CHAPTER 10

RIZAL AND PHILIPPINE

NATIONALISM

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Describe the nature of Nationalism
2. Differentiate the concept of a Hero, Bayani and Kabayanihan
3. Analyze the importance of Rizal‟s representation of a true Hero
4. Synthesize the factors that contribute to the development of Rizal‟s nationalism.

Activity:

1. Make a group research or study on the selection and proclamation of national heroes
and laws honouring Filipino historical figures.
2. Class debate regarding Rizal‟s title as a National Hero.

Introduction

Nationalism is a concept that has a very broad meaning. It is a concept where the
meaning lies on how people interpret it on the basis of their subjective evaluation of the word
based from their experiences and pre-conceived beliefs. Ideally, it is understood as the intense
desire and feeling to accomplish certain things for the common goal of the nation‟s
development. It is at the same time a psychological expression of kinship for the purpose of
uplifting the spirit of oneness to fellow countrymen.

It is rooted in our common past, from the works and accomplishment of those
Filipinos who came before us, who risked their own life to serve the cause of truth. It would
be fitting to remember Rizal‟s timeless call to all nationalists and patriots of the past, present,
and future to continue advancing the interest of the nation.

Meaning of Nationalism

Throughout history, people have been attached to their native land and to the traditions
of their kins in the development of their political identity and territorial authorities; but it was
not until the end of 18th century that nationalism began to be a recognized emotion and
sentiment in molding one‟s public or private life, if not the determining factor in the history of
every nation.

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 The concept of nationalism was initially introduced in 18th century in Western Europe;
until it spread widely in Europe in 19th century, from there, and at the beginning of the 20th
century, it has become a world-wide movement until it flowered in Asia, Philippine is one
among them. But worthy to clarify that nationalism is not the same in all countries and at all
times.

Initially, nationalism was introduced as a political allegiance, it implies the

identification of the state or the nation with the citizen. The principle was generally
recognized that each nationality should form a state and that state should include all members
of nationality as it determined civilization. It was then that the principle was put forward that
a man could be educated only in his own mother tongue, not in languages of other
civilizations and other state.

An understanding of nationalism and its implications for modern history and for our
time appears as fundamental today as an understanding of one‟s religion. Like religion, it can
present many and most diverse forms. Only a study of the historical growth of nationalism
and a comparative study of its different natures, forms and meaning can make us understand
the impact of nationalism today, the promise and the peril which it has carried and continues
to carry for the liberty of man and the preservation of peace.

A considerable number of ideas were developed and has been given to nationalism.
These ideas bring to light in a nut shell these definitions: According to Kohn (1955),
nationalism is first and foremost a state of mind, an act of consciousness. It is a group of
consciousness that strives towards achieving homogeneity within the group conformity and
like mindedness which will lead to and facilitate common goals. In addition, nationalism is
the desire of members of a state to govern themselves and to protect their interests even at the
expense of outsiders. It has been an explosively powerful political force (Encylcopedia).
While Orwell described nationalism as the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation
and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests and those of people who
find themselves having major commonalities on their own initiatives resulting to their
identification of themselves to a single nation. With these ideas, it assumed that nationalism is
a loyalty and devotion to a nation as a result of one‟s heroic deeds.

According to Sharon Delmendo, “heroes are critical components of the identity axis
of nationalism. An individual‟s veneration of national heroes enhances the individual‟s sense
of belonging to the national collective identity. By creating a sense of national kinship, heroes
facilitate a person‟s internal allegiance to the nation, the awareness of citizenship and
belonging to the people, an element called the imagined community that constitutes
nationalism (Benedict Anderson).

Filipino Concept of Hero, Bayani and Heroism

In 1994, the National Centennial Commission (NCC) was established by the

Philippine government to bring awareness to the upcoming centennial date of 1898 that
marked Philippine freedom from the Spanish colonizers. Particularly, the NCC labelled it
“The Year of the Filipino Hero” in celebration of the centennial of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose

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P. Rizal, the outbreak of the revolution and the acknowledgment of the organized heroism of
our forefathers design to end tyranny (Ramones 2008).

Heroism (kabayanihan) is connected with various concepts. According to Francis

“Xiao” Chua, heroism as a concept came from the Greeks. Looking at Hercules as an
example, a “hero” can be a strong-willed and supernatural character who consciously directs
his abilities for the good of the people. This western-inspired thinking taught the Filipinos to
see heroes as larger than life‟s character with extraordinary strength, courage and intellect
with which Rizal fits the status of demi-god, like Hercules. For other historians, heroes are
nationalistic persons who died while defending Philippine sovereignty and who, at present,
serve as role models among Filipinos. The Oxford dictionary defines a hero as a person
typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble
qualities.

For the Filipinos, it has more elements. For government administrators who are
concerned with economic development, heroes are synonymous to overseas contract workers
who remit dollars to our country, thereby, adding to our dollar reserves which are badly
needed to keep us competitive in the global market. For environmentalists, heroes are those
who keep the environment clean and green, making sure that this could still be used and
enjoyed by future generations. To the ordinary Filipino, heroes are those who simply do the
right thing without ifs and buts, those who do good to help others without asking for anything
in return.

Bayani is richer than the word “hero” because it may be rooted in “bayan” as place
or in doing something great, not for oneself, but for a greater good, for community or nation
(Ocampo, 2001). From the UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino (2001), bayani means: 1.) a person of
extraordinary courage and ability; and 2.) a person considered to possess extraordinary talents
or someone who did something noble (dakila). According to Vito C. Santos in his Vicassan‟s
Dictionary (1978), a bayani could be a patriot (taong makabayan); it also means a person who
volunteers or offers free service or labor to a cooperative endeavor; a leading man in a play
often referred to as the “bida” - from the Spanish word for life, “vida”- who is contrasted with
the villain or kontrabida from the Spanish word contra bida which means against life.
Moreover, a bayani or a hero from mythology were those who had qualities of the gods,
extraordinary strength, bravery or ability.

From the words of Juan de Noceda and Pedro de Sanlucar, who published the
Vocabulario dela Lengua Tagala in 1754 and 1860 edition that can be found in Manila
covered with pigskin, which was eventually translated by Almario and Yglopaz from the
original Spanish into Filipino, bayani is someone who is brave or valiant, someone who works
toward a common task (bayanihan). Bayani is not gender specific. It is an unselfish act
towards a cause; a person with extraordinary courage or bravery that ignores extreme danger
and exhibits strength to overcome difficulties. Filipinos believe that kabayanihan is an act that
never concerns someone‟s own personal pleasure nor expects compensation for what he does,
rather the actions are done out of kindness. In other words, a bayani is one who humbly
recognizes the interest of what is bigger than the individual, like a group, community, nation,
and humanity.

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Rizal as a Hero

Was Rizal deserving to be our national hero? Rizal‟s kabayanihan was a

controversial issue. Many Filipinos believed that there are other national heroes like Andres
Bonfiacio, Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and all those who helped
guide the Philippines to being a nation-state. Historian Esteban de Ocampo attributed the
American hand in choosing Rizal over all other heroes to the statement made by Gov. General
William Howard Taft at the early phase of the American rule. He allegedly said: “and now
gentlemen, you must have a national hero”. The words were addressed to the Filipino
members of the Philippine Commission such as Trinidad Pardo De Tavera, Benito Legarda
and Jose Luzurriaga. In the deliberation of the merit of MH Del Pilar, Gen. Antonio Luna,
Emilio Jacinto, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal, the committee
favored Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

In analyzing the acts of the commission, it was the Filipinos themselves who choose
Rizal. By looking back at history, the Filipino role in the choice of Rizal is more extensive.
During the time of the Filipino Revolutionary Government, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued
a decree on December 20, 1898, declaring December 30 as a „Day of Mourning for Jose Rizal
and other victims of the Philippine Revolution‟. This decree became the basis of the present
Rizal Day which the Philippines commemorates the anniversary of Rizal‟s execution.

In Daet, Camarines Norte, Filipino Masons erected a simple monument dedicated to

Rizal on December 30, 1898. This monument in Daet antedates the better known Rizal
Monument which was constructed at the Luneta in Manila in 1911. The monument in Luneta
was constructed through public subscription which was paid for not by the Americans, but by
the Filipino people.

Moreover, thousands of monument and busts dedicated to Rizal were constructed all
over the country and by Filipino communities around the world. Also, there are streets,
plazas, and roads named after Rizal. The one peso coin bears the face of Rizal. The Knights of
Grand Altar was also established to propagate the ideas and ideals of Rizal. Every December
30 is a national holiday for Filipinos in honor of Rizal which shows that it is the Filipinos
themselves who placed Rizal as their foremost national hero.

Influences on Rizal’s Development of Nationalism

In the lives of all men there are influences which cause some to be great and others
not. In the case of Rizal, he had all the favorable influences, which no other child in our
country had enjoyed. These influences are the following:

Hereditary Influence – From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal, inherited his passionate love
for freedom and his serenity of life‟s outlook. From his Chinese ancestors he derived his
serious nature, frugality, patience, and love for others. From his Spanish ancestors, he got his
elegance of bearing and sensitivity to insult and gallantry to ladies. From his father, he
inherited a profound sense of self-respect, the love for work, and the habit of independent
thinking. And from his mother, he inherited his religiosity and spirit of self-sacrifice.

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Environmental Influence – On January 20, 1972, the Cavite Mutiny flared up, followed by
the execution of Father Gomez, Burgos and Zamora on February 7th. They were executed
because of their fight for the Filipinization of the parishes.

The tragic martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za was another Spanish injustice that further
buttressed Rizal‟s determination to consecrate his life to combat the evil forces of his times.

Aside from the above mentioned reason, factors that contributed to Rizal‟s
Nationalistic ideals are as follows: 1. The influx of liberal ideas from Europe; 2. The
secularization controversy; and 3. The opening of the Philippines to the international or world
trade.

Aid of Divine Providence – Greater than heredity and environment in the fate of man is the
aid of Divine Providence. A person may have everything in life – brains, wealth, and power –
but, without the aid of Divine Providence, he cannot attain greatness in the annals of the
nation. Rizal was providentially destined to be the pride and glory of our people. God had
endowed him with the versatile talents of a rare genius, the unsurpassed spirit of nationalism,
and the valiant heart to sacrifice himself for a noble cause.

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