Who Made Jose Rizal Our Foremost National Hero, and Why?

Esteban A. De Ocampo

Presented by : Arjay M. Obal Lorie May Galasinao

Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda • Byword in every Filipino (pictures, names, stamp, monuments, etc.)

“The doctrines of Rizal are not for one epochs but for all epochs. They are as valid today as they were yesterday. It cannot be said that because the political ideas of Rizal have been achieved, because of the change in the institutions, the wisdom of his counsels or the value of his doctrines have ceased to be opportune. They have not.”

-Rafael Palma

However…• There are still some Filipinos believed that Rizal is

a “made-to-order” national hero and the great manufacturer were the Americans particularly Civil Governor William Howard Taft. 

 “And now, gentlemen, you must have a national hero.”

(Addressed to Pardo de Tavera, Legarda and Luzurriaga of Philippine Commission)

Noli me Tangere•  “the book is superior, … because he exposed to the

world the sufferings of Spain, … will bring you equal glory”

- Antonio Ma. Regidor, exile in 1872“Your work, as we Germans say, has been written with the blood of the heart… Your work has exceeded my hopes & I consider myself happy to have been honored by your friendship. Not only I, but also your country, may feel happy for having in you a patriotic & loyal son. If you continue so, you will be to your people one of those great men who will exercise a determinative influence over the progress of their spiritual life.” 

-Ferdinand Blumentritt

Noli me Tangere “heretical, impious & scandalous to the religious order, & unpatriotic and subversive to the public order, libelous to the government of Spain and to its political policies in these islands” 

 - Faculty Committee of UST

“the importation, production and circulation of this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely prohibited” 

 - Censorship Commission (1887)

“What is most admirable in Rizal is his complete self-denial, complete abandonment of his personal interests, to think only of those of his country… He heeded not his brother, not even his parents, beings whom he respected and venerated much, in order to follow the road his conscience had traced for him.”

-Rafael Palma

Rizal was recognized as the leading

Filipino even before his death

- Marcelo H. del Pilar - Fernando Acevedo “Rizal distinguido amigo,

companero y paisano”- Ferdinand Blumentritt - Napoleon M. Kheil, Dr. Rheinhold Rot - Vicente Barrantes

Here and abroad recognized his leadership:1. Honorary President of La Solidaridad (1899)

2. Organized and Chief of Indios Bravos (1899)

3. Responsible of the Spanish-Filipino Association (1891)

4. Founder of La Liga Filipina (1892)

• Honorary President of Katipunan and used his family name “Rizal” as the password of 3rd Degree Member (Bayani)

• Commemorative Program of his execution on Dec 29, 1897 at Hongkong (Junta)

• Universal homage of his colleague and friends

Who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines?

•NO SINGLE PERSON OR GROUPS OF PERSONS

•Rizal himself, his own people and the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero and martyr of his people.

Republic Act No. 1425June 12, 1956

An Act to include in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges and universities courses on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.

-Sen. Claro M. Recto

Republic Act No. 646

•Knights of Rizal

•Orden de caballeros de Rizal

HOUSE BILL 3431• Andres Bonifacio Act of 2013

• Neil Colmenares and Carlos Zarate

National Heroes Committee (1993)1. Heroes are those that have a concept of nation and

thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom.

2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation.

3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.

4. A hero is a part of the people’s expression. 5. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future

generations. 6. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting

of an episode or events in history, but the entire process that made this particular person a hero.