WHY IS JOSE RIZAL OUR

NATIONAL HERO?

Picture

A hero symbolizes goodness. Rizal gave us freedom by using goodness.Jose Rizal became the Philippine
national hero because he fought for freedom in a silent but powerful way. He expressed his love for the
Philippines through his novels, essays and articles rather than through the use of force or aggression. He
was a very amazing person at his time. He was humble, fighting for reforms through his writings instead
of through a revolution. He used his intelligence, talents and skills in a more peaceful way rather than
the aggressive way.

Rizal is an American-sponsored hero: he opted for a non violence reform in the government. Instead he
used his writings to open the eyes of the Filipinos. He dedicated his life for his countrymen without
hesitation.

He was known for his meekness and coolness, but he never fought on a war. Most of the world Heroes
was elevated as such because of their war exploits. Rizal never did it. He was using his pen for criticism
about the handling of the Spanish government in the Philippines. He fought to have the Philippines a
permanent representation in the Spanish Cortes. That's why when the US accepted the Philippines as a
vassal country, Gen. Taft who was the Governor general here, appointed Jose Rizal as the National Hero
for the Philippines, to douse the fighting fervor of the Filipinos who are fighting for freedom at that time.

The Americans decided for him being a nataional hero at their time in the country. It is said that the
Americans, Civil Governor William Howard Taft, chose Jose Rizal to be the national hero as a strategy.
Rizal didn't want bloody revolution in his time. So they wanted him to be a "good example" to the
Filipinos so that the people will not revolt against the Americans.

Rizal became a National Hero because he passed the criteria by being a National Hero during the
American period.

Adding that, Rizal passed Criteria for National Heroes

1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s
freedom. In reality, however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning. One cannot
aspire to be free only to sink back into bondage.

2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation.
Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy. Therefore, heroes are those who make the nation’s
constitution and laws. To the latter, constitutions are only the beginning, for it is the people living under
the constitution that truly constitute a nation.

3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. (As defined by Dr.
Onofre D. Corpuz)

Additional Criteria for Heroes

1. A hero is part of the people’s expression. But the process of a people’s internalization of a hero’s life
and works takes time, with the youth forming a part of the internalization.

2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.

3. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the
entire process that made this particular person a hero.