Jose Rizal as Our National Hero

It was on December 28, 1946 when the Americans suggested and proclaimed Jose
Rizal to be the Philippine national hero. The Filipinos became more familiar with his
achievements and writings which have inspired the Filipino youth to fan the flames of
probability and proclaim their uniqueness to the world. One of his famous lines that echo
on the minds of most Filipinos is, The youth is the hope of our fatherland. Despite of
this, there is also negative system of tenets on him being our national hero.
The four years in the Ateneo were a continuous pageant of brilliant scholastic
triumphs, which made Jos Rizal the pride of the Jesuits. He was as good as he was
brilliant. The Jesuits called him "a child excellent in religious sentiments, customs and
application, with progress worthy of his signal talent. (G. & S. Zaide, 1984)
Rizal served as an inspiration to the Filipinos especially on the youth. Firstly,
because he stands for what he believe in. As early as the age of 14, Rizal wrote poems
critical of the Spanish colonization. He aspired for reform in his native land even if he
was free from all of that when he was in Europe. When La Solidaridad members were
having fun in that faraway continent, Rizal focused on writing to subtly bash the Spanish
government. Even when he was having a glass of water for breakfast, radish for lunch,
and skipped dinner, that wouldn't hinder him from writing Noli Me Tangere. He inspires
us because he stood up for what he believed was right until his very last breath. Jose
Rizal is one of the inspirational people who told the youth that they are important. His
philosophies about the youth's capabilities are exemplified through his rebellious works
during the Spanish colonization. He spoke for the Filipino youths rights, regardless of
tradition and culture.
For the reason that he is exemplified as a standard to what a hero should be in a
Filipino context. Moreover, because he is very popular and very much respected, Rizal
has become, not surprisingly, the poster boy for all kinds of causes.
In June 2011, supporters of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill claimed that Rizal,
were he alive today, would lobby for the bill. Tourist guide Carlos Celdran took that
literally, dressing up in a Rizal costume to berate bishops in the Manila Cathedral. A
Facebook page named Free Carlos Celdran and a competing page named Keep Carlos

Celdran in Jail immediately cropped up, thrusting Rizal into the heart of the Web (I.
Cruz, 2011).
Jose Rizal is an American sponsored hero. Governor Willian Howard Taft with
other American colonial officials and some conservative Filipinos chose Rizal as a model
hero over other contestants Aguinaldo too militant, Bonifacio too radical, Mabini
unregenerate. This decision to sponsor Rizal was implemented with the passage of the
following Acts of the Philippine Commission: Act No. 137 which organized the politicomilitary district of Morong and named it the province of Rizal, in honor of the most
illustrious Filipino and the most illustrious Tagalog the islands had ever known, Act
No.243 which authorized a public subscription for the erection of a monument in honor
or Rizal at the Luneta, and Act No. 346 which set aside the anniversary of his death as a
day of observance. (R. Constantino, 1970)
Feasible to be an American subsidize hero for the reason that Rizal advocated that
the Philippines in not sufficiently exclude itself from Spain and thus just be part or be
region of Spain. That principle can be manipulated as the same to the United States in
handling the Philippines. The one being a big nation and the smaller one can be subdued
as they please.
Our national hero was not the leader of our Revolution. In fact, he repudiated that
Revolution. In no uncertain terms he placed himself against Bonifacio and those Filipinos
who were fighting for the countrys liberty. In fact, when he was arrested he was on his
way to Cuba to use his medical skills in the service of Spain. (R. Constantino, 1970)
True heroes provide strategies for solving problems. One such strategy is handling
information regarding the varied arid manifold problems facing the nation - governance,
economy, peace, and freedom.
The kind of heroism needed to accomplish these ends can only come from a
human person conscious of his ultimate destiny, his pure vision beyond time, the idealism
that rise above power, money, or pleasures ultimately. It lies in the awareness of what
man and women can be and the strength of mind to recreate the world in that vision.
Unfortunately, our hero, Jose Rizal did not support the revolution. He wanted the
Philippines to be a province of Spain instead of being an independent nation. Rizal
repudiated the one act which really synthesized our nationalist aspiration, and yet we

consider him a nationalist leader. Such an appraisal has dangerous implications because it
can be used to exculpate those who actively betrayed the Revolution and may serve to
diminish the ardour of those who today may be called upon to support another great
nationalist undertaking. The heroes of a nation or even in a community and in the school
do not feast on the spoils of political power but instead enlighten their citizenry about the
big problem the people are facing, sadly Rizal has somehow failed in this kind of
approach.
It is an underlying fact that Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda
was one of the most significant and influential personalities that has been inculcated in
our minds since our childhood, thus making him one of the undeniable inspirations of the
populace. Needless to say, that many youths and adults alike aspire to be a Dr. Jose Rizal
in their very one context of deliverance. Although he has incomparable positive aspects
that requisite to be looked upon to, still this does not suffice the call for validity in terms
of acknowledging him to be the Philippine national hero since there are lingering disputes
on why did he became a hero in the very first place.

REFERENCES:
Zaide, Gregorio & Sonia. 1984. Jose Rizal : life, works, and writings of a genius , writer,
Scientist and national hero. Metro Manila, Philippines : National Book Store,
1984.
Constantino, Renato. 1970. Dissent and Counter-Consciousness. Quezon City: Malaya
Books Inc.
Cruz, Isagani. (2011, December 15). Education and Home. Jose Rizal Online
Retrieved February 26, 2012 from the World Wide Web:
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