Module No.

15
Jose Rizal and Philippine Nationalism
Course Title: The Life and Works of Rizal Course Code: GE 9
Instructor: Avel Paul M. Ubaldo Term & AY: 1st Sem. AY 2020 -2021
Reima M. Cabbab
Contact No. 09754109574 Gmail Add. abzbuendia@gmail.com
09164977223 reimacabbab07@gmail.com

I. Overview
“As God has not made anything useless in this world, as all beings fulfil obligations or a role in the
sublime drama of creation, I cannot exempt from this duty, and small though it is, I too have a mission to
fill, as for example: alleviating the sufferings of my fellowmen.” – Jose Rizal
Filipino nationalism began with an upsurge of patriotic sentiments and nationalistic ideals in the 1800s
Philippines that came as a consequence of more than three centuries of Spanish rule. This served as the
backbone of the first nationalist revolution in Asia, the Philippine Revolution of 1896. These nationalistic
sentiments have led to a wide-ranging campaign for political, social, and economic freedom in the
Philippines.

II. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Upon completion of this module, the students should be able to:
A. Interpret views and opinions about bayani and kabayanihan in the context of Philippine history and
society; and
B. Assess the concept of bayani and kabayanihan in the context of Philippine society.
III. Learning Resources and References
Life and works of Rizal by Reynaldo de mesa Galicia
Life and works of Rizal by Mariano Ariola

IV. Lecture Content / Summary of Lesson

Bayani and Kabayanihan in the context of society

Five (5) Factors That Led to the Development of Filipino Nationalism

1. the revolution in Europe and Latin America (opened the Philippines to international trade)
2. the rise of a Middle Class from which came the "Ilustrado or elites that soon became the main agitators
against the 5panish Regime.
3. the bureaucratic centralized government established in Manila caused widespread discontent in the
entire archipelago.
4. the execution of the GOMBURZA became a spark among the educated IIustrados.
5. the Propaganda Movement (1872-1892) called for the assimilation of the Philippines as a province of
Spain so that the same laws will be applied in the Philippines and that the inhabitants of the Philippines
will experience the same civil liberties and rights as that of a Spanish citizen.

The Concept of "Bayani" and "Kabayanihan"

the Context of Present Philippine Society

Ang isang bayani (hero) ay isang taong mayroong kabayanihan (heroism) at mayroong Kaugnayan sa
pagiging magiting o matapang. Sa mitolohiya (mythology) at kwentong-bayang Griyego, ang isang
bayani ay orihinal na isang demi-diyos (demi-god), na ang kulto ay ang pagiging isa sa pinakatangi-
tanging mga tampok ng sinaunang relihiyon ng Gresya. Ang isang demi-diyos ay ang anak na lalaki o
babae ng isang magulang na mortal, na ang isang halimbawa ay si Herkules (Hercules) ang na lalaki ng

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reynang mortal na si Alcmene at ang diyos si Zeus. Sa paglaon, ang salitang bayani ay naging tumutukoy
na sa mga sikat na tao sa lipunan.

Here is an uncut version of a Rizalist whose talk is about hero (bayani) and heroism (kabayani) in context
of our present society and culture.

Physiological and security needs are equated to Filipino familism and reciprocity, Self-Esteem needs
according to the Filipino are met by Social Mobility no wonder), and Self-Actualization is met by the
concept of Pagkabayani or Heroism. Interesting

The ultimate Filipino goal is to be a "bayani" or hero that makes sense.

Some of us know heroes are people who sacrifice for others. But heroes in the Filipino context, in
practice, are quite different. It seems that Filipinos see heroes as what warlords are people who are
respected, pampered, praised, flattered, Served, etc., simply because they are. Going back to another
opinion, Filipinos want to be treated like kings without doing anything to merit it. In Tagalog, it is called
tuka na walang kayod (or peck without work, taken from the saying, isang kayod, isang tuka, or one unit
of work, one peck to feed oneself); simply put, reward without work. Indeed, we have always said the
moocher mentality of Filipinos is one of the serious obstacles to improvement of our society. But in
addition to this, our concept of heroes is also twisted, because moochers cling to people who are "heroes"
to them, while they themselves, vainly, feel like heroes by sticking to such "heroes." Perhaps the real
national hero of the Philippines, if we base it on this observation, is Juan Tamad.

This idea may be odious to some, but among those who would self-actualize according to the Filipino
concept would be drug lords. They fit the description of being revered. Skeptical? Just recall the pictures
spread around a while back of the funeral of the slain drug lord nicknamed Jaguar.

Criminals being revered in the Philippines? lt seems to show in the movies we loved before, like Nardong
Putik, Boy Negro and Asiong Salonga. Movies about police officers and soldiers seem to pale in
comparison. Filipinos actually like lawbreakers. This might be why some "social media influencers are
crying foul when a suspected drug dealer is killed, but seemingly not when a police officer is killed in
trying to catch the drug dealer. Thus, it is not farfetched that people we may revere as "heroes" may
actually behind killings in society.

Ah yes, "social media influencers" who attack people with sensible ideas instead of coming up with
sensible ideas of their own. And that picture of people in the streets holding placards and shouting at the
top of their lungs decrying someone, 5ome people feel that this Is valid heroism.

But what if you are not a hero or someone revered? Then the likely comment from others is, "Nakakahiya
ka (You re shameful)! Filipinos are into shaming there since they have a compulsion to assert class
dominance over the others (social mobility as the way to meet self-esteem needs). And, as our esteemed
webmaster Benign0 always says, it is a cultural hobble. It hobbles us from realizing what we have to
change and instead we keep the causes of our problems. As a result, we are fried in our own oil. But it
may also serve to keep the society servile, since if one sane mind may refuse to worship "hero," the
sycophants around may be used to vilify him. Ah yes, what "social media influencers may actually be
doing.

In the western orientation, work is work and personal life is personal life: never mix the two. As the
action movie line goes, "trabaho lang, walang personalan." When you are a leader at work in such places
that does not mean you are a leader in life. Because those two areas are separate and unrelated according
to a more practical, equality-based culture.

But in Filipino culture, authority in one field is expected to carry over to another. A manager is expected
to mess with employee's personal lives. The archaic tradition seems to prevail today -if one is a leader in
an organization, he is thought to also be a leader in life, outside of the organization. With the truth about
how people are today, that is likely to lead to disaster. A manager can tell their subordinate to forget their
problems at home by going to a beerhouse and drinking the night away or making out with the pokpoks
there. Sometimes the subordinate is unable to refuse, especially it the manager is the type who can't take
"NO for an answer. Perhaps the manager is seen as a "hero or "lord" in this context. Still a recipe for
disaster.

This is also likely what Filipinos really want as heroes -control of others. If one goes through the whole
Pinoy Management slideshow again, they might catch the hint that the Filipino is all about trying to outdo
and dominate others. That still makes up the underlying concept of the Filipino view of "heroism."

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Some people say, we have to teach what the good heroes really are, so people may try to emulate and be
like them, and thus establish the true meaning of heroism. But for me, the exalting of heroes is a flawed
concept. Aside from what we have explained about, readers of history would know how "heroes" like
Aguinaldo, Del Pilar and Luna actually squabbled and screwed up in the end. And some would argue
these figures had ulterior motives behind their heroism. Perhaps there are acts that these people did right,
and thus it's better to exalt the acts and not the people. Exaltation of heroes could also be a form of
inequality perpetuation.

So all these, desire to be heroes, the compulsion to shame others, the desire to become above others, the
compulsion to "win, we better drop. Being a decent, contributing person to society is better. Heroes are
something better confined to comic books. We should see being a hero as a want, not a need. Of course,
we should still honor a fire fighter who gave his life while savin8 people from a burning building, or
someone who shielded people from an amok gunman. But really, heroism is something done when the
situation calls for it, not because we want it. Also, let us honor even the businessperson who provides jobs
for people. They also are contributing to society, as our webmaster Benigno wrote.

Being an 80's music fan, I’ll conclude with famous words from a Tina Turner classic: "We don't need
another hero!”

V. Learning Activities
A. Words to Know
Define the following terms according to your understanding.
1. Nationalism
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Essay
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3. Hero (Bayani)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Concept
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Mythology
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

B. Brush Up
1. What is Bayani and kabayanihan to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. List the various representations of Rizal as a national symbol
a._________________________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________________________________
e. _________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is a hero according to the National Heroes Commission?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Are there still heroes today 2020 and beyond?

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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. What is the difference between a hero and a martyr?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
VI. Supplemental content
Optional Educational Field Trip
Here are the possible places to visit

 Fort Santiago
 Rizal Monument at Rizal Park
 Philippine National Library
 National Archives of the Philippines
 Calamba Shrines
 Dapitan Shrine
 Historical and Cultural Center near your School
VII. Assessment
Essay: Write an essay consisting of 150 – 400 words to be written on a pad paper. Select one topic from
any of the following suggested topics:

 The Values Advocated by Rizal

 The Concept of Heroism in Our Present Society
 The Concept of Leadership in the Contemporary World
 Ethnicity and National Belongingness

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