This document discusses the selection and recognition of national heroes in the Philippines. It notes that while certain figures like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are widely considered heroes, none have been officially proclaimed as national heroes by law. An executive order established a National Heroes Committee to study and recommend figures for recognition. The committee developed criteria for heroes and recommended 9 figures, though no action has been taken on their report. Several laws have honored important historical figures by establishing holidays or designating places in their name.
This document discusses the selection and recognition of national heroes in the Philippines. It notes that while certain figures like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are widely considered heroes, none have been officially proclaimed as national heroes by law. An executive order established a National Heroes Committee to study and recommend figures for recognition. The committee developed criteria for heroes and recommended 9 figures, though no action has been taken on their report. Several laws have honored important historical figures by establishing holidays or designating places in their name.
This document discusses the selection and recognition of national heroes in the Philippines. It notes that while certain figures like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are widely considered heroes, none have been officially proclaimed as national heroes by law. An executive order established a National Heroes Committee to study and recommend figures for recognition. The committee developed criteria for heroes and recommended 9 figures, though no action has been taken on their report. Several laws have honored important historical figures by establishing holidays or designating places in their name.
No law, executive order or proclamation has been enacted or issued
officially proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a national hero. However, because of their significant roles in the process of nation building and contributions to history, there were laws enacted and proclamations issued honoring these heroes. Even Jose Rizal, considered as the greatest among the Filipino heroes, was not explicitly proclaimed as a national hero. The position he now holds in Philippine history is a tribute to the continued veneration or acclamation of the people in recognition of his contribution to the significant social transformations that took place in our country. Aside from Rizal, the only other hero given an implied recognition as a national hero is Andres Bonifacio whose day of birth on November 30 has been made a national holiday. Despite the lack of any official declaration explicitly proclaiming them as national heroes, they remain admired and revered for their roles in Philippine history. Heroes, according to historians, should not be legislated. Their appreciation should be better left to academics. Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough. 1. Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes
1.1 National Heroes Committee
On March 28, 1993 , President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No.75 entitled "Creating the National Heroes Committee Under the Office of the President". The principal duty of the Committee is to study, evaluate and recommend Filipino national personages/heroes in due recognition of their sterling character and remarkable achievements for the country.
1.2 Findings and Recommendations of the National Heroes Committee
In compliance with Executive Order No. 75 dated March 28, 1993 , the National Heroes Committee submitted its findings and recommendations.
1.2.1 Criteria for National Heroes
The Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee held a series of meetings on June 3, 1993 , August 19,1993 , September 12, 1994 and November 15, 1995 , defining, discussing and deliberating upon the merits of the various definitions and criteria of a hero. The Committee adopted the following criteria as basis for historical researchers in determining who among the great Filipinos will be officially proclaimed as national heroes:
Criteria for National Heroes
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee on June 3, 1993 , Manila . Members of the Committee included Drs. Onofre D. Corpuz, Samuel K. Tan, Marcelino Foronda, Alfredo Lagmay, Bernardita R. Churchill, Serafin D. Quiason, Ambeth Ocampo, then known as Dom Ignacio Maria, Prof. Minerva Gonzales and Mrs. Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil)
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nations freedom. Our own struggle for freedom was begun by Bonifacio and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring the revolutions success. In reality, however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning. One cannot aspire to be free only to sink back into bondage.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation. Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy. Therefore, heroes are those who make the nations constitution and laws, such as Mabini and Recto. To the latter, constitutions are only the beginning, for it is the people living under the constitution that truly constitute a nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. (As defined by Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz)
Additional Criteria for Heroes (Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee on November 15, 1995, Manila)
1. A hero is part of the peoples expression. But the process of a peoples internalization of a heros life and works takes time, with the youth forming a part of the internalization.
2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
3. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero. (As defined by Dr. Alfredo Lagmay)
1.2.2 Historical Figures Recommended as National Heroes
On November 15, 1995 , the Technical Committee after deliberation and careful study based on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz and Dr. Alfredo Lagmays criteria selected the following nine Filipino historical figures to be recommended as National Heroes: a. Jose Rizal b. Andres Bonifacio c. Emilio Aguinaldo d. Apolinario Mabini e. Marcelo H. del Pilar f. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat g. Juan Luna h. Melchora Aquino i. Gabriela Silang
1.2.3 Status of the Report/Recommendations Submitted by the National Heroes Committee.
Since the submission of the report/recommendations by the National Heroes Committee to then Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports on November 22,1995 , no action has been taken. This was probably because this might trigger a flood of requests for proclamations. Another possibility is that the proclamations can trigger bitter debates involving historical controversies about the heroes.
2.1.1.1 Decree of December 20, 1898 , issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo, declared December 30 of every year a day of national mourning in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the Philippine Revolution.
2.1.1.2 Act No. 137, which organized the politico-military district of Morong into the Province of Rizal , was the first official step taken by the Taft Commission to honor our greatest hero and martyr.
2.1.2 Andres Bonifacio
2.1.2.1 Act No. 2946, enacted by the Philippine Legislature on February 16, 1921 , made November 30 of each year a legal holiday to commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio
2.1.2.2 Act No. 2760, issued on February 23, 1918 , confirmed and ratified all steps taken for the creation, maintenance, improvement of national monuments and particularly for the erection of a monument to the memory of Andres Bonifacio
2.1.3 Other Heroes
2.1.3.1 Act No. 3827, enacted by the Philippine Legislature on October 28, 1931 , declared the last Sunday of August of every year as National Heroes Day.
2.1.3.2 Proclamation No. 510, issued by Pres. Fidel V.Ramos on November 30, 1994 , declared the year 1996 as the year of Filipino Heroes as a tribute to all Filipinos who, directly and indirectly, gave meaning and impetus to the cause of freedom, justice, Philippine independence and nationhood.
2.1.3.3 R.A. No. 9070, April 8, 2001, declaring the eighteenth of December of every year as a special working public holiday throughout the country to be known as the Graciano Lopez-Jaena Day
2.2 Other Historical Figures
2.2.1 R.A. No. 6701, February 10, 1989, declaring September One of every year, the death anniversary of Gregorio Aglipay y Labayan, as Gregorio L. Aglipay Day and a special non-working holiday in the Municipality of Batac, Province of Ilocos Norte
2.2.2 R.A. No. 7285, March 24, 1992, declaring February Nineteen of each year as Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon Day a special nonworking holiday in the Province of Aurora in order to commemorate the birth anniversary of Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first President of the Philippine National Red Cross, and Foundation Day of the Province
2.2.3 R.A. No. 7805, September 1, 1994, declaring January 28 of every year as a non-working special public holiday in the City of Cavite to be known as Julian Felipe Day
2.2.4 R.A. No. 7950, March 25, 1995, declaring December Eighteen of every year as "Araw ng Laguna" and a special working day in the Province of Laguna and the City of San Pablo to commemorate the memory and death of the late Governor Felicisimo T. San Luis
2.2.5 R.A. No. 9067, April 8, 2001 , declaring April 15 of every year as President Manuel A. Roxas Day which shall be observed as a special working public holiday in the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas
*From the Reference and Research Bureau Legislative Research Service, House of Congress
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 75
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 75 - CREATING THE NATIONAL HEROES COMMITTEE UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WHEREAS, the State is mandated to foster patriotism and nationalism among the citizens, especially the youth, pursuant to Article II, Sections 13 and 17, of the Constitutions;
WHEREAS, the State, through its educational system, is also mandated to inculcate patriotism and nationalism, and the appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country pursuant to Article XIV, Sec. 3 (2), of the Constitution;
WHEREAS, Almighty God has gifted the sovereign Filipino people with National Heroes, the men and women of sterling character and remarkable achievements that directed, and continue to direct, the historic destiny of the country;
WHEREAS, it is timely and appropriate to proclaim these National Heroes, the renowned achievers of their generations and the shinning exemplars of these times;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. A National Heroes Committee is hereby created, composed of the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as Chairman, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of National Defense as Members, to study and recommend the proclamation of National Heroes.
Sec. 2. All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, are hereby directed to extend the fullest support to the National Heroes Committee in the performance of its functions.
Sec. 3. The private sector is hereby urged to assist the National Heroes Committee in the performance of its functions.
Sec. 4. The National Historical Commission shall act as Secretariat of the National Heroes Committee.
Sec. 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 29th day of March in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-three. Back to Main
National Heroes Committee Executive Order No. 75 , entitled Creating the National Heroes Committee Under the Office of the President was issued by President Fidel V. Ramoson March 28, 1993. The Committee's principal duty is to study, evaluate and recommend national personages for recognition of their achievements and contributions to the nation. Criteria for National Heroes National Heroes are to be recognized by the following criteria: 1. They must aspire and work for the nation's freedom. 2. They must contribute to a life of freedom and order of a nation through ways such as formulating laws and enacting them. 3. Heroes should contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. 4. They should also be part of the people's expression and must think of the future generations.
THE GATES TO HEROISM: DEFINING A FILIPINO HERO DIANA GALANG SENIOR HISTORY RESEARCHER APRIL 10, 2013 It is common for Filipinos to look for someone to idolize saints, politicians, artists, models, etc., somebody they will glorify and imitate. Since the time of the declaration of Philippine independence, 109 years ago, many were acknowledged as Filipino heroes, more so today, that every individual who become so popular or the main character in any particular event is given the title hero. The essence of the word hero is past declining, today one need not to die or do such gallant act to be given the noble title or that some just won a boxing match. Time has really evolved and so does our standard in defining a Filipino hero. Will our forefathers who gave their lives for freedom feel insulted for this? Are these the Filipinos well look up to for guidance through the times, arent our children losing the true meaning of heroism by our doings? All these things we should ask ourselves before giving the title hero to anyone.
But what does being a hero mean? Dr. Esteban de Ocampo, a known historian, stated in his book about Rizal that a hero means a prominent or central personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; and a man honored after death by public worship because of exceptional service to mankind. The true heroes of Philippine history deserve to be called so for they didnt have any idea that one day they will be measured up, they just acted upon their principles. The concept of honoring heroes came only to the Philippines in 1900, when the Philippine Commission (Pardo de Tavera, Legarda, Luzurriaga (Filipino members) and headed by William Howard Taft) approved Act No. 137 combining the districts of Morong and Manila to be named as Province of Rizal, in honor of the most illustrious Filipino. Actually, this Act was disputed by many but the basis of the Commission was so strong that it has surpassed the publics questions. Since then, heroes were celebrated here and there, citing their names in every politicians speeches, declaring holidays, naming streets, constructing monuments, etc. in their honor. Until one day, realizing that so many names were acknowledged as heroes, need to evaluate the situation was proposed. During Marcos presidency, he tasked the National Heroes Commission to come up with the criteria for national hero. On March 28, 1993, thru the Presidents Executive Order No. 75, the National Heroes Committee was created, commissioned to study, evaluate and recommend historical figures to be declared as national heroes. The Committee composed of worthy members, with a series of discussions came up with the new criteria. The criteria is composed of 10 standards: First is the extent of a persons sacrifices for the welfare of the country. Second, the motive and methods employed in the attainment of the ideal (was his ideal purely for the welfare of the country and without any taint of self-interested motives, most of all the method of attainment should be morally valid). The third is the moral character of the person concerned (the person should not have any immorality issue that affected his ideal). The fourth is the influence of the person concerned on his age and or the succeeding age. Fifth is that heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nations freedom (they must have desired the countrys freedom in any situation especially when theres a threat of invasion in any form). Sixth is that heroes are those who define and contribute to a system of life of freedom and order for a nation (one who helps in the orderliness and betterment of the country). Seventh is, heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. Eight, a hero is part of the peoples expression (the citizen must have recognized and acknowledged the person as a hero). Ninth, a hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations, his concern for the future generations must be seen in his decisions and ideals). Lastly, the choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero. Filipinos expectations of public figures are different now than it was more than a hundred years ago, maybe because of the realization that no one is perfect. This is the reason why today so many were acknowledged as heroes and many were voted in important governing positions with flaws and questionable characters. Lucky are those who aspire one day to be called a hero that the criteria was already set to pattern their decisions with. I hope that the criteria for national heroes will not only be checked against the historical figures but also with the politicians to whom we will entrust the power to govern our country.
Rizal continued his medical studies in Paris and Heidelberg; in 1887 he wrote his firstnovel, Noli me tangere (Touch Me Not), a passionate exposure of the evils of the friars rule,comparable in its impact to Harriet Beecher Stowes exposure of Negro suppression in theUnited States, Uncle Toms Cabin. A sequel, El Filibusterismo (1891, Filibusterism)established his reputation as the leading spokesman of the Philippine reformmovement. In1890 he wrote an edition of Antonio Morgas Succesos de las Islas Filipinas,which showed that the native people of the Philippines had a long history before the comingof the Spaniards. He became the leader of the Propaganda Movement, contributingnumerous articles to its newspaper, La Solidaridad, published in Barcelona. Rizals politicalprogram, as expressed in the columns of the newspaper, included integration of thePhilippines as a province of Spain, representation in the Cortes (the Spanish parliament), thereplacement of the Spanish friars by native Philippine priests, freedom of assembly andexpression, and equality of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law.Against the advice of his parents and friends, Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892. Whenhe founded a nonviolent reform society, the Liga Filipina, in Manila, the Spanish arrested anddeported him to Dapitan in northwest Mindanao. He remained in exile for four years, doingscientific research and founding a school and hospital. In 1896, however, an insurrection ledby the nationalist secret society, the Katipunan, broke out; although he had no connectionswith that organization or any part in the revolt, he was arrested and tried for sedition by themilitary. Found guilty, he was publicly executed by a firing squad in Manila. His martyrdomconvinced Filipinos from Spain. On the eve of his execution, while confined in Ft. Santiago,Rizal wrote Ultimo Adios (The Last Farewell), a masterpiece of 19th-century Spanish verse.
Andrs Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino revolutionary leader and one of the main leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He is regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of his country. A Freemason, Bonifacio was the leading founder of the "Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan" or also known as KKK organization which aimed to start an independence movement against Spain. He born on November 30, 1863 and died on May 10, 1897. In 1892, Bonifacio joined Jose Rizal's new organizationLa Liga Filipina, which called for reform of the Spanish colonial regime in the Philippines. The group met only once, however, since Spanish officials arrested Rizal immediately after the first meeting and deported him to the southern island of Mindanao. After Rizal's arrest and deportation, Andres Bonifacio and others revived La Liga to continue pressure on the Spanish government to free the Philippines. Along with his friends Ladislao Diwa and Teodoro Plata, however, he also founded a group called Katipunan. Katipunan, or Kataastaasang Kagalannalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan to give its full name (literally "Highest and Most Respected Society of the Children of the Country"), was dedicated to armed resistance against the colonial government. Made up mostly of people from the middle and lower classes, the Katipunan organization soon established regional branches in a number of provinces across the Philippines. (It also went by the rather unfortunate acronym KKK.) In 1895, Andres Bonifacio became the top leader or Presidente Supremo of the Katipunan. Along with his friends Emilio Jacinto and Pio Valenzuela, Bonifacio also put out a newspaper called theKalayaan, or "Freedom." Over the course of 1896, under Bonifacio's leadership, Katipunan grew from about 300 members at the beginning of the year to more than 30,000 in July. With a militant mood sweeping the nation, and a multi-island network in place, Bonifacio's Katipunan was prepared to start fighting for freedom from Spain. Philippines Uprising Begins: Over the summer of 1896, the Spanish colonial government began to realize that the Philippines was on the verge of revolt. On August 19, the authorities tried to preempt the uprising by arresting hundreds of people and jailing them under charges of treason - some of those swept up were genuinely involved in the movement, but many were not. Among those arrested was Jose Rizal, who was on a ship in Manila Bay waiting to ship out for service as a military doctor in Cuba (this was part of his plea bargain with the Spanish government, in exchange for his release from prison in Mindanao). Bonifacio and two friends dressed up like sailors and made their way onto the ship and tried to convince Rizal to escape with them, but he refused; he was later put on trial in a Spanish kangaroo court and executed. Bonifacio kicked off the revolt by leading thousands of his followers to tear up their community tax certificates or cedulas. This signaled their refusal to pay any more taxes to the Spanish colonial regime. Bonifacio named himself President and commander-in-chief of the Philippines revolutionary government, declaring the nation's independence from Spain on August 23. He issued a manifesto, dated August 28, 1896, calling for "all towns to rise simultaneously and attack Manila," and sent generals to lead the rebel forces in this offensive.
n 1882 Del Pilar founded the newspaper Diariong Tagalog to propagate democratic liberal ideas among the farmers and peasants. In 1888 he defended Jos Rizal's polemical writings by issuing a pamphlet against a priest's attack, exhibiting his deadly wit and savage ridicule of clerical follies. In 1888, fleeing from clerical persecution, Del Pilar went to Spain, leaving his family behind. In December 1889 he succeeded Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor of the Filipino reformist periodical La solidaridadin Madrid. He promoted the objectives of the paper by contacting liberal Spaniards who would side with the Filipino cause. Under Del Pilar, the aims of the newspaper were expanded to include removal of the friars and the secularization of the parishes; active Filipino participation in the affairs of the government; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; wider social and political freedoms; equality before the law;assimilation; and representation in the Spanish Cortes, or Parliament. Del Pilar's difficulties increased when the money to support the paper was exhausted and there still appeared no sign of any immediate response from the Spanish ruling class. Before he died of tuberculosis caused by hunger and enormous privation, Del Pilar rejected the assimilationist stand and began planning an armed revolt. He vigorously affirmed this conviction: "Insurrection is the last remedy, especially when the people have acquired the belief that peaceful means to secure the remedies for evils prove futile." This idea inspired Andres Bonifacio's Katipunan, a secret revolutionary organization. Del Pilar died in Barcelona on July 4, 1896.
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/marcelo-hilario-del- pilar#ixzz38SUshDxR Early in his childhood, Del Pilar already displayed a high degree of intellect. He was good at playing musical instruments such as the violin, piano and flute. Hence, he took and finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in Colegio de San Jose. In 1881, he obtained his law degree in the University of Santo Tomas. Previously, he had disputes over some of the friars because of his nationalistic and liberal ideas that were against the abusive nature of the friars. Del Pilar often stages movements for the overthrow of the friars in the Philippines. Early in his writing career, Del Pilar sough for the separation of the state and the Church - a stance that perhaps influenced the future constitutions of the Philippines. Del Pilar would often denounce both the Church and the government in his speeches done in front of busy crowds in flee markets, cockpit arenas and town plazas. He depicts the abusive friars who seemingly hold powers quite similar to that of the governor general. On the other hand, he took note of the government's failure in delivering prosperity in the archipelago that was first promised by the blood compact between Spanish explorer and first Spanish Governor- General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Datu Sikatuna of Bohol. Moreover, Del Pilar sailed to Spain due to the tensions arising between him and the corporation of the friars. While in Spain, he succeeded Lopez-Jaena as the editor-in-chief of the La Solidaridad. Under his tutelage, the newspaper pushed for drastic reforms such as the expulsion of the polo (community service) and the automatic sale of local products to the government. Del Pilar also advocates the recognition of the Philippines as a province of Spain, hoping that this move will foster equality among the indios and the Spanish meztizos. Hence, the last issues of the La Solidaridad, no longer pushed equality through peaceful means. In one issue, Del Pilar seemingly issues his support over the possibility of an armed conflict. Shortly, Del Pilar died in Barcelona on July 4, 1896 - just around one month before the Cry of Pugad Lawin, signaling the start of an armed revolution. 1. Born in the town of Badoc, IlocosNorte in the northern Philippines, JuanLuna was the third among the sevenchildren of Don Joaquin Luna de SanPedro y Posadas and Doa LaureanaNovicio y Ancheta. In 1861, the Luna family movedto Manila and he went to AteneoMunicipal de Manila where he obtainedhis Bachelor of Arts degree. 2. Luna enrolled at Escuela Nautica deManila (now Philippine Merchant MarineAcademy). He took drawing lessons under theillustrious painting teacher LorenzoGuerrero of Ermita, Manila. He also enrolled in the Academy of FineArts (Academia de Dibujo y Pintura) in Manilawhere he was influenced and taught how todraw by the Spanish artist Agustin Saez.Unfortunately, Lunas vigorous brush strokesdispleased his teacher and Luna wasdischarged from the Academy. studies. 3. Juan entered the Escuela deBellas Artes de San Fernandouela,where he befriended the painterDon Alejo Vera. Luna wasdiscontented with the style ofteaching in school and decided thatit would be much better to workwith Vera. 4. O It was in 1878 when his artistic talents was established with the opening of the first art exposition in Madrid which was called the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Demonstration of Beautiful Arts). From then on, Luna became engrossed in painting and produced a collection of paintings that he exhibited in the 1881 Exposition. 5. His La Muerte de Cleopatra (TheDeath of Cleopatra) won him a silver medaland came in second place. Lunas growingreputation as an artist led toapensionado (pension) scholarship at 600pesos annually through the Ayuntamiento ofManila. The condition was that he was obligedto develop a painting which captured theessence of Philippine history which wouldthen become the Ayuntamientos property. 6. In 1883 Luna started the paintingdemanded of him by the Ayuntamiento.In May 1884, he shipped the largecanvas of the Spoliarium to Madrid forthe years Exposicin Nacional de BellasArtes. He was the first recipient of thethree gold medals awarded in theexhibition and Luna gained recognitionamong the connoisseurs and artcritics present. 7. O On June 25, 1884, Filipino and Spanish nobles organized an event celebrating Lunas win in the exhibition. That evening, Rizal prepared a speech for his friend, addressing the two significant things of his art work, which included the glorification of genius and the grandeur of his artistic skills. 8. Luna developed a friendlyrelationship with the King ofSpain and was later commissioned bythe Spanish Senate to paint a largecanvas which was called the La Batallade Lepanto (The Battle of Lepanto).He moved to Paris in 1885 where heopened his own studio and befriendedHidalgo. 9. OA year after, he finished thepiece El Pacto de Sangre (The BloodCompact) in accordance with theagreement he had with theAyuntamiento of Manila. Depicted inthis piece was the blood compactceremony between the DatuSikatuna , one of the lords in Boholisland, and the Spanish conquistadorMiguel Lpez de Legazpi. 10. It is now displayed inthe Malacaan Palace. He also senttwo other paintings in addition to theone required; the second canvas sentto Manila was a portrait of Lpez deLegazpi reconstructed by Luna fromhis recollection of a similar portraithe saw in the hall of the Cabildo, andthe third was of Governor-generalRamn Blanco y Erenas. 11. In 1887, Luna once againtraveled back to Spain to enterin that years Exposition two ofhis pieces, the La Batalla deLepanto and Rendicin deGranada (Surrender ofGranada), 12. O He celebrated his triumph with his friends in Madrid with Graciano Lpez-Jaena delivered Luna a congratulatory speech. Lunas paintings are generally described asbeing vigorous and dramatic. With its elements of Romanticism, his style shows the influence of Delacroix, Rembrandt, and Daumier. 13. On December 8, 1886, Lunamarried Maria de la Paz Pardo deTavera, a sister of his friend Felixand Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. Thecouple traveled to Venice and Romeand settled in Paris. They had oneson, whom they named Andrs, anda daughter nicknamed Bibi who diedin infancy. Luna was fond ofpainting his wife. 14. O However, the jealous Luna frequently accused Paz of having an affair with a certain Monsieur Dussaq. Finally in a fit of jealousy, he killed his wife and mother-in-law and wounded his brother-in-law, Felix, on September 23, 1892. He was arrested and murder charges were filed against him. 15. Luna was acquitted ofcharges on February 8, 1893,on grounds of temporaryinsanity; the "unwritten law" atthe time forgave men forkilling unfaithful wives. 16. O He was ordered to pay the Pardo de Taveras a sum of one thousand six hundred fifty one francs and eighty three cents, and an additional twenty five francs for postage, in addition to the interest of damages. Five days later, Luna went to Madrid with his brother, Antonio Luna, and his son, Andrs 17. In 1891 Luna moved back to thePhilippines and traveled to Japan in 1896,returning during the Philippine Revolution ofthe Cry of Balintawak. Unfortunately, onSeptember 16, 1896, he and hisbrother Antonio Luna were arrested by Spanishauthorities for being involved withthe Katipunan rebel army. Despite his imprisonment, Luna was stillable to produce a work of art which he gave toa visiting priest. He was pardoned by theSpanish courts on May 27, 1897 and wasreleased from prison and he traveled back toSpain. 18. In 1898, he was appointed by theexecutive board of the Philippinerevolutionary government as a member ofthe Paris delegation which was working forthe diplomatic recognition ofthe Repblica Filipina (Philippine Republic).In 1899, upon the signing of the Treaty ofParis (1898), Luna was named a member ofthe delegation to Washington, D.C. topress for the recognition of the Philippinegovernment. 19. He traveled back to the Philippines inDecember 1899 upon hearing of themurder of his brother Antonio bythe Kawit Battalion in Cabanatuan. OnDecember 7, 1899, Luna suffered a heartattack and died there. His remains wereburied in Hong Kong and in 1920 wereexhumed and kept in Andrs Lunas house,to be later transferred to a niche at theCrypt of the San Agustin Church in thePhilippines. 20. O Five years later, Juan would be reinstated as a world renowned artist and Peuple et Rois, his last major work, was acclaimed the best entry to the Saint Louis Worlds Fair in the United States. Unfortunately some of his paintings were destroyed by fire in World War II. 21. La Muerte de Cleopatra (The Death ofCleopatra) 22. Melchora Aquino de Ramos was a Filipina revolutionary. She was born on January 6, 1812 in Caloocan. She was the daughter of a peasant couple, Juan and Valentina Aquino. She never attended school, but was seemingly literate at a young age and talented as a singer. She performed at the Mass for her church as well as at local events. Melchora Aquino married Fulgencio Ramos, a village chief and had six children. When their youngest child was seven years old, Ramos died, leaving young Melchora as a single parent. Melchora Aquino was known for her heroic contributions in the history of the Philippines revolution. The revolution broke out in 1896. She was 84 years at that time. Most of the wounded and sick Filipino revolutionaries sought refuge in her store. She not only gave them medical attention, but also encouraged the revolutionaries with prayers and motherly advice. Many revolutionaries also held secret meetings at her home. She earned the name Mother of Katipunan (revolution) and was also known as Tandang Sora, where Tandang meant old. The Spaniards learnt about her activities and she was interrogated for the whereabouts of revolutionaries, especially, Andres Bonifacio. She was adamant and refused to provide any information to the Spanish. She was arrested and deported to the Mariana Islands. In 1898, the United States took control of the Philippines and Aquino and other political exiles returned to Philippines. She died on March 2, 1919, at the age of 107. Today, her remains lie in Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City. As a token of Filipino gratitude, Melchora Aquino's image is depicted on a 100-peso bill of the English series of banknotes. A Quezon City road and district were named after her. Gabriela Silang was a Filipina national hero considered by many as the Philippine's version of Joan of Arc. Silang was the wife of Ilocos revolutionary leader Diego Silang. Hence, upon the assassination of Diego, Gabriela took charge and led the resistance in the Ilocos province. Gabriela was born on March 19, 1731 in Canlogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur to a family of peasants and commoners. Thus, at an early age Gabriela was adopted and raised by a certain Don Tomas Millan, a rich entrepreneur in Ilocos. Hence, upon reaching 20 years of age and due to her immense beauty and attractiveness, Gabriela was able to marry the old yet rich and prominent Millan. Shortly, after their marriage, Millan died of old age. In 1757, Gabriela remarried Diego, a young insurgent who conspired with the British forces to overthrow the Spanish tyrannical officials in Ilocos. During the Seven Years' War featuring the alliance forces of Spain and France against Britain, the Silangs took the opportunity to revolt. While Spanish forces were busy protecting Manila against British pursuers, the Silangs heightened their resistance and launch numerous attacks and ambushes against Spanish camps. Gabriela played the role of the woman behind the successful leader, Diego. However, unknown to many, Gabriela herself aided the revolution in her own little way. As the Silang's popularity grew, they quickly become a thorn in the neck for Spanish officials. Thus, an assassination plot against Diego was planned together with Diego's supposedly close friends; Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec. On the night of May 28, 1763, Vicos and Becbec visited the Silang household in Vigan where they shot and killed Diego. Gabriela, now widowed for the second time, step up the plate and assumed the duties and responsibilities Diego left. Together with Nicolas Carino, the uncle of Diego and a few of the latter's most loyal commanders, Gabriela launched guerrilla attacks in Spanish camps and garrisons. Gabriela's reputation as a revolutionary leader grew tenfold and her war policy was so successful that she was feared by many especially Ilocanos who conspired with Spain. Gabriela was often referred to as "generala" - meaning lady general. By the time Gabriela's forces reached 2,000 men, she immediately ordered an attack against Vigan which was captured by Spain upon Diego's death. However, Gabriela's forces were greatly outnumbered by the opposition, resulting in heavy casualties for Gabriela and her forces. Gabriela, on the other hand, was eager to recapture Vigan - the capital of Diego's independent Ilocano government. Moreover, a second attack was launched - perhaps a desperate move ordered by the generala. Gabriela's forces retreated in the nearby province of Abra but were captured by pursuing Spanish forces. Thus, Gabriela and some of her 80 men were executed and hanged on public on September 20, 1763.