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Rizal 10

Rizal is considered the Philippine national hero for his role in advocating for Philippine reforms during the Spanish colonial era through his writings. While Rizal has never been officially declared the national hero, he and Bonifacio are commemorated in nationwide holidays, implying their status as national heroes. The National Heroes Committee recommended Rizal, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, Mabini, del Pilar, Kudarat, Luna, Aquino, and Silang to be recognized as national heroes in 1995, but no action has been taken. A 2014 bill sought to declare Rizal the sole national hero due to his nationalist writings and advocacy. Both Rizal's diplomatic reform efforts and Bonif

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Glomelyn Rose Ortiz Tañedo
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1K views

Rizal 10

Rizal is considered the Philippine national hero for his role in advocating for Philippine reforms during the Spanish colonial era through his writings. While Rizal has never been officially declared the national hero, he and Bonifacio are commemorated in nationwide holidays, implying their status as national heroes. The National Heroes Committee recommended Rizal, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, Mabini, del Pilar, Kudarat, Luna, Aquino, and Silang to be recognized as national heroes in 1995, but no action has been taken. A 2014 bill sought to declare Rizal the sole national hero due to his nationalist writings and advocacy. Both Rizal's diplomatic reform efforts and Bonif

Uploaded by

Glomelyn Rose Ortiz Tañedo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Rizal

Chapter 10

Topic: Jose Rizal & Philippine Nationalism: Bayani & Kabayanihan

Guide Questions:
1. What is your definition of a “bayani” or hero, justify your definitions.
Most people conceive the idea of a hero as a person who after their death has been recognized by a
nation. The Oxford dictionary defines a hero as “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized
for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” (Oxford Dictionary, 2007). It would be easier
to define the word Bayani to the English translation of hero, but to the Filipino people, it has more
elements. First, Bayani is not gender specific. Second, the definition of Bayani, in a Filipino traditional
sense, is an unselfish act towards the human race; a person with extraordinary courage or bravery that
ignores extreme danger and exhibits strength to overcome difficulties. Lastly, a Bayani never concern
their own personal pleasure nor do they expect compensation for what they do, rather their actions are
done out of kindness. In other words, a Bayani is one that humbly recognizes the interest of what is
bigger that the individual, like the group, the community, the nation, humanity and the environment.
The need to improve the state of humanity is instinctive and habitual.

2. In your own words, why is Jose Rizal become our national hero? Do you have any suggestions on who
deserves the title? Who & why?
A national hero of the Philippines is a Filipino who has been recognized as a national hero for his or
her role in the history of the Philippines. Loosely, the term may refer to all Filipino historical figures
recognized as heroes, but the term more strictly refers to those officially designated as such. In 1995
the Philippine National Heroes Committee officially recommended several people for the designation,
but this was not acted upon. As of 2007, no one had ever been officially recognized as a Philippine
national hero.[1]
The reformist writer José Rizal, today generally considered the greatest Filipino hero and often given
as the Philippine national hero, has never been explicitly proclaimed as the (or even a) national hero by
the Philippine government.[1] Besides Rizal, the only other Filipinos currently given implied recognition
as national hero such as revolutionary Andrés Bonifacio.[1] While other historical figures are
commemorated in public municipal or provincial holidays, Rizal and Bonifacio are commemorated in
public nationwide (national) holidays and thus are implied to be national heroes.[1]
The National Heroes Committee recommended Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio
Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora
Aquino, and Gabriela Silang to be recognized as national heroes on November 15, 1995. [1] No action has
yet been taken on these recommendations by the committee.
A bill filed by Congressman Rene Relampagos from Bohol in February 2014 sought, among other things,
to declare Jose Rizal as the sole Filipino national hero. [2] According to the bill, he was a nationalist and
well known for his Philippine reforms advocacy during the Spanish colonial era.[3] As of January 1, 2017,
the status of the bill was "Pending with the Committee on REVISION OF LAWS since 2014-02-19". [4] In
honor of their heroic actions, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) issues
commemorative coins
3 To the Filipino Youth

Rizal wrote this literary poem when he was still studying at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST). Originally
written in Spanish (A la juventud filipina), Rizal submitted this piece for a poem contest organized for
Filipinos by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature. At the age of 18, this work is beaming with strong
messages to convince readers, the youth in particular, that they are the hope of the nation. He also
stresses the importance of education to one’s future. Rizal won the first prize and was rewarded with a
feather-shaped silver pen and a diploma.

4. Which is beter: Rizal’s diplomatic reform or Bonifacio’s impulsive revolt? Defend your answer.
It is unfortunate that many students are still reared on the dated Agoncillo-Constantino histories of the
1960s, that are ideologically slanted to give preferential option for the revolutionary hero of the
masses, Andres Bonifacio, against the reformist and burgis Jose Rizal.
Schoolchildren are often made to choose, who should rightfully be our national hero? Rizal or
Bonifacio? Why can’t they be taught that both Rizal and Bonifacio are national heroes? There should be
no conflict between them if only because Bonifacio himself looked up to Rizal and even consulted him,
through an emissary sent to Dapitan, before he hatched the revolution.

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