The Humanity of Heroes

De Viana, Cabrera, Samala, De Vera, & Atutubo

In the study of the life of heroes, it is important to 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 at 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 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 conclusions
about their achievements. These frailties should not distract a serious student in studying the life of a
hero. On the other hand, the students should be guided on the contribution of heroes to the betterment
of their country rather than on their shortcomings. It is also important to consider how the hero’s
achievements outweighed his 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 his 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 and appreciated, the person passed the test of time and is considered a hero. The NHI also
laid down the definition of a hero. In 1965, its predecessor office, the national Heroes Commission,
released a criteria on the 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,
distinguish 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 right 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 services 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 for 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 to their tightful destiny.”
The historical committee of the National Heroes Commission came out with the 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 the country.

1. Motives and methods employed in the attainment of the idea (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 the making of such
sacrifices? Were the methods employed in the attainment of the ideal morally valid?
2. The moral character 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 the 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 definitions on what a hero is were added in the year 1993, as the country was 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 for the criteria for national heroes was held on June 3, 1993, which was attended
by historians Onofre D. Corpus, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, Dr. Samuel K. Tan, Dr. Marcelino Foronda, Dr.
Alfredo Lagmay, Dr. Bernardita R. Churchill, Dr. Serafin D. Quiason, and Professors Ambeth R. Ocampo
and Minerva Gonzales. The body adapted the definition of a hero drafted by Dr. Corpus. He said,
“Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s
freedom.” He explained that our struggle for freedom was begun 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. Corpus 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
nation’s 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, Grciano 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 who contribute to the quality
of life and destiny of a nation.

In another meeting of historians held on November 15, 1995, the National heroes Committee decided to
adapt a criteria stat 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 future
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 if 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, person 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.

Presently, the Philippines has set aside four days to honor its heroes. Rizal Day is commemorated every
December 30. The origin of this commemoration came from the decree issued by General Emilio
Aguinaldo on December 20, 1898. It declared the 30th 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 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 Filibustirismo,” te
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 Manila in 1911. The monument in Luneta was constructed
through public subscription by Filipinos.

The other day dedicated to a single Filipino hero is Bonifacio Day which is celebrated every November
30. It honors Andres Bonifacio, the founder of Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan (KKK ANB) which launched the Philippine Revolution of 1896. The celebration of
Bonifacio Day was made possible by the issuance of Act No. 2946 by the Philippine Legislature on
February 15, 1921.

The third day set aside for commemorating Filipino heroes is the National Heroes Day, celebrated every
Sunday of August. The celebration of this holiday became possible in accordance to Public Act. No. 3827
passed by the Philippine Legislature on October 28, 1931. National Heroes Day honors all the heroes of
the Philippines including those who are unknown.

A fourth holiday was created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 25, 2004, when signed
into law the Republic Act No. 9256, which created Ninoy Aquino Day. This holiday is commemorated
every August 21, the anniversary of the assassination of then Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. Ninoy
was the leading symbol of the anti-dictatorship struggle against then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

As for who should recognize heroes, this should be better left to the people through their popular
acclamation. The people are the final judge to the heroes’ achievements and they would subscribe to
the heroes’ ideals as long as these are relevant and classic. Popular acclamation should be sustained and
should withstand the test of time. The role of the government and other authorities is to continue to
keep the memory of these heroes alive and to confirm their heroism after a long period of study and
reflection. In the case of Rizal, more than a hundred years have passed and we can now say that Rizal
has passed the test of time and is a true Filipino hero. Other national heroes include Andres Bonifacio,
Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and all those who helped guide the Philippines to
being a nation-state.