CONCEPT OF

HERO
LESSON 2
• At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Trace the Filipino concept of hero/bayani through times;

2. Analyze the criteria set by nation in recognizing heroes; and
3. Assess the heroism of Rizal using the definitions and criteria of
heroes.
• People tend to misconstrue the title “hero” as an award given to dead people. Doing
great things is likewise misinterpreted as something only heroes, like Rizal, can
achieve.
• Worse, as the popular Filipino adage “Mahirap magpakabayani. Ang bayani ay
binabaril sa Luneta” implies, people become individualistic, devoid of care for
others.
• Such views, unfortunately, hinder their sights on the various possibilities they can
do for the country.
• This lesson traces the concept of hero in the Filipino culture and history to assess
whether its traditional sense is confirmed only to the likes of Rizal, on one hand, or
may be applied to normal people, like the “millennials”, on the other hand.
 CONCEPT OF HERO IN FILIPINO CULTURE
AND HISTORY
• Hero is normally defined here as an illustrious man, often of divine descent, or with
distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, and fortitude in suffering, who is
supposed to be exalted after death. This may be seen in the synonym of hero in
Microsoft word – “Superman”.
• The Filipino concept of hero, on the other hand, is a much broader concept, albeit
stripped of grandeur. Known as Bayani, Bagani, Magani, or Wani in various
Filipino ethno-linguistic groups, a hero in early Philippine societies was just a
normal warrior of the community. His simple tasks were based on daily needs in
the village.
• Pangangayaw or raiding into unallied territory is an example of this.
• According to William Henry Scott, pangangayaw was done because of 4 reasons:
1. To secure resources, ranging from occasional use goods or bounty to human slaves;
2. To avenge a personal affront or family honor;
3. To fulfil mourning requirements to which the life of enemies must be sacrificed;
4. For personal prominence or mercenary reward.
It is important to point out that Bayani does not work alone, he or she always exerts
efforts together with his/her comrades in the community.
• It is noteworthy to mention, however, that early Filipino heroes were
neither savages nor blood-thirsty killing machines.
• A Bayani is more often than not a true kawani or lingkod-bayan
(community servant) who renders his or her help to those in need in
the community without counting the cost.
• The concept of bayanihan (cooperation) and the word ipabayani (free
labor offered to/by someone) proves the semantic essence of Bayani.
• The Boxer Codex (1590) – defines a Bayani as a person with high
status and dignity.
• Pedro Serrano Laktaw – elaborates the personality of Bayani as a
person who fears no one (walang takot), courageous (matapang), firm
(matibay), bold (mapangahas), but quiet (tahimik) and calm
(mahinahon).
• All these qualities are clearly present in a living human. The concept of
a Filipino Hero in early Philippine societies, therefore, is not a
posthumous award given to dead people, but rather an honorific role
and title in the society.
• Changes occurred when the Spaniards conquered the Philippines.
Instead of living role models, the Spaniards had introduced the image
of obedience of saints and disciples whom the Filipinos had to imitate
in order to become good colonials.
• Vida Sancti – or the lives of [dead] saints became the foundation of
good qualities of life.
• Doctrina Christiana – or prayer and doctrine books became a
textbook of faith.
• The Americans, on the other hand, propagated a secular view on
heroes. Hero worshipping of American soldiers who died during the
Philippine-American War like Gen. Henry W. Lawton, Col. John M.
Stotsenburg, and Col. Harry Egbert, was promoted through
monuments and annual commemoration rituals to justify the need for
American tutelage in the Philippines.
• Filipino heroes were also venerated during this period. Jose Rizal,
who was executed by the Spaniards, became the leading national
hero. Mabini, Luna, and Del Pilar also became household names.
• A modern-day concept of the indigenous Bayani still exists today.
The Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) are considered Bagong Bayani
(new heroes). The concept of the Filipino Bayani is indeed embedded
in the blueprint of Filipino well-being.
 RIZAL AS A FILIPINO HERO
• Jose Rizal as a Filipino hero is state-sponsored through the Republic Act
1425 (Rizal Law). His heroism, however, is not a post-World War II
phenomenon.
• Two years after Rizal’s death, the first commemoration was held on
December 30, 1898 when the President of the First Philippine Republic,
Emilio Aguinaldo, declared in Malolos, Bulacan, a day of National
Mourning.
• It is documented that during the meetings of the Katipunan, a portrait of
Rizal was hanging in the room where members were made to believe that
Rizal was an honorary member of the secret society.
• The Americans, realizing the possibilities of a Rizal cult in their colonial agenda,
seized the opportunity and made Rizal the “national” hero of the Philippines.
• Among the choices they had, three criteria were used in the selection:
1. A hero who is not violent and militant, and if possible, preferred peaceful means
like education;
2. A hero who had no qualms on American imperialism;
3. A hero who is already dead.

In 1901, William H. Taft, President of the Second Philippine Commission, had

appointed Rizal to embody the brand of nationalism propagated by the American
colonial government.
• However, there was no actual law during the American Regime that
explicitly declared Rizal the official hero of the country.
• Three steps, instead, were made by the American colonial
government to promote his heroism;
1. The creation of Rizal Province;
2. The erection of Rizal Monument;
3. The declaration of Rizal Day on December 30 as a public holiday.
• In 1995, amidst the preparation of the nation for the upcoming centennial celebration
of Philippine Revolution and Philippine Independence Day, the National Heroes
Committee created by President Fidel V. Ramos released a list of recommended
national heroes. These were as follows:
1. Jose Rizal 7. Melchora Aquino
2. Andres Bonifacio 8. Gabriela Silang
3. Emilio Aguinaldo 9. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
4. Apolinario Mabini
5. Marcelo H. del Pilar
6. Juan Luna
• The aforementioned list is not yet approved. The website of the
National Commission on the Culture and Arts states that “this might
trigger flood of requests for proclamations” and might “trigger bitter
debates involving historical controversies about the heroes”. Various
laws honoring/commemorating Filipino historical figures were instead
passed into law.
• Today, there are four major national celebrations with Rizal as an
important subject: June 12 (Independence Day), June 19 (Birth
Anniversary), last week of August (National Heroes Week), and
December 30 (Rizal Day).
 RIZAL AS A SYMBOL
• When Jose Rizal was set to face his execution, he left a dying wish to his
family.
1. He should be buries in the earth, preferably in Paang Bundok (now
North Cemetery) with a stone and a cross on top.
2. His name, date of birth, and death must also be indicated.
3. If possible he requested for a fence that would mark his grave.
4. He then stressed that no anniversary celebration must be conducted.
• Nothing has been achieved in his last will.
• He preferred to be burries in Paang Bundok but he was buried first in Paco Cemetery
and later transferred beneath his monument in Luneta on December 30, 1912.
• He requested a stone maker; instead, the nation granted him a grand stone monument.
• It is true that his final resting place is surrounded by fence, but such fence is not a
grave, but in a big park which became a tourist spot for travellers and meeting place
for lovers.
• Most of all, the whole nation commemorates his death every year with full military
honors.
• So it was evident that “Two Rizals” appeared in the course of our
history.
• The first one is the historic Rizal who lived and died in the 19 th century
Philippines. He is the Rizal born and raised in Calamba, Laguna, who
studied at the Ateneo Municipal in Manila, travelled and studied
abroad, published Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, founded the
La Liga Filipina and the martyr of Bagumbayan in 1896. He was the
true person, the actual Rizal we can read in history books.
• The symbolic Rizal is the “second” Rizal. He is the kind of
Rizal we have today. He is the Rizal in Luneta, the Rizal in
the one peso coin, the Rizal in postage stamps, the Rizal as
Tagalog Christ, the Rizal as an icon of rock, the Rizal in t-
shirts, and the list go on. This kind of Rizal has indeed
become a text open to many meanings.
ACTIVITY:

IN A GROUP OF 5, REFLECT ON THE FILIPINO CONCEPT OF

HERO. NOW THAT THE NATURE OF THE CONCEPT OF “HERO”
HAS BEEN CLARIFIED AS NOT TO BE A POSTHUMOUS
AWARD, YOU WILL HAVING A ROLE PLAYING ON HOW CAN
A STUDENT LIKE YOU BECOME A BAYANI IN YOUR OWN
WAYS.
•THANK YOU!