WHY SHOULD JOSE RIZAL REGARDS AS OUR NATIONAL HERO?

First of all we should clarify the meaning of a hero to make it quite simple tounderstand how
Rizal became one. A hero symbolizes goodness. Rizal gave us freedomby using goodness. Jose
Rizal became the Philippine national hero because he foughtfor freedom in a silent but
powerful way. He expressed his love for the Philippinesthrough his novels, essays and
articles rather than through the use of force oraggression. He was a very amazing
person at his time. He was humble, fighting forreforms through his writings instead of through
a revolution. He used his intelligence,talents and skills in a more peaceful way rather than the
aggressive way. It’s because the Americans want it. They proclaimed Rizal as the national
hero sopeople in Philippines would see him as a model. They would follow him; people
wouldjust study and develop their talents and skills and they would never be aggressive or
beagainst to the Americans who are invading the Philippines that time. They preferredRizal to
be the national hero who is silent rather that Aguinaldo who is Aggressive andmay be against
the Americans. Even though death awaited him if he will return to the Philippines, still he
chose togo back to the Philippines because the real battle was in his homeland not in the
Spain.He was exiled to Dapitan where he experienced one of the colorful chapters of his life.It is
a good example that there is hope for every small town in the country. He taughtchildren and
still manages to identify species of different newly discovered organisms. Dr. Jose P. Rizal's
concept of the importance of education is clearly shown in hiswork entitled Instruction wherein
he sought improvements in the schools and in themethods of teaching. He knows that
the backwardness of his country during theSpanish era was not due to the Filipinos’
indifference, apathy or indolence as claimed bythe rulers, but to the neglect of the Spanish
authorities in the islands. For Rizal, themission of education is to elevate the country to
the highest seat of glory and todevelop the people’s mentality. Since education is
the foundation of society and a

prerequisite for social progress, Rizal claimed that only through education could thecountry be
saved from domination. Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centerson the provision of
proper motivation in order to bolster the great social forces thatmake education a success, to
create in the youth an innate desire to cultivate hisintelligence and give him life eternal. Dr.
Jose Rizal has influenced me to strive reallyhard in life. Education is the important key to this
success. Living his principles will getme somewhere in this life. Remembering his principles
teaches me how to be like him ina way that he made a difference for the country. I want to do
the same thing to inwhich I am doing something for my country. And I'm not going to forget
about hislegacy.