Executive Summary

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.
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 Philippine history is a tribute to the continued
veneration or acclamation of the people in recognition of his
contribution to the significant social transformations that took place in
our country.
Aside from Rizal, the only other hero given an implied recognition
as a national hero is Andres Bonifacio whose day of birth on November
30 has been made a national holiday.
Despite the lack of any official declaration explicitly proclaiming
them as national heroes, they remain admired and revered for their
roles in Philippine history. Heroes, according to historians, should not be
legislated. Their appreciation should be better left to academics.
Acclamation for heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough.
1. Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes

1.1 National Heroes Committee

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.

1.2 Findings and Recommendations of the National Heroes Committee

In compliance with Executive Order No. 75 dated March 28, 1993 , the
National Heroes Committee submitted its findings and
recommendations.

1.2.1 Criteria for National Heroes

The Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee held a
series of meetings on June 3, 1993 , August 19,1993 , September 12,
1994 and November 15, 1995 , defining, discussing and deliberating
upon the merits of the various definitions and criteria of a hero. The
Committee adopted the following criteria as basis for historical
researchers in determining who among the great Filipinos will be
officially proclaimed as national heroes:

Criteria for National Heroes

(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes
Committee on June 3, 1993 , Manila . Members of the Committee
included Drs. Onofre D. Corpuz, Samuel K. Tan, Marcelino Foronda,
Alfredo Lagmay, Bernardita R. Churchill, Serafin D. Quiason, Ambeth
Ocampo, then known as Dom Ignacio Maria, Prof. Minerva Gonzales
and Mrs. Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil)

1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter
aspire and struggle for the nations freedom. Our own struggle for
freedom was begun by Bonifacio and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter
formally declaring the revolutions 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 nations
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.

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 peoples expression. But the process of a
peoples internalization of a heros 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)

1.2.2 Historical Figures Recommended as National Heroes

On November 15, 1995 , the Technical Committee after deliberation
and careful study based on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz and Dr. Alfredo
Lagmays 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

1.2.3 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. 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.

2. Laws Honoring/ Commemorating Filipino Historical Figures

2.1 Heroes

2.1.1 Jose Rizal

2.1.1.1 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.

2.1.1.2 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.

2.1.2 Andres Bonifacio

2.1.2.1 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

2.1.2.2 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

2.1.3 Other Heroes

2.1.3.1 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.

2.1.3.2 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.

2.1.3.3 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

2.2 Other Historical Figures

2.2.1 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

2.2.2 R.A. No. 7285, March 24, 1992, declaring February Nineteen of
each year as Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon Day a special nonworking
holiday in the Province of Aurora in order to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first President of the
Philippine National Red Cross, and Foundation Day of the Province

2.2.3 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

2.2.4 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

2.2.5 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


*From the Reference and Research Bureau Legislative Research
Service, House of Congress


EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 75

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 75 - CREATING THE NATIONAL HEROES
COMMITTEE UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

WHEREAS, the State is mandated to foster patriotism and nationalism
among the citizens, especially the youth, pursuant to Article II, Sections
13 and 17, of the Constitutions;

WHEREAS, the State, through its educational system, is also mandated
to inculcate patriotism and nationalism, and the appreciation of the
role of national heroes in the historical development of the country
pursuant to Article XIV, Sec. 3 (2), of the Constitution;

WHEREAS, Almighty God has gifted the sovereign Filipino people with
National Heroes, the men and women of sterling character and
remarkable achievements that directed, and continue to direct, the
historic destiny of the country;

WHEREAS, it is timely and appropriate to proclaim these National
Heroes, the renowned achievers of their generations and the shinning
exemplars of these times;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. A National Heroes Committee is hereby created, composed
of the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as Chairman, and the
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of National Defense as
Members, to study and recommend the proclamation of National
Heroes.

Sec. 2. All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and
instrumentalities of the Government, including government-owned or
controlled corporations, are hereby directed to extend the fullest
support to the National Heroes Committee in the performance of its
functions.

Sec. 3. The private sector is hereby urged to assist the National Heroes
Committee in the performance of its functions.

Sec. 4. The National Historical Commission shall act as Secretariat of
the National Heroes Committee.

Sec. 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 29th day of March in the year of Our
Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-three.
Back to Main


National Heroes Committee
Executive Order No. 75 , entitled Creating the National Heroes
Committee Under the Office of the President was issued by
President Fidel V. Ramoson March 28, 1993. The Committee's principal
duty is to study, evaluate and recommend national personages for
recognition of their achievements and contributions to the nation.
Criteria for National Heroes
National Heroes are to be recognized by the following criteria:
1. They must aspire and work for the nation's freedom.
2. They must contribute to a life of freedom and order of a nation
through ways such as formulating laws and enacting them.
3. Heroes should contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a
nation.
4. They should also be part of the people's expression and must
think of the future generations.


THE GATES TO HEROISM: DEFINING A FILIPINO HERO
DIANA GALANG
SENIOR HISTORY RESEARCHER
APRIL 10, 2013
It is common for Filipinos to look for someone to idolize saints,
politicians, artists, models, etc., somebody they will glorify and imitate.
Since the time of the declaration of Philippine independence, 109
years ago, many were acknowledged as Filipino heroes, more so
today, that every individual who become so popular or the main
character in any particular event is given the title hero. The essence
of the word hero is past declining, today one need not to die or do
such gallant act to be given the noble title or that some just won a
boxing match. Time has really evolved and so does our standard in
defining a Filipino hero. Will our forefathers who gave their lives for
freedom feel insulted for this? Are these the Filipinos well look up to for
guidance through the times, arent our children losing the true
meaning of heroism by our doings? All these things we should ask
ourselves before giving the title hero to anyone.

But what does being a hero mean? Dr. Esteban de Ocampo, a known
historian, stated in his book about Rizal that a hero means a prominent
or central personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable
action or event; a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger,
or fortitude in suffering; and a man honored after death by public
worship because of exceptional service to mankind. The true heroes of
Philippine history deserve to be called so for they didnt have any idea
that one day they will be measured up, they just acted upon their
principles. The concept of honoring heroes came only to the Philippines
in 1900, when the Philippine Commission (Pardo de Tavera, Legarda,
Luzurriaga (Filipino members) and headed by William Howard Taft)
approved Act No. 137 combining the districts of Morong and Manila to
be named as Province of Rizal, in honor of the most illustrious Filipino.
Actually, this Act was disputed by many but the basis of the
Commission was so strong that it has surpassed the publics questions.
Since then, heroes were celebrated here and there, citing their names
in every politicians speeches, declaring holidays, naming streets,
constructing monuments, etc. in their honor. Until one day, realizing
that so many names were acknowledged as heroes, need to evaluate
the situation was proposed. During Marcos presidency, he tasked the
National Heroes Commission to come up with the criteria for national
hero. On March 28, 1993, thru the Presidents Executive Order No. 75,
the National Heroes Committee was created, commissioned to study,
evaluate and recommend historical figures to be declared as national
heroes. The Committee composed of worthy members, with a series of
discussions came up with the new criteria.
The criteria is composed of 10 standards: First is the extent of a persons
sacrifices for the welfare of the country. Second, the motive and
methods employed in the attainment of the ideal (was his ideal purely
for the welfare of the country and without any taint of self-interested
motives, most of all the method of attainment should be morally valid).
The third is the moral character of the person concerned (the person
should not have any immorality issue that affected his ideal). The fourth
is the influence of the person concerned on his age and or the
succeeding age. Fifth is that heroes are those who have a concept of
nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nations freedom
(they must have desired the countrys freedom in any situation
especially when theres a threat of invasion in any form). Sixth is that
heroes are those who define and contribute to a system of life of
freedom and order for a nation (one who helps in the orderliness and
betterment of the country). Seventh is, heroes are those who
contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. Eight, a hero is
part of the peoples expression (the citizen must have recognized and
acknowledged the person as a hero). Ninth, a hero thinks of the future,
especially the future generations, his concern for the future generations
must be seen in his decisions and ideals). Lastly, 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.
Filipinos expectations of public figures are different now than it was
more than a hundred years ago, maybe because of the realization
that no one is perfect. This is the reason why today so many were
acknowledged as heroes and many were voted in important
governing positions with flaws and questionable characters. Lucky are
those who aspire one day to be called a hero that the criteria was
already set to pattern their decisions with. I hope that the criteria for
national heroes will not only be checked against the historical figures
but also with the politicians to whom we will entrust the power to
govern our country.


Rizal continued his medical studies in Paris and Heidelberg; in 1887 he
wrote his firstnovel, Noli me tangere (Touch Me Not), a passionate
exposure of the evils of the friars rule,comparable in its impact to Harriet
Beecher Stowes exposure of Negro suppression in theUnited States, Uncle
Toms Cabin. A sequel, El Filibusterismo (1891, Filibusterism)established his
reputation as the leading spokesman of the Philippine reformmovement.
In1890 he wrote an edition of Antonio Morgas Succesos de las Islas
Filipinas,which showed that the native people of the Philippines had a
long history before the comingof the Spaniards. He became the leader of
the Propaganda Movement, contributingnumerous articles to its
newspaper, La Solidaridad, published in Barcelona. Rizals
politicalprogram, as expressed in the columns of the newspaper, included
integration of thePhilippines as a province of Spain, representation in the
Cortes (the Spanish parliament), thereplacement of the Spanish friars by
native Philippine priests, freedom of assembly andexpression, and equality
of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law.Against the advice of his parents
and friends, Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892. Whenhe founded a
nonviolent reform society, the Liga Filipina, in Manila, the Spanish arrested
anddeported him to Dapitan in northwest Mindanao. He remained in exile
for four years, doingscientific research and founding a school and
hospital. In 1896, however, an insurrection ledby the nationalist secret
society, the Katipunan, broke out; although he had no connectionswith
that organization or any part in the revolt, he was arrested and tried for
sedition by themilitary. Found guilty, he was publicly executed by a firing
squad in Manila. His martyrdomconvinced Filipinos from Spain. On the eve
of his execution, while confined in Ft. Santiago,Rizal wrote Ultimo Adios
(The Last Farewell), a masterpiece of 19th-century Spanish verse.

Andrs Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino revolutionary leader and
one of the main leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish
colonial rule in the late 19th century. He is regarded as the "Father of
the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national
heroes of his country. A Freemason, Bonifacio was the leading
founder of the "Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng
mga Anak ng Bayan" or also known as KKK organization which
aimed to start an independence movement against Spain. He born
on November 30, 1863 and died on May 10, 1897.
In 1892, Bonifacio joined Jose Rizal's new organizationLa Liga Filipina,
which called for reform of the Spanish colonial regime in the
Philippines. The group met only once, however, since Spanish officials
arrested Rizal immediately after the first meeting and deported him to
the southern island of Mindanao.
After Rizal's arrest and deportation, Andres Bonifacio and others
revived La Liga to continue pressure on the Spanish government to free
the Philippines. Along with his friends Ladislao Diwa and Teodoro Plata,
however, he also founded a group called Katipunan.
Katipunan, or Kataastaasang Kagalannalangang Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan to give its full name (literally "Highest and Most
Respected Society of the Children of the Country"), was dedicated to
armed resistance against the colonial government. Made up mostly of
people from the middle and lower classes, the Katipunan organization
soon established regional branches in a number of provinces across
the Philippines. (It also went by the rather unfortunate acronym KKK.)
In 1895, Andres Bonifacio became the top leader or Presidente
Supremo of the Katipunan. Along with his friends Emilio Jacinto and Pio
Valenzuela, Bonifacio also put out a newspaper called theKalayaan,
or "Freedom." Over the course of 1896, under Bonifacio's leadership,
Katipunan grew from about 300 members at the beginning of the year
to more than 30,000 in July. With a militant mood sweeping the nation,
and a multi-island network in place, Bonifacio's Katipunan was
prepared to start fighting for freedom from Spain.
Philippines Uprising Begins:
Over the summer of 1896, the Spanish colonial government began to
realize that the Philippines was on the verge of revolt. On August 19,
the authorities tried to preempt the uprising by arresting hundreds of
people and jailing them under charges of treason - some of those
swept up were genuinely involved in the movement, but many were
not.
Among those arrested was Jose Rizal, who was on a ship in Manila Bay
waiting to ship out for service as a military doctor in Cuba (this was part
of his plea bargain with the Spanish government, in exchange for his
release from prison in Mindanao). Bonifacio and two friends dressed up
like sailors and made their way onto the ship and tried to convince
Rizal to escape with them, but he refused; he was later put on trial in a
Spanish kangaroo court and executed.
Bonifacio kicked off the revolt by leading thousands of his followers to
tear up their community tax certificates or cedulas. This signaled their
refusal to pay any more taxes to the Spanish colonial regime. Bonifacio
named himself President and commander-in-chief of the Philippines
revolutionary government, declaring the nation's independence from
Spain on August 23. He issued a manifesto, dated August 28, 1896,
calling for "all towns to rise simultaneously and attack Manila," and sent
generals to lead the rebel forces in this offensive.

n 1882 Del Pilar founded the newspaper Diariong Tagalog to
propagate democratic liberal ideas among the farmers and peasants.
In 1888 he defended Jos Rizal's polemical writings by issuing
a pamphlet against a priest's attack, exhibiting his deadly wit and
savage ridicule of clerical follies.
In 1888, fleeing from clerical persecution, Del Pilar went to Spain,
leaving his family behind. In December 1889 he succeeded Graciano
Lopez Jaena as editor of the Filipino reformist periodical La
solidaridadin Madrid. He promoted the objectives of the paper by
contacting liberal Spaniards who would side with the Filipino cause.
Under Del Pilar, the aims of the newspaper were expanded to include
removal of the friars and the secularization of the parishes; active
Filipino participation in the affairs of the government; freedom of
speech, of the press, and of assembly; wider social and political
freedoms; equality before the law;assimilation; and representation in
the Spanish Cortes, or Parliament.
Del Pilar's difficulties increased when the money to support the paper
was exhausted and there still appeared no sign of any immediate
response from the Spanish ruling class. Before he died
of tuberculosis caused by hunger and enormous privation, Del Pilar
rejected the assimilationist stand and began planning an armed revolt.
He vigorously affirmed this conviction: "Insurrection is the last remedy,
especially when the people have acquired the belief that peaceful
means to secure the remedies for evils prove futile." This idea inspired
Andres Bonifacio's Katipunan, a secret revolutionary organization. Del
Pilar died in Barcelona on July 4, 1896.


Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/marcelo-hilario-del-
pilar#ixzz38SUshDxR
Early in his childhood, Del Pilar already displayed a high degree of
intellect. He was good at playing musical instruments such as the violin,
piano and flute. Hence, he took and finished his Bachelor of Arts
degree in Colegio de San Jose.
In 1881, he obtained his law degree in the University of Santo Tomas.
Previously, he had disputes over some of the friars because of his
nationalistic and liberal ideas that were against the abusive nature of
the friars. Del Pilar often stages movements for the overthrow of the
friars in the Philippines.
Early in his writing career, Del Pilar sough for the separation of the state
and the Church - a stance that perhaps influenced the future
constitutions of the Philippines.
Del Pilar would often denounce both the Church and the government
in his speeches done in front of busy crowds in flee markets, cockpit
arenas and town plazas. He depicts the abusive friars who seemingly
hold powers quite similar to that of the governor general.
On the other hand, he took note of the government's failure in
delivering prosperity in the archipelago that was first promised by the
blood compact between Spanish explorer and first Spanish Governor-
General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Datu Sikatuna of Bohol.
Moreover, Del Pilar sailed to Spain due to the tensions arising between
him and the corporation of the friars. While in Spain, he succeeded
Lopez-Jaena as the editor-in-chief of the La Solidaridad.
Under his tutelage, the newspaper pushed for drastic reforms such as
the expulsion of the polo (community service) and the automatic sale
of local products to the government. Del Pilar also advocates the
recognition of the Philippines as a province of Spain, hoping that this
move will foster equality among the indios and the Spanish meztizos.
Hence, the last issues of the La Solidaridad, no longer pushed equality
through peaceful means. In one issue, Del Pilar seemingly issues his
support over the possibility of an armed conflict.
Shortly, Del Pilar died in Barcelona on July 4, 1896 - just around one
month before the Cry of Pugad Lawin, signaling the start of an armed
revolution.
1. Born in the town of Badoc, IlocosNorte in the northern Philippines,
JuanLuna was the third among the sevenchildren of Don Joaquin Luna
de SanPedro y Posadas and Doa LaureanaNovicio y Ancheta. In
1861, the Luna family movedto Manila and he went to
AteneoMunicipal de Manila where he obtainedhis Bachelor of Arts
degree.
2. Luna enrolled at Escuela Nautica deManila (now Philippine Merchant
MarineAcademy). He took drawing lessons under theillustrious painting
teacher LorenzoGuerrero of Ermita, Manila. He also enrolled in the
Academy of FineArts (Academia de Dibujo y Pintura) in Manilawhere
he was influenced and taught how todraw by the Spanish artist Agustin
Saez.Unfortunately, Lunas vigorous brush strokesdispleased his teacher
and Luna wasdischarged from the Academy. studies.
3. Juan entered the Escuela deBellas Artes de San Fernandouela,where
he befriended the painterDon Alejo Vera. Luna wasdiscontented with
the style ofteaching in school and decided thatit would be much
better to workwith Vera.
4. O It was in 1878 when his artistic talents was established with the
opening of the first art exposition in Madrid which was called the
Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Demonstration of
Beautiful Arts). From then on, Luna became engrossed in painting and
produced a collection of paintings that he exhibited in the 1881
Exposition.
5. His La Muerte de Cleopatra (TheDeath of Cleopatra) won him a silver
medaland came in second place. Lunas growingreputation as an artist
led toapensionado (pension) scholarship at 600pesos annually through
the Ayuntamiento ofManila. The condition was that he was obligedto
develop a painting which captured theessence of Philippine history
which wouldthen become the Ayuntamientos property.
6. In 1883 Luna started the paintingdemanded of him by the
Ayuntamiento.In May 1884, he shipped the largecanvas of the
Spoliarium to Madrid forthe years Exposicin Nacional de BellasArtes.
He was the first recipient of thethree gold medals awarded in
theexhibition and Luna gained recognitionamong the connoisseurs
and artcritics present.
7. O On June 25, 1884, Filipino and Spanish nobles organized an event
celebrating Lunas win in the exhibition. That evening, Rizal prepared a
speech for his friend, addressing the two significant things of his art
work, which included the glorification of genius and the grandeur of his
artistic skills.
8. Luna developed a friendlyrelationship with the King ofSpain and was
later commissioned bythe Spanish Senate to paint a largecanvas
which was called the La Batallade Lepanto (The Battle of Lepanto).He
moved to Paris in 1885 where heopened his own studio and
befriendedHidalgo.
9. OA year after, he finished thepiece El Pacto de Sangre (The
BloodCompact) in accordance with theagreement he had with
theAyuntamiento of Manila. Depicted inthis piece was the blood
compactceremony between the DatuSikatuna , one of the lords in
Boholisland, and the Spanish conquistadorMiguel Lpez de Legazpi.
10. It is now displayed inthe Malacaan Palace. He also senttwo other
paintings in addition to theone required; the second canvas sentto
Manila was a portrait of Lpez deLegazpi reconstructed by Luna
fromhis recollection of a similar portraithe saw in the hall of the Cabildo,
andthe third was of Governor-generalRamn Blanco y Erenas.
11. In 1887, Luna once againtraveled back to Spain to enterin that years
Exposition two ofhis pieces, the La Batalla deLepanto and Rendicin
deGranada (Surrender ofGranada),
12. O He celebrated his triumph with his friends in Madrid with Graciano
Lpez-Jaena delivered Luna a congratulatory speech. Lunas paintings
are generally described asbeing vigorous and dramatic. With its
elements of Romanticism, his style shows the influence of Delacroix,
Rembrandt, and Daumier.
13. On December 8, 1886, Lunamarried Maria de la Paz Pardo deTavera, a
sister of his friend Felixand Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. Thecouple
traveled to Venice and Romeand settled in Paris. They had oneson,
whom they named Andrs, anda daughter nicknamed Bibi who diedin
infancy. Luna was fond ofpainting his wife.
14. O However, the jealous Luna frequently accused Paz of having an
affair with a certain Monsieur Dussaq. Finally in a fit of jealousy, he killed
his wife and mother-in-law and wounded his brother-in-law, Felix, on
September 23, 1892. He was arrested and murder charges were filed
against him.
15. Luna was acquitted ofcharges on February 8, 1893,on grounds of
temporaryinsanity; the "unwritten law" atthe time forgave men forkilling
unfaithful wives.
16. O He was ordered to pay the Pardo de Taveras a sum of one thousand
six hundred fifty one francs and eighty three cents, and an additional
twenty five francs for postage, in addition to the interest of damages.
Five days later, Luna went to Madrid with his brother, Antonio Luna,
and his son, Andrs
17. In 1891 Luna moved back to thePhilippines and traveled to Japan in
1896,returning during the Philippine Revolution ofthe Cry of Balintawak.
Unfortunately, onSeptember 16, 1896, he and hisbrother Antonio Luna
were arrested by Spanishauthorities for being involved withthe
Katipunan rebel army. Despite his imprisonment, Luna was stillable to
produce a work of art which he gave toa visiting priest. He was
pardoned by theSpanish courts on May 27, 1897 and wasreleased from
prison and he traveled back toSpain.
18. In 1898, he was appointed by theexecutive board of the
Philippinerevolutionary government as a member ofthe Paris
delegation which was working forthe diplomatic recognition ofthe
Repblica Filipina (Philippine Republic).In 1899, upon the signing of the
Treaty ofParis (1898), Luna was named a member ofthe delegation to
Washington, D.C. topress for the recognition of the
Philippinegovernment.
19. He traveled back to the Philippines inDecember 1899 upon hearing of
themurder of his brother Antonio bythe Kawit Battalion in Cabanatuan.
OnDecember 7, 1899, Luna suffered a heartattack and died there. His
remains wereburied in Hong Kong and in 1920 wereexhumed and kept
in Andrs Lunas house,to be later transferred to a niche at theCrypt of
the San Agustin Church in thePhilippines.
20. O Five years later, Juan would be reinstated as a world renowned artist
and Peuple et Rois, his last major work, was acclaimed the best entry to
the Saint Louis Worlds Fair in the United States. Unfortunately some of his
paintings were destroyed by fire in World War II.
21. La Muerte de Cleopatra (The Death ofCleopatra)
22. Melchora Aquino de Ramos was a Filipina revolutionary. She was
born on January 6, 1812 in Caloocan. She was the daughter of a
peasant couple, Juan and Valentina Aquino. She never
attended school, but was seemingly literate at a young age and
talented as a singer. She performed at the Mass for her church
as well as at local events.
Melchora Aquino married Fulgencio Ramos, a village chief and
had six children. When their youngest child was seven years old, Ramos
died, leaving young Melchora as a single parent.
Melchora Aquino was known for her heroic contributions in the
history of the Philippines revolution. The revolution broke out in 1896.
She was 84 years at that time. Most of the wounded and sick Filipino
revolutionaries sought refuge in her store. She not only gave them
medical attention, but also encouraged the revolutionaries with
prayers and motherly advice. Many revolutionaries also held secret
meetings at her home. She earned the name Mother of Katipunan
(revolution) and was also known as Tandang Sora, where
Tandang meant old.
The Spaniards learnt about her activities and she was interrogated
for the whereabouts of revolutionaries, especially, Andres Bonifacio.
She was adamant and refused to provide any information to the
Spanish. She was arrested and deported to the Mariana Islands.
In 1898, the United States took control of the Philippines and
Aquino and other political exiles returned to Philippines. She died on
March 2, 1919, at the age of 107. Today, her remains lie in Himlayang
Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City. As a token of Filipino gratitude,
Melchora Aquino's image is depicted on a 100-peso bill of the English
series of banknotes. A Quezon City road and district were named after
her.
Gabriela Silang was a Filipina national hero considered by many as the
Philippine's version of Joan of Arc. Silang was the wife of Ilocos
revolutionary leader Diego Silang. Hence, upon the assassination of
Diego, Gabriela took charge and led the resistance in the Ilocos
province.
Gabriela was born on March 19, 1731 in Canlogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur to
a family of peasants and commoners. Thus, at an early age Gabriela
was adopted and raised by a certain Don Tomas Millan, a rich
entrepreneur in Ilocos.
Hence, upon reaching 20 years of age and due to her immense
beauty and attractiveness, Gabriela was able to marry the old yet rich
and prominent Millan. Shortly, after their marriage, Millan died of old
age.
In 1757, Gabriela remarried Diego, a young insurgent who conspired
with the British forces to overthrow the Spanish tyrannical officials in
Ilocos. During the Seven Years' War featuring the alliance forces of
Spain and France against Britain, the Silangs took the opportunity to
revolt.
While Spanish forces were busy protecting Manila against British
pursuers, the Silangs heightened their resistance and launch numerous
attacks and ambushes against Spanish camps.
Gabriela played the role of the woman behind the successful leader,
Diego. However, unknown to many, Gabriela herself aided the
revolution in her own little way.
As the Silang's popularity grew, they quickly become a thorn in the
neck for Spanish officials. Thus, an assassination plot against Diego was
planned together with Diego's supposedly close friends; Miguel Vicos
and Pedro Becbec.
On the night of May 28, 1763, Vicos and Becbec visited the Silang
household in Vigan where they shot and killed Diego.
Gabriela, now widowed for the second time, step up the plate and
assumed the duties and responsibilities Diego left. Together with Nicolas
Carino, the uncle of Diego and a few of the latter's most loyal
commanders, Gabriela launched guerrilla attacks in Spanish camps
and garrisons.
Gabriela's reputation as a revolutionary leader grew tenfold and her
war policy was so successful that she was feared by many especially
Ilocanos who conspired with Spain. Gabriela was often referred to as
"generala" - meaning lady general.
By the time Gabriela's forces reached 2,000 men, she immediately
ordered an attack against Vigan which was captured by Spain upon
Diego's death. However, Gabriela's forces were greatly outnumbered
by the opposition, resulting in heavy casualties for Gabriela and her
forces.
Gabriela, on the other hand, was eager to recapture Vigan - the
capital of Diego's independent Ilocano government. Moreover, a
second attack was launched - perhaps a desperate move ordered by
the generala.
Gabriela's forces retreated in the nearby province of Abra but were
captured by pursuing Spanish forces. Thus, Gabriela and some of her
80 men were executed and hanged on public on September 20, 1763.