VENERATION WITHOUT

UNDERSTANDING
On November 15, 1995 , the Technical Committee after deliberation and careful study based on Dr.
Onofre D. Corpuz’ and Dr. Alfredo Lagmay’s criteria selected the following nine Filipino historical
figures to be recommended as National Heroes:
 STATUS OF THE REPORT/RECOMMENDATIONS
SUBMITTED BY THE NATIONAL HEROES
COMMITTEE
Since the submission of the report/recommendations by the National Heroes
Committee to then Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria of the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports on November 22,1995 , no action has been taken.
Why do you think is the reason?
 A bill filed by Congressman Rene Relampagos from Bohol in
February 2014 sought, among other things, to declare Jose Rizal as the
sole Filipino national hero. According to the bill, he was a nationalist
and well known for his Philippine reforms advocacy during the
Spanish colonial era.
 As of January 1, 2017, the status of the bill was "Pending
with the Committee on REVISION OF LAWS since February
19, 2014.
IT WAS NEVER ACTED UPON.
What is the implication of this?
We do not have any official national hero.
 The Rizal that we know…
THE RIZAL THAT WE1. KNOW….
Poet
2. Doctor
3. Anthropologist
4. Sculptor
5. Surveyor
6. Farmer
7. Novelist
8. Essayist
9. Historian
10. Teacher
11. Polyglot
12. traveler
The many names of Rizal….
1. The living conscience of the
Filipino
2. A gentleman without blemish
3. The Quijote-Hamlet of the
Philippines
4. Ama ng Bansang Pilipino
5. The First Filipino
6. Kristong Hari
Does Rizal deserve to be a national hero?
 According to Renato Constantino in
his work “Veneration Without
Understanding,” Rizal did not deserve to
be the Philippines’ national hero.
ARGUMENT #1:
Almost always the leader of that revolution becomes the
principal hero of his people:
 “In our case, our national hero was not
the leader of our Revolution. In fact, he
repudiated that Revolution.”
 From the very beginning, when I first had notice
of what was being planned, I opposed it, fought it,
and demonstrated its absolute impossibility.
 I did even more. When later, against my advice, the
movement materialized, of my own accord I offered my good
offices, but my very life, and even my name, to be used in
whatever way might seem best, toward stifling the rebellion; for
convinced of the ills which it would bring, I considered myself
fortunate if, at any sacrifice, I could prevent such useless
misfortune…. I have written also (and I repeat my words) that
reforms, to be beneficial, must come from above, and those
which comes from below are irregularly gained and uncertain.
 Holding these ideas, I cannot do less than condemn, and I
do condemn this uprising-which dishonors us Filipinos and
discredits those that could plead our cause. I abhor its
criminal methods and disclaim all part in it, pitying from the
bottom of my heart the unwary that have been deceived into
taking part in it. [1]
Go to page 7 par 8
Rizal believed that independence should not yet be
granted to us…until what…why?
Argument # 2
Rizal is an American-sponsored hero
 His formal designation as our national
hero was abetted and encouraged by the
Americans.
“ And now gentleman, you
must have a national hero.”
-Civil Governor William H. Taft.
WHY DID THEY CHOOSE RIZAL OVER
THESE “CONTESTANTS”?
 WHY RIZAL?

• Rizal never advocated independence, nor did he advocate armed

resistance to the government. He urged reform from within by
publicity, by public education, and appeal to the public conscience.
• He was safely dead by the time the American began their aggression.
• No embarrassing anti-American quotations could ever be attributed
to him.
• To focus attention on him would serve not only to concentrate
Filipino hatred against the erstwhile oppressors, it would also blunt
their feelings of animosity toward the new conquerors against whom
there was still organized resistance at that time.
 “The public image that the American desired for a Filipino national
hero was quite clear. They favored a hero who would not run against
the grain of American colonial policy”.
-Constantino
 What did the Americans do to make sure that
Rizal would be recognized as the Philippines’
national hero?
Argument # 4
If there had been no Rizal, another type of talent would have
appeared who might have given a different style to the historic
struggles. (page 3, par. 1)
Why was Rizal called the
“First Filipino”?
Argument #5
The Revolution broke out despite his refusal to
lead it and continued despite his condemnation of
it.
Argument # 6
Rizal never advocated independence.
Rizal’s dream was to make the Philippines as a province of
Spain, governed in a benevolent way (page 5 par 2)
 Go to page 6 par 5
Instead of separation from Spain, what does
Rizal want?
Argument # 7
Andres Bonifacio, not Rizal, should be the national
hero (page 8 par 1)
 BLIND ADORATION

It is a reflection of “our lack of creative thinking” that we continue

to invoke Rizal when we discuss specific problems and present-day
society. This is also a reflection of our “intellectual timidity”, our
reluctance to espouse new causes unless we can find sanctions,
however remote, in Rizal. This tendency is fraught with dangers.
 MAIN CONCLUSION OF RIZAL’S
DETRACTORS

Since Rizal, despite the fact that he is a false hero, continues to be

venerated by Filipinos, then that veneration is misplaced and that if his
countrymen only “understood” Rizal’s motivation, they would drop
him like a hot potato.
A COUNTER ARGUMENT

Armando J. Malay
“ I would like to develop the opposite
thesis Continued veneration of Rizal by
the country, and even by the world, is not
only deserved but also understood.”
 According to Constantino: “Almost always, national
heroes of the world have been revolutionary heroes. If
you do not lead a revolution, your chance of emerging
as a national hero is nil.”
 According to Malay: “ Out of 125 nations (in the
UN roster) only seven were named by Constantino as
revolutionary leaders. Very clearly seven out of 125 is
clearly a minority.”
On “Rizal never supported the independence movement of the
Philippines”.

“After his introduction about the secret organization, I discussed

with Rizal the resolutions of the Katipunan. Rizal did not oppose the
resolutions. In fact, he approved these resolutions and even suggested
that they be complied with as soon as possible.” • However, when
Valenzuela told Rizal that “the revolution will break out even without
having arms”, Rizal opposes this resolution stating that “the Spaniards
… will annihilate the Filipinos”. (Valenzuela in De la Cruz, 2008)
• Rizal opposed the immediate start of the revolution,
not the movement itself. To help the Katipunan, he
advised that they must first have sufficient arms and
to invite rich and influential persons to join the secret
organization. (Ibid.)
• Further confirmation of Rizals’ support for the Philippine revolution
can be traced in the second stanza of his poem “Mi Ultimo Adios”.
• On the field of battle, ‘mid the frenzy of fight, Others have given
their lives, without doubt or heed; The place matters not ---- cypress
or laurel or lily white; Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom’s
plight, ‘Tis ever the same, to serve home and country’s need
• On “Rizal is an American-made Hero”
• Then on December 20, 1898 at the revolutionary capital at
Malolos, President Aguinaldo issued the first official
proclamation making December 30 of the year as “Rizal
Day”. (Ibid.)
• Thus, Rizal was proclaimed a National Hero by the First
Philippine Republic six years before the alleged
proclamation of Taft.
• On “Andres Bonifacio, not Rizal, should be the national hero”

• xxx the revolution prepared by Bonifacio was only the effect, the
consequence of spiritual redemption wrought by the pen of Rizal.
xxx in point of importance the previous work of Rizal seems to us
superior to that of Bonifacio.” (Ocampo in Zaide, 1999)
• “There are only two powers in the world, the sword and the pen; and
in the end , the former is always conquered by the latter” Napoleon I