Who is the rightful Philippine National Hero?
By ardieboi
@ardieboi (195)
Philippines
November 25, 2011 8:34pm CST
I have nothing against Jose Rizal, i'm just pro Andres Bonifacio. I mean, he literally took on the Spaniards with nothing but knives and bolo's. It's a courageous way of defending our land, not writing books to free a nation. I'm just saying. Rizal didn't start a revolution through his books. The revolutions started because of Filipinos like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo however plotted the death of Bonifacio so he isn't on top of my list. Andres by the way started the Kataas-tasaang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan.
2 people like this
8 responses
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
I guess it is just a matter of opinion. Everybody has the right the to decide on themselves which is their preferred hero, whether in the local scene or international.
I am speculating that you are aware that the Americans chose Rizal (courtesy of the mandatory Rizal Course) becuase he did fight against the Spanish via his two masterpieces, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. His masterpieces did encourage Bonifacio and otehr revolutionaries to physically mount up a revoltuion. Rizal has his own reason not to support the revoltuion, despite the pleading of Bonifacio for him to support the cause.
Anyway, Aguinaldo isn't on the top of my list either. The guy killed a fellowman just to settle a stupid (in my humble and personal opinion) political dispute. He did outlive most of the revolutionaries and I guess she did have a lot of time thinking what he had done.
@ardieboi (195)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
It's just a matter of opinion perhaps. What i want to know is how they are able to determine the effect of Rizal's novels on the other Filipinos. Isn't it also highly probable that Filipinos like Bonifacio and Aguinaldo fought back against the Spaniards mainly because of the suffering they experienced and not by the novels of Rizal. As they say in court, a person cannot determine the thought and feelings of another. Enlighten me.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
My history is a bit sketchy but I think Americans picked Rizal becuase he is an intellectual and he fought his battles intellectual (by way of his novels). At that time (the time where the Americans are picking our National hero), The Americans may have thought that choosing Rizal would also reflect to the masses the virtue of education (which they also campaigned for) as well as to temper the public mood. Choosing a revolutionary (literally) might invoke violence and bloodshed. Choosing Rizal would like be choosing a literally warrior. Remember the saying, pen is mighter than the sword?
You were right in speculating that the physical violence against the Filipinos may have lead to the revoltuion. However, they don;t have a charismatic figure. Rizal is not a fighter but his name, infamy and popularity can work like a huge magnet to the revolutionary cause. If people heard that Rizal is part of the revolution, more people will be enchanted to join.
If Rizal was playboy becuase of his looks, he can help the revolution by being assisted and his name will be subject and used as to name-dropping.
If I also remembered correctly, Bonifacio did read Rizal's novels and other revolutionary books like Uncle Tom's Cabin. You can check it if you like. Anyway, this is just dregs of my histroy classes and observations. You just inspired me to re-watch Bayaning Third World.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
Addedum: both figures also have a different method of revoltuion and objectives - Bonifacio wanted the Spanish out with swords and bloodshed while Rizal is on the propaganda movement to make the Philippines a Spanish province. Rizal was convince it wasn't the right time to have a revolution while Bonifacio can't wait a anotehr second. Nevertheless, Rizal was executed and the revoltuion happened. Guess it's just a matter of time in happening.
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
I think the discussion we should have should be why do we have only 1 national hero? Isnt it obvious that the one national hero scheme was part of the subjugation process of the American colonization?
Instead of having one national hero, we should have a list of national heroes that we all honor because of their great contributions towards our independence. Jose Rizal is an intellectual, but he is too much for pacification and we know it take a violent revolution to make Spain abandon their rule. Andres Bonifacio was brave and founded the Katipunan, but he is not a brilliant military tactician and too hot tempered. Emilio Aguinaldo is a brilliant military general and became our first president, but he carried out dark plans to eliminate his political rivals like Bonifacio and Antonio Luna. Apolinario Mabini can be compared to Rizal in intellect, plus he is not a pacifist - but he is handicapped therefore he can only write and contributed to the first government's doctrines and laws.
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
29 Nov 11
Well let us look at this way. It is like who ignited the revolution. It was not until Rizal started to with his novel. It somehow ignited the dreams of the Filipino back then that was enslaved for too long.
There were many revolutionaries before that tried to be as aggressive but failed in the end. We have to accept as well that what ignited Andres Bonifacio's passion to fight was the novel of Rizal.
I think we have to balance things out in here that sometimes pen is mightier than a sword. We have to see Gandhi used same tactic, he did not violently launched an attack against British colonial rule but he did ignited something to rise against their colonial ruler. Same is true with Mandela of South Africa, he too used only the power of words to sway the country to revolt against an oppressive government.
Sometimes armed revolt is not enough to really make this country a better and safe place to be.
@Genericbe (1376)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
You have a great point there, the history gave emphasis more on the Literature works of Rizal because of educational background, He has many writings and they think he has great contribution on revolution through writing. On the other hand, Bonifacio is not as educated as Rizal but If we are to deal with NATIONAL HERO as in pure Filipino Blood and REVOLUTION itself, IT MUST BE BONIFACIO.
This only shows that those who promulgated RIZAL AS philippine national hero has not of greater confidence in the works of PURE FILIPINO because RIZAL BLOOD is not pure FILIPINO as what to other BOOK says.
IT seems that the History in manner of Written forms used now in EDUCATION system has many lacking points and even the pages as being issued before are lacking too.
@lady1993 (27224)
• Philippines
27 Nov 11
I agree with you.. Two of my professors told us about how Andres Bonifacio should have been the National Hero and not Rizal. And they do have a point. 
Rizal didn't really do much but wrote books in Spanish and didn't even spend that much time in our country, he was a playboy and all he wanted was equality among Spaniards and Filipinos, not freedom. There should be a debate for this.
Rizal didn't really do much but wrote books in Spanish and didn't even spend that much time in our country, he was a playboy and all he wanted was equality among Spaniards and Filipinos, not freedom. There should be a debate for this.
@EdnaReyes (2622)
• Philippines
27 Nov 11
Debates have been on whether Bonifacio is the rightful for a national Hero tag but until now nothing has transpired because nobody is taking this seriously. Our lawmakers can easily make law changing the name of this and that highway but nobody dare to make resolution asking for deep restudying of the creation of our national hero. Until lawmakers will take action, Bonifacio's future as national hero will be always in the dark.
@craziestqueenever (1819)
• Philippines
26 Nov 11
This question has also been raised when i was in college, my Professor told us that Jose Rizal was been chosen because it was him who has the courage to express his feelings in regards to the way we Filipinos were treated by the Spaniards. It was Rizal who gave us an idea that in fighting "Pen is mightier than sword". Although he didn't fight using swords he fought for our freedom by using his brain.
