The Death of a Hero

Module 2
Background Knowledge
Did you know that Jose Rizal is not the Philippines’
national hero? According to the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA 2011), there has been no
official proclamation of any Filipino historical figure as our
national hero. The NCCA states, “Even Jose Rizal,
considered as the greatest among the Filipino heroes, was
not explicitly proclaimed as a national hero. The position
he now holds in the Philippine history is a tribute to the
continued veneration or acclamation of the people in
recognition of his contribution to the significant social
transformation that took place in our country.”
Background Knowledge

The poem you are about to read is an

imagined narrative by a priest of the
Ateneo, Padre Faura, on how he feels
about his old student, Jose Rizal.
PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL
AUTHOR: DANTON REMOTO
(POETRY)
I stand on the roof
Of the Ateneo municipal,
Shivering
On this December morning.
 
Months ago,
Pepe came to me
In the observatory.
I thought we would talk
PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL
AUTHOR: DANTON REMOTO
(POETRY)
About the stars
That do not collide
In the sky:
Instead, he asked me about purgatory
 
(His cheeks still ruddy
From the sudden sun
After the bitter winter
In Europe)
PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL
AUTHOR: DANTON REMOTO
(POETRY)

And on this day

With the years beginning to turn,
Salt stings my eyes.
I see Pepe,
 
 
A blur
Between the soldiers
With their Mausers raised
And the early morning’s
PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL
AUTHOR: DANTON REMOTO
(POETRY)

Star:
Still shimmering
Even if millions of miles
away,
The star itself
 
Is already dead
Motivation
1. What do you know about Jose Rizal? What do you feel about Jose
Rizal?

Place of Birth: Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines

Birth Date: June 19, 1861
Place of Death: Manila, Philippines
Death Date: December 30, 1896
Education: University of Madrid, University of
Heidelberg, University of Santo Tomas
Professions: Polymath, Author, Scientist, Poet, Novelist,
Journalist, Ophthalmologist, Visual Artist.
1. What do you know about Jose Rizal? What do you feel about Jose
Rizal?

He opened our eyes to what really is happening in our

nation.
He is brave and he is willing to sacrifice his life for our
country.
He was the one that sparked the Philippine Revolution.
Pepe really wanted to have freedom in the Philippines
from Spain, so that the Filipinos did not have to be
controlled by another country. He did not care about
himself. He cared more about helping his country.
2. Why do people often compare and contrast Rizal
and Bonifacio?

They are often compared because they

are the two most famous Philippine heroes.
And are often contrasted because of their
opposite methods to fighting the Spaniards.
Rizal using his words and Bonifacio using his
strength. With Rizal being "the pen" and
Bonifacio being "the sword".
3. Who do you consider to be more heroic, Rizal
or Bonifacio? Which one do you admire more?
Explain your answer.

He was fearless in battle, the charging brown

warrior, the one who fought to slay the dragons
of the colonization and the damning
subservience. You can’t imagine Bonifacio as
Rizal, the hero with the overcoat. He will always
be the hero with the sleeves rolled up always
ready to do battle with the enemy.
3. Who do you consider to be more heroic, Rizal
or Bonifacio? Which one do you admire more?
Explain your answer.

That he was regarded with awe and respect by the

intellectuals, professionals and commoners s that
joined him in the Katipunan leadership was testament
to Bonifacio’s supreme ability to lead—the supremo
who was without equal. In that time and place, the
most selfless and fearless, and the most committed to
the cause, was the natural leader and Bonifacio was
the most selfless, the most fearless and the most
dedicated.
3. Who do you consider to be more heroic, Rizal
or Bonifacio? Which one do you admire more?
Explain your answer.

Who would I admire more is a matter of

speculation. I honestly believe Bonifacio may
have had the potential to surpass Rizal, had his
economic status been at par. Bonifacio worked
through the revolution through both fist and
intellect. He self-educated himself and he is
capable in multiple languages.
4. Do you consider Jose Rizal a revolutionary? Why or
why not?

He believed that reforms to be fruitful must come

from above and that those that come from below are
shaky, irregular, and uncertain.
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.
4. Do you consider Jose Rizal a revolutionary? Why or
why not?

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. In this
case, Rizal unintentionally underestimated the
capacity of those from below to compel changes
and reforms.
 Semantic Mapping
Jose Rizal’s achievements and contributions to Philippine Society
 The Social Cancer
(Noli Me Tangere)

The Reign of A la
Greed (El juventud
Filibusterismo) filipina

Mi Ultimo Adios
The Vision of Fr. Rodriguez Goodbye to Leonor
By Telephone by Dimas Alang Hymn to Labor
Additions to my Defense Dalit sa Paggawa
To Barrantes on the Tagalog Hymn to Talisay
Theater Kundiman
The Religiosity of the Filipino Mi Retiro
People

Canto del Viajero Sa Aking mga Kababata

To the Child Jesus A Fragment
To the Virgin Mary Un Recuerdo A Mi
Water and Fire Pueblo

Constitution of the Liga Felicitation

Filipina Flower Among Flowers
Constitution of the Liga Filipina On the Calamba Incidents
Justice in the Philippines The Rights of Man
Proposed Agreement between the Executives of the town of
British North Borneo Company and the Calamba
Filipino Colony To the Filipinos
Poor Friars! By-laws of the Association
of Dapitan Farmers

Let us be Just Cruelty

Philippine Affairs Differences
More on the Negros Affair To our Dear Mother
The Indolence of the Filipinos Country

Cowardly Revenge To "La Patria"

A Reply to Mr. Isabelo de los Reyes Inconsequences

F. Pi y Margall: The Struggles of Our Tears and Laughter

Times Ingratitude
How the Philippines is Governed Nameless
Como si governano le Fillipine
El Consejo de los Dioses
The Council of the Gods
Junta Al Pasig
Along the Pasig
Saint Eustache, Martyr
Unfortunate Phillipines
Farewell to 1883
Reflections of a Filipino
Rizal's speech honoring Luna/Hidalgo
Note on the Maremagnum
Tribute to Blumentritt
Rizal's speech delivered at Cafe Habanero
Petition of the town of Calamba
Filipino Farmers
To "La Defensa"
How to Deceive the Native Later
The Truth for All
Vicente Barrantes' Teatro Tagala
A Profanation
New Truths
Rizal's Annotations to Morga's
1609 Phillipine History
Sa Mga Kababaihang Taga
Malolos
To The Young Women of Malolos
The Indolence of the Filipino
Filipinas dentro de cien anos
The Phillipines A Century Hence
Le Filippine entro cento anni
 Josephine Bracken
Consuela Ortiga Gertrude Beckett

Leonor Rivera
Suzanne Jacoby

Segunda Solis Leonor Valenzuela

Katigbak

O-Sei San Nelly Boustead

Guide Questions
1. Who is Pepe? Explain.

Pepe is the Philippine National Hero,

Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonso
Realonda or commonly known as Jose
Rizal. During the Spanish era in the
Philippines, children named Jose is
given a nickname Pepe.
2. Why does Pepe ask the persona about
purgatory?

Rizal has been in battle against the Spaniards through his

writings. Being consciously aware that his name is under fire,
there is an immense knowing that his  execution might be
coming.
 
       When we speak about purgatory in Roman Catholic
Doctrine, it is where the souls enter after death for cleansing
and purifying of sins before transcending to heaven.      
2. Why does Pepe ask the persona about
purgatory?

Rizal might have been thinking about his 

forthcoming death and is mentally preparing
himself if he is about to go to purgatory.
What is it like? or maybe, does it even exist.
3. The poem talks about the nature of the stars. Can
you explain what he means, in terms of science.

There is the statement that says, "when we look

at the stars, you're actually looking at the past."
The light that we see from the stars is actually a
light that travelled years- thousand of light years
before it reaches Earth. So, the stars that we see
today are actually dead in present, what we're
seeing is how they shimmered thousand years ago.
4. This discussion of a star is also a
metaphor. What is the metaphor for?

The star is a metaphor of Jose Rizal.

Like the star that's already died years
ago, we can still see its light shimmering
before us. Like Jose Rizal, he might be
dead, but his legacy will forever remain
in the hearts of the Filipinos.
5. Why was Rizal executed? How is this
similar to the idea of a star

Relate this to Philippine history. Rizal was

executed because his writings are act of
rebellion against the Spanish Government. It is
similar to a star because his works will remain as
part of the Philippine History. I am assured that
Rizal and other valiant writers left a mark that
will always be remembered through generations.
6. What do you think the persona felt for Rizal? Give
textual evidence.

Sadness and regret

"Salt stings my eyes. I see Pepe,"
Seeing Rizal in the midst of execution, the
persona can't help but held tears in his eyes.
Also, knowing that months ago, he knows that
Rizal has been preparing for this.
7. Do you feel the same way? Why or why not?

Yes, because Padre Faura prophesied Rizal’s

death and he warned Rizal to restrain himself from
bickering with the colonial government. Rizal was
also one of his most brilliant pupil in Ateneo. That’s
why you can see Padre Faura street (It is in
recognition of the work done by a man who spent
his life as a servant of God and a disciple of
science)
8. What would you say was Rizal’s greatest
contribution to Philippine society?

One of the contribution of Dr. Jose

Protacio Rizal E Realonda was when he
wrote his two greatest works El
Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere to Wake
The Sleeping or The Ignorance Of Filipinos
in the abuses of the espanol and to fight
against the prayle.
9. If you were in Rizal’s place, would you have
supported the Katipunan? Why or why not?

If you think critically, a Spaniard with a big

gun versus Filipino with a bolo. Spaniards have
tons of army who are well trained. Filipinos
will never win against their cannons and guns.
If I were Rizal, I will not support the
Katipunan. Supporting them is a suicide. We
have no match against the foreign subjugator.
10. Who do you consider as our national
hero? Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio?

Both are national heroes. Though officially,

there are no national heroes yet, even though
we have the National Heroes Day celebration.
With what was their achievement, I guess
comparing them is like comparing apples and
oranges. They had different roles, and they
did both exceptionally.