Cheyenne Claire S.

Noceja November 26, 2013

2M1

Why Jose Rizal is considered a national hero?

A Filipino when asked by a question, who is the greatest hero of the Philippines, they
might answer Jose Rizal. But why was he well-known among Filipinos rather than the other
heroes? Basically, Filipinos might know the entire story of the life and works of Jose Rizal than
the others. Rizal was often remembered as a martyr who died for the Filipinos, just like Christ
who died in humanity. Through this, many Filipinos admire him. But is this the only reason to
consider an individual a national hero? Well there were Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio, the
Gomburza priests, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and many other more that should
also be considered as a national hero but why Rizal?
Perhaps, you would just think as easy as there can be no Emilio Aguinaldo without
Andres Bonifacio who helped found the Katipunan, the organization that launched the 1896
Philippine Revolution, and recruited Aguinaldo into its ranks. Therefore, there can also be no
Andres Bonifacio without Jose Rizal which is the inspiration of the foundation of the Katipunan.
But there would also be no Jose Rizal without the Gomburza priests which became the
inspiration of Rizal but why is Rizal still the Philippine National Hero? The answer is basically
because of his way of fighting against the Spanish administration. Rizal gave us freedom by
using goodness. He uses a pen as a weapon rather than a sword to fight. He didnt want
revolution; instead he wants a peaceful way rather than an aggressive way of fighting.