Camarines Norte State College College of Business and Public Administration Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing

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Dr. Jose Rizal: A False National Hero

Anna Francesca T. Tablizo Julius P. Azaa AY 2012-2013

Dr. Jose Rizal: A False National Hero

The usual notion of a national hero is a man who has the courage and strength to lead an army to war, someone who is willing to risk his life fighting against the oppressors for the sake of his homeland. But the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, made use of a pen instead of a sword to fight against the Spanish Governments oppression. He p refers peace rather than violence and participation in war, so with his intelligence and literary acumen, he wrote the prominent novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to show the Spaniards unjust treatment of the Filipino people. There is no denying that Rizal did great things for his country in a short period of his lifetime, but are these things enough reasons for him to deserve the eminence of a National Hero? Epi Fabonan (2011) says that for one to be a hero, one must be willing to sacrifice himself to serve as a motivation in setting the country free from foreign occupation. Fabonan pointed out that Rizal is a typical example of this self sacrifice. In gathering the knowledge around the world that will help in the struggle for reforms in the Philippines, he sacrificed his love life and a quiet life. He used his own time, money and effort for all the Filipinos. By writing his novels Noli Me Tangere an El Filibusterismo, he info rmed the peoples status in the society. Fabonans insight on Rizals ultimate sacrifice is when he refused to be rescued by Bonifacios Revolution. He renounced his own life at execution to be the revolutions inspiration. Esteban de Ocampo (2011) states that for being an influential figure in the Propaganda Campaigne, Rizal is unquestionably the nations greatest hero. There is no hesitation that Rizals novels contributed tremendously to the Filipino nationalitys formation. In his Noli and Fili, he

embedded an idea on the Filipino minds. Being a patriot himself, he made it clear how important it was to love ones country. For being a novelist, engineer, writer, etc Rizal showed the world what Filipinos could be capable of and that there was no limit to their ability. De Ocampo says that Rizal was also a hero for he is a man honoured after death by public worship because of his exceptional service to mankind. Leon Maria Guerrero (2003) says If a people have the government they deserve, they also have heroes made in their own image and likeness. Guerrero believes that the most evident reason why Rizal is the Philippine National hero is the Filipinos love peace. They have chosen a man of peace above the men of war. The Filipino people, lover of freedom and justice, worshipped a man who deserted his own comforts and pleasures of peace for their sake. Although Rizal died a failure the people still chose him for they value virtue more than victory and sacrifice above success. Guerrero also says that the Filipino s national fondness for tragedy made them choose Rizal, a virtuous man who suffers because of his very virtues, to be the hero of the country. It has also been observed, says Guerrero, that we commemorate our defeats rather than victories. Filipinos honour fighters who serve their country, but they set aside their deepest love for the Christ -like victims like Rizal whose mission is to redeem their nation by their tragic failure. In the search for the Philippine National Hero, the people decided to choose an outstanding Filipino hero who could inspire and unite fragmented islanders into one great race in one great nation. Minyong Ordoez (2012) says that Bonifacio, Aguinaldo and Rizal are the top candidates that are on his mind. But according to Professor Quirino, the finalists were Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar, both were reformer-propagandist patriots who made great sacrifices for reforms. Ordoez says that Aguinaldos and Bonifacios elimination was a biased

act by the American military-civilian committee. Ordoez cited the reasons why Rizal fits the bill. The first was Rizals ideology of liberalism. Rizal was already an observer of the political life at a very young age and his nationalism that is based on democratic principles started way back in his youth. He was a reformist at heart and he is considered the nationalist patriot role model in Asia. The next reason why Rizal was chosen as the national hero is his role as communicatorleader. Ordoez believes that this was Rizals biggest contribution to the cause of enlightenment of both the oppressed Filipinos and the oppressor Spaniards. Rizals writings served as his legacy for the new generation. And the last reason is his romanticism. The martyrdom of Rizal in the public square, his tragic love affairs, his internationalist confidence, his fluency in many languages and his revolution-igniting novels are legendary. His death, says Ordoez, was a statement of courage, not fear; love of country, not shame; pride of honor, not seditionthe big catharsis that made Filipinos one people in one nation, bringing dishonor to Spains colonial rule. Though there are numerous reasons for Rizal to deserve his eminence as the national hero, there are still some people who question his elevation like Renato Constantino. Constantino (1970) agrees that Rizal had the qualities of greatness but he contends that the Philippine national hero is an American-made one. But we must accept that fact, says Constantino, that his formal designation as our national hero, his elevation to his present eminence so far above all our other heroes were abetted and encouraged by the Americans. In 1901, Civil Governor William Howard Taft suggested to the Philippine Commission that the Filipinos be given a national hero. Theodore Friend (1920) says in his Between Two Empires that with the other

American colonial officials and some conservative Filipinos, Taft chose Rizal as a model hero over the other contestants. Friend says that Taft found Aguinaldo too combative, Bonifacio too radical and Mabini unregenerated, which makes Rizal a made-to-order national hero. He was chosen among the others for he is the only one who meets the requirements of the Americans for their very own benefit. Governor W. Cameron Forbes (1928) wrote in his book The Philippine Islands the summary of the American aid where it is stated that the Americans assisted Rizals recognition as hero: It is eminently proper that Rizal should have become the acknowledged national hero of the Philippine people. The American administration has lent every assistance to this recognition, setting aside the anniversary of his death to be a day of observance, placing his picture on the postage stamp most commonly used in the islands, and on the currency. And throughout the islands the public schools teach the young Filipinos to revere his memory at the greatest of Filipino patriots. Constantino emphasized that Rizal never advocated Philippine Independence. He condemned the Revolution and even tried to supress the uprising by offering his unconditional service to his Excellency. Rizal did not equate independence to liberty which is clearly expressed in the letter he wrote for his defence counsel: Many have interpreted my phrase to have liberties as to have independence, which are two different things. A people can be free without being independent, and a people can be independent without being free. I have always desired liberties for the Philippines and I have said so. Others who testify that I said independence either have to put the cart before the horse or they lie.

If Rizal doesnt yearn for his country freedom, then what is he struggling for? It was a reform. Rizals reformism is evident in the letter he wrote to Blumentritt: Under the present circumstances, we do not want separation from Spain. All that we ask is greater attention, better education, better government employees, one or two representatives and greater security for our persons and prosperity. Spain could always win the appreciation of the Filipinos if she were only reasonable! The heroes who advocated independence were ignored for the Americans favoured a hero who would not run against their colonial policy. Rizal was acceptable to the Americans because in the first place, he was safely dead by the time the American aggression began. He was considered a symbol of Spanish oppression, not American. Focusing attention on Rizal would not only serve to make the Filipino concentrate their hatred against Spaniards, it would also make their feelings of hostility towards the new conquerors dull. It was easy to elevate Rizal as a national hero for the Filipinos who are proud of him naturally appreciated the honours given to him. Moreover, the Filipino members of the Philippine Commission are like what Rizal was regarded as - an illustrado. Who would not be in favor of someone who is under their class? Dr. Jose Rizal is a great and an admirable figure indeed, but the eminence bestowed upon him is questionable. Is the title National Hero appropriate for Rizal? The hero could be for his heroic deeds, but the national? In his time, the Philippines is not a nation but a colony controlled by the Spaniards. The Spanish Governments unjust treatment to his fellow Filipinos drove Rizal to struggle for reform but never for independence. In the end, unlike other

revolutionary heroes, or a typical Filipino, Rizal himself does not want to be free from invasion. Rizal asks eagerly for the Spaniards to revise their laws by the exposition of their unjust

treatment to the Filipino that is caused by their implementation of rulings. Rizal is made to be a hero of American government for the reason that among the contenders, only Rizal cant argue and oppose them.

References Fabonan, Epi. (2011, June 19). Rizal: What made him our national hero?<http://soksay.blogspot.com/2011/06/rizal-what-made-him-our-hero.html>(2013, March 2) De Ocampo, Esteban A. (2011, December). Who made our national hero, and why?<http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/12/who-made-rizal-our-foremostnational.html>(2013, March 2) Ordoez, Minyong. (2012). The art of hero-worshipping Jose Rizal <http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/83349/the-art-of-hero-worshipping-jose-rizal> (2013, March 20) Guerrero, Leon Maria. ( 2003). The first filipino. Manila: Guerrero Publishing Friend, Theodore (1928). Between Two Empires. In Constantino, Renato. (1970).Veneration without understanding <http://www.scribd.com/doc/7163298/RenatoConstantinoVeneration-Without-Understanding>(2013, February 28) Forbes, W. Cameron. (1928). The Philippine Islands. In Constantino, Renato. (1970).Veneration without understanding <http://www.scribd.com/doc/7163298/RenatoConstantinoVeneration-Without-Understanding>(2013, February 28) Constantino,Renato.(1970).Veneration without understanding <http://www.scribd.com/doc/7163298/Renato-ConstantinoVeneration-WithoutUnderstanding>(2013, February 28)