1.

In one of his arguments, Constantino established a prerequisite to being a national hero

and that is; one should first lead a revolution. Malay opposed this by saying it is not
necessary that a man be in the field of revolution for him to be considered a national
hero, because a man’s capability to fight for his country is not limited to the field of
revolution.

Mahatma Gandhi
- was the primary leader of India’s independence movement
- a policy of non-violence and non-cooperation to achieve home rule.
- calling for mass boycotts, he urged government officials to stop working for the Crown,
students to stop attending government schools, soldiers to leave their posts and citizens
to stop paying taxes and purchasing British goods.
- Mahatma is an image of a national hero for he fought for his country’s freedom
through peaceful means

Ninoy Aquino
- was a leading opponent of the Marcos’ dictatorial regime
- Aquino is considered a national hero because he had inspired many others as “a figure
who stood against a totalitarian regime
- People venerated Ninoy to the extent that they marched on EDSA for him because his
acts or contributions had material impact on a national level and most importantly, the
people or the public accepts the idea of him being a national hero
- totality of his contributions towards nation building and the acceptance of the public
(considers him as a model or ideal)

Gerry Ortega
- Ortega has often been lauded as a Hero of the Philippine Environment since he was
assassinated on January 24, 2011, allegedly due to his anti-mining advocacy.
- Gerry Ortega was a Filipino journalist, veterinarian, politician, environmental activist,
and community organize best known for his work to promote crocodile farming in the
Philippines, and for his advocacy against mining on the island of Palawan.
- Gerry Ortega may not have lead a revolution but he excelled in his own field. It is the
totality of his contributions and his bravery that made him a Hero of the Philippine
Environment
- Gerry Ortega is indeed a national hero who sprang from his own field

2. The second contention of Constantino was that Rizal is an American-sponsored hero. Malay
opposed this by pointing out two things: (1) Two years after his execution, Rizal was already
honored by the Philippine revolutionary government when Aguinaldo declared December 30
1898 as a day of mourning.”, (2) “As early as 1892, Rizal was already regarded as a sort of a
national hero. He was the honorary president of Katipunan and according to Katipuneros
questioned by Spanish authorities; Rizal’s picture was hung in their meeting rooms.”
Efren Penaflorida

- known for his kariton or pushcart classrooms

- “2009 CNN Hero of the Year”
- at the age of 16, he and his friends started the dynamic teen company which aims to divert
the attention of the out-of-school youth away from violent gang activities and have their eyes
focused on learning and volunteering as well

- prior to being recognized by other countries as a hero, his kariton or pushcart classroom has
already been recognized and given honor in the Philippines
- in fact his Dynamic Teen Company has been a model of the charity programs of certain
companies in the Philippines
- it is not the recognition of other countries which made him a hero because he was already one
prior to that recognition

3. In the third contention of Constantino, he said that “It may be shocking to say that Rizal was
one of the practitioners of a mendicant policy, but the fact is that the propagandists, in working
for certain reforms, chose Spain as the arena of their struggle instead of working among their
own people, educating them and learning from them, helping them to realize their own
condition and articulating their aspirations. This reflects the bifurcation (division) between the
educated and the masses.”

“The fact is many great men and women got their baptism of fire, as it were, in foreign
countries, but returned home as soon as they thought they were ready. The same is true for
FILIPINO PROPAGANDISTS, including Rizal. With the tight censorship and other repressions
obtaining in the Philippines, they could not call attention to the abuses of the rulers here.

If a man could serve his country better by working from the outside, then more
honor to him than the one who elects to stay in his home country where he virtually
can do nothing because of despotism (a system of government in which the ruler
has unlimited power) ”

Propagandists

- I think Constantino had been very much focused on criticizing the Propagandists to the extent
that he overlooked the very reason why the propagandists worked their reforms in Spain which
is the despotism here in the Philippines.

- They organized it in Spain since they have more freedom there and the chance of them being
heard by the Spaniards is bigger. Compared here in the Philippines where one can face death
by sedition or saying things against the authorities. So going to Spain and working on their
reforms there is the only way possible to uplift the spirit and serve their country.
OFWs

- they choose to work abroad also because of certain limitations here in the Philippines in terms
of (1) Number of jobs available and (2) compensation

- so why are they regarded as heroes? Simply, it is because of their courage and strength to
work far from their families to provide for their needs. Through working in other countries they
give honor and recognition not only to themselves but to the Filipinos as well. They also help in
the betterment of the economy through the remittances they send in the Philippines.

- THEY DON’T ONLY SECURE THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILY BUT OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL

- remittances; importation of money, affects the GDP

Manny Pacquiao

- is considered a hero because of his achievements in the field Boxing and whose fights are
mostly held in other countries

- He is considered as a hero, not only because of the honor and pride he has brought in the
country and to his fellow Filipinos, but also because he makes the Filipinos united especially in
times of his fight and he never forgets to share what he has earned in the field of boxing to his
fellow countrymen in times of need.

“If some of us today do not accept these truths because Rizal happened to be born to a fairly
well-to-do family and went to the Ateneo and Santo Thomas University and was able to pay his
own fare to Spain and back – then I say, you are the ones without understanding. Thank
goodness, you are very, very few.”

4. In his fourth contention, Constantino said that the two novels of were reflecting ilustrado
class having the principal characters: Ibarra, Fray Damaso and Fray Salvi, Maria Clara etc. As an
opposing statement, Malay said that the principal characters are different from the characters
whom the writer or author would set up as a model for emulation.