Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
Introduction
Taking up the Rizal course for credits, like reading Shakespeare to get by in English courses,
can be tiresome for the youth. If reading and discussing Rizal's text cannot be fun, then it will just be
like a cold stone without elaboration. To discuss a hero is taking him as a person with flesh and
blood, not as a deity or a supernatural being that is an object of reverence without understanding. To
appreciate a hero like Rizal, we must learn more about him – not his acts but the thoughts behind his
acts, his reasons, his experiences, and his works that are relevant to our time and place. We should
study Rizal as a person – his intelligence, courage, compassion, nationalism, and weakness like being
a womanizer, violent, and short-tempered that complete him as a human being. When we realize
that he is like us, we can truly appreciate his being human, and his tremendous and exemplary deeds
are words emulating.
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you shouldl be able to:
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
1. Value the true meaning of heroism and the criteria set by the National Heroes Committee
(NHC);
2. Examine the policy on the selection and proclamation of national heroes;
3. Understand the Rizal Law and its implication to the current educational system; and,
4. Realize that Rizal was an ordinary human being, and not a God or God-like.
Pre-Learning Activity
What characteristics does a person must possess to be considered as a hero? Please fill in
the box with 5 characteristics a
hero must possess.
Discussion
Definition of a hero
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
Dictionaries defined Hero as a man:
“admired for his achievements and noble qualities and regarded as an ideal or model - the central
figure in an event, period or movement, honored for outstanding qualities - he/she is someone who
shows great courage in an important event”
“admired for his achievements and noble qualities and regarded as an ideal or model - the central
figure in an event, period or movement, honored for outstanding qualities - he/she is someone who
shows great courage in an important event”
According to Dr. Esteban de Ocampo, a known Filipino historian, as stated in his book about Rizal
that:
“a hero means a prominent or central
personage taking an admirable part in
any remarkable action or event; a
person of distinguished valor
or enterprise in danger, or fortitude
in suffering; and a man honored after
death by public worship because of
exceptional service to mankind.”
What makes a person a hero then?
A person to be considered a
hero must have his works relevant to
our time and place. To be able to
appreciate that person a hero, we
must learn more about him – not
merely his acts, his reasons, the situations he found himself in, and his motivations. To study Rizal, do
not treat him like god, as he becomes unattainable and his accomplishments inhuman, but study
Rizal deeper. You see him as he truly was- compassionate, nationalistic, intelligent, courageous,
short-tempered, womanizer, gambler, violent and sometimes rash. When we realize that he is like us,
that his deeds are not impossible to imitate, we will realize his humanity and that we will be truly
inspired by his heroism.
Executive Order No.75 s. 1993
“Creating the National Heroes Committee under the Office of the President”
- Issued by President Fidel V. Ramos on March 28, 1993
Criteria for National Hero
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the
nation’s freedom.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a
nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.
In another round-table discussion held on November 15, 1995, the NHC Technical Committee further
adopted the criteria submitted by Dr. Alfredo Lagmay, as follows:
1. A hero is part of the people's expression, but that process of a people's internalization of a
hero's life and works takes time, with the youth forming part of that internalization.
2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
3. The choice of hero involves not
only the recounting of an
episode or events in history,
but of the entire process that
made this particular person a
hero.
On November 15, 1995, the
Technical Committee after
deliberation and careful study based
on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz’ and Dr.
Alfredo Lagmay’s criteria selected the
following nine Filipino historical
figures to be recommended as
National Heroes:
a. Jose Rizal
b. Marcelo H. del Pilar
c. Andres Bonifacio
d. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
e. Emilio Aguinaldo
f. Juan Luna
g. Apolinario Mabini
h. Gabriela Silang
i. Melchora Aquino
The administration of Ramos upholds the importance of national symbols of the Philippines. A
committee was assembled, minds of notable historians and professionals was poured to fulfill the
task of the committee. The preparation and recommendation of names of historical figures took
almost three years. However, no proclamation was made and the National Heroes Committee took
no further actions after the short list was presented. Hence, we have no official national hero was
proclaimed.
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts notes that the possible reason the National
Heroes Committee did not pursue the proclamation of an Official National Hero was mainly because
the proclamation:
1. “might trigger a flood of requests for proclamations”
2. “trigger bitter debates involving historical controversies about the heroes”
Who will set the criteria for the recognition of the national hero?
No law, executive order or proclamation has been enacted or issued officially proclaiming
any Filipino historical figure as a
national hero. However, because of
their significant roles in the process
of nation building and contributions to
history, there were laws enacted and
proclamations issued honoring
these heroes. But according to
historians, heroes, should not be
legislated. Their appreciation should
be better left to academics.
Acclamation for heroes, they felt,
would be recognition enough.
Activity 1:
1. The 6 criteria for national
hero crafted by the National
Heroes Committee are equally important and all criteria itself is already a definition of a true
hero. Reflecting on the criteria’s importance, please choose 1 criterion which struck you the
most and explain why?
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2. Do you agree that the Philippine government should proclaim an official National Hero?
Explain your position on this matter.
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
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Rizal Law or R.A.1425
“An Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities
Courses on the Life Works and Writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his Novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution thereof, and for other Purposes”
- Signed by President Ramon Magsaysay
-Sponsored by Jose P. Laurel
- Authored by Claro M. Recto
-Approved and became a law on Jun
12, 1956
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works
and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his
novel Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, shall be included in the
curricula of all schools, colleges
and universities, public or private:
Provided, That in the collegiate
courses, the original or unexpurgated
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo or their English
translation shall be used as basic texts.
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an
adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal
shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools,
colleges and universities.
SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine
dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free
of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils
throughout the country.
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred
twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public
school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out
of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this
Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Laws Honoring/ Commemorating Filipino Historical Figures- for [Link]
A. Decree of December 20, 1898 ,
issued by General Emilio
Aguinaldo, declared December
30 of every year a day of
national mourning in honor
of Dr. Jose Rizal and other
victims of the Philippine
Revolution.
B. Act No. 137, which
organized the politico-military
district of Morong into the
Province of Rizal, was the first
official step taken by the Taft
Commission to honor our
greatest hero and martyr.
Activity 2:
1. Reflect on your secondary education. Did your school comply with RA 1425? In what
way? Cite (3) instances or situations wherein your school complied with RA 1425.
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2. How effective is Rizal Law in instilling patriotism among students? How well do you
think this law affect you as a student?
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Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga
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Resources:
Agoncillo, T. A.(1956). The revolt
of the masses: The study of Bonifacio
and Katipunan. Quezon City:UP
Press.
Pasigui, R.E and Cabalu, D.H.
(2006). Jose Rizal: The man the hero
(An anthology of legacies and
controversies). Quezon City:C.&E
Publishing, Inc.
Capino, D. et al. (2005). Rizal’s
life, works and writings: Their
impact on our national identity.
Quezon City: Bookman, Inc.
RA1425: Rizal Law. Retrieved from
[Link]
National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Selection andProclamation of National Heroes
and Laws Honoring Filipino Historical Figures. Retrieved from
[Link]
eroes-and-laws-honoring-filipino-historical-figures/
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