Cebu Institute of Technology – University

Natalio B. Bacalso Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu

In partial fulfillment for the course

RIZAL031
Contextual Analysis of Renato Constantino’s
“Veneration Without Understanding”

Submitted by:

SORIANO, DIETHER C.

Submitted to:

REY R. DE LA VICTORIA, MPA

 In our Philippines history there are thousands of men fought for our
freedom, heroes like Bonifacio, Aguinaldo and many more. But one
awakened the nationalism of the Filipinos, and it was our National Hero, Dr.
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Alonzo Realonda. Dr. Jose Rizal did not
fought alongside Bonifacio and Aguinaldo with a sword for our country but
he fought through his literary pieces/works, he fought in a bloodless way.
"Veneration Without Understanding" by Renato Constantino tackles a lot
more and the real deal of why Dr. Jose Rizal is our National Hero today. It
also tackles is Rizal an American-sponsored Hero, Rizal's effect and
contribution to the revolution, the concept of Filipino nationhood and many
more.

Reading the essay made me question about what really makes a

hero. Is it the way how one fought for his or her country? Did Rizal become
a hero for the way he died? The essay also tackles whether Rizal was an
American-sponsored hero. Yes, it was William Taft who suggested that our
country must have a national hero, but still we can’t deny the fact that he
made the most important movement in order for our country to gain its
freedom, he awakened the revolution and gave the Filipinos a sense of
unity and dignity. The author tries to inform us that Rizal may not that
worthy of the title "National Hero", that there are still a lot of considerations
for someone to be a hero. For a reason that a hero should be a leader or
leading the revolution and fought in a war with the fellow Filipinos and he
also mention of how we are blinded for the adoration of Rizal. The theme of
the essay is a theme of promulgation or profound where in Renato gives
out another information or review an offer an idea, opinion or theory for
other people to consider. He made an review about Rizal being the national
hero and state some of his weaknesses and considerations before claiming
someone to consider as a national hero. He wrote his essay in a
descriptive way. He described and expounded his perspective point on
Rizal being the national hero and he supported it with supporting details
that made his essay firm about his viewpoint.

In conclusion, "Veneration without Understanding" is an essay

dealing with Renato Constantino's viewpoint of Rizal being our national
hero and why ws should consider other heroes to be the national hero. But
after reading his essay I can say that is only right for Rizal to be the
national hero, he might not fought in a bloodshed way or lead the revolution
but he was the one who lit up the spirit of patriotism and nationalism that
started the revolution.