JOSE RIZAL AND THE PHILIPPINE

NATIONALISM: NATIONAL SYMBOL

RIZAL WEDNESDAY 10:00AM-1:00PM

DE CASTRO, Bea Patrice R.

SONSONA, Jermaine Andrea
TABIERA, Sandra

Submitted to: Dr. Adelaida M. Pallones

Rizal as a National Symbol
Symbols express thoughts that are represented by things.
Those things are conventionally associated with meanings that
made them called to be symbols. There are 2 types of symbols:
either officially or traditionally. National symbols represent and
distinguish a certain country from other country. It also somehow
unites its people and provoke some sense of nationalism.

The National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) of the

Philippines defined that national symbols represent the country’s
traditions and ideals that also convey the principles of the
Philippine sovereignty (self-governing state) and national
solidarity (unity). According to NCCA, official national symbols of
the Philippines are the following: Philippine national flag, Lupang
Hinirang, sampaguita, narra, Philippine eagle, Philippine pearl
and arnis. However, there is also a list of our country’s unofficial
but traditional national symbols: anahaw, mango, carabao or
tamaraw, bahay kubo, bangus, tinikling or cariñosa and adobo or
sinigang.

Dr. Jose Rizal is the country’s well-known national hero but

nonetheless belongs to the unofficial national symbol category.
However, this does not make him less of a symbol of the
Philippines. Rizal’s name elicits the name of our country
internationally. The monuments built by people in countries where
he had been and his books in foreign libraries bear the name of
the Philippines.
According to Dr. Esteban De Ocampo, no other Filipino Hero
can surpass Rizal. He said that his birthdate and day of his
execution are constantly commemorated by the Filipino people.
Rizal’s name is a byword and his picture are evident in the
postage stamps and the one-peso coin. Numerous towns, barrios
and streets were named after him as wells as educational
institutions, societies and trade names. Some people were even
named “Rizal” or “Rizalina” by their parents because of their
adoration to Jose Rizal. He also emphasized that Rizal as the
Filipino writer whose teachings and noble thoughts are frequently
invoked and quoted by authors and public speakers on most
occasion and it is because according to Rafael Palma, the
doctrines of Rizal are not for one epoch but for all epochs and
they are today as they are valid yesterday.

Values Highlighted by Rizal’s Life

The following are the values of Rizal as a National symbol:
1. Nationalism
Nationalism desires to attain freedom and political
independence especially by a country under foreign power.
Jose Rizal’s life works, and writings radiates this value.

2. Patriotism
Patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one’s
nation.

3. Faith in God
When Rizal was studying in Madrid, Spain, Rizal
through his letters assured his mother of his faith in God.
4. Love of Fellowmen
Rizal’s thought on love for our fellowmen is biblical and
timeless.

5. Love of Parents
Rizal’s love for his parents is great and very admirable.

6. Devotion to Truth
Rizal’s persevering search for truth in serving his
country was a motivating virtue.

7. Purity and Idealism

Rizal was guided by his ideals and he was
extraordinary in the purity of his thoughts.

8. Noble Thought and Conduct

Rizal’s works and writing promoted good conduct, clean
conscience, and upright thinking.

9. Charity
All his sacrifices for his country were charitable acts for
his fellowmen.

10. Dedication to Duty

Dedication was one of Rizal’s virtues; he dedicated his
whole life in securing freedom for his country.

11. Moral Courage

The moral courage that Rizal had signified is worth
imitating by our present leaders.

12. Willpower
This strong determination of Rizal, allowed him to
express his ideas and wills through calmness and peace.
13. Integrity
This refers to the quality of being honest and having
strong moral principles.

14. Sincerity
Rizal’s sincerity is manifested in his acceptance that
whatever he possessed he owed them to God who had
planned a duty he had to carry out.

15. Self-Denial
The self-denial of Rizal involved self-sacrifice and
altruism.

16. Perseverance
This value let him show his strength in meeting and
enduring pain, adversity, and peril.

17. Discipline and Self-Control

Rizal used reason to determine his actions regardless
of his desires. In fact, he deprived himself of many unsound
pleasures.

18. Initiative
The ability to asses and initiate things independently.

19. Prudence
This is care, caution, and good judgment, as well as
wisdom in looking ahead.

20. Chivalry, Courtesy, and Politeness

Rizal was an ideal gentleman, one of the qualities of
being a chivalry. In addition, he was always ready to help the
weak or women.
21. Frugality
He also showed the quality of being economical with
money and any other resources; in simple way,
thriftiness.
22. Love for Justice
Rizal found his joy in being just and in fighting for
justice.

Criteria for National National Heroes: Executive Order No. 75,

1993
On March 28, 1993, President Fidel V. Ramos issued
Executive Order No. 75 creating the National Heroes Committee
under the office of the President “to study and recommend the
proclamation of National Heroes”. After series of thorough
discussions, the commission came up with the new criteria
comprising 10 points or standards (Galang, 2012):

1. The extent of a person’s sacrifices for the welfare of the

country;

2. The motive and methods employed in the attainment of the

ideal: (Was his ideal purely for the welfare of the country and
without any taint of self-interested motives? Most of all, the
method of attainment should be morally valid.)

3. The moral character of the person concerned; (The person

should not have any immorality issue that affected his ideal).

4. The influence of the person concerned on his age/generation

and/or the succeeding one;
5. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and
thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom; (They
must have desired the country’s freedom in any situation
especially when there’s a threat of invasion in any form).

6. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system of

life of freedom and order for a nation; (For instance,
someone who helps in the orderliness and betterment of the
country).

7. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and

destiny of a nation;

8. A hero is part of the people’s expression; (The citizen must

have recognized and acknowledged the person as a hero.)

9. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations;

(His concern for the future generations must be seen in his
decisions and ideals.)

10. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an

episode or events in history but also the entire process that
made his particular person a hero.
RECOMMENDED FIGURES AS NATIONAL HEROES (Galang,
2012):
1. Jose Rizal
2. Andres Bonifacio
3. Emilio Aguinaldo
4. Apolinario Mabini
5. Marcelo H. del Pilar
6. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
7. Juan Luna
8. Melchora Aquino
9. Gabriela Silang

However, no law, executive order, or proclamation has been

officially enacted or issued proclaiming any Filipino hystorical
figures a national figure. But, in spite of the absence of any official
declaration openly proclaiming them as national heroes, “they
remain admired and revered for their roles in Philippine history.
Heroes, according to historians, should not be legislated. Their
appreciation should be better left to academics. Acclamation for
heroes, they felt, would be recognition enough” (2015).

Nonetheless, some Filipino Heroes who are not officially

proclaimed was given an implied recognition by making the
significant days in their lives a national holiday.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:
1. December 30 - Jose Rizal’s day of execution.
2. November 30- Andres Bonifacio’s date of birth.
Quiz
1. When is Rizal’s day of execution?
a.December 30, 1896
b.December 25, 1896
c. June 12, 1861
d.June 19, 1861

2. According to this biographer, the doctrines of Rizal are not

for one epoch only but for all epochs.
a.Dr. Esteban De Ocampo
b.Jose Mari Chan
c. Rafael Palma
d.Jackie Chan

3. This commission states that official national symbols

represent the country’s traditions and ideals and convey the
principles of the Philippine sovereignty and national
solidarity.
a.National Commission Arts of Rizal
b.National Commission for Culture and Arts
c. National Commission for Literature and Arts
d.National Commission for Arts and Sciences

4. All of the following are official national symbols EXCEPT for:

a.Narra
b.Sampaguita
c. Arnis
d.Bangus
5. All of the following are unofficial but traditional national
symbols EXCEPT for:
a.National fruit - mango
b.National fish - bangus
c. National flower - sampaguita
d.National leaf – anahaw

6. Jose Rizal’s day of execution.

a.November 30
b.December 31
c. December 30
d.November 31

7. Andres Bonifacio’s date of birth.

a.November 30
b.December 31
c. December 30
d.November 31

8. Who issued the Executive Order No. 75 creating the

National Heroes Committee under the office of the President
“to study and recommend the proclamation of National
Heroes”?
a.Fidel V. Ramos
b.Ramon Magsaysay
c. Jose P. Laurel
d.Corazon Aquino
9. All of the following are recommended figures as National
Heroes EXCEPT for:
a.Jose Rizal
b.Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d.Antonio Luna

10. According to them, heroes should not be legislated.

a.Economists
b.Historians
c. Anthropologists
d.Psychologists

11. Which of the following is NOT one of Rizal’s values?

a. Boastful
b. Frugality
c. Sincerity
d. Patriotism

12. Why did Rizal study ophthalmology?

a. Because he loves medicine so much.
b. For it to become his specialization.
c. To cure his mom’s failing eyesight.
d. To cure his sister’s blindness.
13. What value is this of Rizal that visualized “proud devotion
and loyalty to one’s nation”?
a. Nationalism
b. Patriotism
c. Devotion to truth
d. Noble thought

14. It involves the desire to attain freedom.

a. Willpower
b. Perseverance
c. Love for justice
d. Nationalism

15. This was Rizal’s value that let him be careful of spending
money.
a.Prudence
b.Initiative
c. Self-denial
d.Frugality
KEY TO CORRECTION
1. A.
2. C.
3. B.
4. D.
5. C.
6. C.
7. A.
8. A.
9. D.
10. B.
11. A.
12. C.
13. B.
14. D.
15. D.