PADILLA, Isiah Robin R.

BSBA MM 2-3

Veneration without Understanding by Renato Constantino

I want to start this paper by defining what is a hero. In other countries “to be a national
hero" you should be a leader of a revolution but in our own country hero is a Filipino who has
been recognized as a national hero for his or her role in the history of the Philippines. Loosely,
the term may refer to all Filipino historical figures recognized as heroes, but the term more
strictly refers to those officially designated as such.

In this article I am favor of Renato Constantino’s opinion, these are the reasons why I am
in favor of his opinion. First, why we should think of an American Model to be our own national
hero. According to Michael Chua (2019), Americans’ sponsorship of Rizal as a hero which is a
fact by citing the three things the Americans made during the onset of their occupation that
highlighted Rizal as a hero among others: the changing of the name of the province of Morong to
Rizal (Act 137), the erection of a national monument in his honor (Act 243) and the declaration
of December 30, the anniversary of his death, as a day of observance. Second, during the present
time we can observe that almost all schools and universities only highlights Rizal as the national
hero that’s why people grew up knowing Rizal as a writer " role model" and a national hero. The
people saw him as someone who would sacrifice everything for the country’s freedom. They
were blinded by the teachings of Rizal’s virtuous characteristics from elementary up to
secondary that we tend to not see the deeper story behind Rizal and the revolutionaries. It is
stated on the Republic Act 1425 to include in the curricula of all public and private schools,
colleges and universities courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his
novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing and distribution thereof,
and for other purposes. Third, being a hero you should be a leader of a revolution but Rizal was
against to it, how can we consider a Rizal as a hero if he doesn’t have the bravery to fight for our
country. According to Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay (2012), Rizal’s weakness for this matter
was his failure to fully understand his people. He was unsuccessful in empathizing with the true
sentiments of the people from below in launching the armed rebellion. He repudiated the
revolution because he thought that reforms to be successful should come from above. It could be
understandable that the hero thought of such because it was the belief of the prevailing class to
which Rizal belonged. It is also possible that Rizal disproved the revolution due to his belief that
violence should not prevail. Fourth, why did he need to study in different country, is it for the
Pilipino or he have other nationalistic interests such as the reform. According to Connie
Arambulo-Agojo (2) Rizal had other nationalistic interests such as the reform. The purpose of
the reform is to be a province of 'pain and have equality between the Spaniards and Filipinos.
This is the reason why Constantino was in doubt if Rizal should really be considered as the
national hero. For me having a national hero must have the pride of being a Filipino not just a
person who molded by the intellectual ability to pursued others who doesn’t have the capacity to
elevate their knowledge.

Having my own hero in my life is a Filipino National Hero who fight bloody for our
country and who would sacrifice his own life for the sake of freeing the Filipinos because for me
if you really think the condition of your beloved country you would not go to different place to
study just to be said that you are Ilustrado. If you are aiming to free our country, you can plan
and motivate others to start a revolution not just by sitting and writing because in this problem it
is not about the position or being knowledgeable in your country it’s about helping others to fight
for their freedom. In this generation we need a new hero that will help us solve our problem we
cannot depend our problem in this present time to someone who doesn’t exist anymore. We need
to disregard the idea that we are not capable of producing our own hero. We need to think that
we are capable of fighting for what is right and just for everyone. We need to be our own hero
who have the courage to help other people. For me being a hero have the great responsibility for
the society, you need to show that you are deserving of calling a “hero” because for me being
called a hero you need to be a revolutionist who have the courage and bravery to fight for the
people and his beloved country. A true hero will not manifest his fighting with his own country.

SOURCES:

Michael “Xiao” Chua. (July 20, 2019).

https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/07/20/opinion/columnists/did-the-americans-make-rizal-a-
hero/586664/

Republic Act 1425. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/

Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay. (September 18, 2012).

https://nhcp.gov.ph/jose-rizal-and-the-revolution/#:~:text=He%20repudiated%20the
%20revolution%20because,class%20to%20which%20Rizal%20belonged.

Connie Arambulo-Agojo. (2012).

https://www.academia.edu/23702431/_Veneration_Without_Understanding_by_Renato_Constan
tino#:~:text=1%20%E2%80%9CVeneration%20Without%20Understanding%E2%80%9D
%20by,is%20about%20Rizal%20and%20nationalism.