RZL10 A5

Gelle, Scott Francis C.

Score:

April 26, 2016

Dr. Bergado, Melba

Why Dr. Jose Rizal Should Be Our National Hero.

Many candidates had been chosen to represent the Pearl of the Orient Seas as
its national hero, yet only one can take the position. That being said, Jose Protacio Rizal
Mercado y Alonzo Realonda was deemed fit of the spot. He was entitled as such
through the predicament of the Americans under the order of Civil Governor William
Howard Taft. In partial fulfillment of the countrys independence, the Philippines was to
produce its unique national identity under the following symbols like national flag,
national animal, national attire, et cetera, but the main concern back then was having a
national hero that shall uphold the countrys pride, name, and honor.

What does it take for a man to be called a hero? According to Websters New
International Dictionary of English Language, a hero is a prominent or central
personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a person of
distinguished enterprise in danger or fortitude in spite of suffering; and finally, a man
honored even after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to
mankind. This was the overall criteria that a hero must possess in order for the list to
narrow down.
The search was a tiresome, but exhilarating process of sorting of potential people
in the list; eventually, it narrowed down to six remaining finalists for the title as national
hero: Andres Bonifacio, Antonio Luna, Emilio Jacinto, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo
H. del Pilar, and Jose Rizal. The battle was justifiable as well, since even though the
writings of Paterno (Ninay, 1885); del Pilar (La Soberania Monacal, 1889); Jaena
(Diskursos y Artikulos Varios, 1891); and, Luna (Impresiones, 1893) were all
spectacular, none of these had evoked so much critic and nationalism like Rizals Noli
Me Tangere and its continuation, El Filibusterismo. It became the beacon for freedom

and independence in such a way that the despised race, Filipino, proved themselves
worthy of respect and honor.

Noli Me Tangere alone can be claimed as utterly an obra maestra both to Rizal
and amongst many critics. Antonio Maria Regidor and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt
praised Rizals work for showing patriotism against the discrimination and injustice
experienced by the inferior race, the Filipinos, during the reign of Spain. Rafael Palma,
a fellow Filipino citizen, expressed his gratitude towards Rizal, describing that Rizals
courage came at a period wherein it was crucially needed, and just in the nick of time;
his valor radiated brightly and sparked the Filipinos minds on the act of revelation. Even
Dr. Frank C. Laubach, an American biographer of Rizal, was impressed by Rizal. He
says that Rizal had reached the plateau that exceeds the highest degree of bravery,
wherein, to die loving his murderers was something that cannot be inherited and must
sprout voluntarily from the person.

With all these being said, there is little to no question as to why Rizal is worthy to
be entitled as the Philippines national hero. Some may still disagree, however, the fact
that Rizal was able to empower the saying the pen is mightier than the sword is very
intelligent and wise of him. His love for the country and its people seemed boundless
and probably, before the shots were fired, he saw the vision of change: the start of a
new beginning.