Hero is defined by Webster Universal English Dictionary as a

person of exceptional bravery, a person admired for superior qualities

and achievements. Every person has a right to be a hero, even animals
can be a hero, but not everyone is willing to accept it. Latest heroes of
the Filipinos are Efren Peaflorida, for his dedication to teach the street
children. Another is Kabang, the hero dog who saved the life of his
master in a motor accident. But how do we measure the act of an
individual in order to call them as hero? How can we say that an
individual is a hero?
Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Filipinos and pride of the
Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba,
Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9
girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguished
families.
His father, Francisco Mercado y Chinco, an industrious farmer
whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came from Bian, Laguna; while
his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and
accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother,"
was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet
from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write, he already
showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and
relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of
clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the
theme of which revolves on the love of ones language. In 1877, at the age
of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of
"excellent" from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he
enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas,
while at the same time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and
expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21,
1877 and passed the Surveyors examination on May 21, 1878; but
because of his age, 17, he was not granted license to practice the
profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at
the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt
that the Filipino students were being discriminated upon by their
Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he
continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21,
1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in
Medicine and on June 19, 1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course
in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent."
Rizal grew up nurtured by a closely-knit Catholic family, was
educated in the foremost Catholic schools of the period in the
elementary, secondary and college levels; logically, he should have been a
propagator of strictly Catholic traditions. However, in later life, he
developed a life philosophy of a different nature, a philosophy of a
different Catholic practice intermingled with the use of Truth and
Reason.
Rizal did not believe in the Catholic dogma that salvation was only
for Catholics and that outside Christianity salvation was not possible
even if Catholics composed only a small minority of the worlds religious
groups. Nor did he believe in the Catholic observation of fasting as a
sacrifice, nor in the sale of such religious items as the cross, medals,
rosaries and the like in order to propagate the Faith and raise church
funds. He also lambasted the superstitious beliefs propagated by the
priests in the church and in the schools. All of these and a lot more are
evidences of Rizals religious philosophy.
Rizals political philosophy proved to be the study and application
of reforms, the extension of human rights, the training for self
government and the arousing of spirit of discontent over oppression,
brutality, inhumanity, sensitiveness and self love.
Rizals philosophy of education centers on the provision of proper
motivation in order to support or strengthen the great social forces that
make education a success, to create in the youth an innate desire to
cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal.
The study of human behavior as to whether it is good or bad or
whether it is right or wrong is that science upon which Rizals ethical
philosophy was based. The fact that the Philippines was under Spanish
domination during Rizals time led him to subordinate his philosophy to
moral problems. This trend was much more needed at that time because
the Spaniards and the Filipinos had different and sometimes conflicting
morals. The moral status of the Philippines during this period was one
with a lack of freedom, one with predominance of foreign masters, one
with an imposition of foreign religious worship, devotion, homage and
racial habits. This led to moral confusion among the people, what with
justice being stifled, limited or curtailed and the people not enjoying any
individual rights.
To bolster his ethical philosophy, Dr. Rizal had recognized not only
the forces of good and evil, but also the tendencies towards good and evil.
As a result, he made use of the practical method of appealing to the
better nature of the conquerors and of offering useful methods of solving
the moral problems of the conquered.
A master in 22 languages, Rizal used his intellectual and writing
talents to write about the Spanish Colonial elite and the atrocities
committed towards the natives by the Friars in the name of the Church.
He translated and published his writings in many languages. However,
this meant Rizal faced strong public opposition from elites in many
countries who wanted to protect their interests in colonialism.
Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892 and formed a civic
movement called La Liga Filipina. His goal was to unite Filipinos for
protection from violence and injustice and to fight for change through
peaceful and legal means. Rizal was declared an enemy of the state and
his organization was disbanded by the Spanish governor.
our liberty will (not) be secured at the swords pointwe
must secure it by making ourselves worthy of it. And when a people
reaches that height God will provide a weapon, the idols will be
shattered, tyranny will crumble like a house of cards and liberty will
shine out like the first dawn Jos Rizal
Even when the infamous General Baleriano Weyler (who developed
harsh tactics and cruel concentration camps for the natives in Cuba a
few years earlier) was transferred to the Philippines to suppress the
native organizing, Jos Rizal continued speaking out and leading tenants
against the injustices oppressing them, including ever-increasing rents,
evictions, and the farm destruction ordered by the General.
Years later, recognized by Ghandi, as a fore-runner in the cause of
freedom, Rizal never once backed down from his beliefs that his people
needed proper representation, strong education, better protection and a
better government. Yet, his undaunted courage and determination to
improve the welfare of Filipinos was feared by his enemies. They quickly
deported him as a rebel.
Where many would give up or become discouraged, Rizal used
those four years of exile to build a school, a hospital and water dam and
supply system that were considered engineering marvels. His sincerity
and friendliness won the trust and confidence of everyone, even his
prison guards.
Shortly after his return, the Philippines began a full-blown
revolution. In order to disassociate with the violent uprising, which he
felt would not be enough to change the minds of the wealthy Filipinos,
Rizal volunteered to go serve victims of yellow fever in Cuba.
He was arrested en route to Cuba and sent to prison. A prime
example of his character is seen in his return voyage. The guards refused
to chain him or touch him because he was known for his honesty. Rizal
never took advantage of opportunities to escape.
Upon his return, Jos Rizal was charged with sedition, conspiracy
and rebellion and sentenced to death. Without a chance to challenge the
charges, Rizal was executed by a firing squad, and buried secretly and
without a casket in unholy ground.
A monument now stands in the place where he was killed.
The inscription reads, I want to show to those who deprive people
the right to love of country, that when we know how to sacrifice
ourselves for our duties and convictions, death does not matter if
one dies for those one loves for his country and for others dear to
him.
His life and death was a catalyst that sparked the revolution
against Spain and six years later would change the long-held view of the
U.S. government that the Filipinos were too barbaric to govern
themselves. The U.S. passed a bill in support of a Democratic
government in the Philippines after hearing one of his poems read in
congress.
I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land.
You, who have it to see, welcome it and forget not those who have
fallen during the night! Jos Rizal

Dr. Jos Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda or commonly
known as Dr. Jose Rizal, a name we Filipinos know or have heard of. But
do we really know the real man behind this name? Do we really know
what he did, not only for himself and family but for our country? What
did Rizal do in order venerate him as our national hero? Why not those
who have showed strength and bravery through revolution? Is it really
possible to show strength and fight for freedom through writing?
Rizal based on several writings about him; he is the one who
opened the Filipinos mind about the Spaniards autocracy. Rizal is a man
with great passion on writing, a man with high education, and a man
wanting to have equality on our native land.
Rizal opened up the minds of the Filipinos through his writing
such as El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere which lead the Filipinos
to revolt against Spaniards unequal treatment. But this action made
Rizal disappointed. He did all his writings not to start a bloody-revolution
but to open up the minds of the Spaniards in giving the Filipinos equal
rights as they are enjoying.
Rizal did so much for our country. Although we knew that he was
only given the right as our national hero because of the Americans. But if
we try to figure it out, between all our heroes, he emerges differently.
Unlike others, he didnt join any bloody act or any actions that resulted
to death, but he fought through his passion which is writing to open not
only the mind of the Filipinos but also the minds of the Spaniards
specially friars.
As for me, Rizal has a right to be our national hero not because of
starting a revolution in order to have freedom but because of his way of
having liberty to have equal rights for the Filipinos and for the Spaniards
in the Philippines. He did not want to have a bloody revolution, he only
want equality for the Spaniards and Filipinos.









BIBLIOGRAPHIES
BOOK
Zaida, Gregorio F and Sonia M, Jose Rizal, 2007

INTERNET SOURCES
http://moralheroes.org/jose-protacio-rizal
http://monkshobbit.wordpress.com
http://www.joserizal.com
http://angbuhaynijprizal.wordpress.com
http://www.joserizal.ph/bg01.html