Philippine Hero
Jose Protacio Rizal
Jose Rizal @ Fort Santiago
Photo by P H Morton
Today, the Philippines is commemorating Rizal’s natal day. 19 June 1861 was the birthdate of Jose Rizal, one of the national heroes of the Philippines. In fact it is always Rizal and Andres Bonifacio who vie for the official title of National Hero of the Philippines. Final verdict is still very much up in the air. Jose Rizal was a pacifist. He believed that independence can be obtained by clear head and without blood being shed. Unknowingly however through his subversive novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Filibuster) he managed to inspire common people to rise up against the tyranny of Spanish colonialism in the Philippines.
One of these people who was so inspired was a self-taught, Andres Bonifacio. Bonifacio went a step further with his bid for independence. He picked up his bolo and founded the KKK or Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga anak ng Bayan (roughly translated to the Highest most honourable Association of the children of the Country) for the likeminded men and women ready to sacrifice their lives for their ideals. This is the crux of the matter with regards to who is the greatest hero, Rizal who inspired the fight for independence through reason or Bonifacio who took up arms to fight the injustices ready to fight and die.
There was this urban legend that Rizal would come down from his above monument and walk the street of Manila at night. Perhaps he’s aggrieved that the Philippines is now under a much more pervasive kind of bondage. Most Filipinos are now an indentured servants to corruption so deeply rooted anywhere and everywhere in local and national Governments. Hay! Buhay!
Despite the National Hero title being still under a grey area, Rizal, nevertheless garnered a few honours as The Pride of the Malay Race, The Great Malayan, The First Filipino, some over-zealous label-loving individuals even called Rizal the Messiah of the Revolution, and the Messiah of the Redemption.