WHY IS JOSE RIZAL OUR

NATIONAL HERO?

A hero symbolizes goodness. Rizal gave us freedom by using goodness. Jose Rizal
became the Philippine national hero because he fought for freedom in a silent but
powerful way. He expressed his love for the Philippines through his novels, essays,
and articles rather than through the use of force or aggression. He was a very amazing
person at his time. He was humble, fighting for reforms through his writings instead of
through a revolution. He used his intelligence, talents, and skills more peaceful than
aggressive.

Rizal is an American-sponsored hero: he opted for a nonviolence reform in the

government. Instead, he used his writings to open the eyes of the Filipinos. He
dedicated his life to his fellow citizens without hesitation.

He was known for his humility and coolness but never fought in a war. Most of the
world Heroes were elevated as such because of their war exploits. Rizal never did it.
He was using his pen for criticism about the handling of the Spanish government in the
Philippines. He fought to have the Philippines a permanent representation in the
Spanish Cortes. That's why when the US accepted the Philippines as a vassal country,
Gen. Taft, who was the Governor-general here, appointed Jose Rizal as the National
Hero for the Philippines to douse the fighting fervor of the Filipinos who were fighting
for freedom at that time.

The Americans decided for him to be a national hero during their time in the
country. It is said that the Americans, Civil Governor William Howard Taft, chose Jose
Rizal to be the national hero as a strategy. Rizal didn't want a bloody revolution in his
time. So, they wanted him to be a "good example" to the Filipinos so that the people
would not revolt against the Americans.
Rizal became a National Hero because he passed the criteria by being a National Hero
during the American period.
 Adding that, Rizal passed the Criteria for National Heroes.

1. Heroes have a concept of nation and aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom. In
reality, however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning. One
cannot desire free, only to sink back into bondage.

2. Heroes define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation.
Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy. Therefore, heroes are those who
make the nation’s constitution and laws. To the latter, constitutions are only the
beginning, for the people living under the constitution constitute a nation.

3. Heroes contribute to the quality of life and destiny. (As defined by Dr. Onofre D.
Corpuz)

Additional Criteria for Heroes

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

internalization of a hero’s life and works takes time, with the youth forming a part of the
internalization.

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 event in
history but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero.