in and Marcelo H. del Pilar, who sought to uplift the social conditions of the Philippines and not just a particular region or ethnolinguistic group. The body also said that heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation In another meeting of historians held on November 15, 1995, the Na Committee decided to adapt a criteria stating that “a hero is part of the people's expression.” However, the process of the people's internalization of a hero's life and works takes time, with the youth forming part of that internalization. This means that the appreciation of a person's contribution to history would require a period of analysis and younger generations who are nota part ofthe her's era would playa part inthe objective study of his ole Only by undergoing such process can a persons achievements and virtues be truly appreciated. The committee also said that "a hero thinks ofthe future, especially the future generations“ The choice of a hero, it said, “involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history but of the entire process that made this person a hero.” This involves the understanding of the historical conditions in which the hero had lived. Dr. Serafin Quiason gave a definition saying, “a hero isan event-making man who helps create the fork in the historical time that he faces, Heroes in a democracy should be great figures in the pantheon of thought, the men of ideas, and social vision of scientific and artistic power” There were some remarks that the process of evaluating and proclaiming heroes imitate the practice of the canonization of saints. Politicians, too, might be tempted to legislate unilaterally on who should be heroes. Heroes, according to historians, should not be legislated. The evaluation of their achievements should be better left to academicians. Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough. Even with the absence of any official declaration proclaiming them as national heroes, persons like Rizal, Bonifacio, and Aguinaldo remained admired and revered for their oles inthe Philippine histor. Proclaiming them will only confirm the public veneration of their contribution to the country's history. tional Heroes Presently, the Philippines has set aside four days to honor its heroes. Rizal Day is commemorated every December 30. The origin of this commemoration came from the decree issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo on December 20, 1898, It declared the 30th day of December as a national mourning day in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the Philippine Revolution. Though Aguinaldos decree did not specifically declare Rizal asa national hero, it was a tribute to his heroism. ons erected a simple monument dedicated to Rizal on December 30, 1898. The monument bears the words “A Jose Rizal;" "Noli Me Tangere” and "E|Filibusterismo,’ the ttles of his two prominent novels; and the word "Morga’ which refers to the book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas which Rizal annotated in 1890. The monument in Daet antedated the Rizal Monument which was constructed at the Luneta Park in Manila in 1911. The monument in Luneta was constructed through public subscription by Filipinos. 10 is Bonifacio Day which is celebrated every der of the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang In Daet, Camarines Nort, Filipino ma The other day dedicated toa single Filipino her November 30. It honors Andres Bonifacio, the foun Jose Rizal: Social Reformer and Patriot AStudy of His life and Times