John Lloyd A.

Vincoy January 2 2021

BSME III
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL (BC)

Significance of studying Dr. Jose Rizal as our national hero.

Dr. Jose Rizal is known as the national hero of our country. But we know that there are
some Filipinos who do not consider him as our national hero. Maybe it was because he did not
fight using swords just like what the other Filipino heroes did. Honestly, I somehow believe in
the saying “the pen is mightier than the sword” because not everything should be dealt with
violence. He used his intelligence instead of strength and power to let the Filipino people know
the truth.
Many Filipinos say that studying the life and works of Rizal is not that necessary for us
nowadays. However, I still find it important and I think it has a great impact on our modern
society. Studying Rizal is not just about being able to know and read his novels and other literary
works, but it is also about understanding how those works helped in fighting against the
colonizers in the past. We get to learn the importance of his novels, essays, and other literary
works which is not only for entertainment.
According to the reading, Rizal’s two famous novels, Noli Me Tangre and El
Filibusterismo, are inspiring source of patriotism of the youth. It somehow inspired the Filipino
people, especially the youths, that they can show their love for the country in different ways, not
just through fighting physically.
Rizal might not be one of the people who used violence to fight for our country but he
still sacrificed his life by creating those literary works which gave light to the minds of the
Filipinos of what is happening in our country. He stated his oppositions and other ideas in his
literary works. A specific example of this is he mentioned that the idea of purgatory, which is a
Catholic doctrine, is absent from the bible (Noli Me Tangere, page 72). He used nonviolent
actions and I can say that this way of his is what made him different from the other heroes.
Studying the history of our nation might be boring for some but we should always
remember that what happened in the past is the result of what we are today. In the present time,
we are now free from the countries or nations who colonized us. This was made possible through
the hard works of our heroes and other people who stood for our country.

This is just a humble beginning of our hero:

Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y
Alonso, or simply Jose Rizal
(1861-1896), is a well-known
personality that has been
mentioned in the annals of
Philippine history. Dr. José
Rizal, the
national hero of the Philippines,
is not only admired for
possessing intellectual
brilliance, but
also for taking a stand and
resisting the Spanish colonial
government. His birth and death
is
remembered and recognized
by the Filipino people. His
name can be found in almost
all
corners of the Philippines.
Roads, schools and even
province are named after him.
His image
can be found in peso bills and
coins. Monuments are erected
in his name (foremost of this
can be found in Rizal
Park in Manila). These are
manifestations of the country's
reverence accorded to Jose
Rizal as a national hero.
Who is the Filipino writer
whose teachings have been
frequently invoked & quoted by
authors on almost all occasions?
None but Rizal. And why is this
so? Because as biographer
Rafael Palma said, "The
doctrines of Rizal are for all
epochs. They are as valid today
as they
were yesterday…” and for the
future.
Rizal was a unique man of
outstanding talents. A patriot
and a poet, a novelist and an
educator. Above all, he was
a man of conviction. His
love for his country, and his
observations of Spanish rule
impassioned him to speak out
about injustice. He was a
peaceful
man and used the power of the
pen to express himself.
However, there are Filipinos
believing that Rizal's becoming
the national hero was the
result of American sponsorship
wherein fact, the American
government, especially Gov. W.
H.
Taft only "guided" the Filipino
people to choose Rizal.
The American rationale was
based on Rizal's peaceful
propaganda and diplomatic
approaches in attaining
Philippine
freedom and independence.
This is shown by his
pacifism where he fought
the Spanish
tyranny through a propaganda
battles by means of using his
pen in critiquing and exposing
the
defects of Spanish governance.
Alarmed over the threat posed
by the two novels of Rizal,
angry Spanish officials pushed
for Rizal's arrest and exile in
Dapitan. Despite that, Rizal
promised the Spanish governor
that he would not attempt an
escape, which, in that remote
part of the country, would have
been relatively easy.
He was spontaneously
acknowledged not only by his
own people, but also the elite of
other lands who intimately
knew his patriotic labors. Also,
immediately after his execution,
his
own people had justly
acclaimed him as their foremost
hero & martyr.
Dr. Frank C. Laubach, an
American biographer of Rizal,
spoke of the hero’s courage
and I quote,
His consuming life purpose was
the secret of his moral courage.
Physical courage, it is
true, was one of his inherited
traits. But that high courage to
die loving his murderers, w/c he
at
last achieved - that cannot be
inherited. It must be forged
out in the fires of suffering &
temptation.
Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y
Alonso, or simply Jose Rizal
(1861-1896), is a well-known
personality that has been
mentioned in the annals of
Philippine history. Dr. José
Rizal, the
national hero of the Philippines,
is not only admired for
possessing intellectual
brilliance, but
also for taking a stand and
resisting the Spanish colonial
government. His birth and death
is
remembered and recognized
by the Filipino people. His
name can be found in almost
all
corners of the Philippines.
Roads, schools and even
province are named after him.
His image
can be found in peso bills and
coins. Monuments are erected
in his name (foremost of this
can be found in Rizal
Park in Manila). These are
manifestations of the country's
reverence accorded to Jose
Rizal as a national hero.
Who is the Filipino writer
whose teachings have been
frequently invoked & quoted by
authors on almost all occasions?
None but Rizal. And why is this
so? Because as biographer
Rafael Palma said, "The
doctrines of Rizal are for all
epochs. They are as valid today
as they
were yesterday…” and for the
future.
Rizal was a unique man of
outstanding talents. A patriot
and a poet, a novelist and an
educator. Above all, he was
a man of conviction. His
love for his country, and his
observations of Spanish rule
impassioned him to speak out
about injustice. He was a
peaceful
man and used the power of the
pen to express himself.
However, there are Filipinos
believing that Rizal's becoming
the national hero was the
result of American sponsorship
wherein fact, the American
government, especially Gov. W.
H.
Taft only "guided" the Filipino
people to choose Rizal.
The American rationale was
based on Rizal's peaceful
propaganda and diplomatic
approaches in attaining
Philippine
freedom and independence.
This is shown by his
pacifism where he fought
the Spanish
tyranny through a propaganda
battles by means of using his
pen in critiquing and exposing
the
defects of Spanish governance.
Alarmed over the threat posed
by the two novels of Rizal,
angry Spanish officials pushed
for Rizal's arrest and exile in
Dapitan. Despite that, Rizal
promised the Spanish governor
that he would not attempt an
escape, which, in that remote
part of the country, would have
been relatively easy.
He was spontaneously
acknowledged not only by his
own people, but also the elite of
other lands who intimately
knew his patriotic labors. Also,
immediately after his execution,
his
own people had justly
acclaimed him as their foremost
hero & martyr.
Dr. Frank C. Laubach, an
American biographer of Rizal,
spoke of the hero’s courage
and I quote,
His consuming life purpose was
the secret of his moral courage.
Physical courage, it is
true, was one of his inherited
traits. But that high courage to
die loving his murderers, w/c he
at
last achieved - that cannot be
inherited. It must be forged
out in the fires of suffering &
temptation.
Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso, or simply Jose Rizal (1861-1896), is a well-known personality
that has been mentioned in the annals of Philippine history. Dr. José Rizal, the national hero of the
Philippines, is not only admired for possessing intellectual brilliance, but also for taking a stand and
resisting the Spanish colonial government. His birth and death are remembered and recognized by the
Filipino people. His name can be found in almost all corners of the Philippines. Roads, schools and even
province are named after him. His image can be found in peso bills and coins. Monuments are erected in
his name (foremost of this can be found in Rizal Park in Manila). These are manifestations of the
country's reverence accorded to Jose Rizal as a national hero.
Who is the Filipino writer whose teachings have been frequently invoked & quoted by authors on
almost all occasions? None but Rizal. And why is this so? Because as biographer Rafael Palma said, "The
doctrines of Rizal are for all epochs. They are as valid today as they were yesterday…” and for the future.
Rizal was a unique man of outstanding talents. A patriot and a poet, a novelist and an educator.
Above all, he was a man of conviction. His love for his country, and his observations of Spanish rule
impassioned him to speak out about injustice. He was a peaceful man and used the power of the pen to
express himself.
However, there are Filipinos believing that Rizal's becoming the national hero was the result of
American sponsorship wherein fact, the American government, especially Gov. W. H. Taft only "guided"
the Filipino people to choose Rizal. The American rationale was based on Rizal's peaceful propaganda
and diplomatic approaches in attaining Philippine freedom and independence. This is shown by his
pacifism where he fought the Spanish tyranny through a propaganda battles by means of using his pen in
critiquing and exposing the defects of Spanish governance. Alarmed over the threat posed by the two
novels of Rizal, angry Spanish officials pushed for Rizal's arrest and exile in Dapitan. Despite that, Rizal
promised the Spanish governor that he would not attempt an escape, which, in that remote part of the
country, would have been relatively easy.
He was spontaneously acknowledged not only by his own people, but also the elite of other lands
who intimately knew his patriotic labors. Also, immediately after his execution, his own people had justly
acclaimed him as their foremost hero & martyr. Dr. Frank C. Laubach, an American biographer of Rizal,
spoke of the hero’s courage and I quote, His consuming life purpose was the secret of his moral courage.
Physical courage, it is true, was one of his inherited traits. But that high courage to die loving his
murderers, w/c he at last achieved - that cannot be inherited. It must be forged out in the fires of suffering
& temptation.
The question why Dr. Jose Rizal is our foremost National Hero was answered three times in the article of
Esteban.
First, why is Rizal a hero, nay, our foremost national hero?
He was a prominent figure in the propaganda campaign and took admirable part in the movement
and also, his writing "Noli Me Tangere" that no other writings or author that aroused up to this day
acrimonious debates.
As exemplified by his two great novels which no other literary works could surpass, he proved
that the pen is mightier than the sword. Choosing a single work of a Filipino Author that contributed
tremendously to the formation of Filipino nationality, we shall have no hesitation in choosing Rizal’s Noli
Me Tangere because none of the other books had evoked such favorable & unfavorable comments from
friends & foes alike as did Rizal’s Noli.
Blumentritt, after reading Rizal’s Noli, wrote & congratulated its author, saying among other
things: "Your work, as we Germans say, has been written w/ the blood of the heart... Your work has
exceeded my hopes & I consider myself happy to have been honored by your friendship.”
If Rizal’s friends & admirers praised w/ justifiable pride the Noli & its author, his enemies were
equally loud in condemning the same. Rizal’s novel was condemned by a faculty committee of a Manila
university (UST). The committee said that it found the book "heretical, & scandalous to the religious
order, & unpatriotic to the public order, libelous to the govt. of Spain." During the congressional hearings
on the Rizal (Noli-Fili) in 1956, the proponents and opponents of the bill engaged themselves in a bitter
drawn-out debate that finally resulted in the enactment of a compromise measure, now known as RA
1425.
It is comforting to learn however, that about 13 years later, Cong. Henry Allen Cooper of
Wisconsin delivered an eulogy of Rizal & even recited the martyr’s Ultimo Pensamiento on the floor of
the U. S. House of Representatives in order to prove the capacity of the Filipinos for self- government.
The result of this appeal was the approval of what is popularly known as the Philippine Bill of 1902.
Again, we ask the question: why did Rizal, become the greatest Filipino hero? As stated by
Esteban in his article, no other Filipino that has yet been born who could or surpass Dr. Jose Rizal as "a
person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude of suffering. We can all agree about the
fact that not one citizen of the country had yet to show the same characteristics, or had done the bravest of
acts for his country as Dr. Jose Rizal.
His ideas exposed the social malady affecting the country and redeemed his people from their
miserable conditions. He instilled native pride and dignity to Filipinos and the willingness to sacrifice for
motherland through his economic and political ideas which are vividly inscribed in his novels. He
preferred dying for the country than to live his life with his principles ruined.

His influence to the Filipino race through his intellect is as well not a sufficient basis to say that
he deserves the title but his complete self-denial. Although gifted with immeasurable talents, he
completely abandoned his personal interests in order to think only of those of his country. He chose to
live far from his family, forego his personal affections and profession for an ideal that he ought for. He
could have settled stable being endowed with riches, valor and intellect, but he wished to fight for his
country utilizing these natural endowments.
He then died in front of the Spanish and Filipino crowds by a firing squad on December 30, 1896
due to a false accusation of instigating Philippine revolution and because he was the most dangerous
enemy of the reactionaries & the tyrants. Thus, his charisma for the elite and intellectuals are proven
strong.
And for the 3rd & the last time, we repeat the question: Why is Rizal the greatest Filipino hero
that ever lived? Rizal is the greatest Filipino hero that ever lived because he is a man honored after death
by public worship, because of his exceptional service to mankind especially to his countrymen.
Due to Rizal’s ability and love for our homeland, he stood bold to battle for our opportunity despite the
fact that his life was on the line so as to spare his nation for enduring the Spaniards. That is the motivation
behind why Dr. Jose Rizal turned into our national legend.
Even before the outbreak of the revolution against Spain in 1896, many instances can be cited to
prove that his country & abroad recognized Rizal’s leadership. (1) He was elected by the Filipinos in
Barcelona & Madrid as honorary pres. of la Solidaridad. (2) He became chief of the Indios Bravos. (3)
Rizal was again unanimously chosen Responsable (chief) of the Spanish-Filipino Association. (4) He was
also the founder of la Liga Filipina in Manila on July 3, 1892. (5) He became honorary President of
Katipunan.
A year after Rizal’s execution, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo & the other revolutionary chiefs exiled to
Hong Kong held a commemorative program there on 29 Dec 1897 on the occasion of the 1st anniversary
of the hero’s execution & martyrdom. Pres. Aguinaldo issued the 1st official proclamation making 30 Dec
1898 as "Rizal Day". The same proclamation ordered the hoisting the Filipino flags at half-mast "from
12:00 noon on 30 Dec 1898" and the closing of "all offices of the government" during the whole day of
30 Dec.
 Many paid tributes for Rizal’s greatness as to honor his death. However, his death did not finish
his mission. It has just begun. For his death inspired many others and became the rallying force of the
revolutionary leaders who were also willing to sacrifice and die for the country, if necessary.
The Taft Commission, which functioned as the US colonial administration in the Philippines
from 1900 to 1904, passed Act No. 37, creating the Province of Rizal out of the military district of
Morong in honor of Dr. Rizal. The act did not formally declare Rizal a national hero, nor proclaim a
national holiday in his honor.
However, while Taft commission chose Rizal out of several great Filipinos as the No. 1 hero of
his people, still we can say that what the commission did was merely to confirm a sort of what has already
been decided, and that was Jose Rizal had already been acclaimed by his countrymen and the scientific
world as the foremost hero and martyr of the land of his birth. Nay, we can go even farther and concur w/
Prof. Blumentritt, who said in 1897:
Not only is Rizal THE MOST PROMINENT MAN OF HIS OWN PEOPLE but THE
GREATEST MAN THE MALAYAN RACE HAS PRODUCED.
Rizal wrote the historically famous novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” that spoke
against the tyranny of the Spanish regime in our country. After his death, a lot of books from different
parts of the world have been written about him.
But there have been constant debates from generation to generation that Andres Bonifacio is more
deserving to be called our national hero than Rizal. Many would claim that unlike Rizal, Andres
Bonifacio is a true revolutionary. While Rizal wanted change through peaceful means, Bonifacio believed
change is only possible through violence and it was through war that the Spanish gave up. Thus, leading
to a conclusion that Bonifacio should be the national hero, and Rizal should only be credited for helping.
Most of the world Heroes was elevated as such because of their war exploits. Rizal never did it.
Rafael Palma has very well stated the case of Rizal versus Bonifacio in these words: It should be
a source of pride & satisfaction to the Filipinos to have among their national heroes one of such excellent
qualities & merits w/c may be equaled but not surpassed by any other man. It is true that in our case the
sword of Bonifacio was after all needed to shake off the yoke of a foreign power; but the revolution
prepared by Bonifacio was only the effect, the consequence of the spiritual redemption wrought by the
pen of Rizal. Napoleon himself, who was a great conqueror & ruler, said: "There are only two powers in
the world; the sword & the pen; and in the end the former is always conquered by the latter".
Going back to our main question, who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines?
His struggles, sacrifices and notable contributions to today’s independence were held accountable
for making Dr. Jose Rizal our national hero. Of course, Rizal himself, his own people, and the few
influential foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero and martyr of his people. Jose
Rizal, considered as the greatest among the Filipino heroes, was not explicitly proclaimed as a national
hero. His exceptional dedication and conviction to his life’s purpose are beyond the realm of imagination
knowing that he sacrificed his own life, not having the assurance that his sacrifices will be worth it. If he
hadn’t, and among other noteworthy heroes of our history fought for our well-deserved freedom, maybe
we’ll still be in the hands of our unjust captors. His “excellent qualities and merits” (Rafael Palma) made
him Our Foremost National Hero.
Jose did many good deeds and tried to accomplish his goals; he wanted to free his country. He
was well-known enough to even have his own special holiday which celebrates the anniversary of his
death. Few people have had a leader who so entirely gave of himself as he did, and who asked so little for
himself in return. He is a hero.

REFERENCES:
https://unveilingrizal.weebly.com/why-rizal.html
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/12/who-made-rizal-our-foremost-national.html
https://filipinojournal.com/national-hero/
https://www.thoughtco.com/jose-rizal-hero-of-the-philippines-195677
https://ph.asiatatler.com/society/a-closer-look-on-the-more-human-side-of-national-hero-dr-jose-
rizal