Ateneo de Davao University

School of Business and Governance

Accountancy

Is Rizal a National Hero

Source: The Philippine Star
Date: December 31, 2012
Author: Sara Soliven De Guzman

Submitted to:
Mrs. Aquino

Submitted By:
Pamela Denise L. Del Norte

11:05-12:05/MWF C304

Summarization
It is to be known that Jose Rizal has never been proclaimed a national hero. Our
country has been acclimatised to worship and required to study his great novels,
namely, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibisterismo. Of course, Jose Rizal, in his own, had a
great mind and was well brilliant but according to the publication of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts, aside from the Philippine flag, the antem, the coatof arms and other heraldic devices, the Philippines has only five national symbols
declared by law and none of the, included a national hero.
In fact, research shows that there is no Filipino historical figure who has been
declared as a national hero through any law or executive order. Moreover, all we only
have are laws and proclamations honouring Filipino heroes. Nevertheless, in November
15, 1995 that the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee
recommended nine Filipino historical figures to be the National Heroes: Jose Rizal,
Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Sultan
Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino and Gabriel Silang. But this is still a
pending issue, but still, the President should be persuaded to do something about this
matter.
With this, it has been confusing Filipinos, especially the youth of our national
identity. The administrations have come and gone up to this date neglected the
educational value of teaching our youth and our people the historical and cultural facts
about our country. We have forgotten and neglected the other unsung heroes who
fought and died for the freedom of this country.

Reaction Proper

First of all, I would like to iterate what hero means, it is a prominent or central
personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a person with
distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; and a man honoured
after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to mankind. This definition
definitely describes Jose Rizal. A hero need not be declared by law to recognize his
extraordinary service to the Filipino people. Through his actions that portrayed
selflessness, he is inevitably a hero worthy of acknowledgement. Jose Rizal doesnt
need an official status to be a national symbol, and it certainly need not to be
established in our law. Jose Rizal is incomparable to our law, by this I mean that he is
outside the realms of and takes precedent to our law. In fact, he is the reason why we
have our own, self-made, free from theocratic influence of Friars, established law.
Also, the word icon used to discredit Jose Rizals entitlement to national hero is
one-sided. It used as an object, an emblem, or a symbol that which describes our
nation. The author said that these national symbols that was described as icons has
merit because of their official status which was proclaimed by the law. The other
meaning of icon is a person who is very successful and admired. Jose Rizal was
successful, not only with his works, but also with his dire desire of liberating the
oppressed Filipino from the hands of the Spanish Tyranny. We may still be colonized by
the Spaniards if not for his initiation for the liberation of the Filipino, and to make them

realize despotism of the Spaniards. And because of his exceptional deeds, he is

admired by the Filipino people.
I also disagree to the authors statement that our country is conditioned to look
up to Jose Rizal, that students in school shouldnt be studying his works, specifically
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and the fact the we study his works so much that
we tend to forget and neglect other nameless heroes who also fought and died, like
Rizal, for our country. I am not disregarding those nameless people who fought and died
for our country. They are commemorated for their sacrifice to our mother land. However,
disrespect non intended, these people would have not fought for the country if not for
Rizals Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that has sparked the revolution in the
hearts of this people.
In addition, we are not a bunch of confused idiots because what the
administrations is teaching us is an authentic historical and cultural facts of the
Philippines. They are teaching hard facts about the history and not merely offering a
subjective view about the past. The past can never be changed, what happened really
happened. With this in mind, I am starting to doubt the authors knowledge of historical
events and cultural facts.
Another thought is the recommendation of the Technical Committee of the
National Heroes Committee of the nine Filipino historical figures to be National Heroes
and the fact that the President should take actions for this. My argument is that our
nation is a third world country, and the President has more important matters to
consider, like poverty and hunger, to even concentrate on such matter.

Lastly, I disagree to authors comment about the Philippine having a lost identity.
Jose Rizal, being the greatest Filipino, represents our nation. Our culture and other
pleasant characteristics are just icing in the cake.