National Hero

It has always been a heated argument on who deserves to be called Philippine’s national hero —
Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio.

Why is Jose Rizal the national hero of the Philippines? It is interesting to note that Jose Rizal’s
heroism was recognized first by the colonizing Americans and later on by General Emilio
Aguinaldo.

Recommended by US Governor Taft

The Americans (through the American Governor William Howard Taft) recommended to the
Philippine Commission, which was sponsored by the US, to declare Jose Rizal as a national hero
for the Filipinos. The Americans recommended Rizal because of the fact that he was executed by
the Spaniards and of his peaceful way to achieve liberty. Unlike Andres Bonifacio whose desire
to achieve independence for his native land required armed approach. The Americans deemed
this approach to independence of Andres Bonifacio to be unacceptable and may inspire other
Filipinos to rebel against American rule. This is why Jose Rizal was chosen over him as the
national hero. Jose Rizal was declared as the greatest Filipino hero during the American
colonization after the Aguinaldo led armed forces were subdued during the Philippine-American
war.

December 30th as National Day of Mourning

General Emilio Aguinaldo was the first one to declare December 30th as a national day of
mourning in honor of Rizal and others who have died fighting the Spanish tyranny.

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword

The Philippine revolution led by Andres Bonifacio was fueled by the writings of Jose Rizal, Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which made a more lasting impression. This is one of the best
arguments of those who believe that Rizal is rightfully the national hero. Rizal was truly an
inspiration to many Filipinos during the Spanish period. According to the historian Rafael Palma,
Rizal was more deserving of the national hero title. Rizal was even thought to have suggested
that Antonio Luna lead the revolutionary forces since Luna has studied military science which
was a brilliant idea to lessen casualties against the powerhouse Spanish militia. Rizal believed
that only an army that was well prepared and had enough arms would ensure victory.
What makes a Hero?

What characteristics or qualities make a person a hero? Is there a hero gene? According to one
recent study, the answer might rest in what type of heroism we are addressing.

Researchers have found that people who had engaged in one-time acts of bravery (like rushing
into a burning building or rescuing someone from the path of an oncoming train) are not
necessarily that much different from control groups of non-heroes.

By contrast, people who engage in lifelong heroism (such as professional nurses who regularly
comfort the sick and dying) do share a number of important personality traits such as empathy,
nurturance, and a need to live by a moral code.

Definitions of Heroism

The scientific study of heroism is a relatively recent topic of interest within the field of
psychology.

Researchers have offered different definitions of exactly what makes a hero, but most suggest
that heroism involves prosocial, altruistic actions that involve an element of personal risk or
sacrifice.

Researchers Franco, Blau, and Zimbardo suggest that heroism involves more than just this,
however. In their definition, heroism is characterized by:

 Actions that are done in service of others who are in need, whether it is for an individual,
a group, or a community
 Actions that are performed voluntarily.
 The individual recognizes the potential risk or sacrifice they are making by taking these
actions
 The heroic individual willing accepts the anticipated sacrifice they are making
 They engage in these actions without any expectation of reward or external gain1

The Characteristics of Heroism

Researchers also do not necessarily agree about the central characteristics that make up heroism.
One study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggested that heroes
have 12 central traits which are:

1. Moral integrity
2. Bravery
3. Conviction
4. Courage
5. Self-sacrifice
6. Selflessness
7. Determination
8. Inspirational
9. Helpful
10. Protective
11. Honesty
12. Determination