Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

Every country has its heroes who played crucial roles in the history of their country. They inspired people to fight for their freedom They become the source of inspiration and public worship They placed the welfare of their countrymen above their own and worked for the general good.

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

The Humanity of Heroes: Heroes are made not born and like any human being are products of time and his environment. Heroes are not born as saints nor are they super human beings In closely studying heroes some of their frailties might be discovered but these should not distract students in studying the lives of heroes

Why Filipinos Rizal Consider a National Hero

The Criteria for Heroes: No law or official proclamation which made Rizal into a hero His hero status was made by the acclamation of the people No one becomes a hero overnight

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

Definition of a hero: The National Historical Commission released a criteria approved by a committee led by Dr. Carlos Quirino: an admirable leader towering over his peers, who serves a noble cause , possessing exceptional talent, distinguished valor and/or hold enterprise, exercising determinative influence over the spiritual life of his people in a particular remarkable event.

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

The Historical Committee of the National Heroes considered the following characteristics that a person should possess before he could be examined & considered a hero: 1. the extent of his personal sacrifices for the country 2. Motives and methods utilized in the attainment of the ideal

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

3. the moral character of the person 4. the influence of the person to his age or epoch and the succeeding years A round table discussion was held by historians on June 3, 1993. A definition of hero drafted by Dr. Onofre Corpus: heroes are those who have a concept of nation & therefore aspire & struggle for the national freedom

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

In another meeting of the National Heroes Committee on November 15, 1995: Dr. Serafin Quiazon gave this definition: a hero is an event-making man who helps create the fork in the historical time that he faces. Heroes in a democracy should be great figures in the pantheon of thought, the man of ideas, and social vision of scientific & artistic power

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

The National Heroes Committee adopted a criteria stating that a hero is part of the peoples expression a hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations Websters New International Dictionary of the English language defines a hero as a prominent or central personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event.

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

Webster also defines a hero as a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude or suffering Some Filipinos entertain the belief that Rizal is a made to order national hero & that the maker or manufacturer were the Americans particularly Governor William Howard Taft

Why Filipinos Consider Rizal a National Hero

The Philippines has set aside four days to honor its heroes December 30 Rizal Day November 30 Bonifacio Day Last Sunday of August National heroes Day August 21 Ninoy Aquino Day