LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

10

Issues and Controversies about the

Heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal

Welcome to the last lesson on the course on the Life and Works of
Jose Rizal. This lesson provides a discussion on the the issues and
controversies surrounding the heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal. It
examines the various issues and controversies about his heroism
and his stature as the national hero of the Philippines. The
modulealso examines thearguments and perspectives from
different camps that either support or question the heroism of
Rizal.

Objectives:
The following are the learning outcomes we are expected to achieve at
the end of the lesson:

Discuss the context of the issues and controversies about

Rizal
Explain the relevance and significance of Jose Rizal at present
Examine the evidence or proofs presented for and against
Jose Rizal
Make conclusion based on evidence on the issues about Jose
Rizal
Make a stand or conclusion on the issues and controversies
about Jose Rizal after examining historical evidence

Activities/Exercises

Accomplish the module execises. Read the articles about the issues and controversies
about the heroism of Jose Rizal.

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Most Filipinos venerate Dr. Jose Rizal as the country’s national hero.
This is despite the fact that until this day, there is no law or legislation that
recognizes any Filipino historical figure as a national hero. Being a national
hero, Rizal is elevated to a pedestal higher than other Filipino heroes who
have also sacrificed their lives for the country. Fame and popularity are not
the only prize of such recognition, for Jose Rizal is also the most
‘questioned’ hero of the Philippines. Along with Dr. Jose Rizal’s stature as
the National Hero of the Philippines are issues and controversies that
question and to some extent negate his heroism. The debate about this has not
yet reached any resolution and still continues. At present, many Filipinos
have an ambivalent or uncertain attitude towards Jose Rizal and his heroism.

I. Jose Rizal and the Selection of Philippine National Hero

Of the countless great men and women in our country’s history, Jose
Rizal was considered and venerated as the national hero, thus becoming more
special and valuable than other heroes. To have an clear understanding of
this, it is helpful to read the executive summary of the SELECTION AND
PROCLAMATION OF NATIONAL HEROES AND LAWS HONORING
FILIPINO HISTORICAL FIGURES from the Reference and Research
Bureau Legislative Research Service, House of Congress which could be
accessed at http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-
profile/culture-profile-nationalhero.php . This document is prepared by the
National Heroes committee which states the following:

No laws or any legislation has been issued or enacted which

proclaims any Filipino historical figure as the national hero but
there are laws enacted in order to honor the significant
contributions of these heroes to nation-building
Jose Rizal was not explicitly proclaimed as national hero, but
his position as the national hero is a tribute to the continued
veneration and acclamation of the Filipinos.
Andres Bonifacio is also given an implied recognition as the
national hero aside from Jose Rizal.
Heroes need not be recognized through legislation, but are still
revered, appreciated and acclaimed for their contributions to
Philippine history.

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Criteria for National Heroes

1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire
and struggle for the nation’s freedom.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of
freedom and order for the nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a
nation.

Additional criteria for Heroes

1. A hero is part of the people’s expression.
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.

Historical Figures Recommended as National Heroes:

a. Jose Rizal
b. Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d. ApolinarioMabini
e. Marcelo H. del Pilar
f. Sultan DipatuanKudarat
g. Juan Luna
h. Melchora Aquino
i. Gabriela Silang

Conclusion
Since the submission of the report/recommendations by the National
Heroes Committee to then Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria of the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports on November 22, 1995, no action has been
taken. This was probably because this might trigger a flood of requests for
proclamations. Another possibility is that the proclamations can trigger bitter
debates involving historical controversies about the heroes.

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II. Issues and Controversies on the Heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal

1. Retraction Controversy: Did Rizal retract his works and words?

Four documents surfaced which contained the retraction of Jose Rizal

a day before he was executed. The retraction statesjose Rizal’s rejection of
masonry and repudiation of his words, writings, publication and conduct that
were against the Catholic Church. The alleged retraction of Jose Rizal was a
requirement for him and Josephine Bracken to be married.

Scholar who question the existence and authenticity of the alleged

retraction of Jose Rizal argue that it is a forgery based on the analysis of the
handwriting, existence of different versions of the document, the alleged
confession of the forger and discrepancies in the contents of the diferrent
versions of the document. The also doubted the existence of the document
pointing out that no member of Rizal’s family has seen it, it did not save
Rizal from being executed and there is no public record of the marriage of
Rizal and Bracken.

2. American sponsorship: Is Jose Rizal an American-sponsored hero?

In his seminal work, Veneration Without Understanding, historian

Renato Constantino argued that Rizal’s pre-eminence among our heroes was
partly the result of American sponsorship by citing laws enacted by the
Americans that ‘reduced’ the role of other historical figure in our history in
order to emphazed the role of Jose Rizal. He argued that the Americans made
Jose Rizal more special than other heores by encouraging a cult by enacting
laws such as Act No. 137 which created the Rizal province, Act No. 243
whcih gave way to the erection of Rizal monument in Luneta and Act No.
346 which sets December 30 as day of observance for Rizal. He also argued
that Rizal was selected because his peace-loving and compromising image
and the perception that he never advocated independence will suit their
(American) imperialistic interests in the Philippines.

On the other side of the debate, Profesor Ambeth Ocampo, a knonw

Rizal ‘expert’ refuted the claims of Constantino saying that Jose Rizal was
already venerated long before the Americans sponsored him pointing to the
December 20, 1898 procalmation of President Emilio Aguinaldo which set
every December 30 as national day of mourning in honor of Jose Rizal. He
argued that “The Americans just built on the prevailing sentiment of the

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people” towards Rizal. They used Rizal: anti-Spain, assimilist, reformist and
peace-loving stance to further their colonial/imperialistic agenda.

3. Was Jose Rizal anti-revolution?

For historian Renato Constantino, Rizal was anti-revolution and had betrayed
the Philippines on two occasions – when he volunteered to served as a doctor for the
Spanish armies in the Cuban revolution and when he issued his December 15, 1898
wherein he did not only deny his participation in the revolution but also condemned
and called it disastrous and waste of lives. Other historians and scholars emphasize
Rizal’s assimilist stance as proof of being anti-revolutionary.

In his book, A Nation Aborted: Rizal, American hegemony and Philippine

nationalism, Professor Floro Quibuyen argued that rizal was revolutionary. He cited
several evidence such as the letters of Rizal explaining his ideas regarding the
revolution and the latest testimonies of Dr. Pio Valenzuela. He also provided a
different reading and interpretation of the Dec 15 manifesto of Jose Rizal noting that
he did not rejected the revolution but viewed it as premature and lacked proper
preparations. He argued that in Rizal’s last poem, he praised the revolutionaries and
this poem also became an inspiration for the revolutionaries. He also argued that
Jose Rizal could not be anti-revolution for many of his family members joined and
held important position in the Katipunan.

Read Renato Constantino’s Veneration without

understanding in:
http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Reflections/Veneration/ven
eration_text.htm

4. Was Rizal an ambivalent hero or fence sitter?

The conception of Jose Rizal as an ambivalent hero resulted from four
contradicting testimonies of Pio Valenzuela (2 in 1896 while being a prisoner in Fort
Santiago) and in 1914 and 1917. These testimonies are all about his conversation
with Jose Rizal in Dapitan. The first two testimonies state that Rizal totally
repudiated the revolution while in the other two; he claimed that Rizal did not
repudiate the revolution and he had given instructions for the Katipunan to ensure
the success of the rebellion.

Some historians would say that Rizal was ambivalent, pointing to some of his works
in which he rejected armed struggle as means for social transformation and his other

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works which express his support of the revolution. On the other hand, some
historians argued that in order to answer whether or not Rizal was ambivalent, Jose
Rizal must be read in proper context and perspective. They further argued that Jose
Rizal was a product of his time and society and thus Rizal must be read according to
the context of the 19th century Philippines and in the perspective of the Filipinos
during that time.

5. Is Jose Rizal still relevant?

Jose Rizal is still relevant because the social problems or ‘ills’ that he had
exposed, criticized and tried to solve still exist. Corruption, injustices,
unqualified and/or incompetent government officials and poverty are
among the perennial problems that plague the Philippines.
The qualities of Jose Rizal are worth emulating. He serves as a role model
and inspiration for Filipino youth to love and serve the Philippines and
countrymen.
Studying Jose Rizal and the country’s history makes us aware of the ideals
on which our nation was built upon. Studying the sacrifices of our
ancestors for the country’s freedom and sovereignty develops nationalism
and pride of our national identity.
Jose Rizal will always be part in the development of Philippine
nationalism.

Read the following articles that discuss the relevance of

Jose Rizal at present:
• http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/215583/jose-rizal-remains-relevant-
today%E2%80%94nhcp
• http://www.philstar.com/education-and-home/2014/01/30/1284531/dr.-
jose-rizal-symbol-ideal-leadership-today
• http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/84395/youth-called-upon-to-follow-rizal-for-
good-of-country

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References
• Ocampo, Ambeth R. 2000. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Pasig City: Anvil
Publishing Inc.
• Constantino, Renato. (1970). Veneration without understanding. Dissent and
counter-consciousness. [Quezon City, Philippines : Malaya Books
• Quibuyen, Floro C. 1999. A Nation Aborted: Rizal, American hegemony and
Philippine nationalism. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press
• Quibuyen, F. (1997). Rizal and the Revolution. Philippine Studies, 45(2), 225-
257. Retrieved December 07, 2014, from http://www.philippinestudies.net\

Internet Sources:
• http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Writings/portal-rizalswritings.htm
• http://joserizal.info
• http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Reflections/Veneration/veneration_text.htm
• http://www.philippinestudies.net
• http://www.academia.edu/1187336/By_Pen_and_by_Sword_Reformist-
Revolutionary_Debate_over_Dr._Jose_Rizal
• http://www.academia.edu/966595/Maikling_Pagsusuri_ng_Rebolusyon_ni_Rizal
• http://kahimyang.info/kauswagan/articles/1667/did-rizal-favor-the-revolution-a-
criticism-of-the-valenzuela-memoirs
• http://j-rizal.blogspot.com/2007/04/dr-pio-valenzuelas-conference-with-dr.html

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