Jose Rizal: The Undisputed National Hero of the Philippines

Jose Rizal: The Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal, declared as the national hero of the Philippines, is a figure whose life and legacy continues to resonate with his fellow Filipinos today. Due to his influential works, specifically his novels like “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”, the Filipinos of his time fought for their freedom against the Spaniards determinedly. The aforementioned novels articulate the abuse and the discrimination of the Spaniards towards the Filipinos and how their churches also misuse their power for corrupt ways. He is a figure who desires the freedom of his homeland in a peaceful way through the use of only a simple pen and paper. Through this his life and legacy continues to resonate with his fellow Filipinos today. A man with such morale as Jose Rizal was chosen by the Americans as the Philippines’ national hero because of his diplomatic way of battling the Spaniards. And Filipinos – most of them – admire his way of fighting through a calm and peaceful one. Nevertheless, despite his tactful behavior, some Filipinos think he is not deserving of being given the title as the national hero of the Philippines. Others believe that Andres Bonifacio earned that honor because of the sacrifices he made during the uprising against the Spaniards. Because Rizal was such a pacifist, some Filipinos consider him to be a weak character, which made Bonifacio stronger. Bonifacio believed that Rizal's beliefs were not strong enough to battle such an oppressing regime like the Spaniards had become that he even called him a coward behind his back. Moreover, some think he deserves the title because of his resilience that resulted in all the freedom Filipinos are enjoying today. Some Filipinos were torn between the two national heroes for various reasons. Some believe that Bonifacio is the man we should be honoring today because of his sacrifices during the uprising he led against the Spaniards and Americans in the PhilippineAmerican War. Others thought that Rizal is more deserving than any other not only due to his contributions to our education but also his contributions in writing and educating us. As stated in "Veneration Without Understanding," Rizal rejected the revolution and thus was hailed as the national hero of the Philippines because the Americans favored his method of fighting the Spaniards over others who used force, such as Bonifacio, Mabini, and Aguinaldo. They actually preferred his diplomatic methods because Rizal was not in favor of battling violently like the others, which would have caused the Filipinos to adopt his pacifist views and not be opposed to American aspirations to colonize the Philippines as well. As a result, the Americans actually regarded him as a hero who opposed using force to overthrow the Spaniards in order to obtain independence. Instead, he held the belief that bloodshed is never preferable to peace and with that the American’s intentions will not be resisted by the Filipinos. Consequently, he gains a favorable reputation, which encourages Americans to support Rizal as the national hero the Filipinos truly deserve. That being one of the possible arguments against Rizal being the right choice for the title of Philippine national hero, some Filipinos would turn to research to discover arguments in favor of the aforementioned Bonifacio, or Mabini and Aguinaldo, as well as other candidates. Though for me, I think he deserves the title of being the Philippines’ national hero as much as the others do. There are other reasons, aside from the Americans, as to why Jose Rizal deserves to be called our national hero. Yes I know that there are other heroes in Philippine history that should have been given that title, but when you think about it, being a nation’s hero is not all about being the one who led the revolution and being someone who was the reason for Philippine independence. Rizal was the one who started this independence. Though he did not lead personally, he was the one who ignited a flame in the people’s hearts but the one who made it a fire was the other heroes that were mentioned. We should also take into account the other facets as to why he should be our national hero – aside from the Americans “sponsoring” him. To start it off, he wrote a lot of written works, from poems to novels. Two of Rizal’s most famous works are his two major novels, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”. However, Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” are more than just novels. They were a way to make the Filipinos unite, urging them to rise against the Spaniard’s oppression and to strive for reform. These two particular novels awakened some kind of resolution, a flame for change that would eventually lead to their independence, away from the Spaniard’s clutches. His novels sparked the Filipinos' longing for freedom, which was the first significant blow against Spanish colonialism. Rizal started the spark that persuaded Filipinos to work towards a common cause. His writings provided them with a context in which to comprehend their issues and ultimately come up with answers. The novels of Rizal were more than just fiction; they served as a mirror for the Filipinos, allowing them to observe their society as it was and to imagine how it might be changed. In a way, he is the reason why the Filipinos started to seek liberty. Although the Spanish banned these books to be read or seen by the Filipinos because this would only spread Rizal’s message even further, fortunately they were not successful in stopping the spread of his words. This eventually led to the Philippines to start their revolution for independence. Though that is not the only reason why Rizal should be our national hero. Rizal's undying love for his nation was another motivation for him to write those novels in addition to the way they helped the Filipinos see the world. It served as the impetus for all of his attempts. The works of Rizal about Spanish colonization, as was previously noted, helped the Filipinos come together as a nation and reclaim what was rightfully theirs. And this was what Rizal desired—to bring together a fractured people that has a similar history, culture, and aspirations. Being a native and raised citizen, he would not want to see his country fall into ruins and fall under the control of another country. He was so proud of his country that he wanted it to advance like other first-world nations, one of which is the one that colonized the Philippines. He wanted to free his country from the rule of people who weren't even born or raised here because he wanted it to have its own identity. The nationalism of Rizal gave the people a sense of pride and identity and opened the door for a shared dream of an independent Philippines. It aimed to foster a sense of belonging and identity among the people of the Philippines. The nation that arose in the wake of its independence in 1946 was foreshadowed by Rizal's nationalism. By that time, broadened nationalism had largely overshadowed Rizal's impact, and he was now more commonly seen as a national hero than as an example of revolutionary nationalism. Long after the country gained its independence, the Filipino people continued to find inspiration in his work and beliefs; even now, his writings are still read and studied. His principles, like loving your nation, are still taught to people in our day. This demonstrates how much he cherishes his country, and I hope that by making the right decisions, we can all express our love for it. Rizal also recognized the value and influence of education in a person's life. He thought that growth and taking the next step toward a better country required a country with a high level of education. He believed that education was the way to a more just society and a better life overall. They would be able to learn more about general knowledge as well as Filipino history and culture. He often said that the youth are the hope of the future, thus he began instructing children in his hometown in Calamba about science and mathematics. His enthusiasm for learning would afterwards motivate young people, like me, to continue and complete their education. Unbeknownst to others, Rizal made the biggest sacrifice to finish his journey. He became a martyr because he was willing to take the chance of death rather than compromise his principles. His departure did not mark the end of his legacy; rather, it fueled a tremendous determination among Filipinos to continue their struggle for independence. The martyrdom of Rizal serves as a testament to bravery and selflessness for future generations. Rizal was executed after being found guilty of criticizing the Spanish government in his writings and for acting rebelliously toward them. After he passed away away, many people questioned the seriousness of his sentence and death while simultaneously praising him as a martyr who encouraged Filipinos to unite in opposition to injustice done to them while being tortured for what he had done. Even Rizal's critics among the Filipino people acknowledged that he was a revolutionary, but they painted him as having sacrificed himself because he was too self-reliant to follow orders from above in order to gain power. Others have said that Rizal had intended to use violence as a revolutionary strategy but changed his mind and turned to writing. And this I do not believe. If Rizal had intended to lead the revolution through force, he should have agreed to the Katipunan's plan to free him from his Dapitan prison and rescue him. Instead, he declined their help and told Pio Valenzuela, who had just paid him a visit and informed him of the intentions of the Katipunan to rescue him, that when it comes to the redemption of the country, you must not look behind for one man. Even still, I cannot deny that Rizal did decline to be the revolution's leader. From his perspective, the revolution will only result in bloodshed, which is why he is opposed to it. He wanted to leave a peaceful legacy, just as those Americans seen him, but doing so only made him appear weak in the eyes of others. I would not, however, characterize him as a coward for having the courage to write about the Spaniard's abusive actions toward the Filipinos. Even though you already know that doing so could result in your potential death, he is brave enough to write about a colonizer at all. Rizal spread the terrible acts committed by the Spaniards throughout the country by using the most powerful tool a man may possess: writing. Furthermore, it makes sense that he would not want to lead a revolution that is not prepared for battle. On the evening Valenzuela paid him a visit, Rizal explained that the main reason he opposed the revolution was that the Filipinos lacked the weapons necessary to fight the Spaniards, but the latter had more than enough to wipe them all out. Rizal was aware of the suffering the Katipunan would endure if they began the revolution, which would only result in a country drenched in blood. I am aware that the manifesto happened, and because he did not intend for the revolution to proceed in this manner, his predictions of what would happen were true as a result of what he said at the time. He then continued to proceed with his manifesto a few weeks before being killed by gunfire, like the little diplomat that he is. Together with the other revolutionaries, Rizal gave the greatest sacrifice of his life—and his entire life—for his nation. Jose Rizal's achievements and way of life reflect what it means to be a national hero. His exceptional intellect, advocacy for education and empowerment, undying love for his country, and ultimate sacrifice all contribute to his well-deserved position as the Philippines' national hero. A tribute to the enduring force of a person's commitment to a higher cause, Rizal's legacy continues. He sought to use peaceful means to grant us the freedom that Filipinos rightfully deserve, but I suppose that direction somehow went in the wrong way. He recognized the potential of the Filipino people and how different we are from the slaves the Spanish once treated us as. Without the need for outside assistance, we could live in a developing nation. Despite utilizing diplomatic techniques, Jose Rizal was so determined in his principles that he made himself the focal point for securing the freedom our country so well deserved. He has the guts to pursue his more ambitious ambitions and make them come true. Nothing less than the nation's independence was what he wished for. This was not simply an idea to him; it was a means by which he could help his country grow and safeguard it from other nations. The pursuit of freedom and justice is a path that is worth every step, and as Filipinos, we continue to be inspired by his life. He did not fight for his freedom alone; he fought for the freedom of everyone. He became a national hero in this manner. He wanted to see the Philippines flourish because he was appreciated for his work and because he loved our nation. And he overcame every challenge that stood in his way, leaving us with a legacy that will always be regarded as an inspiration to the country. Jose Rizal rose to fame as a result of his bravery, readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice, and role as the leading advocate for the cause of the Filipino people. He was an ideal choice who is deserving of being a national hero because of his patience, loyalty, and courage. He was convinced that everyone should have access to education, regardless of social standing or class. His numerous revolutions sought to realize this ideal by bringing about constructive social change. Jose Rizal's legacy inspires us to continue working toward a better, truly independent Philippines.