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College of Nursing and Entrepreneurship

Jose Rizal
Module 1 Week 1

Life and Works of Rizal

We begin this module with a question: Who is the greatest hero of the
Philippines? When asked this question, a Filipino might answer: “Jose Rizal.”
Who was Jose Rizal and why was he well-known among Filipinos? Why are there
so many monuments in his honor and why were many streets named after him? To
many Filipinos, their answers might be varied. He was a martyr who died for Filipinos.
Some sectors even call him the “Tagalog Christ” or “Kristong Tagalog,” Many Filipinos
admire him as a man of many talents a poet, doctor, anthropologist, sculptor,
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surveyor, farmer, novelist, essayist, historian, teacher, and a polyglot with a
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knowledge of, some authors say, 22 languages. Historians consider him as the man
who inspired a nation. To some sectors, he was revered as a saint or messiah who
would one day free the Philippines from oppression.
Rizal also had his share of detractors. Some writers depict him as an agitator, a
wanderlust, a man hungry for power, and an unpredictable person. Some write to
denigrate him and question his motives. There can be no Emilio Aguinaldo without
Andres Bonifacio. It was Bonifacio who helped found the Katipunan, the organization
that launched the 1896 Philippine Revolution and recruited Aguinaldo into its ranks.
There will be no Bonifacio without Rizal-it was Rizal’s achievements which helped
inspired Rizals to embark on his nationalist quest. The trio was his inspiration for his
second novel, El Filibusterismo.

The humanity of Heroes

In the study of the life of heroes, it is important tp put in mind that a hero is a
human being. Heroes are made. Heroes, like ordinary human beings are a product of
their time. Heroes are the product of their environment, which includes their society,
surroundings, and the conditions prevalent of that time. Heroes are made because
they responded to the call of the times and their response to this call had a decisive
effect on the lives of their countrymen.
Heroes are ordinary human beings who faced challenges with an extraordinary
response. In the end, their humanity will be unveiled through scholarly study. In

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closely studying the humanity of heroes, their frailties surface. There may be some
writers who may wish to denigrate their achievements by capitalizing on these frailties.
They may even question their motives by making malicious conclusion about their
achievements. These frailties should not distract serious student in studying the life of
a hero. On the other hand, the students should be guided on the contribution of
heroes to be betterment of their country rather than on their shortcomings. It is also
important to consider how the hero’s achievements outweighed hid deficiencies in
serving the nation.
The Criteria for Heroes
Who declares if anyone is a hero? How did Rizal become a hero? There is no law
or proclamation which directly made Rizal a hero. Rizal’s hero status was made by the
acclamation of the Filipino people. This becomes the object of public worship and
accolades are heaped upon him. This could be seen in singular tributes to this honor
and it may even be manifested physically through the erection of monuments and the
naming of streets and buildings after him. The test of a person’s heroism becomes
stronger if the person is acclaimed long after his death and by people who are not of
his generation. This means the appreciation of his life and achievements spans beyond
his life.
The national Historical Institute (NHI, presently the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines), the country’s agency in charge of historical matters,
prescribes the passage of 50 years before a person is confirmed as a hero. If the
person is still being admired after that period and his ideas and ideals are still invoked
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and appreciated, the person has passed the test of the time and is considered a hero.
The NHI also laid down the definition of a hero. 1965, its predecessor office, the
National Heroes Commission, released a criteria of definition of a national hero. It was
approved by a committee headed by Director Carlos Quirino of the National Library.
According to their definition, a hero is defined as “an admirable leader towering over
his peers, who is serving a noble cause, possessing exceptional talent, distinguished
valor and/or hold enterprise, exercising a determinative influence over the spiritual life
of his people in a particular remarkable event.” The criteria also mentioned that “the
hero must, during extreme stress and difficulties, project himself by his own fortitude,
by his own sacrifices to be the inspiration of his countrymen in leading them to their
rightful destiny. He must exhibit self-denial and abandon his personal interests to
place those of his country before any other, and whose deeds and acts are proudly
emulated by a grateful people that, after his death, render him singular tribute, honor
him with public worship, and acknowledge his meritorious service to mankind by
spontaneous national recognition. “Moreover criteria specified, “a hero must exercise a
determinative influence over the spiritual life of his people in an event of great
significance.’’ It further says that in order to qualify of the distinction of a national
hero, “one must project himself by his own fortitude, effort, and sacrifices to be the
beacon light of his oppressed countrymen in their rightful destiny.
The historical committee of the National Heroes Commission came out with a
characteristics of a person to be examined before he could be considered a hero. These
are the extent of the person’s sacrifices for the welfare of country.

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 1. Motives and methods employed in the attainment of the ideal (e.g.,
welfare of the country). In the attainment of the ideal, did the person
concerned sacrifice purely and exclusively for the welfare of the country or were
there any selfish or ulterior motives in making such sacrifices? Were the
methods employed in the attainment of ideal morally valid?
2. The moral characters of the person. Did he do anything immoral to taint his
personal character? If there was any immorality, did it affect his work, society,
or ideal?
3. The influence of the person to his age or epoch and succeeding eras.

Judging from these criteria, the considerations for heroism are very
stringent and would subject the person concerned to intense scrutiny. It is
aimed to confer the mantle of being considered a hero to those who are truly
deserving, as the word “hero “is overused and abused nowadays.

More definition on what a hero is were added in the year 1993, as the
country preparing for the commemoration of the centennial of the declaration of
Philippine Independence. On March 28, 1993, then President Fidel V. Ramos
issued executive Order No.75, creating the National Heroes Committee whose
aim is “to study, evaluate, and explicitly recommend Filipino national
personages as national heroes in due recognition to their sterling character and
remarkable achievements for the country.” A round table discussion forb the
criteria for national heroes was held on June 3, 1993, which was attended by
historians Onofre D. CorpuZ, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, Dr. Samuel K Tan, Dr.
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Marcelino Foronda, Dr. Alfredo Lagmay, Dr. Bernardita R. Churchill, Dr.

Serafin D. Quiasion, and Professor Ambeth R. Ocampo and Minerva Gonzales.
The body adapted the definition of a hero drafted by Dr. Corpuz. He said,
“Heroes are those who have a concept and there after aspire and sruggle for the
nations freedom.” He explained that our own struggle for freedom was began by
Bonifacio and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring revolution a
success. In reality, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning.
One cannot aspire to be free only to sink back to bondage. He also added that
“Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system of life and freedom and
order for a nation. Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy.” Dr. Corpuz
cited that persons who make the country’s Constitution and laws could be
heroes, like Apolinario Mabini and Claro M. Recto. An important element in
considering heroism is the person’s nationalism. According to the group, a
person could be considered a hero if he has a concept of nation and thereafter
aspires and struggles for the nations freedom. The person to be considered a
national hero must be guided by the conviction of national identity. This means
that the person must identify himself with the nation and would be willing to
sacrifice for its benefits. Examples of these persons are Jose Rizal, Andres
Bonifacio, Graciano Lopez Jaena, and Marcelo H. del Pilar, who sought to uplift
the social conditions of the Philippines and not just a particular region or
ethnolinguistic group. The body also said that heroes are those who contribute
to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.

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In another meeting of historians held on November 15, 1995, the National Heroes
Committee decided to adapt a criteria stating that “a hero is part of the people’s
expression.” However, the process of the people’s internalization of a hero’s life and
works takes time, with the youth forming part of that internalization. This means that
the appreciation of a person’s contribution to history would require a period of
analysis and younger generations who are not a part of the hero’s era would play a
part in the objective study of his role. Only by undergoing such process can a person’s
achievements and virtues be truly appreciated. The committee also said that’ a hero
thinks of the future, especially the futures generations.” The choice of a hero, it said,
“involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history but of the entire
process that made this person a hero.” This involves the understanding of the
historical conditions in which the hero had lived. Dr. Serafin Quiason gave a definition
saying, “a hero is an event-making man who helps create the fork in the historical
time that he faces. Heroes in a democracy should be great figures in the pantheon of
thought, the men of ideas, and social vision of scientific and artistic power.” There
were some remarks that the process of evaluating and proclaiming heroes imitate the
practice of the canonization of saints. Politicians, too, might be tempted to legislate
unilaterally on who should be heroes. Heroes, according to historians, should not be
legislated. The evaluation of their achievements should be better left to academicians.
Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough. Even with the absence
of any official declaration proclaiming them as national heroes, persons like Rizal,
Bonifacio, and Aguinaldo remained admired and revered for their roles in the
Philippine history. Proclaiming them will only confirm the public veneration of their
contribution to the country’s history.
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Presently, the Philippines has set aside four days to honor its heroes. Rizal Day is
commemorated every December30. The origin of this commemoration came from the
decree issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo on December 20, 1898. It declared the 30 th
day of December as a national mourning day in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other
victims of the Philippine Revolution. Though Aguinaldo’s decree did not specifically
declare Rizal as a national hero, it was a tribute to his heroism.
In Daet, Camarines Norte, Filipino masons erected a simple monument dedicated to
Rizal on December 30, 1898. The monument bears the words “A Jose Rizal,” “Noli Me
Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” the titles of his two prominent novels; and the
word”Morga”which refers to the book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas which Rizal
annotated in 1890. The monument in Daet antedated the Rizal Monument which was
constructed at the Luneta Park in Mnila in 1911. The monument in Luneta was
constructed through public subscription by Filipinos.

Activity 1

1. Identify the names of the streets of your hometown. Who are these people?
2. What have they done for the community?

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 3. Using the criteria of a hero, assess whether they answer the criteria of being a
hero. Analyze and explain.
Another incident that carved an indelible mark on Jose Rizal’s mind was the
execution of the Filipino secular priest Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and
Jacinto Zamora. The three priests were implicated in the Cavite Mutiny of
January 20, 1872. The mutiny began from the discontent of the workers in the
Cavite arsenal. The new government of Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo
revoked their exemption from compulsory labor and imposed tax deduction on
their monthly pay.
The workers were joined by the soldiers of the arsenal led by Sergeant
Lamadrid.it was thought that they would be joined by soldiers in Manila who
would fire rockets to signal their joining the insurrection. The ensuing mutiny
was quelled by loyal forces.

Activity 2
1. Do a research work on Father Jose Burgos.
a. Present his biography
b. Cite at least two samples of and his writings
2. Write an essay according to his writings. Analyze how these ideas would
improve the situation of the Filipino youth? In your opinion, are these concepts
on the Filipino youth still relevant to this day?
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Instructor