdinand E. Marcos was the son Mariano Marcos and Josefa Edralin. Rumors said that
Ferdinand’s biological father was Ferdinand Chua, his godfather. He excelled in school and
became interested in boxing and shooting. In the 1930’s, he took up law at the University of
the Philippines. He became the primary suspect on the death of Julio Nalundasan, who won
over him for a seat in the National Assembly in the 1935 elections. He continued his studies
while in prison and even passed the bar exams with flying colors from his cell.

He was convicted in the district court in November 1939. He appealed to the Supreme
Court in 1940. Acting as counsel for himself, he managed to get his conviction overturned
despite strong evidence of his guilt.

World War II

Marcos was practicing law in Manila when he joined the Army and fought as a combat
intelligence officer in the 21st Infantry Division. He saw action in the three-month-long
battle of Bataan. He survived the Bataan Death March, that killed about 1/4 of American
and Filipino POW’s in Luzon. Marcos escaped the prison camp.

He was a special assistant to Manuel Roxas in 1946-47.

Congressman 1949 to 1959; senator from 1963 to 1965. He became President until 1972
and ruled under martial law up to 1986 when his power declined until he left the country for
exile in Hawaii.

Evaluation

Personally, I believe that Ferdinand Marcos had many great qualities. He had the
Filipino nation in mind. He was a dedicated leader. The country had so many problems.

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There seemed to be anarchy. The politicians and the press seemed out of control. There was
lawlessness. Graft and corruption were rampant. The NPA’s were all around. When martial
law was imposed, there was immediate peace because of the curfew hours. But many good
things turned out bad, like unwarranted arrests, suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
But many people said, he was good. Many said, he was bad. Past, contemporary and future
events will show and judge Marcos as what happened to Napoleon Bonaparte in France.

D. Jaime L. Cardinal Sin

Jaime L. Sin (born 1928 was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who was
instrumental in the defeat of the Marcos regime and in the installation of Corazon Aquino as
president in 1986.

Jaime L. Sin was born in New Washington, Aklan, the seventh of nine children. He
attended the Jaro Archdiocesan Seminary of St. Vincent Ferrer. He served as priest of the
Diocese of Capiz from 1954 to 1957 and rector of St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City from
1957 to 1967. In 1960, he was named as domestic prelate. He was named cardinal by Pope
Paul VI in 1976.

He often criticized the Marcos government for violation of human rights, rampant
cheating during elections in the 1970s and 1980s. Before and during the Edsa Revolution,
Radio Veritas had its golden moments, when people listened for developments. People by the
millions moved to Edsa and Malacanang as human barricades blocking the path of the tanks
and weapons of Marcos and Ver from making reprisal attacks on the 300 officers and men in
the military camp led by Enrile and Fidel Ramos. In desperation, Marcos fled the country.

Evaluation

Jaime Cardinal Sin was a good man. God’s power could have been in him. He was not
afraid to confront the strong man and dictator. He had in his mind the concept of a free
nation under God. He exhausted all means possible so that the freedom of the country would
not be lost. He represented the people’s desire to regain the freedom that they lost during
the martial law years - - all for the future generations.

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 He had strong leadership qualities. I learned from my parents that the newsmen’s
cameras got pictures of the rallies and the Virgin Mary seemed to accompany the crowds in
prayer. This is perhaps the reason why the Edsa Revolution took place without bloodshed. I
believe he is a hero.

E. Maria Jessica Soho

Jessica Soho was born on March 27, 1964 in La Union. Her parents are Abelardo Soho, a
government employee and Maura Aspiras, an agriculturist. Jessica’s grandmothers, Sixta
Aspiras and Concepcion Soho influenced her in telling good stories. She was assigned to the
defense and military beat.

Soho is the first Filipino to win in the New York Film Festival for Coverage oa a Breaking
Story for her account of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley. She received the Grand Prize from
the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union for her coverage of a breaking news story. She is included in
the list of 100 Filipino Women of Distinction during the centennial celebration of the Philippines.

Because of her, GMA was the first to win the first Filipino network to win George Foster
Peabody award in 1999. The Asian Television Award awarded to her the Best News and Current
Affairs Special for “Saksi sa Kasaysayan”.

GMA’s Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and State of the Nation with Jessica Soho were recognized
by the Peabody Awards in 2014 for their coverage on Super Typhoon Yolanda. State of the Nation
earned Jessica Soho consecutive wins for Most Trusted News Presenter by Reader’s Digest Asia.

Evaluation

Jessica Soho is a glowing example of a very talented and multi-awarded journalist, I

believe that she carries her work with commitment, dedication and passion to perfection,
She began to reap awards at the age of 25. In 1989, she received two prestigious awards. At
the CCP, she received the Gawad Natatanging Parangal. And the Rotary Club of Manila
honored her as the TV Journalist of the Year. In 1997, she received the Political Reporter.
ReporterIn 1998, tshe was the British Fleet Street Awardee for Investigative Journalism. In
1999, she won the Best Hose in Golden Dove Awards and the Ka Doroy Boadcaster ofthe
Year Award.

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 In 2001, she was nominated as Best Public Affairs Presenter and simultaneously

the Outstanding Broadcast Journalist Award. I observed that every year hence, she bagged
one or two awards, winning for her and the network she represents a very big pile of awards,
making her name synonymous to Quality Journalism in all categories.

I consider her a hero in the making. When the right time will come, she could become a
hero.

F. Claro M. Recto (1890-1960)

Recto. Born in Tiaong, Quezon, but moved to Batangas, was considered as a Philippine
nationalist leader. He was the president of the 1934 Constitutional Convention. He obtained
a Master of Laws degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 1914. He served as legal
adviser to the Philippine Senate. He became a House minority floor leader from 1922 to
1928.

In 1934, a Constitutional Convention was held. His sagacity and intellectual acumen
guided the framing of laws and principles that would govern the people’s lives as free and
responsible citizens in a democracy. He resigned his seat when President Franklin Roosevelt
appointed him as associate justice of of the Supreme Court. He served in the Senate again
for 6 years. He served for three years in the war-time Cabinet of Jose P. Laurel, arrested and
tried for collaboration. He fought his legal battle in court and was acquitted.

Evaluation

Claro M. Recto was a man of high education.. He was a Constitutionalist and was
considered the brain of the Constituion of 1935. He had with him the thought of an
independent nation. He defined what this nation should be and how the people can work
together for our nation’s freedom. He was an expression of the people’s goals and aspirations
in life. His foresight looked far ahead to the future generations.

He was a man of action. He fought for the Constitutitonal rights of Filipinos. The
Constitution is a country’s basic tool in the attainment of freedom. I believe that Recto has
many good, shining qualities, yet he may lack many qualities of a hero.

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 G. Miriam Defensor Santiago

Dr. Miriam Defensor Santiago earned the degree, Doctor of Juridical Science, in the
United States, Her honesty shines like a light in the darkness. She was the first Asian to be
elected in the United Nations as judge of the International Criminal Court. She was chosen
as laureate of the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
She was included in “The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World”. Dr. Santiago is one of
our most intellectually brilliant leader.

Professionally Excellent

She had given excellent service in all the three branches of the government. She had
been presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. She had been immigration
commissioner and an agrarian reform secretary. In the legislative branch, she had served as
a senator for three terms. She had written 30 books in law and the social sciences.

She is a person of unquestioned honesty. Miriam was one of only three senators who
refused to receive the DAP, amounting to P50 million for every senator and P10 million for
every congressman. It was also later revealed that three senators even received P100 million
each.

Evaluation

I believe that our people should be served by unquestionably honest officials. If Dr.
Miriam Santiago could do it, other officials in government should be able to follow it. The
people need the strength of character of leaders who can guide them in thought, word and
deed. Upright leaders can greatly contribute to the nation’s freedom. Leaders should not
think only of themselves and their families. They should serve as guide and light to the
future generations.

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 I believe that Miriam Santiago was an upright woman. It is true that she donated her
DAPs to some public schools. But maybe, she did not have much time to apply and see her
projects through.

H. Jesse M. Robredo

Jesse M. Robredo was born in Naga City, Camarines Sur to parents Jose Chan Robredo
Sr. And Marcelina Manalastas. He dedicated hislife to fighting for the poor and
marginalized and empowering the needy people. He took up Industrial Management and
Mechanical Engineering.in DLSU, in Manila. He finished Masters in Business
Administration in 1985 at the UP; and Masters of Public Administration in 1999 from
Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He became Mayor of Naga at age 29, the youngest Mayor at that time. He died by an
unfortunate plane crash in Masbate Island on August 18, 2012 at age 54.

Evaluation

Jess Robredo possessed many qualities to be a hero. The people of Naga City put their
trust in him and the city experienced many improvements. His performance there earned for
him Noynoy Aquino’s interest to offer him the position of Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government. He performed very well. But, maybe he did not have enough time.

So, I say maybe he can not be a hero.

I. Macliing Dulag

Dulag Macli-ing He was a leader of the Butbut tribe. He was a pangat, and people believe
him. In 1974, the government tried to implement a 1000mw hydroelectric power project to
be funded by the World Bank. It never Materialiazed because Macli-ing was joined by the
nearby leaders and their followers in protest against the project. After many failed

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consultations, some soldiers killed him, but this move made the affected tribes more strongly
united against the project. Evaluation- I believe that Dulag Macli-ing was a hero in their
place. He fought for the perpetuation of their farms as a dedicated leader..After threats to
his life, he remained opposed to the Chico river Dam Project, he paid with his life. I honestly
feel like though that the man cannot be a national hero.

J. Jose Maria Sison

Jose Maria Sison. He was considered as a follower of Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. He is
the chief consultant of the NDF, National Democratic Front, but as of today, the Duterte
administration no longer wishes to negotiate with you them because they used the peace
talks as an opportunity to make raids or ambushes-- against the government, civilians or
corporations. Evaluation Jose Maria Sison was sometimes referred to as a patriot. But it
seems that he is directly opposed to the duly established government and to overthrow it by
armed revolution in when the time is right. At such time, they will take over. All properties
will then belong to the state. They neither believe that God exists. I think Sison cannot be a
hero at all..

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III. References

RESUME/ SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON. (2010, August 02).
Retrieved from https://josemariasison.org/resume-short-biography-of-prof-jose-maria-sison

DULAG, Macli-ing – Bantayog ng mga Bayani. (2015, October 15). Retrieved from
http://www.bantayog.org/dulag-macli-ing/

Who is Jesse Robredo. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://jesserobredofoundation.com/Who-is-Jesse-Robredo/

Biography of Ninoy Aquino. (2016, May 03). Retrieved from

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/biography-of-ninoy-aquino.html

Bellis, M. (2019, April 17). Biography of Fe del Mundo, Noted Filipino Pediatrician.
Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/filipino-doctor-fe-del-mundo-1991718

Szczepanski, K. (2018, April 23). Ferdinand Marcos, Dictator of the Philippines. Retrieved
from https://www.thoughtco.com/ferdinand-marcos-195676

Jaime L. Sin Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://biography.yourdictionary.com/jaime-l-sin

About Jessica Soho | Biography | Journalist | Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://upclosed.com/people/jessica-soho/

Claro M. Recto Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/claro-m-recto