Jose Rizal and Philippine Nationalism: Bayani and Kabayanihan

Overview

Integrating Jose Rizal's life story and works are very essential and should be part of the education of all Filipinos. He
had dedicated his life fighting for the rights of every Filipino from the Spanish tyranny and oppression during the 19h
century. Today, many of us think that if we hear the word "Riza", we associate it with the concept of bayani. Jose
Rizal is remembered not only as a bayani, for even some groups of people recall him as the real messiah. But the
most certain of all, he serves as an evident model and inspiration to many Filipinos, here and across the globe.

Jose Rizal's great dedication to life-inspired writings, his idealism, and aspirations sufficed as guide and influence to
love and serve the country. These are the concrete concepts of Rizal's pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa, as voiced in his
incredible writings. As an educated man, Jose Rizal had been very serious for te academic excellence, philosophy
and even scientific inquiry. As a son and a brother, he manifested respect, love, kindness and loyalty to his parents,
siblings and to his confidantes. But Jose Rizal is not only a person who valued education and family. He elevated a
great sense of love for the Filipino people and for the homeland, Philippines, a character that enlists Jose Rizal as a
person worthy to be emulated.

OUTLINING JOSE RIZAL AS A BAYANI

In the late 19 century, more Filipinos from Luzon were compelled to revolt against the colonizers and fought for their
liberation. Movements were certain like the Katipunan of Andres Bonifacio to fight the Spanish forces and regain
every right that was taken from them. There is a need of a leader or hero-leaders to at least, unite and influence other
Filipinos to join their campaign for reforms and obtain the freedom that they were longing since then. Many Filipinos
at that time became the source of inspiration and one of them was Dr. Jose Rizal.
This part will discuss the concept of what is a hero and what is a bayani.
There are a lot of discussions concerning Jose Rizal as a hero and of course, as a bayani. The term hero is defined
as a person noted for his or her courageous acts or nobility of character. The word originated from Latin, old French,
and Greek from a coined term which meant demi-god, a defender and a protector. More common is, a man of
superhuman strength or physical courage or a person who exhibits great bravery. Due to his countless sacrifices and
endeavors, Jose Rizal is tagged as a hero in the Philippines. His acts, particularly his writings, had awakened and
unified the Filipinos to stand against Spain. As a hero, Jose Rizal was honored for guiding the Filipinos to their
consciousness in. regaining the country from the effects of colonial assault.
In an article published by inquirer.net, Ambeth Ocampo presented that the word bavani is more than and is richer
than a than the word "hero". Quoted from Vic Santos' Vicassan Dictionary (1978), the word bayani has the same
meaning with the term hero but with several distinctions. "A hero, patriot (taong makabayan), cooperative endeavor,
mutual aid to be victorious, to prevail (namayani...". (Ocampo, 2016). On the other hand, Zeus Salazar had collected
various definitions from local ethnolinguistic communities, of which the word lavani has similar concepts. "Related to
the Austronesian word "wani," meaning leshing and being compassionate with others, hence, "kawan" as of
goverment

workers. The Visayan word "bagani" or fearless warrior; and the word "bayan!" may mean "someone who gives
service to the bayan without expecting anything in return. (Chua, 2018).
Hero as a term can best be defined as a person who possesses a great courage, strength and moreover, a demi-god.
The term "bayani," in its cultural context, is a person who did exemplary acts for his community, in Filipino context,
bayan. Jose Rizal's love for the Philippines qualified him to be called as bayani.
He defended and even showcased his great concern towards his countrymen through his valuable writings, not for
oneself but for the good of others. Through education, Jose Rizal envisioned a country free from any oppression and
thus, would help Filipinos to love the country more, promote the progress and be the great leaders in nation-building.
Chua concluded that a hero and a bayani may be different in an academic sense. He believed that heroes or our
national heroes are special in terms of their immense contributions to nation-building, and thus, he reminded us, that
in our own special way, we can also be bayani in our own ways. (Chua, 2018).

Classifications of A Hero

Throughout our history, there are different kinds of heroes. They are identified and classified in every period. Here are
some classifications that formed a hero, based from their manifested gallantry, principles and heroism.

Pre-colonial Heroes
Oral traditions had provided us information about these heroes or bayani who had manifested their skills with mythical
abilities and enormous strength.

Their characters are presented as somewhat full of mystery, mystical, or having a nature of supernatural ability.
According to Scott (1988), heroes are classified as epic hero and mythical hero. Epic heroes are characterized as
saviors of their communities and the scourge of enemy tribes. On the other hand, a mythical hero represents the
culture and the values of a specific period of time. This type of hero is mythical in nature.

Colonial Heroes

With the atrocities experienced in the country, colonial heroes are the first who carried out organized revolts against
the colonizers. For more than centuries, Filipinos had suffered much particularly in relation to religious, economic,
educational and political freedoms. These factors contributed to their long struggle. Hence, they waged war against
Spain. These colonial heroes are named as native heroes and revolutionary heroes. First, native heroes are the
people who first manifested resistance from the integration of the Spanish colonial rule. They were motivated by their
preference to keep their old-ways like beliefs, lands and even freedom. Hence, they refused to embrace and integrate
Hispanic cultures during the first phase of Spanish colonization.

Revolutionary heroes were fully realized at the height of the nineteenth century of Spanish colonization. These
heroes led the revolts against the colonial regime to have a plenary liberation from the hands of the colonizers.
These heroes were fully driven by their belief that Filipinos could now run and govern the country. The last years of
the nineteenth century defined their cries for a national revolution, the spring of the Filipino revolutionaries.
Furthermore, revolutionary heroes are classified as:
1. Known heroes- or also known as popular heroes who had done remarkable contributions against Spain.
This type of hero is known for great leadership skills, courage and unwavering will
2. Unknown heroes- or also known as unsung heroes who contributed significantly at certain stages of the
revolution but remained unrecognized due to political and academic reasons. Included in this group are the
leaders of the millenarian groups and the upland insurrectionists.
3. Martyrs- These heroes are clearly defined as people who courageously faced brutal punishment and died
untimely for their great spirit and beliefs from the hands of the enemies. Like Jose Rizal, heroes or martyrs
like him faced excruciating fate just like the martyred GomBurZa priests. (Maranan, 2015).

Post-Colonial Heroes

These types of heroes are also known as post-war heroes. They possess heroic qualities and are honored even after
the colonial period. These heroes are categorized as political heroes. A political hero is a person who has a political
ideology. They are critics of the status quo of a political system. With that, they are often regarded as state enemies,
and in the long run, become victims of state and political violence. Political heroes can be further classified into:
a. Idealistic hero- This hero is an advocate of the idealism principle. This person believes in peaceful means of
effecting changes and reforms in the society. Their intellectual prowess is used to voice-out possible
solutions for existing problems rather than solving out through violent means.
b. Realistic hero- This hero prefers fast and practical answers to resolve any existing social and political problems in
the country. For a 'realist", real plans must be carried out immediately to obtain certain results.
They belleve in radical methods and reject moderate and centrist stances.

Modern Day Heroes

Modern day heroes are classified as heroes or bayani in the new era.
They emerged because of the changes brought by the changing views of political, social, and economic life in a post-
colonial set-up. They are heroes of this age of global harmony and freedom (Maranan, 2015). These contemporary
heroes can be further classified into:
1. Athletes- They are acknowledged greatly because of their victories in the field of sports. They are even
looked up to by many as role models and promoters of good health and sportsmanship. One of the best
examples of a role model in sports, particularly in the field of boxing is now serving as senator of the
Philippines, Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao.
2. Artists- These are artists who excelled in their respective artistic crafts that are honored in our very own
country and in the globe. Just like Juan Luna and Felix Ressurecion-Hidalgo, they had exemplary
showcased their masterpieces that were awarded and recognized abroad. They can be singers, painters,
actors and tv personalities, writers or novelists and etc.
 3. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW- They sacrifice so much for their families. Due to their ardent spirit and
zealous love for their families, they earned the title as ang mga makabagong bayani ng ating henerasyon.
(Maranan, 2015).

JOSE RIZAL AS OUR NATIONAL HERO

WHO MADE JOSE RIZAL OUR NATIONAL HERO?

There are scholars who have questioned Jose Rizal's position as the Philippines' national hero. Certain arguments
were raised. Andres Bonifacio, not Rizal, should be the country's iconic hero. History will tell us that Jose RizalS
heroism and ideals was first recognized by the Americans. It was through the initiative of Governor William Howard
Taft that Jose Rizal was declared as a national hero for the Filipinos:
"And now, gentlemen, you must have a national hero". These were supposed to be the words addressed by Gov. Taft
to Msses. Pardo de Tavera, Legarda & Luzurriaga, Filipino members of the Philippine Commission, of which Taft was
the chairman. It was further reported that "in the subsequent discussion in which the rival merits of the revolutionary
heroes (M. H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Gen. Antonio Luna, Emilio Jacinto, & Andres Bonifacio-O.) were
considered, the final choice -now universally acclaimed a wise one was Rizal.
And so history was made.

During the commencement of the American occupation, there were

Filipinos who disliked the idea of embracing the American rule. With these, they tended to fight the Americans, just
like Andres Bonifacio in 1896, whose desire to gain freedom for the people was through armed approach. The
committee that campaigned for Jose Rizal was composed of well-known Americans and Filipinos.
Aside from William Howard Taft, who acted as the chairman, the committee was composed of Dean Conant
Worcester, Luke E. Wright, Henry Clay Ide and Bernard Moses. The Filipino representatives were Trinidad H. Pardo
de Tavera, Benito Legarda and Jose Luzuriaga (Maranan, 2015).

On June 11 of the ensuing year the Philippine commission approved Act no. 137, which organized the "politico-
military district of Morong" into the "Province of Rizal". This was the 1st official step taken by the Taft commission to
honor our greatest hero and martyr. Furthermore, the Taft commission chose Rizal out of several great Filipinos as
the No. 1 hero of his people, still we can say that what the commission did was merely to confirm a sort of fait
accompli, and that was that Jose Rizal had already been acclaimed by his countrymen and the scientific world as the
foremost hero and martyr of the land of his birth. (de Ocampo, 1961).

In the issue on national hero, according to some who are asserting for a more action-oriented persona, Andres
Bonifacio must be the one to be acknowledged as the genuine national hero. Bonifacio is qualified due to the fact that
he led the memorable revolution that commenced the Filipinos' thirst for freedom. Jose Rizal was a peace advocate;
thus, violence and armed resistance will only serve as a last resort. What he really considered are reforms for the
government and equality to all the citizens, that can be achieved peacefully and not through violent means. For the
people who acknowledged Rizal, he is an exemplary person who is worthy of the people's respect and admiration.
However, many are still questioning the legality of his status as our national hero. Until today, issues have been
thrown to discredit Jose Rizal. On the other hand, Rizal's and principles that reflect the universal passion of the
Filipinos. Esteban De campo's article entitled Who Made Rizal Our Foremost National Hero and Why", exposed the
dignity of why Jose Rizal is our national hero. He presented distinctive information that will clarity Jose Rizal's stand
as to many became so opposed to it. Ocampo believed that "a hero is a prominent or central personage taking
admirable part in any remarkable action or event." He also added that a hero is "a person of distinguished valor or
enterprise in danger and "a man honored after death by public worship, because of exceptional service to mankind."
During Jose Rizal's years of education and experience abroad, he was an active figure who participated in the
Propaganda Movement (1882-1896).
It was the aim of the propagandists to make the Philippines be acknowledged as a province of Spain and most
especially, to create reforms in the Philippines.
So true, that Jose Rizal had contributed ideas for the nationhood building. His writings, like the Noli Me Tangere
(1887-Berlin) and later on, the El Filibusterismo
(1891- Belgium) had inspired more Filipino freedom advocates during his time.
The book had triggered most of the friars and even threatened Filipinos for reading and owning one. Thus, it paved
the way to create the Noli-Fili Bill, known today as the Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law.
De Ocampo believed that with no hesitations, Jose Rizal had immensely formed the spirit of the oppressed Filipinos
to regain their freedom. Aside from being known as the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal was tagged as the
First Filipino, the Pride of the Malayan Race, the greatest Malayan, among others. His undying efforts for the
Philippines resulted to requiring all schools and universities, both private and public to include in the curricula the life
and his works, the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, to inculcate in the people and in the students his ideals of
liberation and nationalism.
For the second and third definition given by de Ocampo, Jose Rizal, known for his pursuits for freedom and
nationalism, was courageous in dealing and facing the attacks of the Spaniards. He was not even attacked
personally, but even his family and his works were mocked by the Spaniards so harshly. Jose Rizal had been a
person whom the friars during that time termed as "idiota, sin verguenza, filibustero" and so on. Pepe, as he was
fondly called by his famil, had witnessed the, maltreatments of the guardia civil to them, especially during his
childhood days. For the Spaniards, most Filipinos during their century. colonization was addressed as indios or
yndios. By that time when he was abroad, Jose Rizal had observed and even experienced the discrimination

towards Filipinos. In his travels to the American soil, he even saw the indifference of the white Americans to the black
Americans. With the bravery of heart, Jose Rial never turned his face away from those who needed him. He aimed
high for his fellowmen, inspiring them and he even faced the death sentence. He was shot to death by a firing squad
at Bagumbayan (now Luneta Park) on December 30, 1896.
Even before the outbreak of the revolution against Spain in 1896, many had known and cited Jose Rizal's works and
his leadership. So true, that during their stay in Barcelona, Jose Rizal had been elected as an honorary president of
the La Solidaridad, Chief of the Indios Bravos in Paris France, and chosen as responsible or chief of the Assosacion
Circulo Hispano-Filipino in 1891, and the el fundador of the La Liga Filipina in 1892 established in the Philippines.
History tells us that the revolutionary society known as Katipunan likewise acknowledged Rizal's leadership and
greatness by making him its honorary President and by using his family name Rizal as the password for the 3rd-
degree members.
A year after Rizal's execution, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the other revolutionary chiefs exiled to Hong Kong held a
commemorative program there on 29th of December 1897 on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the hero's
execution and martyrdom. As de facto president of the revolutionary government, he made and proclaimed the
National Heroes Day and a national recognition of Jose Rizal's death (Maranan, 2015). Ocampo also added that
Rizal was not only a great hero, but the greatest among the Filipinos. As a matter of fact, the Austrian savant Prof.
Blumentritt judged him as "the most prominent man of his own people" and "the greatest man the Malayan race has
produced". We have also shown during his lifetime that Rizal was already acclaimed by both Filipinos and foreigners
as the foremost leader of his people and that this admiration for him has increased with the passing of time since his
dramatic death.
De Ocampo answered the question who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines. He asserted that no single
person or groups of persons were responsible for making the greatest Malayan the No. 1 hero of the Filipino people.
Rizal himself, the Filipinos and those foreigners who acknowledged him contributed to make him the greatest hero of
the people. No amount of adulation and canonization by both Filipinos and foreigners could convert Rizal into a great
hero if he did not possess in himself the excellent qualities and merits. (Ocampo, 1961).

ON BAYANI AND KABAYANIHAN: VIEWS AND DEFINITIONS

History taught us that bayani is a person who had an exemplary act and thus contributed so much for the community
or by extension, the country. Many of our very own heroes or bayani offered themselves in service for the good of all
the Filipino people. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez-Jana showcased their principles and ideals
in enlightening the Filipinos through their writings, books, novels and publications. Juan Luna qualified himself in
manifesting the relevance of art in the lives of the Filipinos from the oppression of Spain. Andres Bonitacio, Melchora
Aquino and Emilio Aguinaldo were genuine in their fight for liberation by means of a revolution against the hands of
the tyrants.
Ang Salitang Bayani sa Pilipinas
Ang salitang 'bayani' ay isang Austronesian salita na dinala ng ating mga katutubo sa ating bayan. Ang mga bayani
ay ang mga mandirigma kung saan sila ay nanguna sa pagtatanggol ng pamayanan laban sa mga kinahaharap na
mga kaaway at mga panganib. Ang ilan sa mga diribatibo ng salitang bayani ay bajani, majani, bagabnim bahani.
Sa kultura nating mga Pilipino ang pagiging bayani ay nasusukat sa katapangan at sa bilang ng napapatay na
kaaway. May iba'-iba itong antas. Ang mga antas na ito ay kinikilala bilang: (1) Maniklad, ang pinakamababang uri ng
bavani na nakapatay ng isa o dalawang kaaway, karaniwang siya ay nakasuot ng putong na pula at dilaw. (2)
Hanagan naman kung tawagin ang nasa ikalawang antas, siya ay sumasailalim sa riktwal na kung saan ay dapat
siyang sapian ni Tagbusaw, ang diyos ng pakikidigma at kainin ang atay at puso ng mga kaaway.
Karaniwang nagsusuot ang mga it ng pulang putong. (3) Kinaboan naman kung tawagin ang makakapatay ng
dalawampu hanggang dalawamput pito at karaniwang nakasuot ng pulang pantalon. (4) Luto naman kung tawagin
ang makakapatay ng limampu hanggang 100 a kaaway at karaniwang nagsusuot g pulang jacket. (5) Lunugum
naman ang pinakapaborito ng diyos na si Tagbusaw dahil dito maipakikita niya ang kanyang katapangan sa
pakikipagdigma kung saaan napatay niya ang kanyang kaaway sa sarili nitong tahanan. Itim ang karaniwang suot ng
mga ito.
Ayon naman kay Dr. Zeus Salazar ang mga bayani ay mga taong naglalakbay at bumabalik sa bayan. Isa rin sa
kanyang ipinahiwatig na ang pagkakalba nang bayani sa salitang "heroes*". Sinabi niyang ang mga bayani ay
lumalaban g may kooperasyon at ang mga "heroes" (western concept) ay lumalaban mag-isa. Ang bayani ay hindi
kailangang mamatay upang maging bayani, kailangan miya lang gumawa ng magagandang impluwensya at mga
gawain sa bayan upang tawaging bayani. May iba't-iba ring ibig sabihin ang bayani ayon sa gamit. Maaaring ang
bayani ay ang pagiging bayani sa panahon ngayon ay mahirap makamtan ngunit lahat tayo ay may pagkakataon
upang maging bayani sa ating komunidad.
(Excerpts from Ricardo Nolasco's Ang Pinagmulan ng Salitang Bayani, 1997).
Source: Nolasco, R. (1997) Ang Pinagmulan ng Salitang Bayani. https://doku.pub/
documents/salitang-bayani-g0r99kk2oeOk
Depending on the context, the word bayani has different definitions from time to time. In today's present context the
term bayani can best be ascribed to the OFW's or the Overseas Filipino Workers, who sacrifice themselves away
from their families. Our kababayan who work overseas had contributed much in the global world, helping our
country's economic stability and promote our Filipino culture. OFW's or our kababayans are now known as mga
bagong bayani because of their strength in pursuing work abroad to be employed and so as to provide for the needs
of their families here in the Philippines. Their willingness and sacrifices are form of swashbuckling to foreign lands,
whose culture and language are so much different from ours.
Their bravery fuel their motivation to work for their families and for the country. A modern bayani can be anyone who
sacrifices even the littlest of things for the benefit of others. Presently, a good example for a modern bayani is Efren
Peñaflorida. Peñaflorida sacrificed his time and effort just to teach out of school youths in a simple pushcart
classroom. He may not have died for the country, but he responded to the needs of others through education
(Jacinto, n.d).
The terms bayani and kabayanihan are changing and evolving. Like our heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio,
Antonio Luna, their kabayanihan or heroism had enriched the country with their utmost love and concern. The story of
how we became Filipinos and the long travels to becoming one nation through our readings of the life and works of
our heroes, especially in Dr. Jose Rizal's life, serve as our inspiration and pride for us to move towards the future.
The lessons of the past will help us to plan for a better future to enable ourselves to help our countrymen and to be
the good citizens of the Philippines for more generations to
come.

Dr. Jose Rizal had gained a life-long award to himself. His zealousness and fervor love for the country and for his
fellow countrymen earned him the award as our national hero. Jose Rizal's heroism presents a highly important
lesson that teaches us to be devoted to our family, considered as a highly-honored value not only in his time but also
in today's present time, something important that our hero valued in the wholeness of Filipino character. His various
experiences from his childhood days and his adventures abroad, awakened him that there must be something to be
done for his beloved "Pearl of the Orient Seas". By his pen, he boldly expressed the might of his aspirations and
carried out reforms that he wished to be embraced by his fellowmen. This heroism or kabayanihan of Jose Rizal
made him as our very own bayani, the very first Filipino, who had invited the countrymen to stand and "masa sa
sailing lakas" (Filipinas), to promote to the rest of the world the rich jewels of our Filipino culture and heritage.