THE POWER OF THE PEN OVER THE POWER OF THE SWORD.

Dr. Jose Rizal deserves the “National Hero of the Philippines” title because he
fought for freedom in a quiet but strong way and didn't use force or anger to show how
much he loved the Philippines. Most known heroes in the country such as Andres
Bonifacio, Gen. Antonio Luna, Lapu-Lapu, and many more, has always been known to
use swords or violence to fight for the country’s freedom. Dr. Rizal did otherwise. Rizal
was an ideal candidate because he died without ever having committed an act of
violence and instead battled for our freedom with his pen. This is why he is remembered
as the ideal candidate. The people regard him as the quintessential example of
exemplary behavior, and they are elated to share the same racial background as he
does
Dr. Jose Rizal did not make use of his intelligence, gifts, or skills in an aggressive
manner in order to fight for the country; rather, he did so in order to make use of them in
a peaceful manner. Concerning the country, he composed a variety of works, such as
novels, essays, and articles. These works were published. In a nutshell, he advocated
for the liberties of the country by writing in a creative way, using the creativity he
possessed in the process.
Rizal emerged as a leader for the Filipino people, who for many years had been
silenced as a result of Spanish colonial rule, which continued for centuries. He had
received an education, so he was conscious of the misdeeds that had been committed
by Spanish priests and officials of the Spanish government. In the beginning, during his
time as a founding member and subsequently during his time as a member of La Liga
Filipina, he campaigned for reforms to the Spanish colonial government.
He is the creator of the books "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Fiibusterismo," both of
which were published. Which infuriated the Spanish authorities because it gave the
impression that they were being threatened. The books, despite the fact that they were
works of fiction, recounted the atrocities that had been committed against the natives by
Spanish administrators. Spanish officials, alarmed by the possibility of harm posed by
the two books, became enraged and pressed for Rizal's arrest and exile in Dapitan.
They did this because they were concerned about the potential danger posed by the
books. During the time that he was forced to spend in exile in Dapitan, Rizal devoted
himself to working toward the improvement of the residents of that community. Locals
were moved to advocate for independence from Spain rather than for the Spanish
government to make changes as a result of Rizal's two novels, which he wrote during
his time in the Philippines. As a consequence of this, the administration of the Spanish
colonial territory became disturbed. In 1896, Rizal was tried for treachery and sedition,
and he was sentenced to death. He was executed in Bagumbayan, which is now known
as Rizal Park. The execution that was carried out did not result in a suspension of the
demands for independence. The Katipunan organized and led a full-scale revolutionary
battle during the time that they were fighting against the Spanish colonial administration.
The Americans held Rizal in high regard both due to the fact that he was
murdered by the Spaniards and due to the fact that he pursued freedom through
nonviolent means. In contrast to Andres Bonifacio, whose desire for independence for
the country of his birth required him to resort to the use of coercion. The Americans
thought that Andres Bonifacio's attitude toward independence was inappropriate, and
they worried that it might incite other Filipinos to rebel against American dominance of
their country. This is the reason why Jose Rizal was chosen to be the hero of the
country rather than him. After the military forces headed by Aguinaldo were defeated by
American forces in the conflict between the Philippines and the United States, Jose
Rizal was proclaimed the greatest Filipino hero during the time of American
colonization.
The legitimacy of Jose Rizal's status as a national icon was called into question
by a significant number of Filipinos. The fact that the tradition is still carried on from one
generation to the next is another factor that contributes to the ongoing occurrence of
this manifestation. Filipinos are aware of the fact that every individual has their own
individual motivations for participating in a particular arrangement. Through the novels,
essays, articles, and poems he wrote, he showed his affection for the Philippines rather
than acting as a force of aggression toward the country. A rebellion against the Spanish
colonizers was led by Bonifacio. Many people are curious about whether or not Rizal
fulfilled those requirements, which is one reason why he is still regarded as our national
icon to this day. The storyline investigates Philippine society during the time of Spanish
colonial rule, unearthing the aristocracy that was responsible for the country's
widespread destitution as well as the brutality of the colonialists.
Rizal believed that the use of force or military opposition should be a last resort,
and that the restoration of people's dignity should serve as the primary motivation for
achieving national liberty and self-rule. He displayed unwavering loyalty and dedication
to his homeland throughout his life. Rizal's Death for his country was an act of bravery
and courage on his Part. He was an incredibly brave and courageous man, in spite of
the fact that he did not bring any weapons with him. Even Jose Rizal, who is universally
acknowledged as the most heroic of Filipinos, was not officially recognized as a national
hero during his lifetime.
Novels written by him during the Spanish era have brought him a great deal of
notoriety. It is a testament to the continued veneration or acclamation that he receives
from the people of the Philippines that his place in Philippine history is where it is today.
This is in recognition of his contribution to the significant societal transformations that
took place in our country. Without a shadow of a question, Jose Rizal is the greatest
hero and martyr that our country has ever produced.
Although Rizal did not advocate for independence, many people were motivated
to rebel against Spain as a result of his writings and his execution. This is the principal
justification for why Jose Rizal is regarded as a national hero. He instilled a feeling of
patriotism in the citizens of the country who had been subjected to Spanish rule for
hundreds of years. Rizal did not advocate for armed conflict. He exemplifies the proverb
that "the pen is mightier than the sword" in every way. In addition to this, he was an
educated man who advocated for the independence of the people through the
dissemination of knowledge. He advocated for locals to be granted equitable rights and
for Spanish colonials to not be the only ones to have such rights. And ultimately, he was
a martyr who died because he refused to compromise his principles.
 Rizal is regarded as the best Filipino hero to have ever lived because he was the
most intelligent, brave, and dangerous opponent of reactionaries and tyrants to have
ever lived. In actuality, a man with courage would not opt to flee but would instead put
up the best fight he could with the tools at his disposal. The sculpture, which Jose Rizal
made and is characterized as "extremely rare and historically significant," will be
auctioned off. Jose Rizal is hailed as a national hero in the Philippines for the modest
yet effective way that he fought for independence. One of the identifying traits is the
presence of some kind of extraordinary power, which could, among other things, take
the shape of superhuman strength or the capacity to fly. It's conceivable that traits like
friendliness, hospitality, and a readiness to help the less fortunate can be compared to
superpowers or even something even more powerful that can save the day. Dr. Jose
Rizal is the figure who dominates all others in the eyes of Filipinos. He was truly
exceptional at the time, even among his peers. He used nonviolent means to influence
a movement that was launched against the Spanish colonizers. His selflessness and
self-denial were admirable, and the fact that he had abandoned all of his own interests
added to his total admirability. Jose Rizal is revered as a national hero in the Philippines
for his quiet but successful freedom struggle. This is as a result of Rizal's sacrifice for
his cause. He expressed his love for the Philippines through the creation of stories,
essays, and articles rather than through acts of hostility or violence. He was truly
exceptional at the time, even among his peers. Many young people in the Philippines
look up to him as a role model for a son and as a ladies' man because he was a
physicist, scholar, and writer. He was a scholar as well. He has a short fuse and is
readily angered. Due to the sacrifices he made in an effort to bring peace and unity to
the entire country, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was given the title of national hero in our beloved
country.

Sources:
P.N. Abinales and Donna J. Amoroso, State and Society in the
Philippines (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005), p. 187.Retrived March 19, 2023

Steffi San Buenaventura, “Filipino Folk Spirituality and Immigration,” New

Spiritual Homes: Religion and Asian Americans, ed. David Yoo (Honolulu: University of
Hawai’i Press, 1999), pp. 52-86.Retrived March 19, 2023

Luis H. Francia, A History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to

Filipinos (New York: The Overlook Press, 2010). Retrived March 19, 2023