Everybody thought that Rizal was our National Hero all along but they were wrong. Our recognition for Jose P. Rizal was just a result of continued veneration in the filipino culture. Believe it or not, to declare Rizal as National Hero over Bonifacio is still an ages-old controversial debate.
Why Rizal?
In light of this matter, the question that should be asked is “why Rizal?”. The now defunct National Hero Committee had laid three criteria (plus additional three for non-national heroes) like having a concept of nation, contributed to the quality of life and contributed to the destiny of a nation. But considering all the said criteria, Bonifacio should also be considered a national hero so, what makes Rizal vantageous against Bonifacio? We should all go back to where this debate started.
Other than Dec. 30 as the National Mourning Day to commemorate the heroes especially Rizal declared by Aguinaldo (obviously, anti-Bonifacio), in the 1901, during the American occupation of the Philippines, Civil Governor William Howard Taft suggested to the Philippine Commission that the filipinos should be given a national hero. Many names were lined up including the two.
Discussed by the americans and some filipino ilustrados and creole like Tavera, Rizal should be the national hero since he is very intelligent that his works are very much influential to the minds of other patriots and his peaceful ways. So they say that Rizal planted the seed, Bonifacio watered it.
Another thing that had Rizal grab the highest consideration is that he just demanded a reform stating that filipinos should have equal rights with spaniards while Bonifacio praying for oust and immediate deportation of spaniards. Americans thinks if they put Bonifacio on th limelight, filipinos would think that americans (also colonists next to spaniards) should also be pushed away and separate from us through revolts.
My Opinion
You might think that this is just to give favor to the americans. The truth is Rizal prophesied already that our nation cannot build or stand by itself. We are still like infants and we need support. He thinks that we need to understand more. He thought that we are not ready for independence and he was right. After we became independent, the two factions of Bonifacio and Aguinaldo fought. These are two filipinos struggling for power and ideologies. This proved that being ready for being one nation is not yet the time as Rizal thought of.
Reform
is what Rizal was after. He must have wanted separation only until the time
when our capability to govern as one nation is already ripe. He knew we have to
learn more for ourselves.
We know
that Rizal planted the seed and Bonifacio watered it but Rizal never wanted his
plant to grow like this. We are still under colony of other nations being
colonial-minded and still struggling for a fair and better government where
politics is meant to work for its people and not for the officials themselves.
For me,
national hero should be one with superb influence. Rizal should be the one
because he never wanted a revolt. He never tolerated violence and cruelty. He
acted upon the virtues of an well-educated man. He had visions far more
strategic and better than barbaric brawls and sword fights. Rizal is the worthy
one, since he himself influenced Bonifacio to act up (even though not in the
way he wanted to). A hero should exude an aura which is definitely hard to
avoid and be influenced by. This is what Jose Rizal was all about.He proved
that pen is still far mightier than a sharp-edged bolo.
Who is you National Hero? If we can make a new hero, I hope to see one.
That's it for today. Do you agree? Disagree? Have you another
point you wish to bring up? Can you suggest another factors I could have explained
even further? Comment below so I know what you're thinking and feeling.
* I really recommend you to read "Rizal's Teeth, Bonifacio's Bones" by Ambeth R. Ocampo
where could I get the copy of "Rizal's Teeth, Bonifacio's Bones" by Ambeth R. Ocampo?
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