In commemoration of the 126th anniversary of the death of Dr. José Rizal, The Edj View seeks to answer the question of whether he is worthy of being the Philippines’ national hero. There is no law, order or proclamation declaring him as such, and there are other historical figures deserving of the title, such as Lapu-lapu, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini and Antonio Luna. In this short essay, we look into his literary and societal contributions and weigh how each affected the Filipinos’ viewpoint on the colonizers and freedom.
This essay is from an academic output.
The country has seen numerous figures who proudly stood up to colonizers and fought for the country’s independence. But among all of them, the one person deserving to be considered the Philippines’ national hero is Dr. José Rizal.
Rizal sought to rebuild a nation that had lost its identity since the Spaniards colonized it in the 16th century. He promoted education as a tool to instill knowledge in the Filipinos about their culture and history for the betterment of society. He pushed to revive the pride and dignity of the people and realign their values so love for the country would prevail above all. And he helped develop a national consciousness through his writings that would open the people’s eyes and minds to the oppression of the Spaniards.
José Rizal presents a reoccurring theme of a sense of duty to his native country, the Philippines, and its people, the Filipinos. He fervently calls for Filipinos to be aware of their unique heritage and to be conscious that Filipinos can succeed separate from the customs and regulations implanted by the Spanish colonialists.
Richard John Ramones, “Philippine Nationalism: An Analysis of the development of Philippine National Identity”
Rizal used his skill in writing to expose the brutalities and corruption the Filipinos were subjected to during his time. He broke the conventions in fighting the Spaniards in his own non-violent way, daring to speak when others could not. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were realistic portrayals of the colonial Philippines suffering under the hands of ignorant, cruel and greedy government and religious orders. The newspaper La Solidaridad, the voice of the Propaganda Movement, became a medium for Rizal to produce essays that vehemently defended Filipino interests.
As a result, Rizal became part of the people’s expression. Even though he didn’t call for a revolution, Rizal was revered by the Katipuneros, using his name as a password, hung his photo in meeting halls and chanted his name every meeting – “Long Live Dr. José Rizal!” As the investigating officer described him in his report on December 12, 1896, he was the “very soul of the Philippine insurrection.”
Rizal was not limited to his time; he foresaw the future by gaining perspective from history. The Philippines A Century Hence and El Filibuterismo were two of his futurist works, the former cautioning that the Philippines would fall under the hands of the Americans, while the latter, through the character of Padre Florentino, warning that a failed nationhood may lead to a failed statehood.
In establishing La Liga Filipina, Rizal gave a preview of an ideal nation he wanted the Philippines to attain: uniting the different parts of the country; condemning injustices; promoting education, agriculture and commerce; and asserting the power of the grassroots in providing change.
It was Rizal, as we have seen, who taught his countrymen that they could be something else, Filipinos who were members of a Filipino Nation. He was the first who sought to ‘unite the whole archipelago’ and envisioned a ‘compact and homogeneous’ society of all the old tribal communities from Batanes to the Sulu Sea, based on common interests and ‘mutual protection’ rather than on the Spanish friar’s theory of double allegiance to Spain as Catholic and the Church as Spanish, ‘the unbreakable keystone of national unity’ in Despujol’s decree.
Leon Ma. Guerrero, “The First Filipino: A Biography of José Rizal”
Finally, Rizal, who worked hard to enlighten his countrymen to regain their liberty, died at the hands of the colonizers he opposed. His martyrdom made Philippine independence all but inevitable.
For all of that, he is worthy of being our national hero.
Featured image from Manila Bulletin.
The Edj View 