MANILA, Philippines – With a rich historical background, it's no surprise that the

Philippines recognizes prominent figures who fought for the country. From
writers to soldiers, numerous people have sacrificed their lives to help the
country gain and maintain independence.

Celebrated since 1931, National Heroes Day commemorates all Philippine

heroes, particularly figures without special holidays and observances.
(READ: FAST FACTS: National Heroes Day)

Historian Esteban de Ocampo defines a hero as a prominent figure who

accomplished an admirable feat in any significant action or event, and who is
honored after death due to his or her service to the nation. With this definition,
how does a Filipino historical figure qualify as a national hero?

Prominent recognition

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.

Heroes like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are not explicitly proclaimed
national heroes, but Filipinos pay tribute to them and recognize their heroism,
having national holidays as a result.

The lack of official declarations did not stop Filipinos from revering historical
figures for their contributions to Philippine history.

What makes a hero?

Through Executive Order No. 75 issued on March 28, 1993, former president
Fidel Ramos created the National Heroes Commission, which is tasked to
study and recommend national heroes to be recognized for their character and
contributions to the country.

The commission was also tasked to evaluate, recommend, and come up with
the criteria to determine how a historical figure qualifies as a national hero.

The committee came up with the following 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

Additional criteria were adopted by the Technical Committee of the National

Heroes Committee on November 15, 1995:

 Heroes are part of the people’s expression

 Heroes think of the future, especially of the future generations
 The choice of heroes involves the entire process that made a
particular person a hero

On November 15, 1995, the technical committee of the National Heroes

commission chose 9 Filipino historical figures to be considered national heroes:

 Jose Rizal
 Andres Bonifacio
 Emilio Aguinaldo
 Apolinario Mabini
 Marcelo H. Del Pilar
 Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
 Juan Luna
 Melchora Aquino
 Gabriela Silang

Despite the recommendations, no action has been taken due to the possibility
of triggering debates over historical controversies.

However, the given qualifications of the National Heroes Commission,

historians and researchers reflect the continuing quest to remember significant
personalities who made a difference in Philippine history.

Ang paksang ito ay ang parang "introduction" natin sa ating mga paksa sa hinaharap: ang nobelang
Noli Me Tangere. Sa lesson na ito, ating idi"discuss" ang dahilan kung bakit natin pinag-aaralan ang
Noli at Fili, at kung paano naging pambansang bayani si Jose Rizal.

Batas Rizal
- Sinasabi sa batas na ito ang pagsama sa kurikulum ng lahat ng paaralang pambayan at
pansarili (public and private schools) ng kursong nauukol sa buhay, mga ginawa at mga sinulat ni
Rizal (life, works and writings), lalo na ang mga nobelang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo.
Tinatalakay ang pagpapahintulot, pagpapalimbag at pamamahagi ng mga ito.

Kahalagahan ng pagturo ng buhay at sinulat ni Rizal

- Tinuturo ng mga gawa ni Rizal ang Nasyonalismo, o ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Ang konsepto ng
Nasyonalismo ay naitatanim agad sa mga tao sa murang edad gamit-gamit ang modyul na ito.

Paano naging pambansang bayani si Rizal?

- Merong 2 na tao ang pumili ng pambansang bayani ng Pilipinas:
 > William Howard Taft - pangulo ng unang komisyon ng Estados Unidos ay nagpasiyang pumili ng
isang bayani para sa PIlipinas
> Dr. H. Otley Beyer - nag-"propose" siya ng apat na pagbabasehan ng pagpili ng pambansang
bayani ng Pilipinas:
1) Isang Pilipino
2) Yumao na (namatay na)
3) May matayog na pagmamahal sa bayan (nagpapakita ng nasyonalismo)
4) Mahinahong Damdamin (calm disposition)
> Mayroong limang taong pinagpilian:
1) M.H. Del Pilar
2) Antonio Luna
3) Graciano Lopez-Jaina
4) Emilio Jacinto
5) Jose Rizal
> Ang unang pinili ng mga namimili ay si M.H. Del Pilar, ngunit pagkatapos ng malalim na pag-iisip
ay gumawa pa sila ng isang criteria:
5) Dapat ay madula ang pagkamatay
> Dahil sa adisyonal na criteriang ito, pinili nila si Jose Rizal.

Dahilan ng pagkapili kay Rizal

- Siya ang kauna-unahang Pilipinong umakit upang ang buong bansa ay magkaisa-isang maghimagsik
sa mga Kastila
- Siya ay isang huwaran ng kapayapaan
- Ang mga Pilipino kasi ay Sentimental