Thesis:

“For he possessed to an eminent degree those moral virtues that make up true patriotism"

Anti-Thesis:
1. Does Rizal truly possess the moral virtues?
2. Is Patriotism really what Rizal did? or is it Nationalism?

3. Should other significant contributors of Philippine’s quest for freedom and history reach the eminent degree
of Rizal’s Moral Virtues to be recognized as true patriot?

Every individual has a distinct moral virtues from the other and what matters to be recognized,
acknowledged or even considered as a Filipino with true patriotism is the intention behind their heroic acts and
essential contributions. One’s contribution, regardless of the degree of their moral virtues and the way they have
shared their life as a response to the call of nationalism must be counted as a Filipino with true patriotism.

The distinction as to educational attainment, measure of impact and way of fighting for country’s
independence must not be part of the weighing assessment for one’s patriotism. All acts with an intention to leave
a mark in Filipino people must be appreciated and recognized as making up true patriotism.

4. Does the high level of Rizal’s Moral Virtues have led to overpower the noteworthy contributions of
unrecognized patriots?

The Philippine Revolution that sparked in 1896 had witnessed the rise of great Filipino patriots all over the
country. So much effort has been given to the acknowledgement of known national heroes leading to the fact that
the other heroes who exerted same extent of heroic acts for the love of their country has been neglected
unconsciously. The definition of hero is not exclusive to great men but also extend to those who attempted to
improve the lives of their fellowmen and attain a society associated with goodness. The following unrecognized
heroes contributed their talents and responded to the call of nationalism for independence against the Spaniards,
who had robbed the country’s sovereignty for more than 300 years. 

1. Gregorio Aglipay Cruz y Labayan - a former Catholic priest, a nationalist, a patriot, a guerilla leader,
and the first Supreme Bishop of the Iglesia Filipiniana Independiente. He is the forefront in convening
the Assembly of Paniqui which was convened in 1899 for the purpose of organizing the Filipino clergy.
He was the only priest who signed in the Malolos Congress. Gregorio urged the Filipino clergy to elect
an Ecclesiastical Council which would set up a provisional organization for the Filipino Church.

2. Pascual Hicaro - not equally famous to known propagandist such as Marcelo H. del Pilar and Jose P.
Rizal but he had joined the Philippine Revolution using his pen and wisdom as his greatest weapons.

3. Julio Nakpil - He was active in Rizal’s Liga Filipina when the revolution broke out. Andres Bonifacio.
Bonifacio assigned him delicate missions such as transferring boxes of gunpowder from the Spanish
arsenal in Binangonan to Tejeros, Malabon, Cavite. Bonifacio trusted Nakpil to be the acting secretary
then minister of National Development (fomento) in the formation of the Departmental Government.

4. Justo Lucban - A physician, revolutionist and politician.  Lucban uses his knowledge and talents to
participate in the Philippine Revolution to overpower the abusive Spaniards. He was one of those
who signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. He joined the battle for freedom against the Americans in 1898
and affixed his signature in the Malolos Congress on September 15, 1898 representing his hometown
Ambos, Camarines. He subsequently became the editor of the “La Independencia”, a newspaper
advocating for Philippine Independence in 1906.
 There is a need for a current and active historians to embark on a task of reassessing the writing of Filipino
heroes in the past and correcting its being popularity-oriented to give justice to heroes that are forgotten but
deserved remembrance and acknowledgement. What should be remembered in our history are the great deeds of
Filipinos regardless of its position in the society not the personalities of the heroes such as family background,
wealth, and power. Only few Filipino heroes are honored especially those who belong to the rich and powerful
clans that had tragic deaths or simply their stories were just being romanticized by the authors of their
biographies. Today’s generation must correct the errors that have been committed in the past by recording the
events and personalities with fairness that occupy important places in our country’s history and cultural heritage.

Reference:https://nhcp.gov.ph/remembering-the-unremembered-filipino-patriots-in-philippine-revolution/

Synthesis: