What makes Rizal a National Hero?

The question may be seen as absurd or unimportant because the

Philippines is currently commemorating the execution of Jose Rizal, who is widely regarded as the nation's
greatest hero. Because some nationalists think Andres Bonifacio ought to be the primary national hero, I
used the word "most." Some people even contest the existence of a recognized national hero. The definition
of a hero that is most frequently used is someone who conducted a heroic deed that usually resulted in
death. As a result, soldiers who lose their lives in battle are revered as heroes. Other figures, such as writers
and politicians, are not so identified. One usually pays with one's life for heroic deeds.

Rizal's continuous dependence on Spain as a Spanish province is what leads some to doubt his courage
rather than his support for Philippine independence. At the time of Rizal, Spain consisted of several
independent kingdoms or provinces that made up the nation. Despite being made up of republics and
commonwealths, the United States is a federation. While all states are free, they are interdependent on
predetermined foundations. While studying in Europe, Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere, his debut book.
Through the use of fiction as a medium, he painted a vivid and accurate picture of the socioeconomic
landscape in the Philippines. His justification is as follows: At the close of the 19th century, Spain tried to
maintain control over her colonies. Since the first half of the sixteenth century, Spain has ruled the
Philippines. Spanish colonialism was motivated by both economic and spiritual factors. The governor
general, who was part of the civil head of the church and was chosen by the Spanish monarch, presided
over the state.

The governor general frequently faced substantial competition from the archbishop of the Roman Catholic
Church, who held the lieutenant governor's office. When the islands were being conquered, friars marched
with soldiers to convert Filipinos and worked closely with the rural populace. At the local administration
level, the friars, therefore, exerted sway over politics. It is also possible for the friar curate in each parish to
function as the community's tax collector, school inspector, census taker, and chair of the boards for
charities, health, and public works. By forbidding Filipinos from holding parish priest positions where they
could take the place of the friar curates, the Spanish maintained their grip on power. Father Jose Burgos
was a strong proponent of promoting Filipino clergy to higher positions and was a close friend and teacher
of Paciano Rizal, the elder brother of Rizal. Burgos and two other priests were charged in 1872 for allegedly
participating in a revolt at a military facility south of Manila. The priests' reformist activities made them
suspect in the eyes of the Spanish friars, even though it is improbable that they were directly involved in
the revolt. All three were publicly executed after the military trial declared them all guilty.

The Filipino people were subjected to countless injustices and treated as inferiors while living under
Spanish authority, and they had few legal protections. Rizal was once beaten for failing to greet a civil
guard lieutenant in the dead of night because he did not identify as a young man. However, the governor-
general refused to meet with the furious Rizal when he traveled to Manila to denounce the occurrence and
seek redress. The mother of Rizal's described her interactions with the Spanish legal system as even more
perplexing. The Spanish officials, whom the Rizal’s had entertained in their home and had regarded as
friends, offered her no aid when confronted with a ridiculous accusation of an irate cousin. In Berlin in
1886, Noli Me Tangere was printed using borrowed funds. Rizal immediately submitted copies of the book
to the governor-general and archbishop, adhering to his philosophy of honesty and directness. An uproar
started when the book arrived in the Philippines. The book was condemned as heretical and subversive by
a group of three Dominican professors from the Universidad of Santo Tomas. The Permanent Censorship
Commission concurred, stating that the book assailed the honor of Spain, its government, and its national
religion. The commission imprisoned anyone who possessed the book and forbade its sale and distribution.
While Noli Me Tangere brought Rizal notoriety and scorn from the friars and authorities of Spain, it brought
him enormous acclaim among his own people. The few copies available in the Philippines were expensive,
and Filipinos discussed its concepts privately.

Rizal's passing did not weaken the revolutionary cause, as the Spanish intended. As a result of their outrage
over the death of their hero, Filipinos united behind their desire for independence. They launched the
uprising that led to the end of Spanish rule over the Philippines. Rizal was a great martyr who stood out
against injustice when others chose to remain silent. His concepts aided the Philippines in developing
national identity, a novel idea in colonial-era Asia. Until his death, he stood by his convictions. This
intellectual titan, who would have undoubtedly played a significant role in achieving independence and
recognition for the Philippines, passed away, leaving his country, and grieving a considerable loss. The
world lost a multi-talented man with a brilliant mind who was an excellent citizen. One can only speculate
about the contributions he might have made to the world and the discipline of ophthalmology if he had lived
a long life, given how much he accomplished in his short 35 years. He restored sight to his patients and his
vision to his nation.

As a result of his status as a national hero in the Philippines, Rizal has come to represent that nation's
struggle for independence. A national holiday is observed in the Philippines on December 30, the
anniversary of Rizal's execution in 1896. In Manila, he was honored in 1919 with the opening of Jose Rizal
College. In addition to the majority of the municipalities in the Philippines, Heidelberg, Chicago, Rizal's
homeland of Manila, and Luneta Park, where he was executed, all bear tributes to him. The 2-peso
Philippine currency has his likeness. Calamba, where he was born, was included in the area around Manila
that was given the name Rizal. His books are obligatory reading for high school students in the Philippines.
The poem Jose Rizal wrote from his cell the night before his execution offers the best summary of the man
in his own words. His unselfish dedication to his country, his steadfast love for his family, his profound
spirituality despite criticism of the church, and his creative flair are all displayed in one of the final stanzas
of "Ultimo Adios" (Final Farewell).