Monday, September 5, 2011

Jose Rizal is My Hero

Jose P. Rizal

A hero is someone who has distinguished courage and ability, someone admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. He is a born leader, an opinion maker and most of all an influencer. The Philippines is rich in history, in brave deeds, in places and people. Nobody could deny that the Philippines was the first country ever influenced other Western and European countries to be united for the betterment, liberty and improvement of the beloved land.

The Philippines has regained itself and unleashed from the365 years Spanish colonization because of a lot of hero who had participated in this noble cause. There was one person who from birth had bestowed his talent and skills for the freedom he has been aiming for this beloved land- The Philippines. He was no other than Jose Rizal, a doctor by profession but a man with multiple intelligence. With his 35 years of existence (1861- 1896) he devotedly spent his time in awakening the consciousness of the Filipino people to fight for our rights, to stop mistreatment and to stop being a slave on our own land. He wrote top 13 most important poems including Our Mother Tongue, Memories of My town, Hymn to Labor, Kundiman, A Poem That Has No Title, Song of Maria Clara, To the Philippines Youth, To My muse, Education Gives Luster to the Motherland, To the Virgin Mary and Sa Aking mga Kabata and 2 finished books which were considered to be his masterpieces Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.



Only a few would realize how these books moved the Filipino people. But if you would read the book you will see that everything was clear: the Filipino people were suffering and nobody could help us but ourselves. He had not use swords, guns and bombs in fighting for this advocacy but I do agree with him that “pen is mightier than the sword”. And history proved he was right.

There have been a lot of questions why Jose Rizal was chosen to be a hero. Some said it was the Americans who placed him with that title. But I dare say he is the only one suited for the title. I don’t like the idea of Andres Bonifacio being our national hero for at the last time he flew to the forest and escape from the Spaniards. Weeks after Filipinos saw his body with worms in the middle of the forest- how awful death of a hero we could ever have. Another thing is that he lost almost half of his battle to the Spaniards because of impulsive decisions. Also, I don’t think Graciano Lopez Jaena should be the hero for he didn’t go home to face the Spaniards, he had been a hypocrite saying that we should be brave when he was actually not. He died of tuberculosis in Spain. I don’t think a hero should be buried in an enemy’s land.

These reasons are not to demerit what they have done. I know they have contributed to the Philippine freedom yet what we are asking is the one who got most of the contributions and has been the main person for moving the Filipino people.


All of the heroes are brave enough, all of them have been a factor for our freedom but in essence there was an outstanding person who has influenced them to become a hero, and that was by the name of Jose Rizal, my hero.