HOW CAN

ONE BE A
HERO?
W H AT I S A
HERO?

“A hero is someone who

can be looked up to for
their actions. Bravery is
usually the biggest trait
of a hero. The person has
usually overcome huge
obstacles to survive or to
rescue others
(Deboonme, 2013).”
B U T W H AT Q U A L I T I E S S H O U L D
ONE POSSESS TO BECOME THE
P H I L I P P I N E N AT I O N A L H E R O ?
 R I Z A L’ S H E R O I S M
W H AT M A D E H I M T H E P H I L I P P I N E N AT I O N A L H E R O ?
W H AT A R E T H E C R I T E R I A O F B E I N G A N AT I O N A L H E R O ?
WHO MADE THE CRITERIA?
I S R I Z A L R E A L LY O U R N AT I O N A L H E R O ?
W H AT M A K E S A P H I L I P P I N E
N AT I O N A L H E R O ?
 REPUBLIC OF
THE PHILIPPINES

• Before being a ‘self-rule’

republic, our country used
the following criteria:

• He or she must be a dead

Filipino who had
displayed unconditional
love for his or her
country. He or she also
was a low temper and
had died dramatically.
A M E R I C A N P R O PA G A N D A
A N D R I Z A L’ S H E R O I S M
 B O N I FA C I O
VS. RIZAL

• Both Bonifacio and Rizal

passed the criteria.

• However, the Americans

(under William Howard
Taft) recommended and
vouched for Rizal’s
heroism.
ACCORDING TO THE HISTORIANS…

USA: ‘Rizal is a better choice because of

his peaceful propaganda in achieving
liberty, unlike Bonifacio who insisted on
blood revolution.’
 BASED ON
T H I S E V E N T:
• On December 20, 1898, Emilio
Aguinaldo declared December
30 as the annually renowned
National Rizal’s day.

• However, this is not an official

legislation nor executive order
that Rizal is the Philippine
national hero.

• Additionally, another
declaration is made for Andres
Bonifacio on February 23,
1918 ratifying that every
November 20, the Republic
must also celebrate National
Bonifacio day.
 THIS BEGS THE
QUESTION: IS RIZAL
THE SELF-IMPLIED
HERO?
• Because since then, there are no
official legislations, laws, executive
orders or official issuance that
Rizal is the national hero, he is the
implied Philippine national hero.

• RA 1425 (Rizal Law) aiming to

include Noli Me Tangere, etc. in
higher-education-curriculum;

• Building of Rizal Park,

educational institutions;
Establishing of Rizal province
N AT I O N A L H E R O E S
AND RIZAL
• On March 28, 1993, former
president Fidel Ramos issued
his Executive Order No. 75
resulting to the creation of
the National Heroes
Commission (NHC).

• NHC is intended and tasked

to deliberately study and
evaluate historical figures
who fought for the country,
and recommend personalities
who would qualify its
standardized criteria.
 CRITERIA

• Heroes are those who have a concept of nation, and aspire

and struggle for the nation’s freedom;

• Heroes define and contribute to a system or life of freedom

and order for a nation;

• Heroes contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation;

• Heroes are part of people’s expression;

• Heroes think of the future, especially for the future

generations, and

• The choice of heroes involves the entire process that made a

particular person a hero.
RIZAL: OUR UNOFFICIAL
N AT I O N A L H E R O
 QUALITIES OF
J O S E R I Z A L T H AT
MADE HIM THE
N AT I O N A L H E R O

J - JUDICIOUS

O - OPEN-MINDED

S - STRONG PERSONALITY

E - EXCEPTIONAL LEADER
 QUALITIES OF JOSE
R I Z A L T H AT M A D E H I M
T H E N AT I O N A L H E R O

P - PATRIOTIC

R - REVOLUTIONARY

O - OPINIONATED

T-

A-

C - CONFIDENT

I - ILLUSTRIOUS

O - OUTSTANDING
 QUALITIES OF
J O S E R I Z A L T H AT
MADE HIM THE
N AT I O N A L H E R O
R - RADICAL

I - INFLUENTIAL

Z - ZEALOUS

A - ASSERTIVE

L - LOYAL (SA COUNTRY)

 CONCLUSION
E V E N T H O U G H N O T E X P L I C I T LY S TAT E D I N O U R L A W S , D R .
J O S E P. R I Z A L S T I L L H O L D S T H E P O S I T I O N O F B E I N G T H E
P H I L I P P I N E N AT I O N A L H E R O W I T H H I S P R O F O U N D
PAT R I O T I S M .
 SOURCES AND REFERENCES

MALLORCA, HANNAH (2017). FAST FACTS: WHAT MAKES A FILIPINO HISTORICAL FIGURE
A NATIONAL HERO? RETRIEVED FROM https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/180016-fast-
facts-filipino-national-hero-criteria-heroes-day-philippines ACCESSED ON MARCH 18, 2019.

BUARAO, JOSEPH (2018). RIZAL: WHAT MADE H?IM OUR HERO? RETRIEVED FROM https://
steemit.com/life/@josephbuarao/rizal-what-made-him-our-hero ACCESSED ON MARCH 18,
2019.

THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE (2013). THE CENTENARY OF THE RIZAL MONUMENT. RETRIEVED
FROM http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/rizal-monument/ ACCESSED ON MARCH 18, 2019.

THE MANILA TIMES (2015). THE MAKING OF A PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO. RETRIEVED
FROM https://www.manilatimes.net/the-making-of-a-philippine-national-hero/213977/
ACCESSED ON MARCH 18, 2019.