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    Concept of Hero

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    Tina NG Sadjail
    The document discusses the concept of a hero in Filipino culture and history. In early Philippine societies, a hero or "Bayani" was a normal warrior who worked together with their community to fulfill tasks like securing resources or avenging insults. Their goal was to maintain peace and order through cooperation. After Spanish colonization, the concept of a hero shifted to emulating dead saints. Under American rule, both American soldiers who died fighting in the Philippines and Filipino heroes like Rizal were venerated, though this also served to promote American culture.

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    Concept of Hero

    Uploaded by

    Tina NG Sadjail
    672 views2 pages
    The document discusses the concept of a hero in Filipino culture and history. In early Philippine societies, a hero or "Bayani" was a normal warrior who worked together with their community to fulfill tasks like securing resources or avenging insults. Their goal was to maintain peace and order through cooperation. After Spanish colonization, the concept of a hero shifted to emulating dead saints. Under American rule, both American soldiers who died fighting in the Philippines and Filipino heroes like Rizal were venerated, though this also served to promote American culture.

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    Rizal

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    The document discusses the concept of a hero in Filipino culture and history. In early Philippine societies, a hero or "Bayani" was a normal warrior who worked together with their community to fulfill tasks like securing resources or avenging insults. Their goal was to maintain peace and order through cooperation. After Spanish colonization, the concept of a hero shifted to emulating dead saints. Under American rule, both American soldiers who died fighting in the Philippines and Filipino heroes like Rizal were venerated, though this also served to promote American culture.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    672 views2 pages

    Concept of Hero

    Uploaded by

    Tina NG Sadjail
    The document discusses the concept of a hero in Filipino culture and history. In early Philippine societies, a hero or "Bayani" was a normal warrior who worked together with their community to fulfill tasks like securing resources or avenging insults. Their goal was to maintain peace and order through cooperation. After Spanish colonization, the concept of a hero shifted to emulating dead saints. Under American rule, both American soldiers who died fighting in the Philippines and Filipino heroes like Rizal were venerated, though this also served to promote American culture.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    LESSON 2

    Concept of Hero
    INTRODUCTION:
    People tend to misinterpret the title “hero” as an award given to dead people.
    Doing prominent things is likewise misinterpreted as something only heroes like Rizal,
    can accomplish. Worse, as the popular Filipino saying, “Mahirap magpakabayani. Ang
    bayani ay binaril sa Luneta” implies, people become individualistic, and lack of care for
    others. These views, unfortunately, hinder their sights on the various opportunities they
    can contribute for the country. This lesson traces the concept of hero in the Filipino culture
    and history to assess whether its traditional sense is confined only to the likes of Rizal.

    ABSTRACTION:

    CONCEPT OF HERO IN FILIPINO AND HISTORY (Adopted from the Book, The Life, Woks, and
    Writings of Jose Rizal by Crudo, et al.)

    One may notice the limited approach in the definition of the word “hero” in
    traditional western dictionaries. Hero is normally defined here as an illustrious man, often
    of divine descent, or with distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, and fortitude in
    suffering, who is supposed to be exalted after death. Being an extraordinary person and
    individualistic is apparent. This may be seen in the synonym of hero in Microsoft word---
    --“Superman”.
    The Filipino concept of hero, on the other hand, is a much broader concept, albeit
    stripped of grandeur. Known as Bayani, Bagani, Magani or Wani in various Filipino ethno-
    linguistic groups, a hero in early Philippine societies was just a normal warrior of the
    community. His simple task was based on daily needs of the village. Pangangayaw or
    riding into unallied territory is an example of this. According to William Henry Scott,
    pangangayaw was done because of four reasons, namely: 1. To secure resources,
    ranging from occasional use of goods or bounty to human slaves; 2. To avenge a personal
    affront or family honor; 3. To fulfil mourning requirement to which the life of enemies must
    be sacrificed; and lastly 4. For personal prominence or mercenary reward. It is important
    to point out that a Bayani does not work alone; he or she always exerts efforts together
    with his/her comrades in the community. Hence, the root word of Bayani is Bayan
    (community /town/nation). When pangangayaw is done, the group of Bayani returns
    home; thus, fulfilling what Zeus Salazar said about the Bayani as person who leaves
    his/her town and then returns. The tattoo, used as the protection of Kaluluwa (Soul) of a
    Bayani, his Kris/Kampilan (Weapon), his putong (Headgear), and other garments colored
    red are his iconic physical features.
    It is noteworthy to mention however, that early Filipino heroes were neither
    savages nor blood-thirsty killing machines. A Bayani is more often than not a true Kawani
    or Lingkod-Bayan (community servant) who renders his or her help to those in need in
    the community without counting the cost. His/her ultimate goal is to maintain peace and
    order. The concept of Bayanihan (Cooperation) and the word ipabayani (free labor offered
    to/by someone) proves the semantic essense of Bayani.
    The characteristics of early Filipino heroes are worth emulating. The Boxer Codex
    (1950), an ancient document about early Philippine societies, defines a Bayani as a
    person with a high status and dignity. Pedro Serrano Laktaw, in his dictionary, elaborated
    the personality of a Bayani: a person who fears no one (Walang-Takot), courageous
    (Matapang), firm (Matibay), bold (Mapangahas), but quiet (Tahimik) and calm
    (Mahinahon). Qualities of the main characters of Philippine epics, like Lam Ang, Labaw
    Donggon, Tuwaang, etc., on the other hand, represent the actual Bayani. All these
    qualities are clearly present in a living human. The concept of a Filipino Hero in early
    Philippine societies, therefore is not a posthumous award given to dead people but rather
    an honorific role and title in the society.
    Nevertheless, changes occurred when the Spaniards conquered the Philippines.
    Instead of living role models, the Spaniards had introduced the image of obedience of
    saints and disciples whom the Filipinos had to imitate in order to become good colonials.
    Vida Sancti, or the lives of [dead] saints became the foundation of good qualities in life.
    Doctrina Christiana or prayer and doctrine books became a textbook of faith.
    The Americans on the other hand, propagated a secular view on heroes. Hero-
    worshipping of American soldiers who died during the Philippine-American War (then
    dubbed the Philippine Insurrection) like Gen. Henry W. Lawton, Col. John M. Stotsenburg,
    and Col. Harry Egbert, was promoted through monuments and annual commemoration
    rituals to justify the need for American tutelage in the Philippines. Filipino heroes were
    also venerated during this period. Jose Rizal, who was executed by the Spaniard, became
    the leading national hero. Mabini, Luna and Del Pilar also became household names. The
    problem to the new approach was that it coincides with the thrust of the Americans to
    instill to the minds of Filipinos the American culture. This was done through the study of
    American heroes and past presidents like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

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