Republic of the Philippines
PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Tiniguiban Heights, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
ROXAS CAMPUS
National Highway, Barangay New Barbacan (Retac), Roxas, Palawan
BACHELOR OF SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
MODULE IN
GE LWR: LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/fast-facts-filipino-national-hero-criteria-heroes-day-philippines
FRANK JOE MOJICA
Faculty
Module 11
Module 11
JOSE RIZAL AND PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM – NATIONAL
SYMBOL
MODULE OVERVIEW
In this module, we will learn about the criteria in selecting national heroes. Similarly, we will
learn the different basis in honouring our national heroes. On another level, this module also
discusses the vital information.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Examine the values highlighted by the various representation of Rizal as a national symbol;
2. Advocate the values Rizal’s life encapsulates.
CONTENT
A. IS THERE ANY LAW PROCLAIMING RIZAL AS NATIONAL HERO?
According to the Reference and Research Bureau, Legislative Research Service of the House
of Representatives, there are no proclamations or executive orders that officially proclaim a
Filipino historical figure as a national hero.
But there have been laws issued that honor these historical figures to recognize their
contributions to the country’s nation building.
By that, no law, executive order or proclamation has been enacted or issued officially
proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a national hero. However, because of their
significant roles in the process of nation building and contributions to history, there were
laws enacted and proclamations issued honoring these heroes.
However, in early December 20, 1898, General Emilio
Aguinaldo issued a decree declaring December 30 of every
year a day of national mourning in honor of Rizal and other
victims of the Philippine Revolution.
Similarly William Howard Taft arrived in the Philippines in
June 1900 and became the chairman of the 2nd Philippine
Commission; the American governor general suggested naming
Rizal a national hero because: (1) Rizal was already dead by
the time the Americans colonized the Philippines. (2) He did
not make any negative remarks or embarrassing anti-American
quotations.(3) Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal was a symbol of
Spanish oppression.(4) He urged reform from within by
publicity, by public education, and appeal to the public
conscience.
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In 1901 Taft suggested that the Philippine Commission that the Filipinos be given a national
hero. The Free Press of December 28, 1946 gives this account of a meeting of the Philippine
Commission:
“And now, gentlemen, you must have a national hero.’ In these fateful words,
addressed by then Civil Governor W. H. Taft to the Filipino members of the civil
commission, Pardo de Tavera, Legarda, and Luzuriaga, lay the genesis of Rizal Day”
On the other hand there are some several proclamations or acts formulated to honor our
national heroes,
1. Act No. 137 – enacted on June 11, was formulated which organized the “politico-military
district of Morong” into the “Province of Rizal,” in honor of Rizal, the great
hero and martyr.
2. Act No. 2946 - declaring November 30 as a National holiday to commemorate Andres
Bonifacio contributions. It was enacted by the Philippine Legislature on
February 16, 1921.
3. Act No. 2760 - confirmed and ratified all steps taken for the creation, maintenance and
improvement of national monuments, and particularly for the erection of a
monument in memory of Andres Bonifacio enacted last February 23, 1918.
4. Executive Order 75 - creating the National Heroes Committee under the Office of the
President Fidel Ramos on March 28, 1993,
5. Republic Act 9492 – Creation of National Heroes Day since then has been assigned to
the last or fourth Monday of August during President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo
B. Selection And Proclamation Of National Heroes And Laws Honoring Filipino
Historical Figures
On March 28, 1993 , President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No.75 entitled
“Creating the National Heroes Committee Under the Office of the President”.
The principal duty of the Committee is to study, evaluate and recommend Filipino national
personages/heroes in due recognition of their sterling character and remarkable achievements for the
country.
B.1 Criteria for National Heroes
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s
freedom. Our own struggle for freedom was begun by Bonifacio and finished by Aguinaldo, the
latter formally declaring the revolution’s success. In reality, however, a revolution has no end.
Revolutions are only the beginning. One cannot aspire to be free only to sink back into bondage.
2. Heroes are those who 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, such as Mabini and Recto. To the latter, constitutions are only the beginning,
for it is the people living under the constitution that truly constitute a nation.
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3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. (As defined by Dr.
Onofre D. Corpuz)
Additional Criteria for Heroes
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee on November 15, 1995,
Manila)
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 events in history, but of the
entire process that made this particular person a hero. (As defined by Dr. Alfredo Lagmay)
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:
a. Jose Rizal
b. Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d. Apolinario Mabini
e. Marcelo H. del Pilar
f. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
g. Juan Luna
h. Melchora Aquino
i. Gabriela Silang
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. This was probably because this might trigger a flood of requests
for proclamations. Another possibility is that the proclamations can trigger bitter debates involving
historical controversies about the heroes.
C. Laws Honoring/ Commemorating Filipino Historical Figures
1. Jose P. Rizal
Decree of December 20, 1898 , issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo, declared December 30
of every year a day of national mourning in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the
Philippine Revolution.
Act No. 137, which organized the politico-military district of Morong into the Province of
Rizal , was the first official step taken by the Taft Commission to honor our greatest hero
and martyr.
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2. Andres Bonifacio
Act No. 2946, enacted by the Philippine Legislature on February 16, 1921 , made November
30 of each year a legal holiday to commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio
Act No. 2760, issued on February 23, 1918 , confirmed and ratified all steps taken for the
creation, maintenance, improvement of national monuments and particularly for the erection
of a monument to the memory of Andres Bonifacio
3. Other Heroes
Act No. 3827, enacted by the Philippine Legislature on October 28, 1931 , declared the last
Sunday of August of every year as National Heroes Day.
Proclamation No. 510, issued by Pres. Fidel V.Ramos on November 30, 1994 , declared the
year 1996 as the year of Filipino Heroes as a tribute to all Filipinos who, directly and
indirectly, gave meaning and impetus to the cause of freedom, justice, Philippine
independence and nationhood.
R.A. No. 9070, April 8, 2001, declaring the eighteenth of December of every year as a
special working public holiday throughout the country to be known as the Graciano Lopez-
Jaena Day
4. Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 6701, February 10, 1989, declaring September One of every year, the death
anniversary of Gregorio Aglipay y Labayan, as Gregorio L. Aglipay Day and a special non-
working holiday in the Municipality of Batac, Province of Ilocos Norte
R.A. No. 7285, March 24, 1992, declaring February Nineteen of each year as Doña Aurora
Aragon Quezon Day a special nonworking holiday in the Province of Aurora in order to
commemorate the birth anniversary of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first President of the
Philippine National Red Cross, and Foundation Day of the Province
R.A. No. 7805, September 1, 1994, declaring January 28 of every year as a non-working
special public holiday in the City of Cavite to be known as Julian Felipe Day
R.A. No. 7950, March 25, 1995, declaring December Eighteen of every year as “Araw ng
Laguna” and a special working day in the Province of Laguna and the City of San Pablo to
commemorate the memory and death of the late Governor Felicisimo T. San Luis
R.A. No. 9067, April 8, 2001 , declaring April 15 of every year as President Manuel A.
Roxas Day which shall be observed as a special working public holiday in the Province of
Capiz and the City of Roxas
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EVALUATION/STUDENT ACTIVITIES
1. Students should present present a photo exhibit of different Rizal monuments in the
Philippines and abroad.
2. Write short description about their background and interpretation on their imagery and
representations
3. Essay or speech about a particular value Rizal advocated
4. Students choose a key issue (e.g heroism and the notion of sacrifice, literature and national
consciousness; ethics and our concepts of leadership, ethnicity and national belonging) to be
tackled in an integrating project assigned by the teacher (e.g., a newspaper; an audio visual
project composition of lyrics with musical arrangement; or a painting/mural)
5. Discuss the Lahiro, Smitha. “Writer, hero, myth, and spirit: the changing image of Jose
Rizal,” mga papel ng Cornell University hinggil sa Timog -Silangang Asia.
http://seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Modules/Modules/PhilippineReligions/article_rizal.html
REFERENCES
Joaquin, Nick. (2005). A Question of Heroes. Pasig: Anvil Publishing, 2005. (Ilang kabanata ukol
kay Rizal, Bonifacio, at Aguinaldo)
Lahiro, Smitha. “Writer, hero, myth, and spirit: the changing image of Jose Rizal,” mga papel ng
Cornell University hinggil sa Timog -Silangang Asia.
http://seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Modules/Modules/PhilippineReligions/article_rizal.html
_____.Why is Jose Rizal is our National Hero @ https://unveilingrizal.weebly.com/why-
rizal.html#:~:text=Jose%20Rizal%20became%20the%20Philippine,amazing%20person%
20at%20his%20time.
_____. (2019) The making of Philippine Hero. Manila times
@https://www.manilatimes.net/2015/08/29/weekly/the-sunday-times/the-making-of-a-
philippine-national-hero/213977/
Reference and Research Bureau Legislative Research Service, House of Congress
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