LESSON 2

CONCEPT OF
HERO
According toWilliam Henry Scott, pangangayaw was done
because of four reasons, namely:
1)tosecure resources, ranging from the occasional use goods
or bounty to human slaves;
2) to avenge a personal affront or family honor;
3) to fulfil mourning requirements towhich the life of enemies
must be sacrificed; and lastly
4) for personal prominence ora mercenary reward.
 
A Bayani is more often than not a truekawani or
lingkod-bayan (community servant) who renders
his or her help to those inneed in the community
without counting the cost.His/Her ultimate goal is
to maintainpeace and order. The concept of
bayanihan (cooperation) and the word
pabayani (freelabor offered to/by someone)
proves the semantic essence of Bayani.
 
The BoxerCodex (1590), an ancient
document about the early Philippine societies,
definesa Bayani as a person with a high
status and dignity.
 
Pedro Serrano Laktaw, in hisdictionary, elaborates
the personality of a Bayani: a person who fears no
one (walang-takot), courageous (matapang), firm
(matibay), bold (mapangahas), but quiet
(tahimik)and calm (mahinahor).
�Nevertheless, changes occurred when the
Spaniards conquered the Philippines.
�Instead of living role models, the
Spaniards had introduced the image of
obedience of saints and disciples whom the
Filipinos had to imitate in order to become
good colonials, Vida Sancti, or the lives of
dead saints became the foundation qualities
of Life.
� Doctrina Christiana or prayer and
doctrine books became of faith.
�The Americans, on the other hand, propagated a secular
view on heroes. Hero-Worshiping of American soldiers who
died during the Philippine-American War (then dubbed as
Philippine Insurrection) like Gen. Henry W. Lawton, Col.
John M.Stotsenburg and Col. Harry Egbert was promoted
through monuments and annual commemoration rituals to
justify the need for American tutelage in the
Philippines.
�Filipino heroes were also venerated during this period.
Jose Rizal, who was executed by the Spaniards, became
the leading national hero. Mabini, Luna, and Del Pilar
also became household names.
�A modern-day concept of the
indigenous Bayani still exists
today. The Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFW) are considered Bagong Bayani
(new heroes).
Modern Day Hero
Modern Day Hero
Criteria for Recognizing Heroes
A hero is a social construct. Since that is the nature
of the process, recognizing heroes is always subjective.
To bridge the gap, the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines (NHCP) released some of the criteria for
recognizing heroes, through their Project Saysay.
WHO declares if anyone is a hero?

�What makes a hero? Through Executive Order No. 75 issued

on March 28, 1993, former president Fidel Ramos created
the National Heroes Commission, which is tasked to study
and recommend national heroes to be recognized for their
character and contributions to the country.
�1.the extent of a person's sacrifice for the welfare of
the country (Teodoro A Agoncillo 1965);
�2.the motive and methods employed in the attainment of
the ideal (welfare of the country) (Teodoro A.
Agoncillo 1965);
�3. the moral character of the person concerned (Teodoro
A. Agoncillo 1965);
�4. the influence of the person concerned on his/her age
and or the succeeding age (Teodoro Agoncillo 1965);
�5. those who have a concept of nation and thereafter
aspire and struggle fo the nation's freedom (Onofre D.
Corpuz 1993)
�e to a system of life of freedom and order for a
nation (Onofre D. Corpuz 1993);
�7.those who contribute to the quality of life
and destiny of a nation (Onofre D. Corpuz 1993);
�8.a part of the people's expression (Alfredo
Lagmay 1995);
�9.person who thinks of the future, especially
the future generations (Alfredo Lagmay 1995);
and
�10.the choice of a hero involves not only the
recounting of an episode or events in history,
but of the entire process that made this
particular person a hero (Alfredo Lagmay 1995)
RIZAL AS A FILIPINO HERO

�Rizal Day is commemorated every December 30. The origin

of this commemoration came ftrom 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 Aguinaldo's decree did not
specifically declare Rizal as a national hero, it was a
tribute to his heroism.
�The Americans, realizing the possibilities of a Rizal
cult in their colonial agenda, seized the opportunity
and made Rizal the "national" hero of the Philippines.
Among the choices they had, :
�1)a hero who is not violent and militant, and if
possible, preferred peaceful 1)means like education;
�1)a hero who had no qualms on American imperialism; and
�2) a hero who is already dead.
�However, there was no actual law during the American
Regime that explicitly declared Rizal the official hero
of the country. Three steps, instead, were made by the
American colonial government to promote his heroism,
namely:
�1)the creation of Rizal Province;
�2)2) the erection of Rizal Monument; and
�3)3) the declaration of Rizal Day on December 30 as a
public holiday.
�In 1995, amidst the preparation of the nation for the upcoming
centennial celebration of Philippine Revolution and Philippine
Independence Day, the National Heroes Committee created by President
Fidel V. Ramos released a list of recommended national heroes. These
were as follows:
�1 Jose Rizal
�2 Andres Bonifacio
�3. Emilio Aguinaldo
�4. Apolinario Mabini
�5. Marcelo H. del Pilar
�6. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
�7 Juan Luna
�8. Melchora Aquino
�9. Gabriela Silang
�Today there are four major national celebrations with
Rizal as an important Subject:
�June 12 (Independence Day),
�June 19 (Birth Anniversary),
�last week of August (National Heroes Week),
� and December 30 (Rizal Day).
Is Rizal really a hero?
Who is the Greatest Hero of the Philippines?
Four Days to Honor Philippine Heroes
Rizal Day
December 30
General Emilio Aguinaldo on December 20 1898.
In Daet, Camarines Norte, Filipino mason
erected a simple monument dedicated to Rizal
on December 30 1898.
“A Jose Rizal;” Noli Me Tangere” and “El
Filibusterismo”; and the word “Morga” which
refers to the book Sucesos de lass Filipinas.
 BONIFACIO DAY
November 30
KKK ANB
Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang
na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
Act No. 2946 by the Philippine
Legislature on February 16, 1921.
 NATIONAL HEROES DAY
The celebration of this
holiday became possible in
accordance to Public Act No.
3827 passed by the
Philippine legislatuire on
October 28, 1931.
to honor all heroes of the
philippines including those
who are unknwon.
 �NINOY AQUINO DAY
�August 21
created by President
Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo on December 25,
2004.
Republic Act No. 9256
 The Humanity of Heroes

�Heroes are a product of their time.

�Heroes are made because they
responded to the call of the times
and their response to this call had
a decisive effect on the lives of
their countrymen.
 Thank You :)
Credit to LORD EILEEN M. LAGRISOLA, LPT

Prof.Antonio A. Maligaya
Instructor