Life and Works of Jose Rizal

GED0049
 Module 7
Rizal’s Controversies
 Module 6.1
Veneration Without Understanding
by Renato Constantino
 Learning Outcomes:

1. Rizal As A National Hero| According to Renato Constantino, what are

the reasons why Rizal should not be our national hero?
Criteria for Heroes (NHCP)
1. Extent of the person’s sacrifices for the welfare of the
country
2. Exclusive and pure sacrifice for the welfare of the country.
Methods employed in the attainment of an ideal must be
morally valid
3. Morality of the person
4. Influence of the person to his age and to the succeeding eras
(passage of 50 yrs.)

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Heroes as define by Dr. Onofre Corpuz

“Heroes are those who have
a concept of nation and
thereafter aspire and struggle
for the nation’s freedom”
– Dr. Onofre Corpuz
“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. Onofre Corpuz

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About the Author
1. Renato Constantino (March 10, 1919 to September 15, 1999) –
was a known prolific writer, historian, a social and political critic.
His historiography is that of the nationalist tradition. He also
worked in Philippine Foreign Service in the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Philippine Mission to the UN.
2. Veneration Without Understanding stirred a hornet’s nest among
historians and Rizal enthusiasts. While the almost unchallenged
belief was the glorification and god-like status of Rizal, Prof.
Constantino repudiated such worshipping by stating that Rizal
should not be the Philippine National Hero because he was an
American sponsored hero.
 Excerpt: Introduction
1. Most national heroes in other countries are leaders of the national
democratic revolution: USA- George Washington, Latin America- Simoun
Bolivar, China- Sun Yat Sen / Mao Tse Tung, Vietnam- Ho Chi Minh, South
Africa- Nelson Mandela
2. In our case, Rizal was not the leader of the revolution, in fact he even
condemned and repudiated it. Rizal said-
‘’From the very beginning, when I first had notice of what was being planned, Iopposed it, fought it, and
demonstrated its absolute impossibility.I did even more. When later, against my advice, the movement materialized,of
my own accord I offered my good offices, but my very life, and even myname, to be used in whatever way might seem
best, toward stifling therebellion; for convinced of the ills which it would bring, I considered myselffortunate if, at any
sacrifice, I could prevent such useless misfortune…. I have written also (and I repeat my words) that reforms, to be
beneficial, must comefrom above, and those which comes from below are irregularly gained anduncertain.Holding these
ideas, I cannot do less than condemn, and I do condemn thisuprising-which dishonors us Filipinos and discredits those
that could plead ourcause. I abhor its criminal methods and disclaim all part in it, pitying from thebottom of my heart the
unwary that have been deceived into taking part in it.’’
 Excerpt: Rizal and the Revolution
1. Rizal’s refusal to align himself with the revolutionary forces and his
vehement condemnation of the mass movement and of its leaders have
placed Filipinos in a dilemma. Either the Revolution was wrong, yet we
cannot disown it, or Rizal was wrong, yet we cannot disown him either.
2. Because Rizal took no part in that Revolution and in fact repudiated it, the
general regard for our Revolution is not as high as it should be. On the
other hand, because we refuse to analyze the significance of his
repudiation, our understanding of Rizal and of his role in our national
development remains superficial.
3. Rizal repudiated the one act which really synthesized our nationalist
aspirations, and yet we consider him a nationalist leader.
 Excerpt: An American-Sponsored Hero
1. Although Rizal was already a revered figure and became more so after his
martyrdom, it cannot be denied that his pre-eminence among our heroes
was partly the result of American sponsorship.
2. It was Governor William H. Taft who in 1901 suggested to the Philippine
Commission that the Filipinos be given a national hero:
‘’And now, gentlemen, you must have a national hero’’.
3. Theodore Friend in his book, Between Two Empires, says that Taft ‘’with
other American colonial officials and some conservative Filipinos, chose
him (Rizal) as a model hero over other contestants - - Aguinaldo too
militant, Bonifacio too radical, Mabini unregenerate.’’
 Excerpt: An American-Sponsored Hero
4. Governor W. Cameron Forbes who wrote in his book, The Philippine
Islands: ‘’it is eminently proper that Rizal should have become the
acknowledged national hero of the Philippine people. The American
administration has lent every assistance to this recognition, setting aside
the anniversary of his death to be a day of observance, placing his picture
on the postage stamp most commonly used in the islands, and on the
currency….and througout the islands the public schools teach the young
Filipinos to revere his memory as the greatest of Filipino patriots…..Rizal
never advocated independence, nor did he advocate armed resistance to
the government. He urged reform from within by publicity, by public
education, and appeal to the public conscience.
 Excerpt: The Role of Heroes
1. Without Rizal there would have developed other talents. Without del Pilar another
propagandist would have emerged. That Rizal possessed a particular talent which
influenced the style of the period was accidental. That he was executed on December
30 only added more drama to the events of the period. If there had been no Rizal,
another type of talent would have appeared who might have given a different style to
the historic struggle;
2. He is a hero in the sense that he was able to see the problems generated by the
historical forces, discern the new social needs created by the historical development of
new social relationships, and take an active part in meeting these needs. But he is not a
hero in the sense that the Revolution broke out despite his refusal to lead it and
continued despite his condemnation of it.
 Excerpt: Ilustrados and Indios
1. The contrast to the ilustrado approach was the Katipunan of Bonifacio.
Bonifacio, not as Hispanized as ilustrados, saw in people’s action the only
road to liberation. The Katipunan, though Masonic and European
inspiration, was a people’s movement based on confidence in the people’s
capability to act in their own behalf. It was Bonifacio and the Katipunan
that embodied the unity of revolutionary consciousness and revolutionary
practice. The indio as Filipino rose in arms while the ilustrado was still
waiting for Spain to dispense and reforms.
 Excerpt: Blind Adoration
1. That his martrydom was tainted by his attacks on our independist struggle
is not a ground for condemning him entirely. We must determine the
factors – economic and cultural – that made Rizal what he was.

Excerpt: The Negation of Rizal

1. The true hero is one with the masses; he does not exist above them.
REFERENCES:

1. Veneration Without Understanding by Renato

Constantino, Third National Rizal Lecture, December 30,
1969.

Presentation note:
This presentation was prepared by Mr. Richard C. Gabris (FEU Alabang)
Life and Works of Jose Rizal
GED0049
 Module 7
Rizal’s Controversies
 Module 6.2
Rizal’s December 15, 1896,

Manifesto
 Learning Outcomes:

1. Rizal’s betrayal of the Philippine Revolution| Did Rizal betrayed the cause of the
Philippine Revolution?
Manifesto a Algunos Filipinos, December 15, 1896
 Crimes charged against Rizal
1. Rebellion
2. Sedition
3. Illegal Association

Punishment
1. Rebellion – life imprisonment to death
2. Sedition - life imprisonment to death
3. Illegal Association – correctional imprisonment and a fine of 325 to
3,250 pesetas.

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 What is the purpose of the manifesto issued by
Rizal?
1. To prove his innocence by declaring that he was never part of the
revolution.
2. To appeal to the revolutionaries to stop their rebellion.

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 The reasons why Rizal was not guilty of the
crimes charged against him (supplementary
defense)
1. He advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela that the people are not ready and so
the call up to arms is futile and deadly.
2. There was no exchange of letters or correspondece between him
and the revolutionaries.
3. His name was used as a battle cry of the revolutionaries without
his knowledge.
4. That if he is the brainchild of the revolution, he would surely
escape to Singapore.
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5. There was no consultation between him and the revolutionaries.
6. La Liga Filipina which he founded on July 3, 1892, was a civic
association and not an underground revolutionary society.
7. Although the La Liga Filipina was only a civic association it did not
progress because he was eventually banished to Dapitan.
8. The bitter comments in Rizal’s letters was during the 1890, a time
when his family was persecuted by the authorities.
9. The politico-military commanders and priests in Dapitan could
attest about his exemplary life in Dapitan.

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REFERENCES:

1. Rizal Issues a Manifesto to Proclaim his Innocence -

National Historical Commission of the Philippines
(nhcp.gov.ph)

Presentation note:
This presentation was prepared by Mr. Richard C. Gabris (FEU Alabang)