Who Chose Rizal as National Hero?

-It is the Filipino themselves who chose Rizal as their national hero (though there was no law proclaiming
him as such)
- Evidences:

 Katipuneros considered him as the honorary leader of the Katipunan

 Rizal’s name was one of the passwords of the secret society which swore to fight for the
country’s freedom
 Two years after his death, General Emilio Aguinaldo, issued a decree on December 20, 1898
ordering that December 30, the anniversary of Rizal’s execution at Bagumbayan be
commemorated as “a day of mourning for Rizal and other victims of the Philippine Revolution”
(became the basis of the yearly celebration of Rizal Day)
 The Philippine Commission considered December 30 as a day of observance, by virtue of Act No.
345
 On Dec. 30, 1898, a group of mason erected a simple monument in Daet, Camarines Norte which
antedates the better known monument at Luneta in Manila which was erected in 1911
 Though the monument in Luneta was erected during the American Regime, it is the Filipino
people themselves that helped build the monument through public subscriptions which was
authorized by Act No. 243 of the Philippine Commission
 Widespread admiration for Rizal is the construction of myriad monuments in his honor in most
cities and towns of the country
 Many main streets and avenues in the various towns and cities are named after him
 Rizal province, formerly part of the Province of Manila was named in his honor by virtue of Act
No. 137 of the Phil. Commission
 The basic unit of Philippine currency; Jose Rizal University and Rizal Technological University etc.

How did Jose Rizal became our National Hero?

Rizal became our National Hero since 1901 as declared by Governor William Howard Taft. He topped
the list to be our National Hero from among others including Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, and
Emilio Aguinaldo. He has been recognized by having a big role in the history of our country.

Rizal is an American-sponsored hero: he opted for a non-violence reform in the government. Instead he
used his writings to open the eyes of the Filipinos. He dedicated his life for his countrymen without
hesitation.

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 fervour
of the Filipinos who are fighting for freedom at that time. The Americans decided for him being a national
hero at 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 bloody revolution in his time. So they
wanted him to be a "good example" to the Filipinos so that the people will not revolt against the
Americans. Rizal became a National Hero because he passed the criteria by being a National Hero during
the American period.